Quit hoggin’ the limelight, tuna – salmon have belly, too! It only makes sense that our first tin of salmon belly comes from the kings of salmon themselves, Wildfish Cannery. With over 30 years of experience canning Alaska’s finest salmon, from coho, to pink, sockeye, and king, these Klawock kids know all the finest cuts for this prolific fish. Their deep roots in this small-town Alaskan fishing community grant them access to the freshest and often most unique morsels each season’s catch has to offer.

A rare treat typically only seen by those in the know, salmon belly is deeply marbled with fatty, omega-3 rich layers of flavor. Most fishermen keep this cut for themselves, but Wildfish has the connections needed to bring in just enough belly to share. Lovingly prepared through a process of cold smoking, raw packing, and final cooking during canning, this “salmon ventresca” is tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. No oil is added to the tin – the juices marinating the meat come straight from the source.

Adding to the spectacle of this already impressive slice of salmon is its color. White, or “ivory” kings are completely incognito until captured and cut open. The typical vivid red meat that one would expect from a king salmon is replaced by a rich, ivory hue. These metabolically challenged creatures lack the ability to process pigment of the crustaceans that comprise their diet, and are left with stark, white flesh. While white king salmon are identical in nutritional value, moisture, and fat content to their standard pink friends, their meat is more highly sought after for its rarity, with only 5% of the population exhibiting this trait.

This slice of salmon is something you’re more likely to see on a Michelin-star menu than in a tin, and that’s a huge part of what makes Wildfish Cannery so freakin’ great. Supremely succulent with a soft smokiness, beautiful brine, and luxurious, fatty mouthfeel, this is a tin that needs to be experienced to be fully understood. Sitting in Wildfish’s “reserve” line of tins means that only 50-500 cans are closed at a given time. We’ll be stocking our personal shelves deep with this one, and recommend you do the same.