An Alaskan adventure is the ultimate wilderness experience, but did you know the last frontier offers an unexpected diverse food scene. Alaskan cuisine is unlike any other US state and is a harvest of its geography. Miles of coastline and rich glacial soils provide a pristine environment for sea life, wildlife as well as plants to thrive. From traditional indigenous meals to eclectic fusion dishes independent chefs scattered across the 49th state combine staple ingredients that have been available for centuries with what's in abundance now to create innovative culinary delights.
Seafood is the centerpiece of Alaskan cuisine and thanks to strict sustainability regulations it is some of the freshest in the world. With dozens of species, Salmon and King Crab are among the most sought-after catch. Relished by both bears and people, no trip to Alaska is complete without trying Alaskan Salmon. Chinooks, also referred to as King Salmon is the largest variety while Sockeye Salmon is more commonly found on menus. Often caught in abundant rivers a few miles from eateries, this staple seafood can be enjoyed baked, broiled, grilled, smoked, cured, pickled, and candied. Indulge in a hearty salmon chowder or try a Smoked Salmon Cheese Crunch in the hamlet town of Talkeetna where locally caught salmon is smoked and layered on a crispy wafer-thin layer of melted cheese topped with onions, cilantro, and locally grown sunflower and radish sprouts. Few things symbolize Alaskan cuisine like King Crab. Owing to its rarity to the dangerous harvesting process and short fishing season, Alaskan King Crabs are one of the largest crustaceans in the world that should not be missed.
Big game meat is another much-enjoyed specialty. While animals like moose, elk, and bison can be hunted with proper licenses, they cannot be commercially purchased. So more commonly found on restaurant menus is reindeer meat. Native Alaskans have preserved and consumed reindeer for decades. But in recent years, food carts have popped up around almost every street corner whipping up Reindeer dogs - An Alaskan hot dog where the sausages are made with caribou, beef, and pork. Aside from splitting and grilling the hot dog, the steamed buns are topped with mustard, cream cheese, and Coca-Cola-deglazed onions. Another non-native meat that is becoming popular in Alaska, as a more nutritious alternative to beef is Yak meat. Head to 49th State Brewery to sample a Yak burger or try it in a quesadilla.
Alaskans love Pizza! With some of the priciest pizzas per slice in the country parlors and options are abundant. Do not however expect a typical pepperoni or cheese pizza, Alaskan’s opt for apricot sauce, strawberries, and rhubarb over the pies. Order the amazing apricot chicken pizza at Moose’s Tooth in Anchorage which is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. Moose’s Tooth has not only ranked in the top 3 pizzerias in the country but is also the highest-grossing single-unit independent pizzeria in the US. If you can’t decide, Mountain High Pizza company nestled at the base of the towering Alaskan range in the town of Talkeetna makes an over 30-topping pizza with seasonally harvested local ingredients.
Birch Syrup is a truly Alaskan product extracted from boreal forests carpeted with paper birch trees. Birch syrup has a uniquely spicy-sweet flavor and Alaska is the world’s leader in production. Birch syrup is much harder to produce with 110 gallons of sap converting to just one gallon of syrup. For comparison, maple syrup averages a yield of 40:1. Another product of birch trees is Chaga mushrooms, a fungus that grows on the trees in cool climates. Chaga draws nutrients from the tree that can be extracted and made into an earthy tea packed with antioxidants.
Anchorage ranks among the top cities nationally for the number of coffee shops per capita. It perhaps has something to do with the unusual long daylight hours. Coffee provides a great pick me up and one coffee company you can be sure to find across Alaska is Kaladi Brothers Coffee. Their signature latte brewed with a mix of vanilla, chocolate, and extra coffee flavors is a must-try. When the temperatures drop stop by a mobile coffee truck, plenty of which are parked in both cities and rural areas and often have drive-through windows.
And finally, save room for dessert. In the summer months, the extremely long hours of sunlight combined with Alaska’s nutrient heavy soil provide a fertile breeding ground for fruits and flowers. Over a dozen different kinds of berries dot expansive slopes and berry picking is a family favorite in the short summer months. Do not miss out on trying a crispy berry cobbler. Another sweet treat is made with Fireweed, an edible wildflower whose blooms mark the start of summer and blanket the entire state. Drop by Wild City Scoops in Anchorage to try fireweed ice cream and or a baked Alaska. And finally, treat yourself to the palm-sized cinnamon rolls served warm with a dollop of fresh cream cheese at Snow City Café.
With so many intriguing options, what will you try first when you explore the remote eating destination of Alaska?
