Food and Drink

Rough week for fresh seafood, but holiday sweets abound at local markets

The weather has been crazy. And that's not great news for skiers, drivers or seafood lovers.

"The seafood world is battling this ever-changing crazy weather just like the rest of us," says Dannon Southall of 10th & M Seafoods.

That means some fresh seafood options might be a bit limited.

"Even with the weather not cooperating in Southeast, a few fishermen have been able to get out and target the ever-so-beautiful winter king salmon," Southall says. "Fresh winter kings will be available this week with head-on fish and fillets in house. There will be a few whites mixed in but it always best to call ahead of time."

Southall says fresh true cod fillets from the Gulf of Alaska are available this week. "These mild flaky white fish fillets are a wonderful way to change it up from the plump avian of two weeks ago."

Holiday macarons

Sweet Caribou is getting ready for the holiday season with a special selection of flavors. Starting Wednesday, the Midtown macaron makers will have gingerbread eggnog, salted caramel hot chocolate, cranberry orange and peppermint bark, as well as holiday birthday cake, hot buttered rum, tiramisu, Mexican hot chocolate, strawberry shortcake, passionfruit and green velvet.

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"We'll also be offering gift baskets with a variety of options ─ our Mexican hot chocolate, peppermint bark made with Belgium chocolate, caribou tracks, and homemade marshmallows," says owner James Strong. "Stop by and grab something for the business contact, or just grab something for that special neighbor."

Center Market

The Center Market is full of options on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Dee Barker from Earthworks Farm will be at the Wednesday and Saturday markets with gourmet Alaska honey and a full lineup of body care items made with honey and beeswax.

"Our honey is available in three sizes, including the cute 'Tiny Teddy Bear' bottle that makes a great stocking stuffer," she says. "We also have a new seasonal soap, such as our Sleigh Bells soap, featuring a scent of nutmeg, balsam fir, orange, peppermint and clove, along with other fun season-related soaps such as Holiday Confetti, and a very chocolatey Chocolate Espresso.

"For gift ideas we also offer our hand-crocheted wash cloth/honeycomb soap combination and our gift tin pack which has honey glycerine soap, a lotion bar and our Blue Rescue lip balm."

Alex Davis of AD Farm says "if you are starting to think about Christmas gifts or dinner we can help you out."

Davis will have vegetables, pork cuts, corn- and soy-free eggs, raspberry jam, pumpkin butter and apple butter. He also carries items from several Alaska food producers.

Davis' pork options include chops, loin roast, fresh side, ground pork, ribs, roast, a variety of sausages, fat, bones for broth, feet and hocks. He's also taking reservations for pigs lined up for butchering. The AD Farm vegetable lineup includes green cabbage, kohlrabi, red and golden beets, carrots in a variety of colors, Brussels sprouts and several potato options.

Davis also will have tofu, sprouts, micro greens and basil from Alaska Sprouts; barley products from Alaska Flour Co.; Evie's Brinery's kimchi and krauts; Windy River Farm's grass-fed beef; and Tonia's Biscotti items.

Monica's Confection Connection will be at the Center Market on Wednesday with a large selection of brittles, including cashew, pecan, peanut, holiday spice, jalapeno peanut, cayenne cashew and Bear Mace. Monica Droz also will have creamy caramels, gummies and fudge. "If hot cocoa is on your menu, we have homemade vanilla and peppermint marshmallows to top it off," Droz says.

Rempel Family Farm will be at Saturday's market with orange and purple carrots, parsnips, collards, daikon, kale, sugar pumpkins, jumbo pink banana squash, acorn squash, spaghetti squash, snow apple turnips, kohlrabi, four varieties of beets, green cabbage, purple onions and several varieties of potatoes.

"There might even be some surprises," Mark Rempel says. The Rempels also have yak meat.

Also look for Alaska Fisherman Seafood Direct with smoked black cod, shrimp, halibut and more; Mosquito Mama balsamic vinegar; Wild Child fermented salsa; Northern Lights Mushrooms; Doggy Decadence; Jonsers, with hand-crafted nectar; and Alaska Seeds of Change, with locally grown greens.

Thankful Thursdays

Shoppers at the Thursday market will find a variety of fermented items from Farm 779, Alaska-grown beef, veggies and honey.

Farm 779 is showcasing its hot kraut this week. It's so hot it has "flames on the label," says owner Julie Meer. With that good news, Meer reminds shoppers that locally produced items sometimes have a shelf life. "We are officially sold out of Mat-Su Valley grown Napa and bok choy, which means Farm 779's popular kimchi will return in the spring," she says.

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Meer says she will have cranberry blend, turmeric dip, ketogenic cacao cookies and snacks, peony chaga and ginger turmeric kombucha, a variety of krauts featuring Alaska grown cabbage and vegetables, along with body-care products.

Duane Clark will have oyster mushrooms, local pork, beef, yak, jams, zucchini relish, salsa, potatoes, carrots and honey.

Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. Contact him at akmarketfresh@gmail.com.

Local farmers markets

Wednesday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street

Thursday in Anchorage: Thankful Thursdays market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street

Friday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street; Fourth Avenue Indoor Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 333 W. Fourth Ave.

Saturday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street; Fourth Avenue Indoor Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 333 W. Fourth Ave.

Sunday in Anchorage: Fourth Avenue Indoor Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 333 W. Fourth Ave.

Steve Edwards

Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. He writes the Market Fresh column weekly and can be reached akmarketfresh@gmail.com.

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