Summer is almost upon us and we've been gearing up for an exciting season at our building out on the Homer Spit! When we moved into a inoperative fish processing facility three years ago in the heart of the Homer's working waterfront, we were both excited and overwhelmed by the opportunity this space offered. Slowly sorting through tired equipment, boxes of old rubber gloves, fish totes, rusty knives and scales, wet-lock boxes and piles of pallets gave us time to envision the beginnings of what Salmon Sisters could do here. Every season has been a new phase of uncovering this vision with lots of hard work and help from our family and team. We want to share some of the good things that are underway, because we've had you in mind the whole time we've been working on them. Change is constant around Salmon Sisters; constantly evolving and learning and striving to serve our coastal community. We can't wait for you to visit us in Homer this summer and see what we've been working on.
Fish Shop
The Fish Shop is your source for Wild Alaska Seafood. The seafood we stock is harvested by small scale, independent fishermen around the state, from Klawock to Kodiak, and processed by trusted partners. We offer tinned, smoked, fresh and frozen fish and also the opportunity to learn about the sustainability and health benefits of Wild Alaska Seafood. We help travelers place orders for boxes of frozen sockeye salmon, which we ship to their doorsteps to meet them on their return home from Alaska. Our cookbook is available as a resource to help people prepare their catch and cook delicious fish in their own kitchens, and take a little love, stewardship and knowledge of Alaska seafood home with them. The Fish Shop is also stocked with tasty grocery items that highlight many of Alaska's small food producers and culinary compliments to cooking seafood.
Mug Up Coffee Shop
Opening its doors for the first time this week, the Mug Up Coffee Shop is a place to take a work break, grab a coffee and a snack. We wanted to provide easy takeaway food and coffee for Homer's Marine Trades, folks working on boats, around the harbor, and on the waterfront. It's a place to refuel and take a break on a sunny picnic bench outside. You'll find our coffee counter in the entrance of our Fish Shop, or walk up to the side window and place an order from outside if you're on the go. We will be serving espresso beans roasted by our friends at Kaladi Brothers Coffee, baked goods, breakfast burritos and granola + yogurt from Red Bird, salmon cakes handmade by Rumblefish, locally sourced wild smoked salmon and more. See our full menu here.
1% of profit from the Mug Up Coffee Shop and all Salmon Sisters operations is donated to the Salmon Sisters Give Fish project, which helps address food insecurity in our state by filling plates with wild fish through the Food Bank of Alaska. We can't wait to welcome you in!
Johnny's Corner
Johnny's Corner opened last summer in the corner of our building, offering globally inspired rice bowls featuring Wild Alaska Seafood from Salmon Sisters. Johnny, the chef at the corner, is a former commercial fisherman who grew up in Homer; his career on the water taught him to value the ocean, it's beauty and bountiful resources. Over his 15 year career as a fisherman, he adopted the role of cook on the boat, and the kitchen quickly became his happy place after long hours on deck. His summer seasonal work gave his the opportunity to travel the world and also, to root himself in the kitchen. Johnny loves to tell the story behind the fish on his menu and loves offering locals and visitors a delicious taste of what Alaska's oceans have to offer.
"I look forward to providing our community with healthy, fresh and delicious food that expands the palate. I am grateful to Homer for the support and love that it has shown me over the last year and can’t wait for another great season. You can find me on the corner of the Salmon Sisters building at Johnny’s Corner, a vibrant hub for our community, promoting bonding over the joy of exciting food and flavors that our own back yard provides." - Chef Johnny on the coming season.
Kachemak Kelp Hub
The Kachemak Kelp Hub has joined us on our property for the second season and is a new initiative supporting the emerging seaweed aquaculture industry in Alaska. They are piloting a proof-of-concept kelp processing and marketing hub with goals to alleviate some of the barriers to small-scale seaweed farming in coastal Alaska. As part of this work, they are testing energy and labor efficient methods for preserving fresh kelp, and developing markets - including with local value-added food businesses. They are working with Kachemak Bay seaweed farmers to product regenerative, delicious kelp that is healthy for people, oceans and coastal Alaska communities. You might see their team hanging kelp to dry in hoop houses behind the Fish Shop!
Seafood Processing Improvements
We are working with the Alaska FAST team to apply for an America’s Seed Fund SBIR / STTR award to work with an engineer from the University of Alaska to make improvements to the processing equipment we have and to offer more value-added processing opportunities for local producers in the seafood space. This project is supported by the Alaska Mariculture Alliance and the Kenai Peninsula Development Council.
Flagship Shop
Though it's not at the same location, we cannot leave out our Flagship Shop! This sunny little storefront is located at the base of the Homer Spit and is stocked with all of your favorite Salmon Sisters gear and gifts. We have a rotating collection of limited edition jewelry, artwork and hand crafted gifts made by Alaskan makers. Everything you need to gear up and get out on the bay; including Salmon Sisters x Xtratuf Boots, Darn Tough Socks, tinned seafood for a picnic lunch and fleece tops and bottoms sewn in Homer by Nomar Alaska. We're open for the summer Thursday-Sunday in May and hope you'll swing by on your next trip out the spit!
