Sustainable Sushi
We sell only fish that come from sustainable and reliable resources. We follow Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch for most of our choices. We also reference Casson Trenor's book "Sustainable Sushi". The only fish that we differ from is Atlantic farmed salmon. We purchase ours from the most environmentally friendly farms we can source. All Atlantic salmon are not raised using the same methods. Currently we are buying our fresh salmon from Scottish salmon farms which are certified organic in Europe (though not in the U.S.) and have the best track record of environmental responsibility*. We are always looking to improve our sources.
Some of the fish choices revolve around certain specific fisheries especially on the East Coast Atlantic. We target local hook and line or trap caught fish in these waters.
These are some of the more common sushi fish and seafood that we carry*. If you want something special or specific, please call ahead and we will do our best to acquire it for you.
SUSHI OPTIONS
Best Choices include. ..
Albacore Tuna (Shiromaguro) - wild - U.S. caught
Amberjack (Hiramasa or Kampachi) - farmed - U.S or Australian
Arctic Char (Iwana) - farmed - U.S. or Canada
Atlantic Mackerel (Saba) - wild - U.S.
Barramundi (Akame) - farmed - U.S.
Capelien Roe (Masago) - wild - Icelandic or Canadian
Crab, Blue (Kani - softshell) - wild - U.S.
Crab, Dungeness (Kani) - wild - Washington state
Crab, Stone (Kani) - wild - U.S.
Halibut (Hirame) - wild - Alaska
Geoduk Clam (Mirugai) - wild - U.S. Pacific
Imitation Crab (Kanikama) - wild - Alaskan
Octopus (Tako) - wild - Spain
Meagre/Mulloway (Suzuki) - farmed - Australia
Mussels (Muurugai) - farmed - All
Oyster (Kaki) - farmed - U.S.
Sablefish/Black Cod (Gindara) - wild - U.S.
Salmon, Chum, King, (Saki) - wild - Alaska
Salmon Roe (Ikura) - wild - Alaska
Scallops, Bay, (Hotate) - wild - Argentina
Sea Bass, striped (Suzuki) - farmed or wild - U.S.
Sea Urchins (Uni) - wild - Canadian
Shrimp, Caribbean White Laughing Bird (Ebi) - farmed - Belize
Snapper, Red (Tai) - wild - U.S. Gulf of Mexico only
Spanish Mackerel (Sawara) - wild - U.S.
Squid (Ika) - wild - U.S. Atlantic
Tuna, Bigeye (Maguro) - wild - All troll or pole caught
Tuna, Yellowfin (Maguro) - wild - U.S. Gulf of Mexico troll or pole caught
Good Choices include...
Crab, King (Kani)- wild - Alaska
Flying Fish Roe (Tobiko) - wild - all sources
Flounder (Hirame) - wild -U.S. Pacific
Salmon, Atlantic (Saki) - farmed -Scottish*
Scallops, Sea (Hotate) wild - U.S. North Atlantic
Sea Urchins (Uni) - wild - California
Shrimp, Gulf, white or brown (Ebi) - wild - U.S.
Squirefish/New Zealand Snapper (Tai) - wild - New Zealand
Choices to Avoid...
Freshwater eel (Unagi)
Octopus (Tako) - wild - Africa
Shrimp, Tiger (ebi) - farmed - All
Tuna, Bluefin - wild- All
Also, consider the ubiquitous chopstick, found along side sushi every where.
Remember, sushi was originally meant to be finger food.
"At present, about 500 million pairs of chopsticks are manufactured in Japan, a fraction of the 24.8 billion pairs - waribashi, as they are called - used each year. China provides almost 98% of Japan's chopsticks, something officials ascribe to the high cost of Japanese timber."
Read more... Article on Japanese chopsticks.
Check out this website too,
The Waribashi Project
We will continue to offer free chopsticks for now,
but for how long?
Our suggestion is to buy a beautiful pair for your very own and build a tradition of eating sushi with a custom set of 'sticks. If you look online, there are many choices for some really nice personal chopsticks. You will look so cool when you whip out your own pair at the sushi restaurant (your date will be impressed too)!
FYI, I got a great pair at REI that screw together, top to bottom. The bottom wooden part stores inside the hollow metal handles, very posh!
*******************************
Special thanks to our friend Casson Trenor for all the information provided in his book "Sustainable Sushi", which is highly recommended reading by Dirk Fucik of Dirk's Fish & Gourmet Shop!
*********************************
AUSTRALIAN YELOWTAIL AMBERJACK
Also know as Hiramasa
This sustainable farm raised fish come to us from Cleanseas and is raised in the Spencer Gulf in South Australia. It has the same flavor and texture profile of Kona Kampachi, even a little more fat content, 18 to 20 %. Very nice on the palate.
Growing conditions
Produced from wild brood stock,
hatchery raised fingerlings are
grown in an open water culture
environment located in the Spencer
Gulf, South Australia.
Sustainability
Grown in compliance with
ISO 14001 and ISO 9001
requirements. The use of natural
feeds, minimal stocking densities
and site fallowing practices, delivers
a fish which is totally sustainable
using the world’s best practices.
Feed
Locally produced, natural feeds
from sustainable sources. GMO and
land animal product free.
We think you will love this fish as a substitute for your belove kampachi. Let us know what you think.
*********************************
OUT OF PRODUCTION UNTIL JUNE 2010
We are carrying a great new product called,
KONA KAMACHI
This is a sustain ably raised kahala or yellow tail that comes from the big island of Hawaii.
KONA BLUE FARMS
Check out their website.
It's fish is one of the best fish I've ever used for sushi, very mild with a high oil content. It even cooks up fantastic. Try it with one of your favorite recipes or use one of ours!
Be sure to call ahead and we will save you some!
Live sea urchins
Check out our recipe page for sushi recipes.
