Lowdown on the Local goods

So we were out and about this fine Saturday.  Saw friends and food at the Premiere Spenard Market and South Anchorage Farmers Market.  AK Dispatch Article on Local markets lowdown 

Local Produce is slim this time of year, but great food is abound in Spenard and in South Anchorage.  Below are a couple of pics from out adventures.

Can’t wait to cook up our “Red Ranger” local bird!  According to Kyle, they were very popular last week, he hopes to keep up in demand!

Los Tacos- Carlos is a former “T-Bird” as he pointed out to my wife, we went to school together, that said he makes his own flour tortillas and Mexican food.  I had the Pork Flautas and Beef Tacos- The salsa was mildly spicy with a rich flavor that kept giving after you were done(Baja salsa was awesome).  The tortillas were tender and fluffy with a great “chew”.  Highly recommend talking to “Los”, he can throw down!

AK Sprouts were at the South Anchorage Market, higlighting thier diversity in sprouts and offering local tofu.  Their tofu is really dense, resulting in a great texture and character. They were sold out of their onion sprouts… The secret is out, they are phenom!

The markets are off to a great start!  Hope to see you out there!

 

 

Under the Windmill...Down in Spenard....

Los Tacos @ SAFM, Makes his own tortillas, good mexican food to go.

AK Sprouts at the SAFM, showcasing the variety.

Picked one of these "beauts" up, can't wait to cook! (At the South Anchorage Market)

 

Great Alaska Seafood Cookoff — the competition

The competition was fierce.

The chefs from Anchorage, Hoonah, Seward, Girdwood and Kodiak all showed great composure under cameras, 200 audience members, the new kitchen .. not to mention us, the judges.

But for us, the winning dish was Chef Christopher Vane’s from Crush.  He prepared a white king salmon over a polenta and herb cake that was delicious.

Congrats to Chef Vane!  Looking forward to hearing about his experiences in the Seafood Cookoff in New Orleans…have a fresh turbodog for me!

 

Great Alaska Seafood Cookoff

Yesterday I judged the Alaska Seafood Cookoff with some great fellow chefs including Chef Dan Enos from Oceanaire in Boston, Chef Jose Souto of Westminster Kingsway College in London, Chef Christine Keff from the Flying Fish in Seattle and my friend, Chef Erik Slater from the Resurrection Roadhouse.  (Erik also has a great twitter feed @blindpigchef, so follow him!) After spending the day with these great chefs, I’m looking forward to eating at their establishments.

We all had a fun time talking seafood during a seafood inspired lunch at Sacks, talked more seafood at 10th and M Seafood and enjoyed the scenic route from Downtown Anchorage to the train depot on the Alaska Railroad before we judged the Alaskan competition.

Next up… the competition.

 

 

Great Alaskan Seafood Cookoff-Tomorrow

Monday, May 14th, I will be judging at the Great Alaskan Seafood Cookoff at the Ted Stevens Train Depot in the Anchorage International Airport. This will include a fun filled day of meeting Guest Chefs visiting from out of State, and of course the Chef contestants from around Alaska. Hope to see you there, if not keep a look out for photos on Twitter.

 

Welcome to South Anchorage Market

My day started with a visit to the South Anchorage Farmer’s Market on their first Saturday back.  Lots of great plants, tulips, tacos, potatoes, eggs, seafood and more!  I picked up a beautiful strawberry plant from Arthur at Glacier Valley Farms and some potatoes before heading out.Gray Owl Farms always has some amazing flowers and herbs…

And of course the taco truck!

Looking forward to next week at the South Anchorage Market and the opening of the Spenard Farmer’s Market.

Farmer’s Markets Opening Up!

It’s about that time again in Alaska!

The South Anchorage Farmer’s Market will be opening this weekend and Spenard Farmer’s Market next weekend.  Fresh produce is a little ways away, but there will be starter plants and other goodies !  For a full list and info on all the Alaskan Farmer’s Markets visit the Alaska Farmer’s Market Association website.  We will see you there!!

Alaskan Wild Duck Barley and Root Veg Risotto Webisode

This Traditional Foods, Contemporary Chef webisode was shot at Howard Luke’s fish camp. We spent five days here.  Howard is very inspirational, his homestead has cabins and cache’s built in the 30′s and 40′s when he and his Mom obtained the land.  There is also alternative energy (wind wind and solar power) and a partnership with UAF to help him maintain his land, and develop his programs to preserve traditional ways.

The interior of Alaska gets up to 90 and 100 in the summer, by contrast it was MINUS 40 in late January when I was up there earlier for business this year.  Summer time is truly a special time up there!

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did preparing it!

 

Salmon Scramble Webisode and Recipe

A new Traditional foods, Contemporary Chef recipe and webisode are up!  This one was filmed at elder Howard Luke’s fish camp in late September off the Tanana River.  I really enjoyed this once in a lifetime experience at his camp and hope you enjoy watching.

If you want to know more about Howard Luke and what he has to teach, I recommend Howard’s book, “Howard Luke: My Own Trail” edited by Jan Steinbright Jackson.