Tired of turkey? If that's the case, Dannon Southall of 10th & M Seafoods has some good news.
"As always, this time of year is very weather dependent for fresh fish. We have been lucky with decent weather," Southall said. "Fishermen in Southeast have been able to get out over the last few days since Thanksgiving to target winter troll king salmon and have found a few.
"The waters of the Gulf of Alaska have also been fishable the past few days, with fresh cod hitting the docks (Tuesday). This flaky white fish is a great way to switch it up from the 1,000 different turkey leftover recipes everyone is so tired of."
Southall said 10th & M will have fresh fillets and head-on and gutted Southeast king salmon all week, including plenty of white kings. The cod supply looks good too. And for holiday festivities that include lutefisk, Southall said 10th & M has 1.75-pound packages in the shop for $18.95 apiece.
Thankful Thursdays
After a week off for Thanksgiving, the Thankful Thursdays market is back this week at The Mall at Sears.
Farm 779 will have loads of ferments available at the market. Julie Meer said she will have plenty of the new turmeric coconut kefir, along with the regular citrus, double-thick and regular coconut kefirs. Alaska-grown fermented vegetable options include kimchi, kraut and beet kvass. Meer said Farm 779's kombucha has been "put to rest" until spring. But she said they will have Glacier Valley Farm's Yensis onions available either raw or fermented with pink Himalayan salt. Also look for almond and coconut flour vegan and gluten free bread and chocolate chip cookies.
Duane Clark said he will have five varieties of potatoes, salsa, zucchini relish, local honey, and grass-fed beef and yak meat. He also will have Tilgner's Seafoods' smoked salmon products too.
Clark said Non Essentials will be back at the market with fresh eggs. "They are superb as they are fed a no-corn or soy diet," he said of the chickens. "This is a great help to so many as there are many who have sensitivities to many of today's commercially produced chicken eggs."
Other Thursday vendors include L Cheapo Cards, Three Bears Farms, Spice & Tea Exchange and Drool Central. Daisy Nicolas of Drool Central also will be at the University of Alaska Anchorage Crafts Fair from 10 a.m. to 5 .m. Saturday with her dog treats and even holiday-wrapped boxes too.
Center Market
The twice-weekly market will have plenty of options for shoppers.
Alex Davis will have pork items, Alaska Flour Co. barley products, items from Alaska Sprouts, vegetables from his farm, eggs, honey, grass-fed beef, goat meat and balsamic vinegar from Mosquito Mama.
Davis will have bratwurst, loin roast, pork chops, fresh side sliced and slab, ground pork, Italian sausage, spicy sausage, breakfast sausage patties, ribs, roast, bone for broth, fat for rendering, liver, feet and hocks. Customers can also make arrangements to purchase whole or half hogs. Vegetables include kohlrabi, beets, carrots, at least five varieties of potatoes and cabbage.
Catherine's Cupcakes will be at both markets this week and also is opening a kiosk in the Mall at Sears. This week's cupcake flavors are egg nog, salted caramel with caramel filling, chocolate lover with chocolate filling and cookies and cream.
Rempel Family Farm will be at Saturday's market with orange and purple carrots, red and green cabbage, parsnips, green tomatoes, snow apple turnips, beets, seven varieties of winter squash and 13 kinds of potatoes, along with grass-fed yak meat.
Monica's Confection Connection will be at Wednesday's market with brittles, caramel, marshmallows, gummies and fudge. This week's fudge flavors include chocolate, peanut butter and chocolate, butter pecan, maple walnut, candy cane and dark chocolate raspberry truffle.
Earthworks Farm will be at the Wednesday market with honey and their Abeille Alaska beeswax and honey body care products. On Saturday, Earthworks Farm will be at the UAA Crafts Fair in the university's Student Union from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. Contact him at akmarketfresh@gmail.com.
Local farmers markets
Monday in the Valley: Colony Farmers Market, noon-6 p.m., 610 S. Valley Way, Palmer
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
Saturday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street