Chef -
If you were going to sushi restaurant for the first time, what would you order to explore their menu and try and figure out the quality of their fish?
The obvious answer is "omakaze" which is great for some of the higher end places, but it is also expensive. Another obvious answer is "ask the sushi chef what's good/fresh" but I've done this and very often the response I get is "Everything's good/fresh"
Here is what I typically order to get a good idea of the freshness/quality of the fish if I'm at a new place. (in this order)
Start by ordering some sashimi:
1. Hamachi sashimi
2. Toro sashimi
3. O-Toro/Chu-Toro sashimi
Then move on to nigiri:
4. Tuna nigiri
5. Salmon nigiri
6. Halibut nigiri
7. Albacore nigiri
8. Shrimp nigiri
If I have good luck with the above, I will try some of these. But if the quality so far is bad, I usually just skip this section and move on to Maki rolls:
9. Uni nigiri
10. Ikura nigiri
11. Mackarel - I put this last becaus even at good places I rarely find good mackarel. And bad mackarel is DISGUSTING! So that's why I leave this for last if I get it at all.
Maki Rolls:
12. This is so different at different places. I usually leave it to the chef or ask what's popular.
13. If soft shell crab in season I usually get something with that (spider roll).
14. I also look for anything that's spicy and ask for extra spicy.
15. Sometimes I'll also get salmon skin handroll if the salmon and other rolls were good.
Miso:
13. finish with Miso soup
Dessert:
14. dessert - depending how full I am I might get green tea ice cream. Usually I am not too impressed with desserts at sushi restaurants.
Anyways, let me know what you think!
Thanks. |
