(SitNews) Seattle, WA - Alaska Air Cargo delivered the season’s first shipment of Copper River salmon yesterday to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The arrival of Copper River salmon marks the start of the summer salmon season and is anticipated by seafood lovers throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

The Alaska Airlines plane arrived early Tuesday morning with Copper River king and sockeye salmon from three seafood processors: Ocean Beauty Seafoods, Trident Seafoods and Copper River Seafoods. At least five more Alaska Airlines flights Tuesday transported salmon from Cordova, Alaska, to Anchorage, Alaska, Seattle and across the United States.

“Copper Chef Cook-off” judges: Jay Buhner, Seattle Mariners Hall of Famer; Mike Fourtner, deckhand on the F/V Time Bandit, as featured on Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch;” and Joe Sprague, Alaska Airlines’ vice president of marketing.
Photo courtesy Alaska Airlines

Following the arrival of the first fish, top Seattle chefs competed for the best salmon recipe in Alaska Air Cargo’s “Copper Chef Cook-off.” Executive chef and last year’s Copper Chef winner Pat Donahue, of Anthony’s Restaurants, competed against executive chefs from Elliott’s Oyster House and SkyCity at the Space Needle. Donahue was also this year's winner.

The chefs had 30 minutes to prepare and serve the first catch of the season to a panel of judges, including Jay Buhner, Seattle Mariners Hall of Famer; Mike Fourtner, deckhand on the F/V Time Bandit, as featured on Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch;” and Joe Sprague, Alaska Airlines’ vice president of marketing.

The winning Copper River salmon recipe for 2011 was Copper River King Alder Planked with Morel Strata prepared by Executive Chef Pat Donahue of Anthony's Restaurants (www.anthonys.com).

Executive Chef Robert Spaulding of Elliott's Oyster House, Executive Chef Pat Donahue of Anthony's Restaurants, and and Executive Chef Jeff Maxfield of Sky City at the Needle
Photo courtesy Alaska Airlines

Executive Chef Robert Spaulding of Elliott's Oyster House (elliottsoysterhouse.com/ prepared Broiled Copper River King Salmon and Executive Chef Jeff Maxfield of Sky City at the Needle (www.spaceneedle.com/) prepared Grilled Copper River Salmon Dungeness Crab and Morel Mushroom Fondue & English Pea Flan.

Alaska Airlines plays a significant role in supporting the Alaska seafood industry, which is recognized worldwide for its sustainable fishing practices. The carrier flew more than 22 million pounds of fresh Alaska seafood to the Lower 48 states and beyond last year, including nearly 700,000 pounds of Copper River salmon.

“We’re proud to bring this prized, wild Copper River salmon to the Lower 48 and points beyond,” said Joe Sprague, Alaska’s vice president of marketing. “With enhanced food quality procedures and additional flights to support the Alaska seafood industry, we are going the extra mile to deliver fresh seafood throughout the country.”

On the Web:

Copper Chef Cook-Off Recipes

Download the three recipes prepared for the Copper Chef Cook-off
http://www.sitnews.us/0511News/051811/051811_winning_recipes.pdf

Source of News & Photographs: 

Alaska Airlines
www.alaskaair.com

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