100 Favorite Dishes: Volcano Salad at Tiger Sushi

We thought we'd start this new feature--a daily countdown of 100 of Hot Dish's favorite dishes leading up to this spring's Best Of issue--with a bang, or an eruption, actually. The menu at Tiger Sushi II promises an "EXPLOSION of FLAVORS!" from this dish, called "J.R. and the Volcano" (after head sushi chef J.R. Malibirin), or simply the Volcano Salad.

To me, the flavors in this salad--a heaping pile of raw fish slices and fruit--aren't so bold as they are varied: the silkiness of the fish is accented by the bright sweetness of strawberries and mango, spiked with a slightly bitter bite of kaiware sprouts, the pop of fish roe, and the fuzzy crunch of tempura flakes. Its light freshness makes it the perfect thing to order out on Tiger's patio, come summer. For now, it's an easy way to stick to healthy eating resolutions. Tune in tomorrow and we'll have another favorite dish to help you break 'em.