Food and Drink

Farmers markets have ham, seafood, vegetables and dessert this week for your Thanksgiving table

Dannon Southall of 10th & M Seafoods knows seafood "takes a backseat this week to the king/queen of the poultry world."

But that doesn't mean a stop at the fishmonger isn't in order.

Southall says he has "some great options this week to accompany the feast." He starts with live mussels, clams and Alaskan oysters. "These bivalve treats make great starters while waiting for the main course to finish," Southall says.

Also in the store are shucked oysters in 10-ounce jars, perfect for stuffing. Cooperative weather is allowing fresh cod to be in the store for $6.95 per pound.

The report from Southeast Alaska isn't positive. "The weather has not been so nice in Southeast; it's not allowing the boats to get out and target winter kings," he says.

Center Market

Head to the market at the Mall at Sears for just-before-the-holiday shopping options, including plenty of Alaska items that might make the meal perfect.

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"I just picked up fresh ham from my butcher," Alex Davis says, and he has a wide selection of storage vegetables that would go nicely on a packed table.

Vegetable options include green cabbage, kohlrabi, red and golden beets, carrots in a variety of colors, potatoes and Brussels sprouts. He also has eggs, along with raspberry jam, pumpkin butter and apple butter.

In addition to the fresh hams, Davis' pork options include chops, loin roast, fresh side, ground pork, sausage, fat, feet and hocks.

Davis also will have sprouts, micro greens, tofu and basil from Alaska Sprouts; barley products from Alaska Flour Co.; Evie's Brinery's kimchi and krauts; Windy River Farm's grass-fed beef; and Tonia's Biscotti items.

Monica's Confection Connection will be at the Center Market on Wednesday and Saturday with a huge selection of holiday sweets. The treats include gourmet brittles, caramels, salted caramels, gummies and fudge. This week's fudge flavors include dark chocolate salted caramel, chocolate, chocolate walnut, peanut butter chocolate, pumpkin pie and maple walnut.

Rempel Family Farm will be at Saturday's market with carrots, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, collards, daikon, kale, sugar pumpkins, jumbo pink banana squash, acorn squash, tomatoes, spaghetti squash, snow apple turnips, kohlrabi, four varieties of beets, green cabbage, purple onions and several varieties of potatoes.

The Rempels also have yak meat.

Also look for Wild Child fermented salsa; Alaska Fisherman Seafood Direct with smoked black cod, shrimp, halibut and more; Mosquito Mama balsamic vinegar; Northern Lights Mushrooms; Doggy Decadence; Jonsers, with hand-crafted nectar; Monica's Convection Connection; and Earthworks Farm.

Center Market will be open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Friday the market opens at 9 a.m.

Sweet time at the Museum

Earthworks Farm, one of the regular vendors at the Center Market, will be at the Anchorage Museum this weekend for the Crafted in Alaska event.

Dee Barker says Earthworks Farm will feature its Abeille Alaska bath and skin care line, which contains beeswax and/or honey from the farm.

"The highlights of our offerings include our beeswax and honey moisturizing cream and body care lotions," she says. "These emollient creams and lotions have gathered local popularity for protecting and nourishing the skin on these dry and blustery winter days. For the bath, we offer our honeycomb soap gift pack, which includes our honey-spiked soap poured into a 'honeycomb' mold and our hand-crocheted washcloth of natural-flecked cotton yarn, embellished with a lampwork glass bee bead."

Earthworks will have a variety of other gift items and "gourmet honey from hives on our farm. Our honey comes from a floral mixture of sunflower, anis hyssop, aster, campanula, and 'mallow cultivated flowers as well as Alaskan wildflowers," Barker says.

It's always macaron time

Sweet Caribou is featuring macaron gift boxes, as shoppers are looking for gifts.

"These treats are gluten free, sure to please that special guest and provide a delicate and delicious option after your Thanksgiving meal," says owner James Strong.

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Seasonal flavors include pumpkin cheesecake, bourbon pecan pie, hot buttered rum, apple cider, pinot noir and chocolate and cranberry orange. Traditional Sweet Caribou favorites include passionfruit, chocolate birthday cake, triple lemon and snickerdoodle.

Thankful Thursdays

The group of farmers/vendors at the Thursday market at the Mall at Sears will be "thankful" at home this week. They will be at the market on Nov. 30.

Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. Contact him at akmarketfresh@gmail.com.

Local farmers markets

Wednesday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street

Thursday in Anchorage: Thankful Thursdays market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street

Friday in Anchorage: Center Market, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street; Fourth Avenue Indoor Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 333 W. Fourth Ave.

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Saturday in Anchorage: Center Market, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., The Mall at Sears, Benson Boulevard and Denali Street; Fourth Avenue Indoor Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 333 W. Fourth Ave

Sunday in Anchorage: Fourth Avenue Indoor Market, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 333 W. Fourth Ave.

Steve Edwards

Steve Edwards lives and writes in Anchorage. He writes the Market Fresh column weekly and can be reached akmarketfresh@gmail.com.

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