The price of food is on the rise. Suddenly staple ingredients such as milk, eggs and flour are practically doubling in cost. We may gripe and groan, but when it comes to paying more for food, the proof, as they say, is in the eating, especially when it comes to luxury ingredients.

So as spring slowly turns into summer, celebrate by splurging on one of the season's most wonderful offerings: Copper River Salmon, available at a number of Pittsburgh outlets. Last year, Copper River prices started at around $22 per pound.

What's so special about these fish? Copper River Salmon are so named because they travel up the Copper River in Alaska each year to spawn and lay eggs. They have to work incredibly hard to make it up the 300-mile river and through hundreds of rapids. Unlike land animals, whose muscles toughen as the animal works, fish flesh gains flavor without any trade-off in texture.

Compared to other salmon, Copper River salmon have higher amounts of fat and oils, giving them more flavor and an outstanding, luxurious mouth feel. Wild Alaskan Salmon are considered a "best choice" by the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch because they are sustainably fished. They are also high in Omega-3 fatty acids and exceptionally low in mercury.

Henry Dewey, co-owner of Penn Avenue Fish Co. in the Strip District, is a personal fan of the fish. He suggests pairing the fish with an Oregon Pinot Noir -- one of the most famous exception to the old wine-pairing saw, no red wine with fish.

Copper River Salmon will be sold at Market District Giant Eagle in Shadyside and Bethel Park; Penn Avenue Fish Co. and Benkovitz in the Strip District; Whole Foods in East Liberty; and McGinnis Sisters Special Food Stores in Brentwood and Monroeville. The Wild Alaskan Salmon Company will also be selling Copper River Salmon, as well as other types of Wild Alaskan Salmon, at the Farmers@Firehouse Saturday morning market in the Strip District and the Thursday afternoon Main Street Market in Washington, Pa. story by China MillmanThe price of food is on the rise. Suddenly staple ingredients such as milk, eggs and flour are practically doubling in cost. We may gripe and groan, but when it comes to paying more for food, the proof, as they say, is in the eating, especially when it comes to luxury ingredients.

So as spring slowly turns into summer, celebrate by splurging on one of the season's most wonderful offerings: Copper River Salmon, available at a number of Pittsburgh outlets. Last year, Copper River prices started at around $22 per pound.

What's so special about these fish? Copper River Salmon are so named because they travel up the Copper River in Alaska each year to spawn and lay eggs. They have to work incredibly hard to make it up the 300-mile river and through hundreds of rapids. Unlike land animals, whose muscles toughen as the animal works, fish flesh gains flavor without any trade-off in texture.

Compared to other salmon, Copper River salmon have higher amounts of fat and oils, giving them more flavor and an outstanding, luxurious mouth feel. Wild Alaskan Salmon are considered a "best choice" by the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch because they are sustainably fished. They are also high in Omega-3 fatty acids and exceptionally low in mercury.

Henry Dewey, co-owner of Penn Avenue Fish Co. in the Strip District, is a personal fan of the fish. He suggests pairing the fish with an Oregon Pinot Noir -- one of the most famous exception to the old wine-pairing saw, no red wine with fish.

Copper River Salmon will be sold at Market District Giant Eagle in Shadyside and Bethel Park; Penn Avenue Fish Co. and Benkovitz in the Strip District; Whole Foods in East Liberty; and McGinnis Sisters Special Food Stores in Brentwood and Monroeville. The Wild Alaskan Salmon Company will also be selling Copper River Salmon, as well as other types of Wild Alaskan Salmon, at the Farmers@Firehouse Saturday morning market in the Strip District and the Thursday afternoon Main Street Market in Washington, Pa.