It's time to say goodbye to 2015.
For those celebrating the New Year, Dannon Southall of 10th & M Seafoods has a suggestion -- start 2016 with something tasty from the sea.
"The weather laid down enough over the past few days to allow the fisherman in Southeast Alaska to go out and target the ever beautiful winter kings," Southall says. "We will have these winter treats all week with a few whites mixed in. Also from Southeast this week will be fresh side stripe shrimp. These wild, cold water, sweet shrimp are a wonderful addition to any celebration.
"The weather in the Gulf of Alaska has been anything but good; with that being said a few boats were able to get out and target cod."
Southall says fresh cod filets are available in the store for $5.95 per pound.
"If you are looking to round out the Alaskan feast with shellfish, we will have both live Alaskan oysters and mussels in house this week," he says. "As a treat for the warm-water loving seafood consumers, we will have fresh marlin and tuna from Hawaii this week. Pair either of these warm-water delights with fresh trolls kings and let your palate choose between the sand and the snow."
Center Market
The twice-weekly market will close out 2015 on Wednesday and open 2016 on Saturday at the Mall at Sears.
"The 30th is the last market of the year, but don't be sad -- the second is the first market of the New Year," says market organizer Alex Davis. "It's funny that a small farm like mine can be able to log in about 100 markets a year out of one location. Over the years of doing year-round marketing I have found two things to be vital -- consistency in attendance and variety of what is offered. I am so glad to have a good group of vendors who help round out your dinner table at the Center Market."
Davis will have pork products, including loin roast, chops, suckling pigs, fresh side sliced and slab, ground pork, sausage in many varieties, bones, fat, liver and other pieces. He also has carrots, beets, cabbage and potatoes, along with eggs, barley products and items from Alaska Sprouts, including tofu, basil and microgreens.
Joining Davis at this week's markets are Sweet Caribou, Farm 779, Rempel Family Farm, Alaska Black Cod, La Grassa and Country Health Foods.
Sweet Caribou's James Strong says a box of macarons are a special treat this time of year.
"Looking for a great hostess gift for that New Year's party? Check out our fantastic selection of new flavors of macarons to feature next to our holiday classics," Strong says.
New flavors include strawberry champagne, portly pear (almond shell, port buttercream and pear-port jam) and Frangelico chocolate (chocolate shell and Frangelico hazelnut Belgian chocolate ganache). Other flavors include the firecracker fruit punch with pop rocks, peppermint bark, gingerbread eggnog, cranberry orange and salted caramel hot chocolate. Sweet Caribou also has cupcakes, Belgian chocolate brownies and toffee blondies.
Alaska Black Cod will be at both markets this week, with lingcod and yellow-eye rockfish, along with smoked black cod (sablefish) portions, tips and collars; smoked Copper River salmon and scallops and Pacific cod.
Farm 779 will be at the market on Wednesday with loads of probiotic and health foods. Julie Meer's selection includes ginger kombucha and other treats that might be ideal for a party -- Perfect Snack, the Ultimate Coconut Condiment and Awesome Sauce.
La Grassa will be at Wednesday's market with pasta options, including fresh, hand-cut noodles in spinach, original and white wine saffron flavors. Other pasta options include vegan sourdough strozzapreti, Alaska potato gnocchi, sauteed mushroom ravioli, vegan Alaska beet and cashew ricotta ravioli, and preserved lemon, goat cheese and kale ravioli.
Rempel Family Farm will be at the Saturday market with 11 varieties of potatoes, four varieties of beets, carrots, snow apple turnips, daikon radishes, parsnips, cabbage, red onions, winter squash and sugar pumpkins.
Country Health Foods will be at Wednesday's market with grass-fed yak and beef, local honey and honeycomb, jams, salsa and zucchini relish.
Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. Contact him at akmarketfresh@gmail.com.
Local farmers markets
Monday in the Valley: Depot Farm Market, noon-6 p.m., Palmer Depot
Wednesday in Anchorage: Alaska Pacific University Farmers Market, 1:30-6:30 p.m., APU campus in front of Grant Hall; Center Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street
Saturday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street