Alright, so today I’m gonna share my experience with trying to get my hands on some decent chutoro. It’s been a journey, lemme tell ya.
First off, I started by hitting up my usual seafood spots. You know, the places where I normally grab my salmon and tuna. I asked if they had any chutoro, and most of them just looked at me like I was speaking Martian. One guy even pointed me to the frozen section, which was a hard no. Frozen chutoro? Nah, that ain’t the real deal.
So, I started doing some digging online. Found a couple of specialty Japanese markets that supposedly carried it. One was way out of town, but I figured, what the heck, I’ll make a day of it. Drove out there, walked in, and… nothing. Sold out, they said. Apparently, they only get a small shipment once a week and it goes fast. Bummer.
The other place was closer, but pricier. I decided to give them a shot. Called ahead to make sure they actually had chutoro in stock. The guy on the phone said they did, but it was “subject to availability.” Okay, fair enough. I hopped in my car and went over there.
Walked into the store, and it was definitely fancier than my usual spots. Everything was meticulously arranged, and there were like a million different kinds of seaweed. Found the seafood counter, and there it was: a small tray of chutoro. It looked pretty good, not gonna lie. Nice marbling, good color. But the price… ouch. Definitely a splurge.
I almost backed out, but then I thought, “You know what? I deserve this.” I asked the guy behind the counter to cut me a piece. He did, and I carefully wrapped it up and took it home.
Got home, unwrapped the chutoro, and just stared at it for a minute. It looked even better in my kitchen light. I grabbed my sharpest knife and sliced off a thin piece. Popped it in my mouth, and… wow. It really did melt in my mouth. The perfect balance of fattiness and flavor. It was everything I hoped it would be.
My Chutoro Experience Summary:
- Started at the regular seafood market – No luck!
- Tried a specialty store far away – Sold out!
- Called ahead to fancy place – They had some (maybe)
- Went to fancy place and bought some – Expensive but worth it!
- Ate it! – Amazing!
Was it worth the hassle and the money? Honestly, yeah, it was. It’s not something I can afford to do every week, but as a treat every once in a while? Absolutely. Next time, I might even try making some nigiri with it. That could be fun.
So, that’s my chutoro adventure. Hope you enjoyed hearing about it!
