Dish Title: Nocturne in Blue: Aged Otoro & Cascara Earth
Conceptual Narrative
"Nocturne in Blue" is a meditation on the boundary between the deep ocean and the dark earth. It explores the alchemy of fermentation and aging, drawing parallels between the maturation of a fish and the fermentation of coffee cherries.
The dish juxtaposes the intense, unctuous fat of aged Bluefin Tuna Otoro with the wine-like, tannic acidity of Fermented Coffee Cherry (Cascara). The savory depth is anchored by Black Garlic, while the texture is deconstructed through molecular spherification and tuile. It is a dish of contrasts: hot and cold, dark and bright, soft and crisp, savory and fruit-forward.
Sourcing & Sustainability Notes
- Bluefin Tuna Otoro: Must be Hokkaido, Japan origin, MSC certified or from a sustainable longline fishery. Aged in a Jukusei (aging) chamber for 72 hours prior to service to enhance umami and texture.
- Coffee Cherry (Cascara): Sourced from Ethiopian Yirgacheffe natural-processed beans. The dried husks must be organic and free from pesticide residue.
- Black Garlic: Aged for 60 days in a humidity-controlled environment (Kyoto style).
- Kohlrabi: Organic, harvested at peak crispness (early spring).
- Kelp (Nori): Hand-harvested from the coast of Miyagi, Japan.
Component Breakdown
1. The Main: 72-Hour Aged Otoro with Olive Oil Poach
Technique: Enzyme Aging, Low-Temp Poaching, Torch Searing
Ingredients:
- 180g Bluefin Otoro (center cut), aged 72 hours
- 300g Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Coratina variety)
- 2 sprigs Fresh Thyme
- 1 clove Garlic, smashed
- Sea Salt flakes (Fleur de Sel)
Instructions:
- Aging: If the tuna is not pre-aged, wrap tightly in cheese cloth and age in a 1°C humidity-controlled cabinet for 72 hours.
- Poaching: In a sous-vide immersion circulator, heat the olive oil with thyme and garlic to 42°C (107°F). Submerge the Otoro block. Cook for 15 minutes. This renders the fat slightly without cooking the protein muscle fibers, maintaining a sashimi-like texture with a cooked mouthfeel.
- Searing: Remove from oil. Pat dry. Immediately sear the exterior with a culinary torch for 3-5 seconds per side to caramelize the surface.
- Resting: Allow to rest at room temperature for 5 minutes before slicing.
2. The Earth: Cascara & Black Garlic Emulsion
Technique: Fermentation, Reduction, Emulsification
Ingredients:
- 50g Dried Cascara (Coffee Cherry)
- 300ml Water
- 50g Black Garlic cloves (peeled)
- 10g Xanthan Gum (0.5%)
- 20ml Rice Vinegar
- 50g Cold Butter (unsalted)
- Salt to taste
Instructions:
- Cascara Tea: Steep dried Cascara in boiling water for 45 minutes. Strain and reduce the liquid by half.
- Purée: Blend the reduced Cascara liquid with the black garlic until completely smooth. Pass through a chinois (fine sieve) twice to remove all fibers.
- Emulsify: Bring the purée to a simmer. Whisk in the butter in cold cubes to create a warm emulsion.
- Stabilize: Whisk in the Xanthan Gum. Blend with an immersion blender. The consistency should be like heavy cream.
- Acidify: Stir in rice vinegar. Adjust seasoning. Keep warm at 55°C.
3. The Texture: Kohlrabi Spherification "Caviar"
Technique: Reverse Spherification
Ingredients:
- 200g Kohlrabi (white flesh)
- 200ml Water
- 5g Sodium Alginate
- 5g Calcium Chloride
- 10ml Yuzu Juice
Instructions:
- Juice Extraction: Blend kohlrabi with water and yuzu juice. Strain through a fine mesh.
- Bath: Dissolve Calcium Chloride in 1 liter of water.
- Solution: Dissolve Sodium Alginate in the Kohlrabi-Yuzu juice using a high-speed blender (let sit for 2 hours to de-gas).
- Spherification: Using a syringe, drop the kohlrabi mixture into the calcium bath. Allow to sit for 2 minutes to form a membrane.
- Rinse: Gently rinse spheres in cold water. They should hold shape but burst upon pressure.
4. The Crunch: Kelp & Scallop Tuile
Technique: Dehydration, Baking
Ingredients:
- 20g Dried Scallop (Kobu-bushi), ground to powder
- 5g Dehydrated Kelp, ground to powder
- 40g Egg Whites
- 40g Powdered Sugar
- 40g Rice Flour
Instructions:
- Batter: Whisk egg whites and sugar until soft peaks. Fold in rice flour, scallop powder, and kelp powder gently.
- Spread: Spread thinly on a silicone mat in irregular, jagged shapes (resembling shards of coral or glass).
- Bake: Bake at 150°C (300°F) for 8-10 minutes until pale gold.
- Cool: Let cool completely. They will crisp up as they lose moisture.
Assembly & Plating
Visual Aesthetic: Dark, moody, high contrast. The plate should feel like a dark ocean floor with bioluminescent highlights.
The Plate: A matte black, deep-rimmed ceramic vessel (Ø 28cm).
- The Canvas: Spoon a ring of the Cascara & Black Garlic Emulsion slightly off-center. The sauce should be dark brown-black.
- The Protein: Slice the Aged Otoro into three thick medallions (approx. 4cm diameter). Arrange them overlapping the sauce, exposing the pink interior.
- The Garnish:
- Scatter 15-20 Kohlrabi Spheres around the tuna like pearls.
- Place one Kelp Tuile shard standing upright behind the tuna for verticality.
- Dot the plate with micro-shiso leaves (purple and green) and edible gold leaf flakes (23k) sparingly on the sauce.
- The Aroma: Just before service, mist the plate with Juniper Smoke from a smoking gun. Place a cloche over the plate for 10 seconds, then remove tableside to release the smoke.
Wine Pairing Suggestion
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Vosne-Romanée (Lighter Pinot Noir) or a Natural Orange Wine from Georgia (Saperavi).
Reasoning: The tannins in the wine mirror the tannins in the Cascara, while the fruit notes complement the tuna's fat. The earthiness of the wine binds with the Black Garlic.
Chef's Technical Notes for Execution
- Temperature Control: The contrast is key. The Otoro must be served at room temperature (approx 20°C), while the Emulsion must be warm (55°C). The spherification caviar should be chilled (4°C). This temperature variance creates a dynamic sensory experience.
- Flavor Balance: The Cascara can be bitter. Taste the emulsion frequently. The rice vinegar is crucial to cut the bitterness. If the black garlic is too sweet, add a pinch of sea salt to balance.
- Safety: Since the tuna is poached at a low temperature, ensure it is handled with strict hygiene protocols. The aging process reduces pathogens, but the searing step is the final safety barrier.
- Sustainability: Utilize the fish bones for a stock to be served as an amuse-bouche soup to the diner before this dish to honor the whole animal.
Service Script
"This dish is titled 'Nocturne in Blue.' It represents the fermentation of the earth meeting the aging of the ocean. You will taste the fruit of the coffee cherry, the depth of the black garlic, and the richness of the tuna aged for three days. Please begin by inhaling the juniper smoke, then experience the textures from the warm sauce to the cool caviar."
