Salmon

Genetically modified salmon moved closer to the market last week with release of draft documents from the Food and Drug Administration that assessed the environmental risks posed by AquAdvantage salmon, which grow faster than regular Atlantic salmon. The agency found, on a preliminary basis, that the GM fish, produced by AquaBounty Technologies of Massachusetts, posed no significant threat. Both documents -- an environmental assessmen t and preliminary “ finding of no significant impac t,” known by the policy wonks as a FONSI -- will be published Dec. 26 in the Federal Register and be available for public comment for 60 days.

After more than a decade in regulatory limbo, genetically engineered Atlantic salmon that grow faster than their naturally born counterparts moved closer to American plates, with the publication Friday of a government report that found the fish wouldn't hurt the environment and would be safe to eat. The draft report, released by the Food and Drug Administration after months of unexplained delay, was greeted with cheers by members of the biotech community...

According to Food editor Russ Parsons, this oven-steamed salmon is one of the easiest dishes you'll ever make: "Here's all you do: Heat the oven to 250 degrees. Put the salmon on a baking sheet. Put a baking pan on the floor of the oven (or on the lowest rack) and fill it with boiling water. Cook. Yup. That's it. " The salmon is ready in about 20 minutes, when the fish just begins to flake. While it's cooking, whisk together a quick dill mayonnaise (mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, fresh chopped dill and shallots and a little lemon juice)

Here is a selection of some new offerings at the prestige end of the market, many predicated on exclusive ingredients and newfangled technology: Super Cream from 3LAB, exclusively at Barneys, joins that brand's high-priced roster but remains its most expensive launch to date. Co-founder Erica Chung attributes the $875 price to the cream's Intelligent Targeting Device technology, which is supposed to drive collagen and elastin to the cells that need it the most. The Bee Venom Mask from Heaven Skin Care became an overnight sensation when word came out that Kate Middleton, wife of England's Prince William, used it. Soon to be available in the U.S., the $560 Limited Edition Golden Bee Venom Mask contains a high concentration of bee venom, which is supposed to have something of a Botox effect on the skin.

The Angels will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of their 2002 World Series championship Saturday night when more than 20 players and coaches from that team are inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame before a game against Tampa Bay. "I'm excited about seeing the guys, catching up and reliving the memories," said Tim Salmon, the right fielder on that team. "It's 10 years later, and it seems like it was yesterday ... until you watch the grainy film. " In a postseason filled with highlights -- a dominant bullpen headed by Troy Percival, Adam Kennedy's three-homer game in the American League Championship Series, Scott Spiezio's World Series Game 6 homer against San Francisco, and Garret Anderson's decisive three-run double in Game 7 -- what stands out most for Salmon is the heart of the club.

It's been a long, long haul for California's salmon fishermen. But this year has been a boom. How has the fishing been? So good they're postponing their annual salmon festival so they can stay out on the water. The Golden Gate Salmon Assn. , a group of commercial and recreational fishermen and related businesses that is dedicated to restoring the salmon fishery and habitat, announced this week that its annual fund-raising dinner originally scheduled for this weekend had been pushed back to Sept.  21. “We regret the last-minute change,” Victor Gonella, president of the association, said in a statement.

SEATTLE - Pike Place Market. The Space Needle. Pioneer Square. Check, check and check. If you've hit these obvious Seattle destinations, you're not a newbie. But maybe you're not an insider either. So, this 21-stop Seattle checklist is for you. It skirts those three attractions and several other popular stops to make more room for Ballard, Capitol Hill, Fremont and the University District - four asset-rich Seattle neighborhoods my family and I explored on a visit last summer.

When I was in college, breakfast of toasted bagel, cream cheese and lox eaten with the Sunday paper spread all over the table seemed like a wonderful luxury. Later I discovered the nuances of gum-free cream cheese and the bialys and Nova from Russ & Daughters and Barney Greengrass in New York. (Barney Greengrass has an outpost on the top floor of Barneys New York in Beverly Hills.) Satiny smoked salmon or other fish can be enjoyed other ways as well. Here are a few places to find superior smoked fish in the L.A. area.

Recreational gold mining using suction dredges along Northern California's Klamath River must be reviewed by federal wildlife officials if threatened coho salmon might be harmed, a federal appeals court ruled Friday. The 7-4 ruling by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found that the U.S. Forest Service violated federal endangered species protections by approving the mining practice along the Klamath without consulting wildlife officials. The Klamath starts in southeastern Oregon and empties into the Pacific Ocean about 40 miles south of the California-Oregon border.

A rafting trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho isn't just about the water. Yes, there are about 100 rapids to shoot, but there's also time to take a dip in a hot spring, learn the history of the area and hike in canyons along the way. For rafting fans, Mountain Travel Sobek sweetens the pot this summer with a two-for-one promotion for a limited time on six-day trips. The trip, available on nine departure dates, begins in Stanley, where participants take a bus ride to the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area and put in to the river.