Bluefin Balfegó, Passionfruit, ponzu & eel by Chef Guido Braeken at 2 star CREATE (The Netherlands)

Balancing Premium Seafood with Tropical Acid

Chef Guido Braeken of two-star restaurant CREATE in the Netherlands demonstrates a precise cold starter that pairs fatty Bluefin Balfegó tuna with the intense, sharp profile of passion fruit, alongside the deep umami of ponzu and eel. For a modern garde manger station, the primary technical challenge lies in balancing the natural richness of premium raw tuna without overwhelming its delicate profile.

Rather than relying on conventional citrus pairings, Braeken introduces passion fruit to the plate. The tropical acidity of the fruit cuts cleanly through the high fat content of the Balfegó tuna. Meanwhile, the ponzu provides the necessary salt and savoury backbone, tying the raw fish to the deep, smoky notes of the eel.

Technical Plating and Texture Management

A key lesson from this preparation is the contrast of textures. The soft, melting texture of raw bluefin requires a firmer counterpart to keep the plate engaging. Smoked eel introduces a distinct bite and a layer of cooked fat that contrasts with the clean, raw tuna.

When executing this dish, plating temperatures are critical. Raw tuna must be served cool, but not ice-cold, as extreme cold dulls the palate and masks the natural sweetness of the fish. Additionally, any gel or sauce elements must be stable enough to hold their shape on the plate without weeping or bleeding into the ponzu.

Knife Skills and Ingredient Integrity

Working with high-end seafood like Balfegó tuna demands immaculate knife skills. Every slice must be executed with a single, clean stroke using a razor-sharp yanagiba or sujihiki. Raw sawing motions bruise the delicate flesh, accelerating oxidisation and ruining the clean visual lines required in modern fine dining.

Finally, the chef must taste and adjust the passion fruit component with every batch. Because passion fruit varies wildly in sweetness throughout the year, the acid-to-sugar ratio must be calibrated manually. Use small amounts of simple syrup or lime juice to standardise the flavour profile before service.