Hissho Sushi is involved in so much more than just making sushi and Pan-Asian hot bar foods.  For those who follow this blog, you know that we volunteer a lot, give a lot and know how to team build through fun activities.  One of the activities is to participate in Dragon Boat Racing.  This is the fastest growing water sport around the world.
 
“Dragon Boat Racing has ancient Chinese origins and its history has been traced back more than 2000 years. The first participants were superstitious Chinese villagers who celebrated the 5th day of the 5th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Racing was held to avert misfortune and encourage the rains needed for prosperity – and the object of their worship was the dragon, the dragon of Asia has traditionally been a symbol of water. It is said to rule the rivers and seas and dominate the clouds and rains.”
 
The Carolinas Asian-American Chamber of Commerce has a yearly Asian Festival & Dragon Boat Race held on Lake Norman, just north of Charlotte.  This year it’s on May 14, and, as always, commemorates the Asian Heritage Month.
 
This will be the 3^rd time Hissho has entered a team and this year we have high hopes of bringing home the Gold in at least one of the divisions.  Last year we missed the gold by .001 second in the B division.
 
We have a great coach who has worked wonders with the participants this year, some seasoned, and some new.  As practices are held most days on our outside patio sitting astride picnic benches, the PVC pipes honed as paddles give incentive for each to dig deep and hold steady.  I’ll be sure and let you know how we fare in the next installment.

 
 

All last week, Hisshonians “got into the spirit” by dressing up for the selected theme each day of the week. Silly? Not so much – it was fun, crazy, surprising and a barrel of laughs! One of the most surprising things is how many teams were actually represented on “Jersey Day!” Enjoy the photos to see a bit of our spirit come alive!
 
Monday – Pajama Day

Tuesday – Jersey Day

Wednesday – Wacky Tacky Day

Thursday – Super Heroes Day

Friday – Color Day

Hissho Sushi is the proud recipient of a Smart CEO Future 50 Award for 2016. The honor was presented to the company at a Rock & Roll themed ceremony at the Hilton Center City hotel (Charlotte, NC) on Thursday, April 21, 2016.
SmartCEO recognizes 50 of the region’s fastest growing, mid-sized companies. Winners in large “Blue Chip” and small “Emerging Growth” categories were also announced. These companies represent the future of the region’s economy and embody the entrepreneurial spirit critical for leadership and success. The winners were chosen based on a three-year average of employee and revenue growth.
This collective has had a significant impact on their community. Combined revenue of the Charlotte Future 50 is $1.5 billion. The average tenure for business is 13 years and they provide employment opportunities for almost 11,000 people.
In 2016, SmartCEO will honor Future 50 Winners in the following markets: Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Long Island, New Jersey, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC.  To learn more go to www.smartceo.com
Hissho Sushi, headquartered in Charlotte NC, is a thriving sushi and Pan-Asian franchise business which operates in more than 875 locations in 39 states plus the District of Columbia.  Philip Maung, the CEO, came to the United States from Myanmar in 1989 with only $13 in his pocket, and started his sushi business in 1998.

US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce has named Hissho Sushi as “one of its Fast 100 Asian American companies that have demonstrated resilience and performance with excellence.  Together the Fast 100 generated annual revenue of $3 billion, despite the global economic challenges.  The country values Hissho’s contributions to the economic vitality of American life.”
Hissho Sushi, headquartered in Charlotte NC, is a thriving sushi /and-or/ hot bar franchise business which currently has 878 locations in 39 states plus the District of Columbia.  Philip Maung, the CEO, came to the United States from Myanmar in 1989 with only $13 in his pocket, and started his sushi business in 1998.

Hissho celebrated Earth Day a few days early by donning rubber gloves, grabbing a trash bag and heading outside to clean up our 13+ acres of property. Now that might seem like a lot of territory to cover, but we have over 50 people at our HQ in Charlotte. Most came out to participate, including our traniees, to scour spaces for bits of trash large and small. Collectively we got a whole lot more than we bargained for, and promptly filled up large garbage bags. It’s amazing how much trash collects “all by itself” without constant montioring.
After the trash was collected, we treated ourselves to delicious popsicles by our Hissho “Lake” which is actually a pretty large retaining pond with a fountain in the middle. It’s a lovely space to spend time relaxing, eating, talking, or to just get out of the office for some sunshine. The popsicles were delicious, and we had the “good” stuff!
Hisshonians do this clean-up usually 2-3 times a year, and it always makes us feel so proud when we’ve finished. Our property is beautiful, and we like keeping it that way!

