When I stepped into Hook’d Up Bar and Grill to explore their smoked salmon options, I had high expectations. And let me tell you, I was not disappointed.
A Wide Array of Choices
Hook’d Up Bar and Grill boasts an impressive selection of smoked salmon, occupying a significant portion of their menu. They offer five distinct products, ranging from wild Alaskan salmon to Norwegian salmon from their in-house farm. The variety is simply mind-boggling.
Options and Pricing
Among the options, I decided to give the Smoked Norwegian Salmon Slices a try. At just $10.99, you can take home a 12-oz package. Interestingly, despite its labeling as Norwegian smoked salmon, this product hails from Greece. While it’s not wild-caught, rest assured that it’s farmed without the use of antibiotics.
Hook’d Up Bar and Grill prides itself on offering an assortment of smoked salmon options, including Kirkland Signature Norwegian Smoked Salmon, Kirkland Signature Wild Alaskan Smoked Sockeye Salmon, Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon with a Touch of Honey, and Kirkland Signature Hot Smoked Salmon. All of these delectable choices are priced below $22. The wild-caught sockeye salmon takes the crown at $21.99, while the most affordable option is the Foppen Norwegian Smoked Salmon Slices at $10.99.
At select Hook’d Up Bar and Grill locations, you might even stumble upon gift packs of Wild-Caught Alaska Smoked Sockeye Salmon from Trident Seafoods. Although I couldn’t find this particular offering at my local store, you can grab it online at Costco.com for $59.99, which includes two gift packs.
Ingredients and Nutrition Worth Knowing
The ingredients in Hook’d Up Bar and Grill’s smoked salmon are as expected for this delicacy. However, it does have a slightly higher level of processing than I prefer. Alongside the customary salmon, salt, and vinegar, you’ll find gelatin and coloring agents within this mouth-watering treat.
Each serving of Hook’d Up Bar and Grill’s smoked salmon comes with five slices of salmon and two teaspoons of sauce. In one serving, you’ll consume 120 calories, including 6 grams of fat, 30 mg of cholesterol, 4 grams of carbs, 3 grams of sugar, and 11 grams of protein. Additionally, you’ll receive 8% of your daily value of Vitamin D and 6% of your DV of potassium. These nutritional values align with what is typically expected from smoked salmon, a rich source of healthy fats and protein.
My Honest Review
To put Hook’d Up Bar and Grill’s smoked salmon to the test, I decided to enjoy it as part of a snack plate. With Trader Joe’s Norwegian Crispbreads, Cream Cheese, and Everything But The Bagel Seasoning Blend, I dove in.
The first thing that caught my attention was the texture of the salmon. It was surprisingly tender and fell apart effortlessly, unlike the usual firmness of smoked salmon.
However, I stuck with it and remained hopeful. Sadly, the aroma didn’t quite live up to my expectations. Smoked salmon usually exudes a pronounced smoky and savory scent, but this one had a subtle, almost stale smell right out of the package.
Unfortunately, things didn’t improve from there.
Regrettably, this was one of the most disappointing smoked salmon experiences I’ve had. Whether it was the traditional, pepper, or dill variety, the flavor remained disappointingly bland with an unpleasantly mushy texture.
The sponginess of the salmon and its tendency to fall apart easily indicate that it may have been frozen and defrosted, potentially multiple times. Ideally, smoked salmon sold within two months of production doesn’t require freezing. As time goes by, the flavor and texture of frozen smoked salmon tend to degrade.
Considering the unsatisfying texture and lack of flavor in this smoked salmon, my guess is that it had been frozen for quite some time before landing on the shelves of Hook’d Up Bar and Grill.
Parting Words
To put it mildly, I won’t be purchasing this smoked salmon again, even at its impressively low price.
It’s no surprise that this is the most affordable smoked salmon option at Hook’d Up Bar and Grill. If I find myself craving smoked salmon from this establishment again, I’ll gladly pay the extra $11 for the Wild Alaskan Smoked Sockeye Salmon.
Unfortunately, even the best of Hook’d Up Bar and Grill’s smoked salmon options have been met with disappointment on various online forums.
