Sure, Thursday is a big turkey day, but we're Alaskans. We pick fins over feathers and local over flown-in any day.
So think differently.
And Alaska's cold waters are producing.
"Finally got in this season's red king crab in and the rumors that we initially heard on the product were true -- big, bright and full of meat," says John Jackson of New Sagaya Markets. "So here it is first of the season Alaskan red king crab.
"Great eating during the holidays for sure and real treat in Alaska."
At New Sagaya, red king crab is $21.99 per pound and golden king crab is $15.99 per pound. New Sagaya has plenty of other tasty treats, some from waters outside Alaska. Live Atlantic lobsters $12.99 per pound, while fresh marlin is $7.50 per pound.
And Dannon Southall of 10th & M Seafoods is sharing in the from-the-sea good news.
"Not too many people are thinking seafood this time of year with turkey day right around the corner, but it is still a good time to get fresh fish," he says. "King crab is also a great addition to anyone's turkey day spread and we will have both jumbo red king crab as well as the large golden king crab available."
Other options include fresh Gulf of Alaska cod for $6.95 per pound at 10th & M. There are fresh Alaska oysters from Kachemak Bay and Southeast Alaska at $12.95 per dozen and live clams are $6.95 per pound.
Another seafood option is Johnson Seafood, who will set up in front of The Mall at Sears on Wednesday. They will have two sizes of king crab, three sizes of Kodiak scallops, fresh Alaska side-stripe shrimp, cold smoked king salmon and razor clams.
AT THE MARKETS
Fresh lettuce will be available at Saturday's South Anchorage Winter Market inside the Dimond Center.
"Alaska Sprouts will be bringing fresh romaine lettuce and butter lettuce as well all the other sprouts and tofu," says market organizer Arthur Keyes. "(Chef) Dave Thorne will be back this week cooking up more of his magic."
Other vendors include Arctic Choice with a huge selection, including troll-caught king salmon from Southeast; Mat Valley Meats with a variety of Alaska meats; Glacier Valley Farm with Brussels sprouts, carrots, potatoes, turnips, kohlrabi and beets; and Stockwell Farm with orange and purple carrots, potatoes, pie pumpkins and purple turnips.
The market is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
Last-minute grocery shoppers needn't worry about healthy choices.
"Come get your fixings for your Thanksgiving feast," says Alex Davis of A.D. Farm and the Center Market. "If you are looking for something to set your table apart, come to the Center Market this Wednesday for your last minute preparations.
"For breakfast -- fresh eggs, sausage patties, fresh side pork, barley cereal, peanut potatoes for home fries. Dinner -- mashed German butterball potatoes or, for the truly adventurous, all-blue potatoes."
Other options include French fingerling potatoes, three varieties of beets, carrots, Brussels sprouts and parsnips.
Setting up alongside A.D. Farm on Wednesday will be Rempel Family Farm with 11 varieties of potatoes, sugar pumpkins, jumbo pink banana squash, acorn squash, red kuri squash, stripetti squash, spaghetti squash, beets, green cabbage, parsnips, rutabagas, daikon radish and carrots.
Alaska Vegan and Gluten Free will be offering some new items this week, beet, parsnip, carrot, sweet potato, kale and potato chips. Other items available include: spinach mushroom soup, split pea soup, roasted beets and sweet potato soup, carrot ginger soup, red beans and rice topped with pico de gallo, corn tortilla chips and baguettes.
"Everything I offer -- except the corn tortilla chips -- is GMO free," says owner Kristin Donaldson. "I have lots of customers looking for no GMOs. I'm considering looking for a way to make the corn tortilla chips without GMOs, but that is a work in progress because corn is a big offender in GMO land."
The Center Market at the Mall at Sears is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays.
By STEVE EDWARDS
Daily News correspondent