Food and Drink

Fresh halibut is headed to Anchorage. Fresh Alaska chicken eggs too.

It's a good week to love fresh Alaska seafood. And it's a really good week if halibut is your fish of choice.

Commercial fishers started targeting the flatfish on Saturday, and Dannon Southall from 10th & M Seafoods says things are going well.

"Surprisingly, the weather cooperated, allowing fisherman to head out and target these amazing flat fish," Southall says. "We will have fish in here Tuesday with all options available. Fresh headed and cleaned fish between 10 and 20 pounds are $9.95 per pound, and if you want something bigger those will also be available."
Southall says 10th & M also has halibut fillets and fresh cheeks too.

Other Alaska seafood includes fresh cod fillets at $6.95/pound and fresh rockfish fillets at $9.95/pound.

But, Southall admits, "All of the excitement this week surrounds fresh halibut, as it should."

Fresh Alaska eggs

Back on land, Chris Lawlor of Happy Valley Chickens is returning to Anchorage with regular delivery of fresh eggs. Medical challenges limited his deliveries in recent weeks, but Lawlor says things are looking good and there will be plenty of fresh spring eggs available weekly.

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Lawlor sets up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays at the corner of 15th Avenue and Cordova Street. Stop by for some local eggs.

Better bridge days ahead

Valley farmers survived the "bridgepocalypse" and are happy things are returning to normal this week.

Julie Meer of Farm 779 and the Thankful Thursdays market was stuck in the unprecedented gridlock on the Glenn Highway.

"Last week was quite the market," she says. "Did a day's worth of business in 3.5 hours. Bridgepocalypse will go down in the history books as the No. 1 thing I never, ever want to do again.

"On the good side of it all, I had a line of concerned people waiting for me. A big shout out and heartfelt thank you to those who waited for unloading and set up—4.5 hours late."

Alex Davis of AD Farm and the Center Market avoided the Thursday commute, but still made three trips into Anchorage—two of them after the bridge accident.
"We managed to make it to all three markets last week, despite the bridgepocalypse," he says. "This week should be easy. We have lots for Easter dinner—or any dinner for that matter, or breakfast and lunch."

At this week's Center Market, Davis will have home-baked cookies, along with his regular items including pork cuts, storage vegetables, chicken eggs, raspberry jam, pumpkin butter and apple butter.

Rob Wells says "now is the prime time to get your dahlia tubers started" and he will have a large selection of the tubers at the Wednesday and Saturday markets.

"I have also seeded the tumbler tomatoes, a variety that produces lots of tasty red cherry tomatoes grown in a hanging basket," Wells says. "Customers can pre-order for May delivery."

Rempel Family Farm will be at Saturday's market with orange and purple carrots; stripetti squash; red, gold, cylinder and Chioggia beets; green and purple cabbage; purple onions; 11 types of potatoes; and cuts of yak meat.

Davis says these items or vendors will also be at the market on various days: Alaska Flour Co.'s barley products; Alaska Sprouts with micro greens, sprouts, tofu and basil; Alaska Seeds of Change; Wild Child fermented salsa; Far North Fungi's mushrooms; Mosquito Mama balsamic vinegar; Windy River Farm grass-fed beef; Tonia's Biscotti; Evie's Brinery items, including krauts; Jonsers' hand-crafted nectars; and Doggy Decadence treats.

For the Thankful Thursdays market, Duane Clark will be back this week with fresh eggs, local honey, birch syrup, jams, salsa, Denali dog treats, zucchini relish, grass-fed beef and plenty of Alaska seafood, including scallops, spot shrimp, black cod, Pacific cod and sockeye salmon.

Meer says she is well stocked with a variety of ferments, including vegan and gluten free coconut kefirs, krauts, kombucha, kvass, snacks, ketogenic cookies, body products and other items.

"New this week is our fermented long-sliced orange carrots in jalapeno ginger and garlic dill," Meer says. "They have been fermenting since last fall and are ready to make the grand entrance this week."

Meer says Rosie's Pasta fresh from Sterling will be at the market with fettuccine, veggie spirals and vegan noodle bowls.

Pop-up for pups

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Drool Central has a Wednesday pop up at Alaska K9 Aquatics, 549 W. International Airport Road. Daisy Nicolas will have loads of treats for dogs, along with fresh-baked "muttfins" and other items featuring Alaska seafood and produce. Treats are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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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