For decades, tuna, the so-called chicken of the sea , has been a staple food in many American households. While canned tuna products have long been the most popular, with numerous chefs even having their favorite canned tuna brands , many Americans are also turning toward fresh cuts of tuna, including ahi tuna thanks to its unique flavor and texture. However, despite its growing popularity, many people still don't know exactly what ahi tuna is, let alone what its characteristics are.
With this in mind, we reached out to tuna expert and Director of Seafood Quality at Fulton Fish Market , Robert DiGregorio, asking him to enlighten us on all aspects of ahi tuna. DiGregorio, otherwise known as Bobby Tuna, is a true expert, having worked at Fulton Fish Market since leaving the Marines in the 1970s. During his time there, DiGregorio has worked in many roles from fish cutter all the way up to his current position as Director of Seafood Quality.
DiGregorio has specialized in tuna since the mid-1980s, and even wrote a comprehensive book on the topic, " Tuna Grading and Evaluation ", the second edition of which was published in 2017. With decades in the business and millions of pounds of tuna sold by his hands, DiGregorio is the perfect person to dispel the ongoing confusion that surrounds ahi tuna. What is ahi tuna? The most important thing Robert DiGregorio tells us is that, contrary to what many people assume, ahi tuna is not an actual species.
As he explains, "It is an Hawaiian wor.