Archive for January 6th, 2009

Land’s End Resort puts on a great food-n-wine event each month. Usually it’s the first Friday of the month. But they pushed it back this month to give everyone a  break after New Year’s Eve!! Here’s a shot of my chiropractor, Rick Abbott. He and his wife are having a great time at a recent “Uncorked!” event. Don’t miss out:

So, it’s coming up this Fri., Jan. 9. Here’s the line-up:

Theme: New Year’s Traditions from the Old World in Europe. Created by: Executive Chef Maggie Burns

First Course: Blini Ikura. Russian buckwheat pancake with Alaska Salmon Roe. Garnished with Creme Fraiche and chives. Wine: Codoniu Pinot Noir Brut

Second Course: White Bean Fennel Soup with Gravlax. White beans, leeks and fennel pureed and topped with a slcie of salmon gravlax and fennel frond. Wine: Dry Creek Chenin Blanc Clarksburg ’07

Third Course: British style mixed greens garnished with beets, English cucumber and tomatoes. Srteaked with a traditional Irish dressing of cider vinegar, mustard and boiled egg. Wine: Montinore Vineyard Gewurztraminer ’06

Main Course: Duck Breast with Dark Cherry Demi. Duck slow roasted in its own juices and served over dark cherry demi-glaze. Accompanied by rosemary roasted red potatoes. Wine: Foppiano Petite Sirah ’04

Dessert: Rosquillos de Vino. Spanish cookie rings adorned with red grapes and semi-hard Le Petite Basque Cheese. Wine: Gonzalez Byass

Cost: $70 per person, includes tax and gratuity. See you at the Chart Room (907)235-0406. Plan on spending the night. Era Aviation has great web specials to get you there. Check online for room specials, or call the front desk: (800)478-0400.

Penny Lampl is my go-to agent for travel to/from Asia. She heads up the Kodiak office of USTravel. We’ve done a  couple of presentations together and she’s helped me drill down to get the best deals, particularly on nonstop  flights from Anchorage to Asia.

Her suggestion? “China Airlines is the only carrier providing year-round service from Anchorage to Asia, via Taipei,” she writes.

It’s a bummer you cannot get Alaska Airlines miles on China Air. For that, you have to fly Northwest out of Seattle or Honolulu, or Qantas out of L.A. or Honolulu.

Here is a sampling of the latest fares that Penny researched:

ANC-Manila = $924 rt + ~$279 taxes

ANC-Seoul = 984 rt + ~$279 taxes

ANC-Hong Kong = 864 rt + ~$279 taxes

ANC-Beijing = 940 rt + ~$279 taxes

ANC-Bangkok = 924 rt + ~$279 taxes

All travel must begin by May 20, 2009 to qualify. Check with Penny for rates to/from Taipei, Dehli, Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and other Asian destinations. 

Give her a call: (907) 486-3232 or email her: penny.lampl@ustravel.us

Tell her I sent you! Learn more online.