If there’s one thing most high-end restaurateurs really fear, it’s the idea that their clients may figure out how to reproduce items from their menu at home. So kudos to the folks over at Óceán Bár and Grill for having the confidence to make available the key ingredient for one of their more popular offerings. Because if you want to make the grilled tuna fillet wrapped in Serrano ham with bell pepper confit and saffron sauce pictured up top, the next-door Óceán Delikátesz sells wonderfully pre-packaged rolls of tuna wrapped up in thin slices of the finest jamón (directly above) that are not only very reasonably priced and very delicious, but a cinch to cook.
By easy to cook, we mean almost idiot-proof. All you have to do is remove the cellophane wrapper – gently – and then slide the roll into a lightly oiled and very hot non-stick skillet. Use a pair of tongs to flip it until it’s brown on all sides, which should take no more than a few minutes, unless you like your tuna like it came from a can.
Once the roll is cooked, ease it out of the pan and onto a cutting board, and slice it into however many pieces you want. While they are served one to a plate at Óceán, we’ve found that, with the proper sides, one is more than enough for two. And at Ft 1,950 per 200 gram roll, that works out to less than Ft 1,000 a serving.
So in less time than it takes to complain about the lack of good seafood in Budapest – voilà – you’ve got grilled tuna fillet wrapped in Serrano ham with… crappy store-bought cheese ravioli. Now if only they’d start selling that bell pepper confit and saffron sauce.
