Meet Michael Friedrich | Owner/Executive Chef

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Friedrich and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Here in San Diego we are home to such an amazing fishery. San Diego also offers a very booming sport fishing industry and people come from all over the world to experience it. There is just something about enjoying YOUR catch in the art of sushi. So, I started to offer a service utilizing the fisherman’s catch. Mostly, Bluefin Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna, Yellowtail, and Mahi. Hook and line caught seafood caught by yourself just speaks volume to those around the dinner table with you. I take tremendous pride in my catch, and I feel so do most people. Not everyone knows how to properly do sushi, so when they hear about our services they are chomping at the bit to see their fresh catch in or on top of a sushi roll!
I am all about sustainability, so even if I have clients who do not fish, and want to host a sushi event in their home we support local fisherman here in San Diego when it comes to sourcing the proteins. TunaVille Market and Grocery & Chula Seafood are my good friends and truly care about the fishery, and the commercial guys respectfully harvesting the local San Diego Seafood.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
We strive to be the best sushi catering here in SoCal. We truly believe that locally sourced seafood truly makes a difference. People want to enjoy what’s offered off their coast, as they have every right to. I started doing small sushi parties with friends just about every week. I was obsessed with the art of sushi, and perfecting the techniques. So any chance I got to do sushi I’d do it.
I started posting my sushi to social media and overtime it grew an audience, and now here we are. It wasn’t easy. It was a slow roll. We started selling small platters of sushi on days off from my bartending job. Catering events weren’t coming in at the time, and I really want to keep pumping out craft sushi.
I’d only do a small amount because I feel that sushi is very delicate, requires carefully garnishing micro ingredients, and simply maintaining quality control.
Keeping it small batch allows me to really hone in on the consistency, and execute each roll precisely.
We still maintain the small batch mindset with our sushi boxes now. We take pizza boxes and fill them with craft sushi. It’s really fun and fascinating.
We truly value quality , LOCAL ingredients.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First stop from the airport, we are going to grab a burger from the Friendly. Those boys got the smash burger down, and personally I think it’s the best smash burger in San Diego!
After that, we would walk it off in the Japanese markets checking out really rad ingredients in the Kearny Mesa area.
After that, we are going to americas best beer bar, Obriens to grab an ice cold Pliny the Elder.
I’m such a fan of sushi, and I’d have to take them to one of my personal favorites at Saiko Sushi. Chef Anthony is truly a class act, and an extremely skilled chef and has such an amazing menu.
Visiting the boardwalk down in Point Loma is such a vibe as well. Especially on an early morning you can see all the fisherman come in with their recent catch. It’s quite the site to see. We would definitely stop by my favorite ice cream shop ever Stella Jeans. Their Ube Ice Cream is simply unreal. I dream about it.
Also, a dinner in OB at OB Noodle 1502 is always the move. Great drinks, food, and vibes! Get your girl to put her best dress on and test her to an unforgettable experience at Animae. This is by far my favorite restaurant in San Diego, and for good reason. The food is out of this his world, the cocktails are to die for, and the staff is as good as they come.
Food is definitely my love language as well.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
That’s an easy one. My wife Mei-Lee Friedrich. I bounced around a long time with this idea on launching SushiMeRolln and she kept encouraging me to do it.

Website: https://sushimerollnsd.com

Instagram: sushimerollnsd

Image Credits
Ira Waldman