The Last Frontier!

I have just returned home from a two week trip to beautiful Alaska, with a brief stop in Seattle on our way home. Aside from seeing the usual tourist sites, Red and I did a great job eating our way through our travels. I love exploring great meals in other cities. So, if you are ever heading to the beautiful state of Alaska, I hope this is a helpful guide to excellent food at good values.

As we were exploring downtown Anchorage our first day in town, we were attempting to take a picture outside city hall, when a friendly woman from Chicago, offered to snap the photo for us. We took this opportunity to pull out some helpful hints from her and her family on what to see and do, and where to eat. The woman suggested Snow City Cafe, and at her suggestion her sulking, skinny jean wearing teenage son perked up for the first time to announce that Snow City was “Awesome!” How could we say no to that? So we didn’t… We began our edible Alaskan journey at Snow City Café (www.snowcitycafe.com) where I ordered an Alaskan specialty, Salmon Cake Eggs Benedict, while Red ordered Halibut Tacos. The fish in Alaska is out of this world. It’s fresh and delicate and extremely delicious. It was a great introduction to Alaskan fare. After touring the streets of downtown Anchorage, visiting the Anchorage Zoo, enjoying the Anchorage museum and the Native Cultural Center, Red and I (with the help of a local tour guide—Red’s cousin) hit up the night life. We began at Humpy’s Alehouse (www.humpys.com/), a cool brewpub style bar with great food and live music. We ordered the Halibut Nachos to share for the table, and they arrived heaping with lumps of fresh halibut and homemade tortilla chips. Without a doubt, some of the best nachos I have ever had! In addition we enjoyed the locally brewed beer selection. We finished off the night at a bar called The Pioneer, where we rubbed elbows with local NHL players. Anchorage is a terrific city!

Our Alaskan adventure continued on, as we piled the family into a van, and headed south. Along the way, we visited the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center where we saw Caribou, Bears, Moose, and many other animals found in the Alaskan wild. This is a great drive-thru zoo, worth checking out while driving along the Seward Hwy, and a perfect place to try a Reindeer Sausage at their snack bar. We stopped in Moose Pass to visit more cousins and for lunch, and again had more fish (fresh baked Salmon recently caught and packaged by our gracious hosts), as we traveled to the city of Seward. What a gem of a town! From delicious gourmet pizzas and a Caesar salad stacked high with piles of bay shrimp at Christo’s Palace (http://www.christospalace.com/index.htm), to a thick succulent halibut burger (not deep fried) at Nellie’s Roadhouse Diner (http://www.alaskanelliesroadhouse.com/). Not to mention, Seward is home of the Sea Life Center, one of the coolest aquarium exhibits I have ever experienced, and a surprisingly fun night life. No, seriously…we started the night at The Yukon, and on this Tuesday night, Hobo Jim (an Alaskan superstar) was performing. What a great show he put on! If closing at 2pm wasn’t late enough, the party continued at Pit Bar just a few miles away (we shared a cab with a few others heading that way), and rolled home around 4:30 am. Who knew?

Yet the fun continued, as we made our way to Homer, Alaska, a town that boasts being a “Small Drinking Town with a Fishing Problem.” What it truly is, is pure Alaskan beauty! It is hard to not be overwhelmed by the scenic surroundings: Mountains, Glaciers, Wildflowers, Ocean…It also didn’t hurt that we were fortunate to stay with not only the world’s most welcoming, generous family, but a family of Fisherman who had just returned home from their recent fishing endeavors. Upon our arrival, a fresh pot of Venison Stew was simmering in the Slow Cooker, and 10 pounds of freshly caught fish (Black Cod, Halibut, Salmon) was defrosting on the counter. I am still dreaming of the impromptu sushi spread and three fish platter. I have never had true fresh fish til’ this night…

On a side note, there are a few other things worth noting in Homer, Alaska. First, I highly recommend heading to the Ring of Fire Meadery (for info on mead, check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mead) and enjoy their free tasting bar. The owner is extremely informative, and makes your mead tasting experience delightful. Plus, it is a great gift or souvenir to bring back home! In addition, don’t miss the Homer Spit, and be sure to grab a beer at the Salty Dawg Saloon while you are down there. Also on the spit was the Glacier Drive Inn, which served up an inexpensive, tasty burger.