No, this isn't another review of Seattle Opera's Macbeth. And no, it's not about evil. Quite the contrary, in fact: it's Seattle's iconic wild salmon, swimming onto our plates just in time to rescue us from the long, dark winter.
Indeed, the concept of Redemption by Salmon is central to our civic religion, our Northwest Faith. We celebrate the Salmon: it dies for us, we eat it and are saved. In gratitude, we expend a fair measure of our riches to assure its immortality.
Okay, maybe that's layering a bit too much theology onto what is, after all, just dinner. Yet here's the irony: two of the city's leading seafood houses have scheduled celebratory salmon dinners on the same night: Thursday, May 25th.
They're not trying to outdo each other with claims of moral superiority, but one cannot help but wonder. Elliott's calls its $75 dinner Salmon Gone Wild, offering four courses of salmon (as carpaccio, fish cakes, gazpacho and mixed brochette). A few blocks away, the $100 event at Flying Fish benefits Long Live the Kings and saves its Copper River bullet for the finale (starting instead with clams, crab-stuffed crepe,and black cod). The two chefs agree on one thing: strawberries for dessert. Peace be with you.
Cornichon will attend both dinners. How? Ronald in Belltown, trusted associate Dominic on the waterfront. We'll let you know ...
Celebration of Seafood, Flying Fish, 2234 1st Ave., 206-728-8595
Salmon Gone Wild, Elliott's Oyster House, Pier 56, 206-623-4340
The International Kitchen
Cooking school vacations in Italy, France & Spain.
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