Whole side

A whole side of smoked salmon is the centrepiece cut. One side stretches to a Christmas Eve canapé wreath, a grazing board for ten people, or a dinner party starter spread the length of a long table. These recipes are built around presenting the side intact: arranging it, decorating it, serving it as theatre rather than a working ingredient. Cuts down to the slicing on the day itself, which is largely the point. Order the side a week ahead in busy seasons.