My Pre-Impressions of What Alaska Food is Like

Prior to arriving to Alaska, I always imagined that food in Alaska was most fish and/or wildlife. With such a large state, there would be lots of moose, caribou, deer, bear, and much more. Along with the land animals, I always heard and seen of the fresh wild caught salmon that is supposedly one of the best that comes from Alaska.

Of course with such a high latitude location, I figured that Alaska wouldn't really be growing much produce at all since it's pretty cold all year round. The few fruits they may grow include wild blueberries or wild crowberries (also known as blackberries). 

Since it was my first visit to Alaska, I had the chance to experience a Alaskan style BBQ with my friend whom I was staying in the suburb of Anchorage, just north of the city called Wasilla.

Eating Fresh Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon

Sadly, the salmon I had always eaten growing up was mostly the farm raised salmon. You can easily tell the difference between wild caught salmon and farm raised salmon just based on the color and texture of the salmon meat.

Farm raised salmon is usually light in pink color and when cooked, the salmon is usually flaky.

Wild caught salmon is usually deeper in color with reddish tone. When cooked, the salmon maintains a hearty texture.

The taste of wild caught salmon is indeed fresh, so after eating wild caught salmon, I could NOT go back to eating cheap farm raised salmon again.

Spiral-Style Baked Potatoes

My friend likes to shape the baked potatoes in the manner of spirals. At some other restaurants, they are also known as tornado-style baked potatoes. Simply sticking the potato onto a stick and slicing the potato at constant intervals to give the illusion of the spiral.

When baked and seasoned, it's super tasty!

Having Caribou Meat the First Time

Now, I've tried many different types of meat from kangaroo in Australia to alligator in Florida. This would be my first time eating caribou meat in Alaska.

From first glance, it just looks like any kind of BBQ rib. However, Caribou meat is a bit more tough and chewier vs. regular BBQ ribs. So that made for more difficult time to eat it as there really wasn't much meat to the bone.

While the flavor was decent ... I actually didn't like the texture feel when biting into the caribou meat.

Simple Grilled Vegetables

Of course, since vast portion of Alaska BBQ is mostly meats and fish, of course some grilled vegetables need to be in the mix to balance out the diet.

Homemade Blueberry Bread Dessert

Before having our Alaska BBQ, my friend took me to a valley area called Hatchers Pass just north of Wasilla. This valley area grows many of the blueberries, where many people in the summer time go and pick blueberries that more or less is abundant dependent on the climate and growing season.

Unfortunately when we got to Hatchers Pass, not only was it rainy, but there was very few blueberries to be seen. There was plenty of crowberries everywhere, but the blueberries have a sweeter taste while crowberries have more of a bitter taste.

My Friend's New Food Smoking Machine

During the same time period of visiting my friend in Wasilla third week of August 2017, my friend had just ordered a food smoking machine that arrived to her house on that weekend. 

She was excited to get one since now, she can have "smoked" food of any kind. Salmon is popularly smoked to get that earthy flavoring. With the wild caught salmon at hand, she and her boyfriend would smoke the salmon in the boxed shaped device til they had a nice smoky flavoring.

(photo above: Having some Alaska IPA with my friend in Wasilla)

(photo above: One of the many mountainous valleys in Alaska near Palmer)

(photo above: Beautiful lake scenery with mountain background in Alaska)

Have you had caribou meat or fresh wild caught Alaskan salmon?

Is Alaska on your travel plans?

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