Sixteen Hissho folks descended on Hobart & William Smith Colleges in Geneva, N.Y., to promote Hissho Sushi and Sodexo’s Mein Bowl on campus. The chefs were busy over the hot woks while over 700 people were served from 5:00-8:00pm. Now that’s putting out some food!! Chef Mai Pham (front row 3^rd from left), who has a partnernsip with Sodexo, spearheaded this event to showcase what the two have to offer.

Some Hissho HQ folks went up to create excitement by giving away lots of Hissho goodies and students were thrilled to the point that they were trading, bargaining and exchanging their gifts – walking away SO happy with their loot! Of course the food was what they came for…and they were not disappointed!

 

The well-known Burmese Water Festival brings in the New Year! Hissho staff “moved it up a bit,” by preparing a very famous dessert made by our Burmese staff members.
The ingredients are many: bread, bread pudding, canned milk, coconut milk, rosewater syrup, a gelatinous dessert, tapioca, whole milk, vanilla ice cream, and probably a few more I missed. Each item was put in a bowl with the milk mixture poured on top of it.
So much work went in to make this special dessert in honor of the celebration that is a tradition still enjoyed across the globe in Burmese communities. It’s a great time of revelry, meeting new people, getting wet and loving every minute of it.
One website states: “Myanmar Water Festival takes place each year from 13 to 17 of April towards to the end of hot and dry season with activities such as praying for peace in pagodas, bathing rituals for Buddha and then gathering in the streets, splashing water on passersby instead of New Year greetings”
www.burmese-art.com/news/burmese-water-festival
 

 

“Looks can be deceiving, especially when you’re dining in North Carolina. With a handful of diners and drive-ins, ‘small’ is not synonymous with ‘bad.’ It’s actually quite the opposite.”
In First Place:
Soul Gastrolounge, Charlotte

“Soul is a trendy tapas bar and lounge. Despite the above picture, it’s typically packed to the brim. Even on a Tuesday night you’re likely to encounter a two hour wait. Yet the wait is worth it. While the space is tight, it’s incredibly cool and cozy. Not to mention the food, cocktails, and sushi are out of this world.”
 
The Sushi at Gastrolounge is Hissho’s Sushi 🙂

Today is St. Patrick’s Day all over the world, and we at Hissho wish you the Blessings of the Irish to carry you through your day. With the 1^st quarter coming close to an end, and daylight’s savings time is a few days under our belt, we look around and see God’s glorious beauty everywhere. Nowhere is it more beautiful than Charlotte, NC. I “know” this city is magical, otherwise how could everything seem to bloom at the same time for weeks on end. Some breeze through the day, others stare at what is ahead of them in a blur. But nobody can be immune to the beauty that surrounds us during this season of “rebirth.”
The Canadian geese are back, our resident Blue Heron can be seen stalking the fish in our retaining pond, the birds are singing, and there is lightness in our step that comes with the territory. All around Hissho, the air is abuzz with new store openings, the training of new hires is on-going, and our kitchens humming. The food being “put out” is amazing, the air of confidence exuded by our chefs is akin to puffery, and the extra pounds put on after indulging so many hot bar lines, or cases piled with freshly made sushi, give new meaning to the pause of “everything in moderation.”
But as for moderation, the beauty that surrounds Hissho is anything but. The flowering trees and shrubbery literally will take your breath away. We are so blessed, and we realize it, and each day is like opening a new gift. We are not selfish, so are sharing our gifts with you. Happy Spring everyone, and hope the beauty that is around you is not missed as you go about your daily routine.

Hisshonians gathered in our Corporate Kitchen to prepare and package 100 bag lunches along with Cara Cara oranges, bottled water and a new pair of socks. We distributed these inside of I-277 in uptown Charlotte at lunchtime today. There were SO many grateful recipients and the weather was perfect for people to be outside. Thanks to our wonderful Hissho folks who helped make it happen!