Many Alaskans smoke pinks with tasty results. Here are some places to get it. Head to the Last Frontier for salmon, halibut, crab and other locally sourced classics. Located right on the harbor in Whittier, this is where you'll find the best fish and chips in town. Still, Alaska’s overall agricultural scene is relatively small, probably less than the production found in any county of a Midwest farm state. Use it to flavor sweets, pour on pancakes, dribble over ice cream (Anchorage’s Wild Scoops has pioneered a unique birch flavored ice cream)—anything that begs for that sweet, boreal touch. On one hand, the cold temperatures of Alaska’s ocean delays maturation, preventing the oysters from reproducing (which makes them soft, milky-colored and unpalatable.) You can also find them sold at specialty seafood retailers for $29 to $34 per pound. Essentially a domestic caribou, Alaskan reindeer are descended from stock imported from Siberia during the 1890s and can only be owned by Alaskan Natives. Sockeyes are rich and meaty, with a firm red flesh and a medium flavor that’s filling and satisfying. Many dinner-oriented restaurants will serve cohos beginning in late July or early August. The honey produced can be remarkable—lighter and more liquid than many commercial varieties, and laced with complex flavors that hint at the boreal summer. An Alaska staple for summer backyard grilling over open flames, they can also be baked, poached, seared, and smoked, with leftovers used in chowders, soups, cakes, and salmon salad. In Alaska, chowder is studded with smoked salmon. They all exhibit a white flesh with a mild flavor. Don’t hesitate to try canned pinks for salmon salad, chowders, and soups. Discover delicious berries across Alaska. Producers are often mom-and-pop operations that offer intimate settings for sampling. Restaurants Alaska's 10 Best … While not as commercially important as sockeyes, and also not known for returning in the same dense concentrations, the 8- to 12-pound fish are the most sought-after salmon during the second half of the fishing season. It’s your signal that the berries are ripe. The meat is tender and sweet, with a hint of brine, with the tastiest morsels found in the claws and legs rather than the body. Boutique, small ship adventure cruises in Alaska's Inside Passage, Cruises depart from Whittier, a 1 hr drive from Anchorage. Strictly protected under federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, Alaskan whales, seals, walruses, sea lions, and sea otters can be harvested by Alaska Natives for consumption and subsistence. Dining in Anchorage, Alaska: See 58,364 Tripadvisor traveller reviews of 839 Anchorage restaurants and search by cuisine, price, location, and more. 39 reviews Closed Now. Ask for a table by the window to watch the sun set over Cook Inlet, home to diverse fish and beluga whales. Birch syrup is sold irregularly in grocery stores, but you can find it more frequently in specialty shops like Alaska Wild Berry Products and Natural Pantry. Please check your email to verify your subscription. The pristine North Pacific Ocean produces a bounty of seafood unmatched just about anywhere else in the world, while the near endless daylight combines with rich glacial soils to yield remarkably tasty fruits and vegetables. Enjoy classic Alaskan salmon across the state. If you’re a purist, go for an expertly grilled fillet that's lightly seasoned. Did we leave any of your traditional favorites off the list? For example, edible parts of certain non-threatened or non-endangered species may be sold inside Native villages by individuals to non-Natives for consumption. Alaska also features several thriving greenhouse operations that produce tomatoes (plus flowers and vegetable starts). Best Dining in Anchorage, Alaska: See 58,322 Tripadvisor traveler reviews of 834 Anchorage restaurants and search by cuisine, price, location, and more. See Alaska's highlights by railroad or motorcoach in a group of up to 50, Travel in small groups, stay at exclusive wilderness lodges, and spend more time outdoors, All-inclusive multi-day vacation packages at a remote wilderness lodge, Travel with a professional photographer to the best photo locations around the state, Trips range from backpacking, rafting, to upscale remote lodge retreats, Cruises depart Juneau or Sitka. Alaska’s farmer’s markets or fairs with vendors often feature dedicated apiculturists selling their products in person. Some dinner-oriented restaurants serve sablefish, and they can be found irregularly in grocery stores and specialty seafood retailers for a premium. Manhattan and New England can keep their clam-based chowders. After a hard day of fishing or hiking on the Kenai Peninsula, Gwin’s Lodge in Cooper Landing offers just the bowl. But some chum populations swim more than 2,000 miles up Interior and Western Alaska rivers, where they've long been prized as a traditional dried winter subsistence food for people and dogs. Popular Alaska Itineraries Using In-State Airlines, Anchorage to Denali National Park Driving Map. Try a flight of six wines. Dip each bite in melted butter to complete the experience. Now that you have some ideas about the cuisine of Alaska, you will want to know what are the best places to sample all of these delicacies. Jeff Kidding 633 views. 