No to butter. No to olive oil or any other cooking oil. Blue fish enjoys a Japanese treatment. The fish shines in the traditional Yuan-yaki style of grilling producing a dish that is moist, juicy and flavorful. The ‘Yuan-yaki’ grilling method is timeless. See my Instagram Yuan-yaki grilling video. Here you see the photos in which fish was prepared in ‘Yuan-yaki’ grilling and takikomi gohan. Blue fish from the Atlantic waters was a bit of a disappointing “oily”...
Read More‘Shun’, Herring, Spring
Japanese cuisine emphasizes the use of seasonal ingredients. We call ingredients in season “Shun” . In Japan seasonal ingredients are not limited to just vegetables, which may be the case here in America. We love to enjoy seasonal seafood harvested in different parts of Japanese water. I, however, admit that the consumer’s awareness of seasonal seafood has been changing. Today most of...
Read MoreMonkfish and Monkfish Liver
This Wednesday Blue Moon fishmonger at Union Square Farmers Market sold fantastic quality monkfish liver, some of which I purchased and cooked in the traditional way. Monkfish, anko, is a winter delicacy in Japan – especially in Tokyo region. Monkfish which we enjoy in Japan is not a small variety. The average fish – female fish – weighs around 31 pounds. The most popular way to enjoy anko is anko-nabe, in which meaty fish is cooked with its liver, skin,...
Read MoreAlex Loves to Do Hard Job
Last week I had a chat with Stephanie, the owner of Blue Moon, the fishmonger, which brings seasonal, finest quality local fish to our Union Square Farmers Market in New York City. Their diverse customers include Union Square Cafe and Blue Hill restaurants. Alex, her husband, the fisherman, goes out to the sea (they are based in Mattituck, NY), harvests fish and brings them to the shore. He is not a young man and is not using young assistants. He is doing everything by...
Read MoreAwesome to Find Fish in Rigor Mortis
I bought three sea bass at Blue Moon the other day. One of them was in rigor mortis. When I find such a fantastic stage of fish, I even kiss to my fish. “After a fish is dead and its flow of oxygen and blood has stopped, its body continue to burn energy, using glycogen stored in the liver and muscles. This leads to the anaerobic production of lactic acid, which changes the flavor and texture of the flesh.” (more information on the freshness of fish can be found...
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