On May 8, 2013, the Copper River/Prince William Sound Marketing Association and Alaskan Brewing Company will partner in Dallas, Texas, to support the Dallas Observer Iron Fork competition and to bring two Alaska products — Copper River salmon and Alaskan Brewing beer — to the Lone Star state.

Sponsored by the Dallas Observer, Whole Foods and Ben E. Keith Beverage, the locally renowned Iron Fork competition will feature the onstage chef challenge moderated by Chef Kent Rathbun. Competing chefs Scott Romano of Nick & Sam's, and Matt McCallister of FT33, will be given a basket of ingredients, including one mystery ingredient. The competing chefs will have to create a dish in a mini kitchen, and a panel will then judge the dish. The winner will receive the title of Iron Chef.

Both chefs will travel to Cordova, Alaska, to experience one of the first Copper River salmon openers in May, where they will board a commercial fishing vessel to fish for Copper River sockeye themselves. On their way home, they will stop over in Juneau to tour the Alaskan brewery and see the beer making process firsthand. Back in Texas, each chef will host a VIP Dinner featuring the Copper River salmon and Alaskan Brewing beer.

Alaskan Brewing is the official beer sponsor of the Iron Fork Competition. and, "We want to bring our passion for Copper River salmon to Texas just like we brought our Alaskan Amber to Texas last year," explains Alaskan Brewing Brand Manager Cindy Burchfield in a company news release. "There are a lot of people in Dallas who have an appreciation for wild Alaska seafood and for Alaskan beer, so it was a natural partnership with the Iron Fork competition." That's Copper River fisherman Mike Mahoney at left displaying both Alaska products.

This is the first year that the Copper River/Prince William Sound Marketing Association will be participating in the event. "We are really looking forward to welcoming Scott and Matt to Cordova," says Beth Poole, the marketing association's executive director. "Our fishermen work in a remote corner of the world and our salmon is renowned worldwide. It's very exciting to be here in our small Alaskan fishing community when the season reopens each year and these two chefs from Dallas are going to see where the finest wild Alaska sockeye comes from. We are so pleased to be working with chefs, retailers and home cooks to share Copper River Salmon across the country."