Despite the first Copper River salmon of the season being available, many retailers and restaurants are focusing on fish for grilling, shellfish and affordable prepared seafood items for Memorial Day promotions.
At Cod and Capers Seafood Market and Restaurant in West Palm Beach, Fla., the retailer is featuring other seafood besides Copper River salmon. “The catch was not very good and we don’t know of anyone around that has it, either. Our cost (before box and freight) on whole Copper River King would be USD 27 (EUR 19.81) per pound. If we were to charge our normal mark-up, we would have to sell the fillet for nearly USD 90 (EUR 66.04) per pound in the case,” Jessica Zabel, marketing director for Cod and Capers, told SeafoodSource.
Instead, the market is featuring local Florida seafood including jumbo soft shell crabs for USD 8.99 (EUR 6.60) each, jumbo Royal Red shrimp for USD 8.99 a pound, and swordfish steaks for USD 13.95 (EUR 10.24) per pound.
“People mostly gravitate toward fish for the grill. We definitely see a lot of interest in clams and oysters for this weekend as well. It seems like people tend to gather with friends and cook at home over the holiday weekend,” Zabel said.
For customers craving salmon, Cod and Capers is selling wild King from Sitka for USD 29.95 (EUR 21.98) a pound. “We have had a few customers request the Copper River, but they seem equally as happy with the salmon from Sitka and I have a feeling they wouldn’t appreciate the price tag on the Copper River,” Zabel said.
Meanwhile, H-E-B’s Central Market stores are featuring Seafood Burgers for USD 4.99 (EUR 3.66) per pound and Maryland-style Crab Cakes for USD 3.99 (EUR 2.93) a pound, along with fresh Alaska halibut fillets for USD 19.99 (EUR 14.67) a pound.
Several restaurants are featuring seafood dishes for the Memorial Day weekend. For example, Bocce Bar in Miami has a Black Ink Ravioli stuffed with Branzino in a clam and cherry tomato sauce for USD 18 (13.21). The Parallel Post Restaurant at the Trumbull Marriott Merritt Parkway in Trumbull, Conn., is touting its Spicy Seared Tuna entrée for USD 19 (EUR 13.94) and a Shrimp and Grits entrée for USD 28 (EUR 20.54).
In addition, Dixie Crossroads Seafood Restaurant in Titusville, Fla. Is going all out with its annual Crawfish Boil and Pig Roast on 24 May. The all-you-can-eat soiree is USD 30 (EUR 22.01) for adults and USD 10 (7.34) for kids
