Operations manager Janine Guckes takes herself on the first order of the day. The customer knows what he wants – he orders a “Salmon Roll”, a “Maki Avocado” and a “Fried Ebi Roll”. Every dish is freshly prepared to order. With practiced hands, Janine Guckes processes avocado, rice, shrimp and fresh salmon into the typical rolls. The 34-year-old has been working in Japanese cuisine for two years and has already worked at the “Sushi 51” headquarters in Groß-Gerau. Since July 1, she has been managing the newly opened branch in Mainz.
To ensure the delivery of the Asian delicacies, “Sushi 51” relies on an Opel Rocks Electric. “It is the perfect fit for us and our offer,” says Janine Guckes. In addition to quality, freshness and craftsmanship, the restaurateurs focus on sustainability. Not only do they process hand-fished tuna from the Indian Ocean that has been awarded a Greenpeace award, as well as Danish salmon, which is farmed in recirculating systems without the use of medicines – the delivery is also 100 per cent locally emissions-free thanks to the smallest model in Opel’s line-up.
The Asian delicacies are made to order.
Maki rolls are a mainstay of Japanese sushi cuisine.
Only the best ingredients such as hand-fished tuna are used.
“Our customers value sustainability. We do justice to this with our offer, but also with the way we deliver.”
Sushi Guide
An essential ingredient is short-grain rice, which becomes sticky when cooked and holds the sushi together. A seasoning mixture of rice vinegar, salt and sugar gives it flavor. In addition, dried seaweed leaves (nori) are often used.
MakiThe classic is rolled on a bamboo mat. Rice is mixed with vegetables or fish and rolled up in a nori shell.
Inside-Out-RollMaki variation that has the rice roll on the outside and is decorated with sesame seeds or fish eggs.
NigiriThe original form of sushi – a piece of raw fish served on a bed of rice.
SashimiRaw, sliced fish. Salmon and tuna are ideal. Served without rice.
VariationsSushi also caters for vegetarians and is offered with white or black tempeh, spicy quinoa or peanuts and fried leeks.
ExtrasThe soy sauce (shoyu) for dipping, as well as the green spicy horseradish (wasabi) and pickled ginger are all popular.
The manager puts the rolls in compostable boxes, adds the side dishes such as soy sauce, wasabi and ginger – and the menu is ready for delivery. Janine Guckes puts the ordered food in a Styrofoam box on the passenger seat of the Opel Rocks Electric, gets behind the wheel and heads out.
Sushi on the rocks
She can find the way to the delivery address even without a navigation system. “After two months I’ve got most of the routes down,” she says. “Sushi 51” delivers around 80 per cent of the orders that arrive at the Mainz branch within a maximum radius of five kilometers. The journey time is rarely longer than 10 minutes – although it can take longer in rush hour traffic. “I take turns with three other drivers,” says Janine Guckes. The introduction to the company vehicle with the Blitz was quick: “Just start it and accelerate. That’s all you need.” You can drive the Rocks Electric from the age of 15 in Germany. The top speed is reached at 45 km/h.
The electric quadricycle parks in the restaurant outside opening hours.
“Admiring looks”: Janine Guckes loves her cute sushi taxi.
“Like in many other inner cities, the speed limit is 30 km/h in Mainz. The Rocks has no problem keeping up with the flow of traffic.”
“The Rocks is almost over-powered for our purposes,” says Janine Guckes with a laugh. Because like in many inner cities, only 30 km/h is permitted in Mainz. In this respect, the electric quadricycle has no problems keeping up with the flow of traffic. “And I get more admiring looks in my stylish Opel than many people who drive around in their luxury car,” she insists. The rolling billboard with the “Sushi 51” logo on the side doors that open in opposite directions is a real eye-catcher.
Rolling billboard
This is also one reason why the owners chose the Opel Rocks Electric, reveals Jörg Boberg, managing director of “Sushi 51”. “Before the opening, we had of course found out which customer group we could address in Mainz,” he says. As a university city, Mainz represents a young audience that is increasingly following a meatless or vegan diet, is environmentally conscious and values sustainability. “And we want to do justice to this not only with our supply of food, but also with the way we deliver it.”
Locally emissions-free: The delivery process is also sustainable thanks to the Opel Rocks Electric.
Unbeatable: The small vehicle fits in tight parking spots.
On the road: The sushi taxi can be seen in the city center of Mainz.
Practical: Payment for delivery is cashless.
The Rocks Electric was not merely chosen because the company has a kind of natural affinity for Opel given that both are based in the same region. “We looked very closely at what was available on the market and what suited our ideas.” Most of what they saw was somewhere “between a souped-up bike and a confused car.” On the other hand, they immediately liked the Rocks: “It looks cute and is ideal for our purposes,” says Jörg Boberg.
“Ideal for our purposes”
The Mainz branch is open Tuesday to Sunday from 5 p.m. Last orders are taken at 9:45 p.m. Isn’t the electric vehicle’s maximum range of 75 kilometers sometimes challenging? “Not at all,” reports Janine Guckes, “we deliberately kept our delivery area quite small.” Especially since the 5.5 kWh battery can be charged from a normal household socket. Janine Guckes loves her compact company vehicle, which at 2.41 meters long and fits into the smallest parking space when making deliveries: “Our sushi taxi quickly became part of the family.”
Highly versatile
This red Rocks Electric with a special signaling system, is used by the works fire department at the Opel headquarters in Rüsselsheim.
Young people such as Paula rely on the Opel Rocks Electric to keep them mobile from the age of 15.
The smallest member of the Opel family is also impressing as the unique Rocks e-XTREME.
The Dutch military also uses the Rocks Electric.
WITRON also has a fleet of mini-electric vehicles. Employees can travel around the company premises with zero local emissions.
And for those who need more loading space, Opel offers the Rocks Electric KARGO. The 400-liter loading volume can be arranged modularly.
September 2023
Text: Eric Scherer, Photos: Alex Heimann, Opel, All Car News