Planking Salmon

A great day? When the sun is shining (but not too much) and friends find the time to get together for dinner midweek. A group of friends were recently able to pull together a last-minute Wednesday evening dinner together. Though the food was great the stellar setting was outdoors on the patio with the comforting trickle of a nearby fountain and a view that reached across a sea of evergreens to Mount Baker and beyond.

We grilled a fillet of wild salmon on a cedar plank then topped it with a relish of seeded and chopped heirloom tomatoes, orange, yellow and red, avocado, cucumber & red onion in a dill-Dijon vinaigrette.

The crisp, creamy freshness of the relish complemented the smokey warm salmon perfectly.

We grilled some baby yukon gold potatoes and some bread as well. Our hosts had recently returned from a trip where they'd gleaned some fresh Dungeness crabs. We enjoyed the fruits of their labor along with a tender herb salad.
We even celebrated the decadence of a mid-week gathering with a fresh fruit tart for dessert. (compliments of a local bakery) We get by with a little help from our friends.

Finally, I must add this picture of my sweet Bernie (the dog) who continues to grow! I've pleaded with him to stop but alas, nature wins every time. He's still the cutest and the best. Don't you just want to grab him and hug him?