Funny Looks

On the subway today I noticed a man staring at me with an apprehensive look on his face. He would look down at my feet and then up at my face. After repeating this a few times I got worried that maybe I was not dressed properly or had forgotten to take my apron off. After doing a once over and confirming that I was dressed appropriately I saw what was causing him concern. The tip of my Chefs knife was peaking out of my bag. Somewhere between walking from school to the subway my knife case had slipped off to expose the top inch of the knife. I quickly reached down and put the cover back on. Not because I was fearful he would call security on me, but because I did not want to damage my knife. My knife pack, which carries all my knifes and tools, is the size of a violin case and a hassle to lug home. So I usually just take home my chefs knife with its small cover, which is not enough protection for it.
If only that man knew that hiding under my knife was a Tupperware filled with seared ahi tuna with an herb crust and a ginger scallion dipping sauce. I guarantee he would have smiled at me (rather than scowl) in hopes of getting a bite.

There were a few other "situations" that were more unsound than my shiny knife revealing itself. Like the man in a black hat, black hooded sweatshirt (hood on), pants down to his ankles, and a beat up suit case with what looked like a baseball bat coming out of it. Or the man who was blowing his nose and discarding his dirty Kleenex by throwing it on the ground of the train.

HERB CRUSTED SEARED AHI TUNA
recipe by: Daniel Mattos
INGREDIENTS:
-1/4th cup coriander seeds
-1/4th cup cumin seeds
-1 teaspoon chili powder
-4 tablespoons olive oil
-salt and pepper to taste
-4- 5 oz portions of ahi tuna cut into 1 1/2 inch rectangles
-2 tablespoons canola oil
-cilantro for garnish (optional)

DIRECTIONS:
-Grind coriander and cumin in spice grinder
-Mix ground coriander and cumin with chili powder, salt, pepper, and oil. Add enough oil until it becomes a paste.
-using a pastry brush, cover all four sides of the tuna with the paste. Leaving the 2 ends uncoated.
-Heat a large case iron skille, add oil.
-Once oil is heated sear tuna on each side for 30 seconds.
-Remove tuna from pan.
-Slice into 1/2 inch squares.

GINGER SCALLION DIPPING SAUCE
-1/4 cup Rice vinegar
-1 Scallion, minced
-4 Tablespoons shoyu
-1 Garlic clove; minced
-1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup
-1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
-1/2 teaspoon Minced ginger root
DIRECTIONS:
-Combine all ingredients.