Wild salmon with organic diced tomatoes and pesto

Wild Sockeye Salmon from Costco Wholesale in Hackensack with Organic Diced Tomatoes, Pesto and Grilled Peach.

By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR

For the first time since fresh wild salmon appeared at my Costco Wholesale in late May, the skin-on sockeye fillet my wife picked up on Monday was harvested in Canada.

The wild salmon looked and tasted as good as all of the ones I've been enjoying from Alaska and other parts of the United States.

Costco identified the origin of the fillets in the first few weeks as coming from Alaska's Copper River, and sold them at a premium of $14.99 a pound.

The rest of the salmon was labeled as a product of the U.S.A.

The price for Canadian sockeye was $8.99 a pound, only a dollar more a pound than the pale, artificially colored farmed salmon sold at Costco in Hackensack. 

A 1.52-pound fillet yielded six serving pieces.

The salmon spent a total of about 8 minutes on a pre-heated grill pan with spray oil that covered two burners of my stove turned to medium high. It should sizzle when you first place it on the grill skin-side down. I then turned the heat down to medium. The serving pieces came out medium rare, but continued cooking after the grill pan was taken off of the heat for members of my family who prefer the fish cooked through.

I flipped the serving portions after about 5 minutes.

Delicious right off the grill

Nearly all of the ingredients for the dish are available from Costco.

The wild salmon is terrific right off the grill with just a little Himalayan Pink Salt and fresh lime juice.

On another burner, I prepared a reduction of extra-virgin olive oil, lots of chopped fresh garlic, Kirkland Signature Organic Diced Tomatoes, red wine, lime juice and fresh oregano from my garden.

After I plated the fish with the diced-tomato sauce, I added a little Kirkland Signature Basil Pesto.

With the fish, I drank a glass of Kirkland Signature 2012 California Cabernet Sauvignon.

Delicious.

Update

Tonight, I enjoyed a leftover portion of wild salmon served with leftover organic brown rice and lentils, and vegetables, two other dishes that rely heavily on fresh garlic.

This year, we're giving thanks without the turkey

The wine department at Costco Wholesale in Wayne offers some pricey bottles, above. A 3-liter bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne from France is priced at $299.99.

By Victor E. Sasson
Editor

Our Thanksgiving menu this year offers a bounty for meat eaters and vegetarians alike, but doesn't include the traditional turkey.

A whole turkey hasn't been the centerpiece of our meal for several years, because we prefer the dark meat and usually visit Goffle Road Poultry Farm in Wyckoff for naturally raised drumsticks, thighs, wings and necks.

This year, we're picking up ingredients for the holiday meal at Whole Foods Market, Costco Wholesale and ShopRite.

For the meat eaters, we'll serve a Niman Ranch Smoked Uncured Petite Ham from Whole Foods Market in Paramus.

This fully cooked, 3.3-pound ham -- which is vegetarian fed and raised without antibiotics or growth hormones -- was $7.99 a pound. 

We'll also serve a Kirkland Signature Frenched Lamb Rack from Australia ($10.99 a pound) that I picked up today at the Costco Wholesale in Wayne.

Kirkland Signature Champagne, left, and California Cabernet Sauvignon flanking Beaujolais Nouveau.

I drove to Wayne to shop the only Costco wine, beer and liquor department in the area, picking up Kirkland Signature Cabernet Sauvignon and Kirkland Signature Champagne (Brut).

A 1.5-liter bottle of the California wine was a bargain at $7.99. 

The champagne, from France, was $19.99, about half the price of such premium brands as Veuve Clicquot Brut (more than $40 at Costco).

I also purchased a bottle of Goerges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau for $8.39, about 60 cents less than elsewhere.

The new wine has always been overpriced, and this year is no exception.

On Wednesday, I plan to shop the Seafood Road Show at the Hackensack Costco for Alaskan king crab legs and mussels.

They will be part of my Thanksgiving seafood meal, which also may include whole wheat pasta with marinara sauce, and sardines, shrimp or salted cod -- possibly all three.

For side dishes, we also have ShopRite sweet potatoes to bake or mash; and broccoli, organic spring mix and Campari Tomatoes from Costco.

As for turkey, I plan to donate a whole one to the Center for Food Action in Englewood, as I do every year.

Dinner with salad bar for only $9.95

Tomatoes and onions cover bluefish at The Coach House in Hackensack.

A plate of salad, included in the price of the entree.

When I visited The Coach House in Hackensack last May, I made the mistake of ordering the salad bar with a large bowl of soup for $11.50.

I found myself trying to eat more than I had planned to make it pay off.

This time, I ordered an entree of fresh fish for $9.95, and the salad bar was free.

I tried to make a reservation on Saturday for a table at Seafood Gourmet in Maywood, but the small dining area behind the fish market was fully booked.

