Local Wild Bluefin Tuna?
Anyone else notice this on LA Eater this morning: "Starting tomorrow night and lasting for about a week or so, Water Grill is serving wild blue fin tuna caught off Catalina Island. We're told that "...although Bluefin Tuna are not strangers to this area, tunas this large (110 pounds) surprised the local sardine fisherman...A catch like this is very unusual and special because large Bluefin Tunas are often netted by huge vessels in the North Pacific...Tuna of this quality is typically sent directly to Japan and sold for tens, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars because of its sweet, sushi grade, deep maroon meat."
Anyone know anything more about it - specifically, is any of this likely to show up at local fish markets and if so, which ones?
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Water Grill
544 South Grand, Los Angeles, CA 90071
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Per a fishing website, one local seiner wrapped 45 tons of US waters bluefin and returned to shore 7/5. The fish were what I call mid size units between 40-100 lbs each. Pacific bluefin tend to travel in schools of 20 lbs or less, or 40-100 and then the rare monster class of 100+. So this does look to be a one shot deal. Enjoy.
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I went there last night, and had the bluefin and it was amazing. You cannot get this particular fish anywhere else, such as a fish market. Last night, we talked to chef Amanda Baumgarten, and the entire fish, from head to tail is all at Watergrill. There was a bluefin tartar appetizer with a thai/green papaya sauce that was great. The entree was seared bluefin, with a simple but effective vegetable preparation. We asked about the belly, and those portions will be used starting today as some sort of a sashimi-like appetizer with fennel. Given the scarcity of bluefin other than in Japanese sushi restaurants, I suggest that you take advantage of its brief appearance at Watergrill. Amanda's preparations did great in not overpowering the amazing ingredient.
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