Anchorage Press

Good things come in boxes

The only Dominican joint in Anchorage that I am currently aware of, Nina’s in a Box, is a recent addition to Ship Creek culture. Said to be serving “authentic Dominican food,” I visited last week hoping to validate the claim.

Giving acai a try

I am generally skeptical of miracle foods; I think eating balanced, proportioned, regular meals is anyone’s best bet. But when I noticed Acai Alaska on Dimond last week, I decided to give the crazed berry a try. The acai (a-sigh-ee) berry, grown in the Amazon region of South America, is widely reported to have numerous health benefits including increased energy, longevity and cancer prevention. An energy supplement popularized by Brazilian surfers and Jiu-Jitsu fighters, acai products are a trendy tropical snack.

All chained up

All kinds of restaurants have survived in Anchorage. From fine dining to cafes; Italian to Filipino. We love our local restaurateurs, but no one here can deny that national chains are well-received. Although Johnny Chicago’s isn’t a national chain (they have one other location on Elmendorf Air Force Base), they’ll survive for the same reason that Chili’s, IHOP, and Golden Corral have: They offer something different.

Burgers, Alaska style

At Arctic Roadrunner, “unique” is the word of the day—every day. Everything about the exterior, from the thought-provoking sayings posted on its roadside sign to the funky, carving-bedecked building is designed to intrigue the passer by. It’s pretty clear before you even park that diners at the Arctic Roadrunner will be in for a singular experience.

Happy hour, indeed

Simon & Seafort’s claims to have the “best happy hour in town,” from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on weeknights, and it may be right. With outstanding half-price appetizers, all-day $4 drink specials, a high-energy vibe and great views of the Inlet, Simon’s is a favorite of the downtown office crowd.

The rumor mill

I have beer-loving spies everywhere. They watch out for my best interest when it comes to anything that has to do with beer that’s newsworthy. Alaska is a target-rich environment for a beer writer. There are sixteen licensed brewing establishments, but our breweries are spread across this vast state and for the most part, I remain physically disconnected. Plus, to be perfectly honest, some of these establishments remain rather geocentric, and don’t much care about the rest of the world, striving only to serve their own communities and keep the local citizens happily stocked with good beer. That’s noble, but good or bad beer news is sometimes slow in coming this way. I try to keep my mug to the wall and stay up with the ever-rising tide of good local beer. Sometimes a little help from my friends goes a long way.

Getting home

If I were to ever get busted for drinking and driving, it would be for two reasons. First, it would be because I was an idiot for even trying. There are some circles that maintain that drinking and driving is a bad choice. It most certainly is, but that’s too soft. It’s a selfish and unsafe choice. We all know that the ramifications of climbing behind the wheel with a buzz on extend far beyond just getting busted. Getting busted is certainly no fun, but it’s simply unthinkable that anyone would be so self-righteous to put his or her own and other people’s lives on the line.

The high end

I never in a million years thought I’d see it happen, but brewer Gabe Fletcher has left Midnight Sun Brewing Company. After thirteen years of helping define and shape one of Alaska’s most prominent brewing presences, Fletcher has moved on to open Anchorage Brewing Company. This news is destined to rattle the foundation of the brewing community, not only here, but also nationally and abroad where Fletcher has become recognized for building and producing some of the most noteworthy beers our world has ever seen.

Pucker up

Sour beers are definitely an acquired taste. I remember the first time I had one. I was at an early Humpy’s Great Alaskan Alehouse beer and dinner feature at least 10 years ago. This was one of the first Belgian ale tastings in town and many of the beers were new to me.

Cream of the crop

Kassik’s Kenai Brew Stop is a small but very well known brewery tucked out of the way in the woods, accessed through some back roads in Nikiski. To find it, you have to want to, although the brewery’s beer is prominently featured in most of our better Anchorage venues that pride themselves in serving good, local suds.

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