Q: I've been seeing a lot of recipes for planked salmon lately. What exactly is this?

A: Planked salmon, a specialty of Canadian and Scandinavian cuisines, is salmon that has been cooked on a piece of cedar, over coals. The plank of wood, about 3/8-inch thick, is first soaked in water, then placed on the grill. When it starts smoking, you place the fish on the plank and let it cook. The method imparts a marvelous mild cedar flavor, and the wood protects the delicate fish during grilling. Additionally, planked fish makes a spectacular table presentation.

You can make your own plank by purchasing untreated cedar at a lumberyard, or you can buy cedar planks from www.amazon.com or www.williams-sonoma.com.

Try the method for yourself in Cedar-Planked Salmon with Pinot Noir Sauce.