Lance ThooWhen you go out do you always order the same thing?
When it comes to Japanese food, I would ALWAYS go for the Mini California Special. I honestly would feel incomplete if I did not order it.
If you’re looking to trying something different and ‘Neue’, perhaps you may consider trying freshly air-flown bluefin tuna, fresh uni (sea urchin) & fresh oysters that are available at selected branches of Brunei’s largest Japanese restaurant chain, Excapade.
“Excapade takes great pride in is the quality and freshness of its ingredients. They are air-flown from Japan,” said John Felix Cubero, Excapade’s Branch Manager and Head of Delivery Department, during a recent interview with Neue.
But what’s so great about bluefin tuna, fresh uni (sea urchin) & oysters?
Read on to find out more.
Be sure to share this with your family and friends before your next Japanese food outing … or if you’re dropping subtle hints to let them know that you’re craving for Japanese!
For now, here are some fun facts that you can nibble on before your next visit to Excapade.
Bluefin Tuna
Did you know that the otoro is the most desirable part from the inside of the fish’s belly?
It is the fattiest part of the fish; it practically melts in your mouth. By itself, the underbelly is separated into grades recognisable according to the marbling throughout the steak. It is exceptional if you see soft pink together with vibrant white coloured lines. Otoro comes with a lot of delicious oily lines, which give it that distinctive and magnificent tastiness.
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By far the most precious otoro is the lower belly towards the head. Its rich and highly sought-after nature makes otoro more expensive than other parts of the fish. Although sushi includes many various tuna types such as yellow tail as well as big eye, excellent quality otoro is simply obtained from only the bluefin tuna.
Akami is the most common and frequently-used part of the tuna. This part is meaty and red, found most often atop rice in sashimi or in a sushi roll. It is the leaner meat from the sides of the fish. Because this is the main part of a tuna, it is much more readily available than chutoro or otoro.
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Chutoro is another part of the tuna. This is a perfect blend of otoro and akami. It combines both types of tuna, it provides both a meaty and a fatty texture for a real celebration in your mouth. However, there is not a lot of chutoro when enjoying tuna, because it makes up only a small amount of the fish. It takes a whole fish to make one chutoro sashimi.
Which is your favourite part of the tuna? Do tell us in the comments below.
With only about 40 milligrams of sodium per 3 ounces of bluefin tuna, this also makes for a very wise and heart-healthy choice. Helping to keep that blood pressure low by consuming less sodium does wonders for your heart health.
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Fresh Uni (Sea Urchin)
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Fresh uni has a very rich flavour that has been described as tasting like the ocean but not tasting fishy, and it’s known for its creamy texture.
Exotic and excessively praised by foodies, food critics and chefs alike, fresh uni enjoys an almost untouchable status on the food scene.
Did you also know that fresh uni is actually very healthy? A 100g portion of sea urchins contains 172 calories and very little fat. The fat is also almost all unsaturated fat.
Sea urchins also contain omega-3 fatty acids, which can help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of an abnormal heartbeat.
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Fresh Oysters
Did you know that fresh oysters are packed to the brim with nutrients, yet they have one of the lowest calories-to-serving-size ratios of any food out there?
People often turn to chicken when seeking a low-calorie, protein-rich meat, yet fresh oysters have around half the calories per serving size as chicken!
If you’re trying to lose weight, you can enjoy the exquisite taste of fresh oysters without having to worry that it’ll add on pounds.
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Excapade Promotions
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Be sure to follow Excapade on Instagram and Facebook for updates and pre-order announcements, as these premium Japanese products are only air-flown seasonally and exclusively available at Excapade’s new Serusop and Regent Square Kiulap branches.
Excapade will also be launching their very first app soon. So do stay tuned for further updates!