EDM: anywhere to buy sushi-grade fish?

[Royaljelly]

Aside from buying fish straight from a Japanese resto, are there any fish mongers or supermarkets in Edmonton where one can buy sushi-grade fish (ie salmon, tuna, etc) for some DIY home sushi/sashimi? BTW, not looking to get frozen fish and then thawing it out for sushi either.

[maryhadalamb17]

Also, check out Canakor on Parsons Rd. They have sushi/sashimi grade fish and other Japanese & Korean cuisine ingredients.

[anonymoose]

Hmm I don't know why I didn't reply to the original post before... T&T has frozen stuff that they label as sushi/sashimi grade as well.

[raidar]

I know you can buy sushi grade fish at Billingsgate (I've purchased some there, including octopus), and I'm pretty sure you can at Ocean Odyssey Inland as well.

I'm think that the selection of thawed sashimi grade fish is pretty low. The fish is frozen to kill bacteria from my understanding and this is how so many non-ocean neighboring restaurants purchase their fish. And just like restaurants, it's easy to prep at home from a frozen state. It's worth a phone cal though, and if you do look into it, let us know.

[cleopatra999]

Raidar, I had heard that this was the case too. I did not want to say it b/c I was not sure. Any time I have seen it, it has been frozen.

[fmed]

It will be (and should be) frozen when you buy it. "Sushi-grade" or "Sashimi-grade" is not an indicator of quality - it really does mean it was flash frozen (to kill parasites and preserve freshness). Flash frozen fish will be in better condition when you buy it frozen than if it was fresh all the way to the store. Defrost is slowly in the fridge overnight, and make sure your knife is very sharp.

[Royaljelly]

Looks like the "flash freezing" thing is the norm nowadays, even for stuff from Japan. Looks like I'm gonna have to lower my standards now to include previously frozen fish. :)

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/293555

[fmed]

You can certainly get seafood that has not been flash-frozen prior to serving as sushi. For example - during spotted prawn season, you can get amaebi from fresh (living) prawns. It is also common to get live seafood in tanks - but the fish aren't usually the ones you have as sushi. One possible exception is tai (snapper) - you can buy these live from tanks at Asian fish mongers. You can try that and have then kill and dress it for you.

If you are looking for tuna, salmon, black cod and the other common fish - they are more than likely frozen.

The sushi shops in Edmonton must get it from a supplier...some detective work might reveal it. Here is one I go to in Vancouver - Angel Seafood, a Japanese frozen seafood supplier: http://picasaweb.google.ca/gustibus.m...

[Bryn]

Freezing doesn't kill bacteria. It slows it's growth.

[cancowboy]

Flash freezing is used to preserve freshness and kill parasites (not bacteria).

[foodiesnorth]

Fins in Sherwood Park...they supply most of the local restaurants. Ocean Odyssey on the East side.

[cleopatra999]

just to clarify Ocean Odyssey is on the west end.

[foodiesnorth]

whoopps...yes it is. SP on the east, OO on the West