Wild Alaska sockeye salmon with ribbon kelp chimichurri by Peter Pan Seafoods claimed the grand prize in the 2023 Alaska Symphony of Seafoods, an annual competition to promote new products made with wild Alaska seafood.
Peter Pan’s entry also claimed first place in retail competition. The recipe is the first time a major Alaska processing company has integrated Alaska kelp into a new product.
Ocean Beauty Seafood’s Ocean Beauty Grill House Burger won the food service competition and Trident Seafoods’ Pure Catch Wild Alaska Omega-3 Triple Strength fish oil supplements took top honors in the “Beyond the Plate” competition.
Also honored in retail competition was Kelp Chili Crisp by Barnacle Foods, which received second place. Kelptastic Farms’ CBD Kelp Brownies and Thunder’s Catch Wild Salmon Chowder tied for third place.
Among food-service entries, Alaskan Leader Seafoods’ Wild Alaska Cod Burgers placed second and Trident Seafoods’ Takoyaki Style Wild Alaska Pollock Bites was third.
Alaska Naturals 100% Wild-Caught Alaska Pollock Jerky Dog Treats by Trident Seafoods claimed second prize among the “Beyond the Plate” entries, with no third-place slot awarded.
The Seattle People’s Choice award, voted on by guests at the Seattle Gala, went to Barnacle Foods’ Kelp Chili Crisp, and the Juneau People’s Choice went to Wild Salmon Chowder by Thunder’s Catch.
The Symphony of Seafoods, sponsored by the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation, and co-hosted by United Fishermen of Alaska, also gave awards for the first time to Alaskan Leader Seafoods’ Wild Caught Crispy Beer Battered Cod as the White Fish Choice; Peter Pan Seafoods’ Wild Caught Alaska Salmon with ribbon kelp chimichurri as the Salmon Choice, and Thunder’s Catch Wild Salmon Chowder as the Bristol Bay Choice.
The awards were announced during the symphony’s Juneau gala on Feb. 23. First-place winners in each category and the grand-prize winner receive booth space at Seafood Expo North America (SENA) in Boston in March, plus airfare provided by Alaska Air Cargo, and entry into SENA’s new products contest.