A Seasonal Gift Guide (Though It’s Not Even November Yet)

It might seem a bit early to be sharing a gift guide with you, but hear me out: firstly, we’ve just refreshed our lineup of seafood gift boxes, which you can peruse here. But on a more personal note, I’m a very deliberate gifter. I try to think not only of my giftee’s wants and needs, but also of our connection to each other, to bring more meaning to the exchange. As such, I like to give myself plenty of time for both active consideration and passive inspiration as I’m searching for the best gift, and I find that I have more time now in the lull of October than I do once the holiday season picks up.

So, allow me to share some seafood gift ideas that I have brewing thus far:

For the Practical Pal: Fish Spatula
Perhaps I’m biased, but I’m a strong believer that even the most minimalist utensil drawer should contain a fish spatula. Not only do I consider it an essential for cooking fish — it makes everything from searing to serving easier — but it also is my go-to spatula when frying up eggs, flipping latkes, or moving veggies from a sheet pan to a plate. Next time you’re at your friend’s place, take note of their spatula situation. Keep in mind that fish spatulas can be designed for both left-handed and right-handed cooks, so gift accordingly.

For the Consummate Host: Snap & Eat Dungeness Crab Gift Box
A Snap & Eat Dungeness Crab Gift Box is a party in a box. Whether your friend is the elegant dinner-party type or someone who you can rely on to throw an all-out-feast, they’ll appreciate Dungies’ simplicity of prep and the air of festivity that comes along with cracking into a platter of crab legs and claws. All they have to do is heat it (steam from frozen!) then serve it, leaving the consummate host plenty of time to enjoy their fête. 

For the Sweet Tooth: A Jar of Jam
Okay, this one is a bit of an excuse for me to tell you about a very Alaskan tradition of gifting, an exchange that’s connected to an omnipresent ethos of sharing rather than an end-of-the-year holiday or observance. Following an abundant summer harvest of fish, berries, and other foraged provisions, the Alaskan pantry and freezer is stocked with all manner of preserved foods. So upon moving to Alaska, I quickly warmed to the unofficial tradition of bringing a jar of jam along when invited over to dinner, as a way to share not just sustenance but a story of a harvest or of a recipe passed down from a friend or family member. (If you follow us on Instagram, you can see a recipe for high bush cranberry jelly from Arron’s (WAC founder + CEO) grandmother Polly Kallenberg.) To bring this gift idea back around to seafood, tart jams happen to pair beautifully with wild salmon, as in this simple, sweet-savory recipe for jam-mustard glazed salmon — a foolproof dish for a new seafood cook to try.

For the Sentimental Friend: Seasoning (Any Kind) 
An iconic spice mix from where you live. A jar of herb-infused salt. A packet of brightly colored, pulverized peppers from a place you’ve recently traveled. As a seasoned home cook, you know that seasonings can bring a sense of both mastery and ease to cooking any species of seafood. But, like wild-caught seafood, seasonings also tell a story — of place or process, of tradition or innovation — which can help guide you to the perfect pick for your friend.

For the No-Frills Friend: Fish from Your Freezer
This one is for your friend who insists that your presence is the best present, who appreciates everyday gestures more than seasonal fanfare. Next time said friend is in your kitchen, just reach into the freezer, grab a couple of packs of your favorite species, and throw it into a take-home bag with your favorite recipe as a suggestion. Low-key gifting achieved.

So in the spirit of meaningful connection, I sincerely hope that your connection to wild-caught seafood inspires you to share not just a meal but memories with friends, family, and anyone who happens to join you at your kitchen table this season.

Live Wild,

Monica

Pictured above: A platter of steamy Snap & Eat Dungeness Crab being set down to share. If you zoom in and look closely, you’ll see that the shells have been pre-scored — so it’s easy to crack into the crab with just your hands for a fun feast.