12. While Anchorage is home to the most diverse and many of the best Alaska restaurants, you can find great food experiences just about anywhere in … Pacific cod and sablefish will make appearances on restaurant menus, and are usually taken by commercial boats operating far offshore. Take a brewery tour and try Alaska's excellent beers. Pacific cod (the true cod) meat is flaky and light, often deep-fried for fish-and-chips—inexpensive and widely available in grocery stores. They're served grilled, seared, and baked; they come cooked in sauces and within chowders. The white, flaky meat has a delicate flavor and makes for excellent eating. We’ve broken down the dining scene into two categories: local favorites and visitor hot spots. Peas and bush beans are favorites. And, with strict federal and state management ensuring sustainable harvests, this dining experience is guilt-free. A full bar, plus hearty fare like burgers, sandwiches, chili, and pies, will have you back out playing in no time. From the east-side lot, take the trail toward the mountains. Please try again. The vegetables are excellent. Caribou chili, Copper River salmon, Kachemak Bay oysters, moose burgers, reindeer sausage and even gooseberry pie. Alaskans keen to throw a party know that freshly caught Alaska shrimp is a good way to guarantee a packed house. Local chefs and brewmeisters—often single entrepreneurs or mom-and-pop teams—serve intriguing meals and beverages in venues scattered across the state, creating a cuisine that’s uniquely Alaskan. Salmonberries and wild raspberries can also be prolific, especially in wetter ground. ... FOOD ADVENTURE - ALASKA CAMPOBELLO RESTAURANT REVIEW - Duration: 11:11. Sablefish (or blackcod) are more buttery and rich tasting, considered almost exotic, with prices that rival those for halibut. The three commercial species—blue king crab, red king crab, and golden king crab—are 10-legged crustaceans that scavenge and hunt across the sea floor. Visit the tasting room or take a tour. While Alaska might not be San Francisco or Paris, you’ll find that the Last Frontier offers many unexpected delights to lovers of food and drink. These deliver a very different epicurean experience than you’ll get from frozen shrimp or scallops you find elsewhere. The result makes for a unique dining experience. We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life. Berries to pick near Anchor­age – and poi­so­nous berries to avoid. The smallest Pacific salmon, usually weighing 3 to 7 pounds, pink or humpy salmon converge on rivers and estuaries in vast numbers, dwarfing the catch of all other salmon combined. Alaska salmon, in particular, is abundant and healthy, if not an outright “superfood.”. You can also find them in grocery stores and specialty seafood retailers, often at about the same price as sockeyes. Wash them all down with a wide variety of champagnes at Anchorage’s Bubbly Mermaid Oyster Bar, an intimate locale where the counter is made from the bow of a boat. A few entrepreneurs have started harvesting kelp and other wild seaweed under permits, mostly in Southeast Alaska. Rockfish meat is white, with a flaky texture and a mild, sweet flavor—considered a treat by many Alaskans. Many productive apple varieties can thrive once they're grafted onto a cold-ground rootstock (often Siberian crab apple varieties) and transplanted to favorable orchard or garden sites. These three groundfish species (only one is a true “cod”) are denizens of the deep ocean off Alaska’s coast. Alaska is rife with exceptional food. Alaska Railroad: Adventure Class or Goldstar Dome Car Service? So it may be possible to purchase these traditional Native foods in the towns, more likely if you travel to a traditional village. Alaska’s pristine waters support a small-but-growing oyster farm industry that produces exceptionally firm, consistent, and sweet half-shell products. We explore the 10 best restaurants in Anchorage that reflect the state’s distinct culture. A few entrepreneurs have started harvesting kelp and other wild seaweed, Arctic Valley Ski Area at the top of Arctic Valley Road, Glen Alps trailhead into Chugach State Park, the operation’s original cozy cafe on Brayton Drive. Side stripe and spot shrimp (or prawns) are the local favorites, available throughout the state and online, at various retailers. Sample from dishes like the Minted Radish Crunch Salad, a fresh flower sandwich with red pepper jelly, and local organic greens with wild bluebells. If you’re looking for delicious comfort food in Alaska, you need to head to the Blue Roof Bistro in Fairbanks. Alaskan’s signature beer is the Amber, available in just about every restaurant and bar in the state. Find how many days you need based on what you want to see and do in Alaska. For the most part, bees must be imported in the early spring and do not survive the winter. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. Your must-have activity guide + map while in Alaska. They're prepared in the same ways as sockeyes—most often grilled, but also baked, seared, and poached. Scores of Alaskans have embraced the fine art of bee-keeping, with apiaries spread across the state, including many locations inside the Anchorage urban area. Rent a car and travel independently on a set itinerary, with lodging and tours booked in advance. Most operations have their own shops, as well as distribution networks into many other venues. About 60 aquatic farms spread across the state—in Kachemak Bay, Prince William Sound, and Southeast Alaska—sell nearly two million oysters a year. Spit out any berry that tastes bitter or chalky. Sample the bounty at Bistro Red Beet in Wasilla, where options go beyond straight broccoli and cauliflower. Certain species must be carefully handled and released at depth or they will die. To avoid any chance of paralytic shellfish poisoning, the crabs must be butchered before cooking, with the legs and claws boiled for about 20 minutes. Alaska Restaurants. Highlights plus less visited destinations. Ice cream. It has a distinctive, meaty taste reminiscent of a high-end link pork sausage. Smaller than king crab, (and often half as expensive!) dungeness are true crabs, with four legs for traveling and a pair of pinching claws up front. © 2021 Discovery or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Right smack in the middle of some of Alaska's most beautiful country is Sheep Mountain Lodge, a must-stop along the Glenn Highway. Many dinner-oriented restaurants serve halibut year-round. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. 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