Not all fish are created equal. From a culinary standpoint, there is arguably no finer locally-caught salmon than an upriver CR chinook. When it comes to rich flavor and oil content, other fish just CAN'T compare on a consistent basis.

But to take it even a step further, there are clearly variations in the meat quality within a singular fish. The tail, belly, back, collar, cheeks all have a unique texture and flavor. Even on a whole collar, there are 4 distinct types of meat present…. that prime melt-in-your-mouth back medallion, the less oily para-vertebral midline meat, the ultra-greasy butterball belly meat, and the pectoral muscles stuffed in the bony nooks/crannies of the collar.

If you could only have ONE bite of the ENTIRE salmon, from what part of the fish would that most savory morsel originate?

I like the meat just in front of tail

Mine would originate in your kitchen, your salmon is always superb.......although it is mostly the collar or the belly sections.

Tail wrist, or belly. but maybe that's because as the cook I can remove these parts first so they never make to the table. every buddy else gets the thick parts.

belly

back medallion on collar

I almost never agree with anything that 2Many says. But not this time. He has it exactly right.

Belly > pec fin (salmon wings!) > collar

Belly for me. Tailpiece for ease of eating or cooking, no bones

I do not agree concerning the URB thing. To me any salmon must be caught in saltwater to be edible.

Back medallion or piece of belly fillet.

Collar or belly

tongue > laces > sole

I'll throw an x-factor into the mix and say it depends on the cut of the fish. If cut into steaks, I find the back sections to be really good. The backbone provides more of that goodness that only comes from cooking stuff bone-in. If filleted, I like a bite more or less from the middle of the fillet, just north of the belly, especially if pan seared. If I've got a big enough fish, I'll remove the membrane that covers the inside of the belly sections so the delicious, fatty flesh beneath can take on some of that delicate crunch from the sear. In that scenario, the belly is "king."

Belly.Good luck,

SZ

Smoked with rattlesnake dust added...makes it ALL good.

I'm a complete glutten, any part will do, prefer spring kings from anywhere.......

I am not much of a fish eater and prefer the tail for no bones and uniform thickness when cooking.

Belly but only from a big fish with thick, fat belly walls. Get a little crispy going on a HOT grill but still doesn't dry it out - delish!

It seems as if I am obviously in a minority since I always choose a tail section- firm, uniform and no bones.


You guys can fight over the bellies and collars all you want.

Put your hands together.