Getting Started with My Tuna Experiment
So yesterday I saw this fancy sushi place online talking about chutoro and otoro like they’re totally different animals. Made me wonder if it’s worth paying double for the super fatty stuff. Grabbed my keys and headed straight to the Japanese market downtown.
Battle Prep at the Fish Counter
Walked up to the seafood section feeling kinda lost. Asked the guy behind the counter: “Can I get two small cuts of fatty tuna – one chutoro grade, one otoro? Make ’em nigiri-sized.” Watched him carefully slice two pink blocks – the chutoro had creamy white lines running through it, while the otoro looked almost like marbled beef with way more fat. Paid like I was buying gold.
My Messy Kitchen Adventure
Back home, washed my hands like a surgeon. Made sushi rice but kinda screwed up the vinegar ratio first try – dumped it and started over. While waiting:
- Froze both tuna pieces for 15 minutes (helps slicing)
- Sharpened my knife like those YouTube chefs
- Set up bamboo mat and bowl of water for finger-dipping
Slicing was nerve-wracking! The chutoro held its shape better – got clean, thick slices after a couple shaky tries. But the otoro? That stuff felt like cutting room-temperature butter. My first piece flopped over like a sad noodle.
Taste Test Showdown
Pressed rice balls carefully for nigiri. Assembled side by side:
- Chutoro Nigiri: Nice resistance when biting – chewed like premium steak. Fatty flavor built up slowly, left a clean aftertaste.
- Otoro Nigiri: Damn thing melted the second it hit my tongue. Felt like tuna ice cream. Richness hit hard then kinda…vanished? Weird.
Kept switching bites. Thought I’d love the otoro more but nope – after the third piece it started feeling too heavy. Meanwhile, I could’ve eaten ten pieces of that chutoro.
What I Figured Out
Turns out more fat isn’t automatically better. That chutoro actually had more flavor staying power – balanced fatty goodness with real meat texture. Would totally pay normal prices for it again. But the otoro? Unless I win the lottery, nah. Felt like eating luxury for luxury’s sake. Glad I tried it though – now I know not to feel FOMO when menu prices give me sticker shock.
