When we first moved out to the Island we experienced fresh Salmon many times as we thought this was why we came here.

Just like salted peanuts, it became a little over done so we moved on to other meals and other types of seafood.  Mussels and Oysters and Scallops are common in our area.

I realize you people in the frozen interior of the continent cannot understand how you would get tired of fresh Salmon, but you can.

Growing up in Saskatchewan with Salmon coming from cans, I thought that Sockeye Salmon was a generic term for Salmon. At the young age I was not a fan of Salmon sandwiches or Salmon casserole but I now realize that my parents were poor (my brother and I did not know this at the time) so Salmon was an economical protein.

However I have been listening to my friends in the valley about proper Salmon tasting.  Like wine there is actually a rating on taste.

The top in the flavour (according to some chefs) is the King or Tyee  or Chinook (basically the same thing but different names)  They are among the largest of Salmons but becoming rare.  Close to Chinook flavour is Sockeye at one time the most common.  50 years ago Sockeye Salmon flowed up the rivers on the west coast like Mosquito’s in Manitoba.

Sockeye Salmon is the definition of what most people refer to as salmon as their meat is pink (due to their diet on shrimp)  This is why all farmed Atlantic Salmon fish are dyed pink so they can simulate Sockeye.

It is Friday and we often have seafood meals.  It has been a time since we had a Salmon and as I was shopping I thought this would be a nice choice.  At the local store there were lots of fresh Coho (which is in the late run now in our rivers) plus farmed Atlantic Salmon.  But the fish merchant was featuring a late caught fresh wild Sockeye.

When you see the fish in the display next to the other choices, the sockeye meat is a rich succulent red.   More expensive than the farmed and Coho but a cut for $8 was enough for two of us, a bargain.  I did a quick BBQ, with very little seasoning.

It was wonderful.   Another reason to celebrate moving out to Vancouver Island so we can experience this bounty.