Sayori – Halfbeak = [Sushi|Foodlore]

Description

• Sayori – (HalfBeak, “Needlefish”) – Katakana: サヨリ- Hiragana: さより, Kanji: 鱵

• About this fish:  Sayori are cousins to Flying Fish! They are often confused as a type of “needle-fish”, main difference is that Needlefish have both a thin upper and lower beak and are related to Gar! Sayori only have the elongated long lower beak which they use for scooping up algae as they swim. They are renowned for their beautiful, glistening silver scales and pretty semi-translucent flesh which they use for camouflage while swimming close to the surface.

It’s often called the “Princess of Sushi” however, despite the beautiful description: it’s also known by chefs for having a particularly disgusting black (algae coated) inner belly membrane! (not typical of most fish!) The contrast of the fishes pretty outside vs it’s disgusting grimy inside has led to a few figures of speech: to say that someone is a ‘Like a Sayori’ is like saying that someone is “Sneaky”, “Two-faced” or “Dark Inside”.

When prepared as Nigiri, this inner membrane is scrubbed clean & its the scales are peeled. The fresher the Sayori is; the more silver flecks it will have along its spine when served. The fish is so long and the meat is so thin that it is usually served either folded over itself or chopped up! It tastes similar to sea bream, but is perhaps a little bit fishier.

[Art Sticker by @Samkalensky, Part of my Nigiri Sushi/Foodlore collections.]