This recipe was originally adapted for 1859 Magazine’s March/April 2025 issue, as part of the cover story, “Foodie Road Trip on the Oregon Coast”

This sandwich has been a staple of Local Ocean’s menu for many years. It originated during a year when Chinook salmon was not widely available -- Captain Don Snow of F/V Summerplace challenged Executive Chef Enrique Sanchez-Rodriguez to create something special with the Coho he had caught that year in SE Alaska. “Primo” means “the best” in Italian. Suffice to say, Captain Snow agreed with the name; we continue to buy the majority of our yearly salmon from Don and his boat, and he still orders this sandwich every time he joins us for a meal at Local Ocean. In Don’s own words:

“When in Newport, my go-to place for lunch is always Local Ocean Seafood on the bayfront. There are so many appealing choices on the menu, but their Coho Primo sandwich catches my eye. The fresh-baked ciabatta bun and a nice big piece of wild Coho, along with just the right veggies makes it irresistible.”