Thread: Sushi Gallery
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yuujirou (Offline)
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Tai - 09-04-2008, 07:43 AM





Tai. Probably the best neta (topping) you can have for sushi. Served w/ momiji-oroshi (grated daikon w/ srirach, or chilies), negi and a dash (not shower) of ponzu. It's meaty, slightly chewy, soft, and ever so succulent. The meat is slightly sweet and is very easily over-powered (hence the "dash" of ponzu).
A truly wonderful fish, it saddens me though, that so many sushi-ya try to pass izumi-dai off as tai. Izumi-dai, or tilapia, is typically, if not always, bought frozen, then defrosted before service. It's meat is much firmer and more opaque (almost white) than tai is. As far as taste goes, I can't say. This is because the places that usually serve this "fake" snapper, OD the fish with so much sriracha and ponzu that the fish itself becomes indistinguishable.
I suppose, a good rule of thumb to follow for spotting tilapia is to check the happy hour menu.
If they have 'snapper' on it, then it's probably izumi-dai.
Why though?
Simply because real snapper is just too expensive to discount. Has anyone here ever seen ootoro up for happy hour?



In the shadows beneath the trees he waits.
In the darkness under the moon he plots
In the silence of the night he kills.

Last edited by yuujirou : 11-20-2009 at 10:41 AM.
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