wildfish reserve
For the Curious, the Committed, and the Culinary Adventurer
  • Yellow box of wild fish can with salmon illustration and text
  • Can of fish meat on a beige background
  • cheek on toast
  • Blue text on yellow background that says Freaks for Cheeks

Fried King Salmon Cheeks

Sale price $40.00
Unit price per
On Sale
  • SOURCE:
    Southeast Alaska
  • HARVEST:
    Troll-caught (Hook & Line)
  • FLAVOR PROFILE:
    Golden, rich, buttery, a dandy bite
  • PAIRS WELL WITH:
    Eat 'em straight from the tin, slap on a cracker, scatter herbs, dollop crème fraîche, or toss in pasta - hell, do what you want. Damn satisfying.
What's in the box

*A VERY LIMITED RELEASE! We cheeked every dang head we could and only ended up with 200 tins 🤷♂️*

It’s a nautical porchetta di testa! Not sounding guilt-inducing enough? Well, did we mention they’ve been seared in a cast-iron skillet before going into the tin? Yeah, you’re welcome.

A fun and flavorful surprise results when the pan-seared Maillard reaction goes through the retort (a Maillard double-whammy, if you will) With this, we are pushing the humble can from pragmatic and utilitarian to sophisticated and refined. And being naturally bite-size, these nuggets are even more ready-to-savor than your everyday Wildfish Cannery salmon.

Forego further cooking or losing it in a recipe: this is the next star of your charcuterie show. Surround with a supporting cast of pickles, spicy greens, and pungent cheeses. Take it up another notch and pair with classic charcuterie board staples like foie gras, terrines, or jamón, plus fixin’s like roasted sour cherries.

Details

3.5 Ounces | 100 Grams

Ingredients

King Salmon Cheeks, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Salt, Garlic, Onion, White Pepper

  • Nutritional Highlights 1/2 Can (50g)
  • Calories 130
  • Total Fat 10g (13% DV)
  • Total Carb. 0g (0% DV)
  • Protein 9g
  • Potas. (4% DV)
(See product packaging for full Nutrition Info)
WILDLY LIMITED

In a nutshell

King salmon cheeks, carved with sharp knives and monk-like patience. Pan-fried golden, sealed in tins—because only a fish-obsessed chef turned cannery boss would can this madness.

Too good to throw away

Our king salmon is hook-and-line caught in the rich local waters, delivered to the docks by our local fishing fleet. We transport the fish on-ice to our cannery in Klawock.

Then we do something extra:

The flesh of every king is hand-filleted, brined, and smoked for our king salmon cans and we always save the most coveted cut—the cheeks—and pan-fry them before canning. Tender, golden-edged, and rich with natural oils, they’re the crown jewel of Alaska salmon, sealed up and ready for your fork.

Handpacked on Prince of Wales Island label
  • 18g of protein per serving

  • A cut you can't get anywhere else

  • Meticulously retrieved, expertly prepared

  • Can be used for bribery

  • Cheek Freak

    Regardless of size, every animal with a mandible has a glorious morsel of meat in its cheek. In fish, heads are usually too small to justify excising the wee bite. So, unless you’re making fishhead stew (definitely do that) or grilling it whole (also do that), the cheek meat is lost like a tear in the ocean.

    Oh, but there are kings amongst us.

  • About the size of the end of your granddad’s thumb, king cheeks are absolutely worth retrieving. With a sharp knife, surgical precision, and righteous patience, we cut the cheeks out—both of them—of every head of every king salmon that comes through our shop. You simply will not find king salmon cheeks anywhere except from the king you catch yourself or the ones we cheeked out and canned for you.

    Join us. Become a Freak for Cheeks.

How to eat it

  • Crunchy cracker, fuego dust
  • Share, but ONLY with someone who deserves it.
  • On a toothpick, straight from the tin.
  • Close your eyes and learn what "unctuous" really means.
  • Slap 'em on a Ritz.
  • Crush on the roof of your mouth with your tongue & lament all the un-cheeked heads.
Crafted In Alaska. Canned With Care.
Your Wildest Fish Came True.
The Can-do Cannery.
No Trawlers. Ever.
By Fin And By Tin, Let The Snacking Begin.
Your Community Cannery.

Customer Reviews

Based on 1 review
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M
Max Goldrich
Fun try

I purchased a few cans of these cheeks. One for a gift and two for myself. I’m glad I tried them. I’ve had halibut cheeks plenty of times but never salmon cheeks. It wasn’t what I was expecting but definitely a fun tin!

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