Just as a side note...you dont have to see the guy in Ironforge first.  I think that is just to point you in the right direction.  I was fishing in feathermoon to catch the yellowtails and I stopped by Gadgetzan and the quest was available to me.  I took the eggs, cheese & zesty clam with me and it was done...  then went to steamwheedle port and got the recipie for yellowtail and immediately took my cook skill up to 265 before it went green