2014: Copper River Salmon Season

When it shows up at Costco, I buy lots of it and often.

PH

I'll have mine with a slice of cheddar on top.

And BBQ sauce with lots of chiles! Yum. That way if someone serves a Pinot Noir with it, I can at least tolerate the wine.

More seriously, does Costco sell fresh fish or is it all frozen?

quote:

Originally posted by GregT:

More seriously, does Costco sell fresh fish or is it all frozen?

They sell fresh. Last time I was in there they had huge pieces of halibut, whole trout, pacific rockfish, dover sole, some salmon and other stuff too.

Last year it was a long time into the season before I was able to get any CRS. Think I only got it once. Love the sockeye that comes after so I was not upset. I love it when it gets down to $8 a lb.

Only thing about Costco seafood is they don't treat it right. Bag of clams is usually all I ever buy from them.

quote:

Originally posted by Julius:
When it shows up at Costco, I buy lots of it and often.

Costco's in our market never receives/buys from the first releases or even the second, and we cannot wait for their stock.

quote:

Originally posted by Danyull:
Only thing about Costco seafood is they don't treat it right. Bag of clams is usually all I ever buy from them.

Why do you say that?

quote:

Originally posted by spo:

quote:

Originally posted by Danyull:
Only thing about Costco seafood is they don't treat it right. Bag of clams is usually all I ever buy from them.

Why do you say that?

Ditto.

At least down here, the "Pacific Halibut" / "California Halibut" (read: probably some really big flat fish that lives off the coast of CA) is always very fresh and tasty when bought and cooked day of packaging.

Obviously, at least here, their "Dover Sole" is neither of those things. But still fine.

I swear We could copy/paste this thread every year and just chg the year

quote:

Originally posted by KSC02:
I swear We could copy/paste this thread every year and just chg the year

I always hold out hope some will develop a palate for the finer things in life.

We just had our Dacor grill serviced and are ready to grill.

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:
We just had our Dacor grill serviced and are ready to grill.

So am I with a new Smokey Joe

First catch has hit our market!

Fresh wild California king salmon has arrived at Vons supermarket here in San Diego for $17.99 per pound. Apparently California now wants a piece of Alaska's action. The product has an impressively rich color, but I assume it is no comparison with CRS. Only one way to find out.

quote:

Originally posted by spo:

quote:

Originally posted by Danyull:
Only thing about Costco seafood is they don't treat it right. Bag of clams is usually all I ever buy from them.

Why do you say that?

The Costcos in my area cut their fish really roughly. You can see that the meat is bruised and there are compression spots from where they have been stacked. The fillet lines are never straight and they cuts around the collar to take off the heads are usually ragged, meaning they were hacked off by a cleaver. Sometimes I'll see blood clots behind the gills and the gills themselves may be a burgundy or dark red instead of bright red.

Unless I know and trust the fish monger, I like to buy my fish whole so I can see how fresh and how well taken care of it's been before I buy. Fillets make it easy to hide sub-par handling of fish. I'm not that nitpicky or elitist in general about my food, but seafood would be the exception.

Last year when Costco was selling the CRS, I was really disappointed with how poorly they handled a premium product so I didn't buy any. I was offended that they were not treating such beautiful fish with the respect that I thought it deserved.

The quality of a seafood dish is far more dependent on the handling/freshness vs other proteins and I have so many local purveyors here that are fanatical about their product that I'm ok with spending a bit more with them vs the Costcos in my area.

Don't get me wrong, I love Costco! Just not a fan of their seafood department.

quote:

Originally posted by Javachip:
Fresh wild California king salmon has arrived at Vons supermarket here in San Diego for $17.99 per pound. Apparently California now wants a piece of Alaska's action. The product has an impressively rich color, but I assume it is no comparison with CRS. Only one way to find out.

Don't write off California Kings! They're pretty darn tasty.

Had my first piece this past Wednesday night!

Blech...

PH

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:
Had my first piece this past Wednesday night!

Do you have pictures? Did anyone on this forum actually witness you eating the CRS? Probably just another load of bullshit...

quote:

Originally posted by billhike:

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:
Had my first piece this past Wednesday night!

Do you have pictures? Did anyone on this forum actually witness you eating the CRS? Probably just another load of bullshit...

Irvine Costco is now carrying Copper River Sockeye. It has been a long wait.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mh30...pperRiverSockeye.jpg

Had a taste of some CRS as sushi. Wish I had some right now...

quote:

Originally posted by PurpleHaze:


PH

You're nuts, PH. Completely crazy.

Grilled my first filet tonight.

FANTASTIC!

quote:

Originally posted by gigabit:
Grilled my first filet tonight.

FANTASTIC!

The best season I can recall in many years.

We had it last night on the grill marinaded with a combination of brown sugar, white sugar and soy sauce with herbs.Also, the best I can recall in years. So glad we bought more to freeze.

Got some today
$24 per pound

Had some at the club for dinner Saturday night. Served with a Roasted Red Pepper Beurre Blanc sauce on a bed of spinach. I was doubtful, but it was quite nice.

Saw some at Costco...may pick some up

Enjoyed a nice piece of CR King tonight at Chinooks in Seattle: alder planked with a light buerre blanc. Heavenly...

Put some on the grill last night with flaked sea salt, course grinds of pepper and a squeeze of lemon. Cooked to a perfect med. rare. Tasty stuff. 2011 Ceritas Chardonnay Peter Martin Ray was a great pairing.

The price has come down (considerably) at a couple of local markets (one of them now selling for $12.99/lb.).

Time to stock up!

We are featuring it at work and is very popular with a soy glaze.

Got my hands on some today. Finally. It may have been around awhile - I've been distracted.

Now which pinot to go with....

Lightly seasoned and broiled with skin on and cucumber slices. Excellent.

Saw this for $13.00 a lb in East Bay. Holding out for $8.99. Everyone knows the late season sockeye is where it is really at.

Orange Roughy was $14 a lb. I almost caved.

When it gets to $1.99/lb. I'm in!

PH

I had some tonight.
Hot smoked with a very light maple glaze.

Excellent!