This March, The Star is celebrating its love of all things tuna, with its signature restaurants Balla, BLACK by ezard and Sokyo creating special menus featuring the most mouth-watering fresh tuna Australia has to offer. Choose from Italian-inspired cuisine at Balla; grilled goodness at BLACK by ezard; or Japanese fusion at Sokyo.

Balla
The Star's very own Italian, chef Stefano Manfredi, has created a menu that features yellowfin tuna battuta with flat bread and radish salad ($19); squid ink taglioni with albacore tuna, capers, olives and fresh oregano ($26); woodgrilled blue-fin tuna with borlotti bean and balsamic onion ($41). Enjoy individually of as a three-course menu for $675.
Available for lunch Tues - Fri and dinner Mon-Sat.
Bookings available online at star.com.au or 1800 700 700.

BLACK by ezard
Chef Teague Ezard has created a menu including Bluefin tuna tartar, avocado and fried rice with chilli and garlic dressing ($30); veal tenderloin with albacore tuna butter, eggplant, zucchini and heirloom tomato ($44); and sashimi of yellow fin tuna, smoked skipjack and potato salad, with quail egg and dill dressing ($30).
Available for lunch Fri and Sun, and dinner Tues-Sun.
Bookings available online at star.com.au or 1800 700 700.

Sokyo
Sokyo will be serving an a la carte menu specially created by chef Chase Kojima, who has come up with some special dishes that you'll adore. Includes "Zuke Sushi" which is marinated tuna with nikiri soy ($12); Maguro tataki with pickled shitake, white asparagus, gari gel and tosazu ($29); South Australian Bluefin tuna sashimi sampler (market price); as well as a limited edition dish, tuna collar grilled on binchotan with Sokyo dipping sauces ($50).
Available for lunch Fri and dinner Mon-Sat.
Bookings available online at star.com.au or 1800 700 700.

For more information visit star.com.au/tuna

HEALTH BENEFITS OF TUNA
As if the delectable menus weren't enough to get you on board for Month of Tuna, the highly-prized fish also boasts a myriad of health benefits. 

Here are 10 great reasons to take advantage of Month of Tuna that your body will thank you for:

1. Protein - One of the nutritional highlights of tuna is its high protein content, which is good for muscles, blood, skin, hair and nails.

2. Stroke - Tuna can help you avoid the risk of having a stroke. A recent study has shown that adults who include one to four servings of fish as a part of their regular diet had a 27 per cent lower risk of having a stroke; and five or more servings of fish per week reduces the risk by 30 per cent.

3. Blood pressure - Tuna is rich in omega-3 fatty acid, which helps prevent high blood pressure. Studies have shown that foods, like tuna, that contain omega-3 fatty acids helped test subjects maintain healthy blood pressure. 

4. Lower triglycerides - With just two servings of tuna per week, you can lower you triglyceride levels. Why is that a good thing? Triglyceride in the bloodstream indicates the amount of fat being carried. If you have high triglyceride levels, you are also most likely experiencing high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or 'bad cholesterol'; and low levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) or 'good protein'. To make things simple, you basically want more HDL and less LDL, and eating tuna to lower triglyceride level is a way to accomplish that.

5. Good for the heart - A measure of heart rate function known as heart rate variability (HRV) can be increased by eating tuna. Tuna's omega-3 fatty acids help improve cardiovascular health by increasing HRV, as well as protecting your heart from developing abnormal heart rhythms.

6. Heart disease - A moderate and healthy consumption of tuna can lower the risk of coronary heart disease. The omega-3 fatty acids in tuna help the body ward off an increased risk of heart disease - especially when you substitute tuna for foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol content.

7. Obesity - Another benefit of omega-3 fatty acid found in tuna is its ability to reduce the risk of obesity while improving the body's insulin response. Omega-3 fatty acid is able to stimulate a hormone called leptin, which helps the body's metabolism while regulating the body's weight and food intake. Tuna is also low on the glycemic index (GI) with a GI rating of 0, and is low in both calories and fat, making it a good food choice for those struggling with obesity.

8. Immune system - Tuna is a good source of selenium, an antioxidant that helps improve the body's immune system, vital for fighting off sickness, disease and infections.

9. B vitamins - The B vitamins present in tuna help to build and maintain red blood cells and increase energy and metabolic rate, as well as strengthening the immune system and helping to keep skin healthy.

10. Cancer - Tuna, and other fatty fish, have been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer and kidney cancer in test subjects. 

SOURCE: The Health Diaries - healthdiaries.com

About The Star
The Star is Sydney's premium entertainment destination. The Star offers award-winning chefs and restaurants, luxury hotel accommodation and serviced apartments, a 16-room day spa, an international designer retail collection as well a world-class casino and international nightclub Marquee.  The $100 million Star Event Centre is a state-of-the art multi-use venue and has hosted more than 200 events since opening in January 2013, including The ACCTA Awards, The ARIA Awards, The Premiere of World War Z, charity events for the Starlight Foundation and Thomas Kelly Foundation and international talent such as Ricky Martin, Seal, Garbage, One Republic, Olly Murs, Jessica Mauboy and Alicia Keys. 
For more information or enquiries, visit www.star.com.au or call 1800 700 700. 

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kirsty Petrides, PR Executive - The Star 
Kirsty.Petrides@echoent.com.au or 02 9657 7787