How to Cook Gill-to-Tail with Antonio Park

Receiving Our Acupunctured Snapper: A Culinary Experience

So we just received our Kaimin Tai Acupuncture Snapper, and as Antonio Park from Restaurant Park explains, "Kaimin means sleeping," referring to the fact that the fish is acupunctured. The process involves building a little mat with needles coming out, allowing you to place the fish on top of it when catching one. When you catch a fish, you put it on the needle and literally, it sleeps.

Before preparing our Acupuncture Snapper, Antonio emphasizes the importance of having sharp knives, particularly on both sides. He notes that taking your time and using the right angle is crucial for a successful cut. One of the first things to notice when handling the fish is its clear eyes, which indicates freshness. To check if the fish is fresh, you dig into it and examine its cleanliness. The way the fish was killed also contributes to its quality.

The Acupuncture Snapper is a rare and expensive delicacy, originating from Japan, New Zealand, or Hawaii, California. Antonio invites viewers to find out who brings these fish to their local markets or come to his restaurant for a similar experience. He notes that the price may seem steep, but it's worth trying. Scaling up the ingredients, Antonio cautions against attempting this at home with your mother's sink, as she might not be happy.

To fillet the Acupuncture Snapper, Antonio separates it into different components and separates the belly from the top side. Cutting down a fish is an art that requires feeling for bones. The process begins by making a stock out of the belly to avoid waste. A sharp knife is essential in cutting and separating the fish. Using micro chives adds strength to his dish, while freshly grated wasabi enhances flavor.

For this recipe, Antonio uses dashi-style preparation, where he separates the skin from the fillet. He then makes a soup with miso and mixes it with kelp to create a delicious broth. Adding bonito flakes, soy sauce, and boiling the mixture results in a flavorful dish. The finished product is garnished with a little sauce, Japanese citrus between lemon and lime, which adds an expensive but unique flavor.

The recipe continues with Antonio's preparation of the liver as a dipping sauce. He uses Japanese peppers and green onion along with soy sauce to marinate it before serving. He then takes out the bone from the fish that was previously cooked in a deep fryer. To finish the dish, Antonio adds raw pepper for added spice, similar to Russian roulette, where you never know what will happen.

Finally, Antonio prepares the liver on the side as a dipping sauce, adding four seasons sprouts and lemon for garnish. He then moves on to creating another stock using the head, middle bones of the fillet, and bellies of the fish. This soup is made by mixing it with miso, boiling, straining, and squeezing for flavor.

The second dish consists of taking one side of the cooked fish that had been salted and peppered and cutting it into thin slices. These are added on top of a bowl where they can be appreciated in their beauty without being submerged. The finished Acupuncture Snapper recipe concludes with Antonio's encouragement to use every part of the ingredients, emphasizing not to waste food. By following his tips, home cooks can learn how to cook this unique dish with confidence and creativity.