Today was a madhouse of packing that ended in a relaxing evening with our homebrewing friends, Seamane and Rob.
When a few pounds of Copper River Coho salmon arrived on our doorstep this week, we knew we needed some help eating it. The materials that came with the fish said it was ‘perfect for grilling’ so we took note and preheated the grill.
First to taste were Matt’s Basil IPA and Pale Ale (the Basil keg is now empty! I will miss it!)
And then we moved on to a Schlafly Pumpkin tasting: 2011 vs. 2010
I liked 2010 the best! More pumpkin flavor.
We grilled the salmon along with zucchini, tomatoes + basil from the garden and Cheddar garlic
Between the four shipments of Copper River salmon I’ve had this summer, I think my favorite was the rich King salmon from May. It was SO fatty and dense! As the months went on, the salmon got lighter and lighter – still good, but it didn’t make as much of a statement as that King. Probably why it’s called king! When I’m out in restaurants I always look for ‘wild Alaskan’ on the menu (Atlantic = farmed) and I I’ve had trouble over the years with a lot of variation between types. This summer working with the Copper River has been so educational because I can now say that King is my favorite of all wilds.
Matt’s veggies were great – so sweet!! Must be that late-summer harvest!
And with the meal served this Berkshire Brewing Co Hefeweizen that a blog reader brought!
It was the perfect compliment to our grilled meal.
For dessert we tasted more of S+R’s homebrews (including a killer old ale), Matt’s Imperial Stout and this 15% Samael’s Oak Aged Stout by Avery Brewing. INCREDIBLE!
And for munching,
Carpe Donuts given to us by our donutty neighbors! So cakey, which I love in a donut
And a platter of broken Great Harvest cookies. Why-oh-why did it take me 3 months of business to realized how good our cookies are!!!!!!?!? Thisisnotgood.
Fun night of tasting – fun weekend!
kaila @ healthy helper! says
What a fun night with friends! Nothing beats salmon on the grill!
Marie@feedingfive says
Yeah what’s up? I would have sampled everything a million times over by now.
Kelsey says
yummmmmmmmmm! and those DOUGHNUTS!
Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather says
Beer tasting is such a great time! Oh my gosh and with salmon too. Yum! Basil beer… Hmmm I’ll have to share that with Jacob, maybe he’d want to do something like that in his next batch o beer!
Katie of Cabbage Ranch says
I’ve never gotten organized enough to compare salmon types and trends this thoroughly. I shall now use this post as cliff’s notes. 😉
Sweet and Savvy says
Wow! I want to own a bakery.. Those cupcakes look Amazing. 🙂 cakey donuts are Definitely the best!
Jen says
I assume Matt likes pumpkin in his beer versus food? 🙂
KathEats says
He does, but it’s not his favorite. He only likes one at a time, verses 10 at a time of other beers 🙂
Holly @ The Runny Egg says
Dinner looks incredible — especially since donuts, cookies and beer were involved!
Cait's Plate says
Oh my. I would’ve been all about those desserts! Those doughnuts look absolutely perfect (though I’m a cookie monster so I might’ve passed them up for those 😉 )
Katie says
That grilled salmon looks so yummy! Sure beats the bowl of cereal I just ate for dinner! 😉
Chloe (In Fine Feather) says
My former boss would bring in Copper River Salmon because his family owns a fishing business & would fish there. I definitely miss the seafood I would get in the Pacific Northwest – glad to see you appreciate it too!
Rosa - Fitness, Food, Fulfilled says
I love how you’re pairing dinner with the right beer. I’m not a wine drinker, but love beer, so it would be nice to go to a restaurant that provided the right pairings with each entree. That would be truly awesome!
Molly @ RDexposed says
I can barely look at that beer…I’ve had 12 (?) different beers tonight-a few oz mostly…too much beer? I hate to say that.
KathEats says
Hannah says
I love love love how vegetables taste sweeter in season – the broccoli and cauliflower have been so crisp and sweet here lately!
Michelle (The Runner's Plate) says
I hope the cookies at your bakery are better than the one I had. I had a cookie after a recent race, and I wasn’t that impressed.
KathEats says
A great harvest cookie?
Michelle (The Runner's Plate) says
Yes, a cookie from Great Harvest.
I don’t know why it wasn’t that good. I am usually not that picky about my sweets–just as long as it is sweet–but I ended up throwing away part of the cookie because I didn’t like it. 🙁
laurie says
GH cookies are AWESOME!!!!!!
KathEats says
Bummer. I can’t imagine!
sarah@spinach and spice says
Great looking dinner! Salmon and veggies is always a winning combination 🙂
Khushboo says
Perfect end-of-summer meal…if I owned a bakery, I think I would have dove into the cookies head-first almost immediately!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
The fact that you get the cookie leftovers, the brokens or those that don’t sell..that would be dangerous in my house! It wouldnt have taken 3 mos either…more like 3….hours! for me. Total cookie monster here.
homebrewing friends..that is so cool that you have friends like that!