I still wanted fresh, wild-caught fish, and The Coach House always has several kinds.


Bluefish calls to me


When we walked in, I saw Bluefish Mediterranean listed among the blackboard specials for $9.95.

And I was told the bluefish was prepared to order.

The dish also was listed on the daily printed menu with 1 side dish, but when I ordered, the waitress said I could choose 2.

The fillet was moist and covered with tomato and onion, and I loved my sides of sauteed baby spinach and cooked carrots.

Two side dishes came with my entree of bluefish.

A second plate of free salad.

The salad bar, rear, is near one of the dining areas at The Coach House.

 
I declined an offer of garlic bread, and no bread basket was placed on the table.

I did order a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, and was pleasantly surprised at the price for the California wine, $5.75.

My wife and mother-in-law ordered Chicken Francaise ($11.95) and Shrimp Francaise ($14.25) over rice, and the salad bar was included in their meals, too. 

They took about half of their entrees and rice home.

Four people ordering bluefish or another $9.95 entree, and the free salad bar, could eat for $50, including tip and tax.

The Coach House seats about 220, and it wasn't necessary to make a reservation. 

We were seated immediately, and there were a number of empty tables between 6:30 and 7:30 on Saturday evening.

Chicken Francaise and Shrimp Francaise, below.

I am not comparing The Coach House to The Restaurant at Seafood Gourmet, a BYO known for its fresh and imaginatively prepared fish.

But the diner, which offers fresh seafood and reasonable prices, is a welcome alternative when the popular Maywood market-restaurant is full.


The Coach House Diner & Restaurant, 55 Route 4 east, Hackensack; 201-488-4999. Open 24 hours.

Seafood Gourmet, 103 W. Pleasant Ave., Maywood; 201-843-8558.

Toasting a new wine promotion

Bottles from Laithwaites Wine are only $6 each.

Don't you hate paying $8, $9 or $10 for a glass of wine in a restaurant when you can buy an entire bottle for much less than that?

North Jersey's many BYO restaurants make dining out more affordable by allowing you to supply your own wine, and wine-club promotions deliver those bottles right to your door for a low $6 each.

I just got a delivery of 15 reds from Laithwaites Wine, using a coupon I found in the Sunday newspaper -- bordeaux, malbec, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon and four others.

The wines come from France, Spain, Italy, Argentina, Australia and Washington State.

The promotional case from 4 Seasons Wine Club was $69.99, plus 19.99 for tax and shipping, or a total of $6 a bottle.

I'll drink to that. 

At Wine.com, I found one of the bottles -- a 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon from Charles Smith in Washington State -- for $19.99. 

You also get notes on each wine, the winemakers and the wine-making region, as well as food pairings. An Argentine malbec is described as "chocolaty, smooth."

This is the fourth wine club I've "joined," with no obligation to purchase any more cases, which invariably are sold at higher prices.

This latest promotion didn't come with bonuses of a rabbit corkscrew or carafe, which I have received in the past, but the value is excellent.

The wines are smooth and free of harsh tannins.

Of course, you can buy a bottle of wine for as little as $3 in a store, but it won't be nearly as drinkable as any of these wines.

The previous wine-club promotions I've enjoyed were sponsored by Zagat, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

Web site: Laithwaiteswine.com

California wine for $2.99 a bottle

Image by Lady-bug via Flickr

Three wishes.

Whole Foods Market in Paramus is selling California wine for $2.99 a bottle.

I picked up bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay today. They were "vinted and bottled" by Three Wishes Vineyards in Ripon and Livermore, Calif.

I took my wine from a display of bottles and cases. Cases are $35.88. That means no discount for buying 12 bottles, though at this price, who could complain about that?

There is no year listed on the front or back labels.

More shopping notes

Image via Wikipedia

I stopped at Costco in Hackensack to buy Earthbound Farms organic salad mix today ($4.49 for one pound), and was impressed by all the fresh, wild-caught fish fillets available.

There was wild ahi tuna from Micronesia, haddock from Canada, Pacific cod from the U.S. and flounder (from I'm not sure where). I bought the cod for $5.99 a pound, and we'll fry it up for dinner. Leftovers will make quick fish tacos.


'Cheap' wine


One of the comments I received on the ridiculous mail-in rebate for Turning Leaf wine (see Wednesday's post) claims it "served me right" for buying cheap wine. Of course, the comment was anonymous, and I rejected it.


If this person wants to spend $50 or more on a bottle of wine from a first-growth chateau in France, be my guest. But please stay out of my business.


I've purchased hundreds of bottles of wine for $5 to $10 that have been perfectly drinkable, and I'll continue to do so. Today, next to Costco, I bought a bottle of California cabernet sauvignon for $4.49, and I'm looking forward to drinking it. (Photo: Cabernet grapes.)



I'll be sure to toast the commentator's ignorance.