Pacific Seafood Halibut Escabeche

The first of the season Alaskan halibut has arrived, and we are thrilled! Considered the world’s premium whitefish, first of the season halibut are the best quality because the fat content of the fish is at its absolute peak. To celebrate the arrival of this delicacy from the icy north, we created an escabeche using our Pacific Seafood. What is escabeche? It's the name for a number of dishes Latin American cuisines where the fish or veggies are cooked or pickled in a vinegar-based sauce, and may also include citrus, paprika and other spices. This simple, but delicious, preparation is a luscious showcase of some of Spring's first fresh flavors.

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Corned Beef and Caraway Cabbage

Spring is in the air! This is my favorite time of year: Spring training baseball is on the radio, Mother Nature is providing us with some gorgeous sunny days between all the rain, and one of the most fun celebrations on the calendar is right around the corner.That's right, St. Patrick's Day is almost here, and whether your entire family is from the Emerald Isle or you're just Irish at heart, St. Patrick's Day is a great excuse to have some friends over to enjoy a pint or two of Irish stout and some corned beef and cabbage. For our recipe, be sure to brine it for as long as recommended. The salt in the brine carries the flavor of our pickling spices used through the whole piece of meat, and the extra spices reserved for the cooking liquid lend it a great burst of flavor on the surface. This St. Patrick's Day be safe, enjoy some delicious corned beef and remember: "May the lilt of Irish laughter lighten every load. May the mist of Irish magic shorten every road... And may all your friends remember all the favors you are owed!"

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Elliott Bay Seasoned Crab Cakes

The first time I ever had a crab cake, I was thirteen and accompanying my dad on a business trip to San Francisco. We dined in the fanciest restaurant I'd ever been to, and I ordered the crab cake appetizer. It was tender, moist, perfectly seasoned, and it blew me away. I've attempted many times since to recreate it, with varying degrees of success. However these beauties, elegantly spiced with our Elliott Bay Seasoning and a generous handful of tarragon, put that first memorable cake to shame! Do be sure to use Panko, the Japanese bread crumbs, for this recipe to get that lighter-than-air crust.

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Roasted Quail Feast for Valentine's Day

Exotic. Aromatic. Romantic. We prepared this intimate feast with a table for two in mind. Succulent quail are perfectly roasted with our Moroccan blend, Ras El Hanout, hinting at rose petals. The finishing touch, a warm coriander infused honey glaze. Our Wild Rice Pilaf features the bold flavor of cassia cinnamon while Paradise Pistachio Relish combines grains of paradise and Aleppo pepper to bring everything together for a memorable Valentine's Day Feast. We will leave the dessert up to you!

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Piment d'Espelette Fish Stew

This hearty stew hits it on all notes, the high acid of the tomatoes and wine play against the sweetness of the deeply caramelized onion and fennel, the brine-y olives render the seafood right at home, and the Piment d'Espelette... oh, the Espelette! The perfect balance of heat and complexity that clarifies this bounty of flavor, and unites it all in delicious harmony. If my fish-monger has them, I'll often throw in a few oily little fish, too, like fresh anchovies or sardines... Just sear them whole, skins and all, in a bit of olive oil and add to the serving dishes.

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Kala Masala Skillet Cornbread

This savory cornbread knocked our collective socks off at first bite. Our Kala Masala spice blend is a complex one, and that complexity of flavor transfers easily to the skillet cornbread. There's a tiny bit of heat from some guajillo chiles in the blend that is balanced perfectly by a healthy dose of toasted coconut for sweetness. Try it with a fish, lentil or vegetable soup for maximum enjoyment!

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Chuck's Gumbo

Down on Western Avenue, around the corner from our brick & mortar storefront, folks still talk in hushed tones about a little place called Sesto’s Cafe, and the legendary gumbo of Chuck Smith. Chicken and sausage are served up alongside the classic trinity of celery, onion, and bell pepper, with a touch of Herbes de Provence, for mouthwatering and memorable flavor.Sesto’s is gone now, but its legacy lives on in Chuck’s famous recipe, which he generously shared with us. We’ve made a few changes, to keep his secrets safe, but this bayou classic is still worthy of every bit of its formidable reputation.

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Harissa and Vegetable Couscous

This recipe has been a long time coming. Hardly anyone who comes in to the shop -- spice masters and novices alike -- can pass over the North African section without some long, lingering sniffs. The spices from that region are so exotic, in their perfect union of sweet-spicy-aromatic. "How do you use the Harissa?" is one of the most common questions following the exclamations of delight. And though my fellow merchants and I have written versions of this recipe on many a business card, envelope, and scratch paper, it's about time it took its place among our favorites here on the blog.The tender-crisp vegetables and fluffy couscous are a perfect vehicle for this sumptuous sauce, our version of the traditional Tunisian red pepper condiment that is so ubiquitous in Northern Africa. The cumin, coriander, and caraway add complexity and depth, with the guajillos lending just enough heat to be interesting without being overwhelming. You can also try the Harissa sauce on grilled meats or eggplant -- or even on halibut!

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Christmas in a Glass!

The first time I ever had a Lion's Tail, I thought it tasted like Christmas in a glass, and it immediately became my go-to libation of the holiday season. This classic cocktail offers up the perfect, winter warming combination of bourbon, citrus and spice that dances on the palate. We've played around with many twists on the original theme and are including recipes for the "classic" and "spice-lover's" versions for you to enjoy.True Allspice Dram is sometimes hard to find. If its not available in your area, or if you love a great infusion project, here's an excellent recipe from Serious Eats.

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