The Ora King experience

A fish with some fabulous features makes Ora King salmon a perfect premium product to use in Plate of Origin. Although a reasonably new brand, Ora King has a long and fascinating tale to tell of how this fish variety has gained global recognition.

The top of the South Island is the hub for this kiwi culinary treasure and Arbour and Jimmy Cook’s have teamed up to feature it as a key ingredient in their Marlborough dish. With decades of research and trials, the Ora King salmon team have developed methods of farming their fish that best replicate the natural life cycles of salmon. King salmon eggs destined to produce Ora King salmon are nurtured in the crystal clear waters flowing from Te Waikoropupu Springs at the hatchery in Takaka. With an average of 14,000 litres of fresh water bubbling to the surface every second, the waters of this region have been verified as some of the clearest waters in the world, an ideal beginning to the life cycle for Ora King salmon.

According to Jemma McCowan, General Marketing Manager at Ora King salmon, it is the care and attention to detail that creates this highly sought after end product. “It’s for this reason that one of the most popular products we sell and export is just a whole fish. Chefs want to work with a beautiful product, displaying their own knife skills by breaking down a beautiful quality fish themselves.”

Bradley Hornby, Chef and co-Owner of Arbour agrees with Jemma. “Ora King salmon is a fantastic product to work with. The salmon is always great quality and our guests love it!”

Ora King salmon is much more than a brand of salmon, it is a commitment to producing the best of breed with the most appealing taste, texture and colour. Ora King has a story that starts from the early settlers of New Zealand and the use of sustainable farming practices means they will be around for generations to come.

Jemma expresses a passion for the product that is clearly shared throughout the organisation and industry, describing Ora King salmon as “the Wagyu of salmon” known for its luxuriously high fat content and beautiful orange flesh.

Lucky diners at Jimmy Cook’s who chose the Plate of Origin will have enjoyed Ora King salmon paired with Cloudy Bay clams served with scorched corn and miso.

Read more about Ora King and their commitment to the environment at their website www.orakingsalmon.co.nz.