Chef Leo presents the tuna pre-filleting
What exactly is a tuna ceremony?
It's billed as the ultimate fin-to-gill experience, where a whole bluefin tuna is broken down in front of you for an omakase experience that allows a team of sushi chefs to demonstrate their skills, while you get to try all the different parts of the fish.
I've seen photos of a tuna coming off a truck in front of diners, is that what we're talking about?
You might have seen tiktoks of the Tuna Fight Club in Notting Hill. This is a slightly less in-your-face experience, as it all takes place inside Los Mochis City. That said, the 221kg tuna arrived on site just an hour before we turned up for dinner and was wheeled through the restaurant on a trolley. That way everyone could take a look at it before it arrived at the sushi counter at the rear. It's quite a spectacle.
The filleting takes precision and also muscle power - it's a huge fish!
Where is the fish from?
A good question and one that's important when it comes to bluefin tuna. The fish we enjoyed was sourced by Balfegó. They were the first Spanish fishing company to be B Corp certified and our fish was caught using techniques that target only adult Bluefin tuna in a sustainable way.
What happens next?
While you get to sip on your first drink of the evening the sushi team led by chef Leo Tanyag (who also presides over the amazing Juno omakase in West London) fillet the massive tuna in front of you. They talk you through what's happening at every stage, including how different parts of the fish will taste.
Once the head, tail and half the fish are removed guests get their first taste of the tuna. Wooden spoons are handed around the group - there are just 12 seats at the counter for this, so it's an intimate experience - and you can carve tuna directly out of the fish itself - about as fresh as it gets.
Spooning tuna direct from the fish
That all sounds very DIY, is the whole meal like that?
No, after the spoons everyone reverts back to their seats at the sushi counter for a procession of courses that not only demonstrate how different parts (belly, cheek, back) of the tuna taste quite different, but also illustrate the Japanese/Mexican influences of the restaurant itself. There are ten courses in total and without wanting to spoil the experience for you, here are just a few of the highlights.
Crispy Rice: Spicy Tuna, Avocado Crema, Spring Onion
Tartare: Akami, Citrus Truffle Soy, Oscietra Caviar
Sashimi - a good opportunity to compare parts of the fish directly as it's a mix of akami, chutoro and otoro.
Salad made with akami, Asian mixed leaf and a punchy carrot ginger dressing
Maki - two spicy tuna tempura rolls topped with crispy leeks.
How much is it?
You'll probably have gathered by now that this isn't a cheap outing. But given what you'll try and the interactive nature of this evening we can see how it would be worth it. It's £195 per person for the meal. That is a high price, clearly, but one which starts to look like a bargain compared with other London omakase offerings like The Araki (£310) and Sushi Kanaesaka (£420). It's also popular - we hear that it's almost booked up to the early summer.
And the drink side of things?
There are two distinct drinks pairings. Diners can choose between top-tier sakes or a process of fine wines (both £110). We tried both and think that sake lovers will find that a particularly good pairing, although we also enjoyed trying more unusual wines like the Château Mercian ‘Fuekuki’ Koshu Gris de Gris from Japan.
Overall thoughts:
It's all too easy as restaurant goers in London, miles away from both the sea and countryside, to become divorced from the reality of where food actually comes from. This tuna experience not only makes you consider what exactly you're eating, but also goes some way to educate diners on sustainable fishing practices while giving you an up close and personal appreciation of the skills required by sushi chefs.
If all that sounds a bit worthy, it's also an evening of incredibly delicious dishes that celebrate tuna in all its forms. This would be a great thing to buy for a special occasion (there was at least one birthday being celebrated on the night we were there) or as a bucket list experience for any London sushi lover.
More about TENrei: The Art of Tuna Ceremony
Where is it? 100 Liverpool St, City of London, London EC2M 2AT
When? Held on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month,
How to book: Book it online here
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @losmochislondon
Hot Dinners dined as guests of Los Mochis London City. Prices correct at time of publication.
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