Preparing and devouring good food is always fun.

Preparing and devouring good food is always fun. Preparing and devouring food made with booze is a blast. When we decided to focus the first issue of Mixology.com on the Martini, I set out to enlist the help of Alan James, sous chef at Muse Bistro in Toronto.

I presented James with a puzzle: what can I serve guests at a martini party that will be relatively easy to prepare and taste as good as an ice-cold drink, not unlike the vodka martini with three olives I have on my desk as I write this.

His answer: Salmon Graulax, cured in lemon and vodka. Graulax? Don't worry.

Salmon Graulax, cured in lemon and vodka.

Ingredients:

2 LB fresh salmon fillet (skin on)
One quarter cup light brown sugar
One quarter cup coarse salt
3 lemons
One quarter cup vodka (more if desired)
One quarter dill (optional, of course)

Method:

Lay salmon out on a large piece of plastic wrap.
Mix brown sugar and coarse salt
Spread sugar/salt mixture liberally over the fish (flesh side up)
Slice lemons and place in single layer over fish
Place dill over top of the lemon
Sprinkle vodka over the entire dish
Wrap tightly in several layers of plastic wrap
Put salmon in dish and weigh down with a dinner plate and put in refrigerator
Turn salmon over every 6-8 hours over a period of 2-3 days - or as often as you like for as long as you like
Before eating, rinse fish well and dry with a towel
Slice salmon into thin pieces on a heavy bias (angle)

Serve salmon on pumpernickel rounds, puff pastry, bagels, crackers, etc.

Although this recipe may seem risky, as the fish is not "cooked" in the traditional sense, the taste will amaze any guest. The salt-sugar mixture actually cooks the fish and makes it safe to consume. But is it easy? Yes. Although it takes time to turn it over, the actual preparation can be accomplished in several minutes. If the salmon is smaller that 2 lb., reduce curing time by one-third.

Accompaniment: Avocado Mousse

A simple avocado mousse goes well with the salmon.

Ingredients:

One avocado
One and a half cup sour cream
One lemon
3-4 drops Tabasco
Salt to taste

Method:

Combine all in a food processor and puree.