Salmon season opened this weekend in San Francisco, so tonight we're stoking up the Weber for the Weber family.

Not until I got home from Whole Foods did I notice that the 3 lbs. ($54.87) of Wild King Salmon Fillets I bought yesterday, are fresh from Oregon.

At least, the Poultry & Fish Grilling Rub, I am using came from Williams-Sonoma, the local gourmet "place for cooks." The ingredients in their rub include: garlic, onion, dill, tarragon, pink peppercorns, lemon peel, paprika, black pepper and fennel seed.

Two locations in San Francisco that Williams-Sonoma's Grilling Rub can be found:

Williams-Sonoma in The Marina at 2000 Chestnut at the corner of Fillmore

Williams-Sonoma in Union Square at 340 Post between Stockton and Powell.

Whole Foods is located one block west of Van Ness at the corner of California and Franklin. Whether the salmon comes from Oregon or the Bay Area, both are outstanding. The key is to make sure you get wild salmon, as it is much higher in beneficial Omega-3 fatty acids.

All the other elements of your meal can be found at Whole Foods, from organic asparagus and salad makings to rice to fresh bread to micro-brewed beers and the best California wines.

If you're an angler and prefer to catch your own fish, we recommend suiting up at Leland Fly Fishing Outfitters at 463 Bush Street in Union Square.

Keith Westra, one of the guys on Josh Frazier's team at Leland, began his love of the sport on the north coast of California pursuing King Salmon and Steelhead.

Fellow Leland "ambassador," Karl Kirbus who is an eight-year veteran of fly fishing said, "The salmon in the Bay Area are running fast and deep right now which makes them tough to catch fly fishing. When they start to spawn and come up river, typically around the end of July or first of August, this is when our local salmon season begins."

If you're intrigued by the sport, whether it's salmon or any other fish, but don't know where to start, consider going on a guided trip with Leland Adventure Travel.

Destinations include:

Clearwater House, Northern California
Deschutes River, Oregon
Henry's Fork Lodge, Idaho
Ladies Week at Three Rivers Ranch, Idaho
North Platte, Wyoming
Smith River, Montana

Freshwater (International)

Dean River, British Colombia
Isla Monita Lodge, Chilean Andes
Minipi River, Labrador
Moose Lake Lodge, British Columbia
Poronui Ranch, New Zealand
The Rio Grande, Argentina

Saltwater (International)

Ascension Bay, Mexican Yucatan
Belize Mothership, Central America
Christmas Island, South Pacific
Flamingo Bay, Bahamas

For those who would rather have their fish prepared for them, Ana Mandara at Ghirardelli Square continues to be one of our favorite "places of taste" in San Francisco.

Two others to consider: Wolfgang Puck's Postrio and Fred Fahrni's Cafe Mozart.

The romantic Cafe Mozart is celebrating their 28th anniversary this year. They are currently participating in the "Dine About Town 2004" special promotion which offers a three course prix fixe dinner for $29.95. Included on this menu is a soup or salad starter, a main course of either Filet of Salmon Meuniere, Poulet Dijonnais, Roasted Cornish Game Hen, Beef Stroganoff or Plat Vegetarien, followed by a dessert and hot beverage. Perhaps a place to consider in preparing for your Mother's Day celebration...

Inspire & Be Inspired.

~Jennifer King

Related Articles:

5/03/04, SFGate.com, BAY AREA / Salmon Season Starts with Hope

5/14/03, RE: San Francisco, Smart Eaters Go Wild With Salmon

P.S. The "related products" below include:

"Essential of Grilling: Recipes and Techniques for Successful Outdoor Cooking" by Denis Kelly and Chuck Williams

"The Williams-Sonoma Collection: Grilling" by Denis Kelly

"Complete Grilling Cookbook" by Chuck Williams, John Phillip Carroll, Allan Rosenberg and Noel Barnhurst

"Weber's Art of the Grill: Recipes for Outdoor Living" by Jamie Purviance and Tim Turner

The Weber 3290001 Genesis Gold C Stainless Steel Propane Gas Grill - ($699 retail) currently available for under $600.