Extraordinary tuna presentation at Mitsuwa [pics]

During a trip yesterday to Mitsuwa Marketplace I was treated to quite a sight. As soon as I walked in, there was a giant crowd around a tent just inside the main entrance. Camera flashes were going off everywhere. I noticed that they were crowded around a group of people carving up a massive tuna, the likes of which I had only seen on TV. These pictures don't do it much justice, but I hope you can get the idea. It must have been 10 feet long and weighed a ton. It was hard for me to push through all the people and position myself for a decent pic.

Also, since I rarely get to Mitsuwa, I'm unsure if this is a regular occurence, but by the crowd's reaction, I didn't think so.

This is a side view/cutaway of the fish:



And here's two pics of one section of the loin:




It took 8 men over a hour to process half of this fish.

Besides the show I had a wonderful bowl of roast duck and ramen from the "Jockey" booth. The picture showed a bowl of soup with a duck leg floating in it, but when it arrived it was an entire half duck, breast and all. All for just $6.99. Delicious.[/img]

Mitsuwa Marketplace
100 E. Algonquin Road,
Arlington Hts., IL 60005

Hi EC!

As much as people try to avoid crowds, sometimes that is when the better side bar entertainment is available. You have proven again with that fascinating picture of a Tuna section being butchered for everyone to see.

I have been to Mitsuwa on weekends where they have had special foods prepared in the front lobby. I wasn't really sure what was exciting about the offering, but got in line and bought what everyone else bought. They also have food testing stations around the store, as well.

Thanks for a healthy reminder there is a potential missed opportunity when avoiding crowds at Mitsuwa and many other places.

eatchicago wrote:During a trip yesterday to Mitsuwa Marketplace I was treated to quite a sight.

EatChicago,

Wow, that is quite a sight! Looks Like Mitsuwa was the place to be yesterday.

I've never been, but your pictures remind me of one I saw of tuna being processed at the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo. The fishmongers had processed the upper half of the fish, and were running over the bones, with what appeared to be a large paint scraper, to catch what they missed.

There was a 2-3 oz mound of what looked to be the most flavorful, fatty, rich, delicious, tuna I ever saw on the edge of that scraper. I wanted to jump in the picture and take a bite. Needless to say, Tsukiji Market is high on my list when I finally visit Tokyo.

By the way, great pictures!

Enjoy,
Gary

Yes, the Tsukiji market is not to be missed. Descriptions and pictures cannot do it justice. It is absolutely mind boggling........ And the fish you will eat in the restaurants there will be like nothing else you've ever, ever had.