Smoked Black Cod in EVOO

Source: Southeast Alaska

Harvest: Long Line

Flavor Profile: Obscenely rich, smoke-forward, buttery without trying

Ingredients: Wild Alaska Black COD, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Sea Salt, Brown Sugar, Black Pepper, Garlic Powder, All Natural Hardwood Smoke

3.8oz - 110 Grams

One day, Yéil was walking along the beach. This day, like most, he hadn't planned ahead and was growing quite hungry. As he walked, he passed a fisherman out in a canoe and watched as the man pulled in several black cod. One of Raven’s favorite foods.

He called out, "Hey! Can you share some of that with me? I am on a long journey and have not found any berries recently!"

The fisherman replied, "I cannot give away what I have yet; our clan house has been unable to go out because of the snowstorms. But if you would like, this is a good spot to catch them, and I can show you—"

Raven didn't let him finish. He cried out and dove straight into the cold water. Below the surface, the black cod viewed him quizzically. Raven snapped his beak at one that passed by, but the fish was too sleek and fast. He lunged at another, but that one, too, slipped away.

Soon, the black cod began circling him. They were agile and at home in the deep, while Raven, a creature of the sky, felt awkward and heavy. The fish began to tease him, slapping their tails against his beak as they danced out of reach. Realizing he was out of his element and running out of air, Raven scrambled back to the shore, coughing up saltwater and bits of seaweed.

As he recovered on the sand, he noticed a small tin of fish the fisherman had left behind for him. As he gulped it down, he heard the seagulls laughing from above, having watched his "dance" with the cod.

"I was just teaching them how to swim in formation!" Raven huffed. The seagulls continued their laughing as they flew off, leaving a damp, still-hungry Raven to dry his feathers in the wind.

Developed in partnership with Wildfish Cannery!

Language Work provided by Joseph Marks.