And the salmon and veggies look phenomenal. My hubs does advertising and has clients in Alaska and goes to the Cooper River about once a year and brings home salmon from the area.
skinnyrunner says
king salmon is definitely the best tasting salmon there is, and the most expensive. we catch a little of it on our boats and its richer and fattier tasting in a good way, like you said. my little bro is getting married next weekend and having a 70 lb king salmon. talk about some omega 3s.
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
Salmon is my favorite, though I don’t think I’ve ever had the pleasure of having king. I always buy wild-caught, thought. Our fresh fish is pretty limited around here, unfortunately. I’d love to find solid sources to buy it frozen online with reasonable shipping.
Sarah Jane MacMillan says
I can’t wait to see how the new house turns out! When is the official move date? Must be tough to coordinate together with the bakery! Bravii!!!
KathEats says
Next monday!
Great job getting the blog started, by the way!
Jumanah @ Healthy Living in the Middle East says
Those broken cookie pieces from the bakery would be VERY dangerous if they were around me…. I dont think I would be able to stop eating cookie bites all day!
I have never tried King Salmon…. but I’m sure its super delicious!
Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance says
I am a salmon fanatic, yet I don’t think I’ve ever tried King Salmon 🙁 Actually, I’m pretty sure I’ve never even HEARD of it :((
Fallon says
As sad as it may seem I still have not tried a GH cookie.. Their sizes are enormous and I’m afraid portion control would go right out the window. LOL
Brittnie (A Joy Renewed) says
I so wish we had a Great Harvest in Houston! I am not even sure if there is one in Texas?? All of the pictures of your bakery goodies + bread is making me drool. Your dinner looks great and cake donuts are by far my FAV. Glad you had a relaxing night!
Katie @ Peace Love and Oats says
I love doing tastings because I have such a hard time making decisions – this way you get to try everything! And that’s a great tip about the salmon, that atlantic means farm raised! I’ll keep that in mind!
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes says
Salmon on the grill is just fantasitc! Looks great 🙂
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
I don’t think I’ve ever seen King salmon at a restaurant or even at our local fish markets. I’ll have to keep my eye out for it because I’m a big salmon fan!
Hillary says
Love that you can see the grease from the doughnuts. That’s how you know they’re good ; )
Erika - The Teenage Taste says
Sounds like such a fun night with friends. Dessert looks especially good! 😀
Emmy (WIne and Butter) says
Your post is making me wish I still lived in the states – I miss ‘fall’!!! Here we have mulled wine to look forward to… but that doesnt even happen properly until winter. I may need to start a pumpkin revolution here! xx
Kristen says
I’m glad I still have 1 bottle of the Schlafly pumpkin ale in my fridge from last year! I made Schlafly Pumpkin Ale Bread yesterday – I think your hubby would appreciate it, even though I’m sure he could make an even better one using delicious GH ingredients! Maybe that’s something you could add to your menu…
kathleen @ the daily crumb says
YUM! those donuts look delicious!
i never paid attention to where my salmon is restaurants came from until you started making note of it on this blog. i really appreciate your attention to sustainability, kath. interestingly enough, last night i noticed a restaurant menu item of “farm raised atlantic salmon”… as if they were advertising this way of raising the fish. i would think this would turn diners off, but i guess most people don’t realize what that means?
KathEats says
🙂
I recently saw “wild Atlantic salmon” on a menu. I think that was menu fraud – unless I’m not aware of a european kind or something?
JenATX says
salmon delivered to your doorsteps- what a treat!
Angel7 says
We need to eat more fish. I have some good recipes for fish, and now that you brought it to my mind, we are going to have fish for dinner tonight 🙂
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
lindzjane115 says
I’m not usually a beer drinker, but your posts about PUMPKIN beer are totally tempting me! What would you recommend I try?
KathEats says
Depends on where you live.
Look for Schlafly, Cottonwood, Weyebacher Imperial pumpkin, Dogfish
lindzjane115 says
Thanks! I live in Charlottesville–do you know of a place to buy single bottles? I say Dogfish at Whole Foods today, but didn’t want to commit to a 4 or 6 pack before I know I like it…
KathEats says
Try Beer Run!!
KathEats says
OH – and get the Pumking!!! They have it in a big single bottle – it’s like butterbeer!
Alaina says
I love cider donuts! Especially when they are deliciously cakey. Bah, I love the fall!! 🙂
Emily Anne says
yum! i love carpe donut!
Katie @ Plates and Paste says
Mmm those donuts look so good! Cake donuts are my fav too. Can’t beat ’em! Especially blueberry.
ashley says
You know, I am not a pumpkin beer (or…anything) fan…but your posts have convinced me I need to hope over to Schlafly Bottleworks and try the Pumpkin Ale (I live about 3 miles away!).
The Healthy Apple says
Those cookies look OUTRAGEOUS. OMG. I need to come visit your bakery now; seriously they look fabulous, Kath.
xo