The St. Lawrence Market Sushi Battle!
Toronto, ON
81/2/10 6/10
Dominic's Fish Market vs. Quik Sushi
The appeal of a farmer's market is usually that the customer may go directly to the source...the farmer, or fisherman. Alas (or perhaps thank goodness), not in Toronto. So, the freshest fish should be bought from a fishmonger, in this case Dominic's Fish Market. Dominic's employs it's own sushi chef to prepare fresh sushi on site. Quik Sushi buys their fish from other Market Vendors, probably including Dominic's Fish Market. Their advantage is that they may purchase their fish from any of the three fish markets, choosing whatever is freshest but the other fish stores, however, do not specialize in sushi.
Lower Level, South St. Lawrence Market, 416-368-1397, http://www.stlawrencemarket.com/shopping/vendors/domenics.html
Upper Level, South St. Lawrence Market, 416-603-0016, http://www.stlawrencemarket.com/shopping/vendors/quiksushi.html
So there seems to be a superfluous step in this process. Why buy from the middle man when you trek all the way down to Front and Jarvis, push your way through the cacophony of the market on a Saturday morning just to get as close as fresh fish comes to the source in Toronto?
This is the theoretical argument. On to the results:
Advantages of Quik Sushi: They have teriyaki and tempura. More types of rolls (Dragon, caterpillar, rainbow, unagi, and vegetarian).
Disadvantages of Quik Sushi: Salmon sashimi left in display too long. No special types of fish.
Advantages of Dominic's Fish Market: Best salmon nigiri and handrolls. Butterfish available upon advance request. Toro availalble upon request. Free (amazing) oyster sampling. Fresh wakame salad sold seperately.Take home packages of fresh gyoza dumplings to steam.
Disadvantages of Dominic's Fish Market: Limited quantities and selection once the sushi chef leaves on Saturday afternoon.
Best of show:
If you want the best salmon in sushi that I've ever tasted in Toronto, go with the the salmon avocado handroll from Dominic's.
Both this and the california rolls with salmon sashimi draped on top are incredible. DO NOT choose the economic Six Piece Nigiri Sushi, Six Piece Salmon and Tuna Rolls, and Three Piece Salmon Sashimi that has been sitting in the display too long at Quik Sushi. Ask for it fresh, or order salmon sashimi seperately on the side...from Dominic's. Do this while you chat with their Japanese-only-speaking chef through their translator/oyster shucker.
Upon requesting a special order of toro nigiri (a fattier tuna)from Dominic's, my dining companion experienced a revelation of flavour. I thought it was too stringy. I wanted the melt-in-your-mouth kind of fatty, not the chewy kind. Quik Sushi, however, did not offer toro at all. Just run of the mill maguro tuna.
Above: Dominic's Salmon Avocado Roll
Below: Quik Sushi's Salmon Avocado Roll
Besides the obvious lack of caviar on Quik Sushi's roll, the taste is actually very similar. Despite the fact that neither probably use the best cut of salmon in maki rolls, the combination of creamy avocado with nicely seasoned sushi rice makes both of these great choices for a light lunch.
Fine, I admit it. Everything at Dominic's is not necessarily better. Their nigiri/roll combos (above) that have been sitting in display are very hard to differentiate from those at Quick Sushi. They, however, thoughtfully, did not include the salmon sushi that looks like it's dying a little every minute that it waits to be bought.
Finally, butterfish, my personal god of sushi...Upon advance special request Dominic's will prepare butterfish for you. After suffering a long period of butterfish drought in Toronto sushi, I was thrilled to know that they had it. I assumed it must be very expensive and very unsustainable, but it turns out that it's just not carried in many places. This is a definite melt-in-your-mouth, solidify on your hips kind of good omega three fat.
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