Alder-planked Copper River sockeye at Anthony's Homeport in Edmonds. Photo by Melissa A. Trainer
Divine.
That's the only way to describe the alder-planked Copper River sockeye entree that I enjoyed at Anthony's Homeport restaurant in Edmonds last night.
My husband and I enjoy this waterfront restaurant and often go there for a happy hour nibble. Their deck overlooks the Edmonds Marina, the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains so it's a deliciously relaxing way to end the work week.
Last night, we found ourselves there rather spontaneously and I was inspired to peruse the Copper River salmon specials on the menu. I normally stick to the Happy Hour small plate options but I had spent the better part of the week working with Copper River sockeye in my kitchen and scouting for it at fishmarkets around town. There were five entree options on the menu, four of which featured Copper River sockeye and one of which featured the luxurious Copper River king.
I opted for the alder-planked sockeye finished with a smoked sweet red pepper beurre blanc. Nestled on top of fluffy mashed potatoes and accompanied by green beans, my sockeye was a knockout. Sockeye is smaller than king salmon and the prices are more reasonable because the fish is more abundant. My piece was perfectly cooked and deliciously smoky. The potatoes were the perfect accompaniment.
My husband and I split the entree and we devoured it while watching cruise ships sail by on their way towards Alaska's Inside Passage and beyond. My entree set me back about $30 but it was worth every penny and I was reminded of just how important it is to indulge in an All-American culinary taste legacy when the season prevails.