Alaska TravelGram

By day, Jim Lavrakas is a mild-mannered photographer at Alaska’s Good Morning Newspaper, the Anchorage Daily News. But after work, Jim trades his camera bag for his King Salmon rod and he heads downtown to the “Big Muddy”, aka “Ship Creek”. He is Alaska’s Urban Angler! Those of you who live in Anchorage know our downtown creek serves up excellent fishing for most of the summer. Jim will take anglers on a 3-hour guided sessions on Anchorage’s Ship Creek. Fish the muddy bowels of the most urban salmon fishery in the U.S. Jim will teach you the techniques for successful salmon fishing that you can use anywhere in Alaska, from a “combat fishing” situation to a pristine wilderness experience. $125 per person, 2 clients at a time, twice daily. Oh, Jim won the Ship Creek King Salmon derby a few years back–so he knows what he’s talking about. Check out the picture…which, of course, is worth a thousand words. HA!

Check out the latest segment from Alaska HDTV. You can subscribe to the video feed free via the website.

We had a wonderful time with Carl and Kirsten Dixon at Winterlake Lodge.

When you’re visiting Seattle, stop in at 2nd and Vine St. in Belltown. It’s the site of The Local Vine. Enjoy wines by the glass, including many local Washington vintages. We had a wonderful time with Anchorage native Sarah Munson, who runs the place. Tasty bites, too. They have a great cheese platter, some yummy prawns sauteed in garlic oil, beef tenderloin carpaccio (with micro-greens, parmesan, capers, sea salt ant black currant vinegar!), plus all kinds of crispy bread to accompany the wine. “Oh, I’m glad you discovered a new wine this evening,” said Sarah. It was a Cabernet Franc. Wonderful. Don’t miss it.

Owner Sarah Munson of The Local Vine chats it up with Gary Blakely–Mr. California Cool who brings his laptop to the wine bar!!

This is the last “Uncorked” dinner of the season at Land’s End Resort. Slated for Fri., Apr. 4, this dinner as a New Orleans theme.It’s created by Executive Chef Maggie Burns, who just returned from three weeks in Argentina. Check out the South American Wines!

First Course: Boliva - Sopa de Mani (Peanut Dumpling Soup). Coarsely ground roasted peanuts formed into tiny dumplings and simmered in a rich and delicious cilantro chicken broth.

 WINE: Tilia Chardonnay 2006

Second Course: Equador - Ceviche de Camarones (Shrimp Ceviche). Chilled shrimp tossed in a delicious blend of citrus and tomato with bits of peppers, chilies, onions, cilantro, scallions and chives.

WINE: Norton Torrontes 2006

Third Course: Peru - Empanadas de Cerdo con Chipolte Salsa (Pork Empanadas with Chipolte Salsa). Pork seasoned with garlic, onion, allspice, cloves, olives and cumin stuffed into achiote dough triangles and baked.  Served with chipolte salsa.

WINE: Pascual Toso Malbec Reserva 2005

Fourth Course: Argentina - Matambre con Papas Rellenas Veduras(Flank steak in a marinade of garlic, oregano, parsley and red wine vinegar).  Rolled together with a mixture of onions, garlic, eggs, carrots and spinach.  Served with salsa criolla and mashed potatoes stuffed with vegetables.

WINE: Catena Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

DESSERT: Venuzuela - Coconut Flan. Sweet flaked coconut and a touch of rum with a caramelized sugar float.

PORT: Toro Albala 1971 Don PX Gran Reserva

Cost: $70 per person - includes tax and gratuity. Call the Chart Room Restaurant (907-235-0406). Learn more online: www.Endofthespit.com

Early spring is the time to see the gray whales in Resurrection Bay. Renown Tours‘ cruises start on Mar. 29. Sail from 12n-4p. Lunch is included. Binoculars provided on all the cruises.

Sail along as the captain heads out to the opening of Resurrection Bay to watch Gray Whales as they begin their annual migration north from Baja California to their summer feeding waters in the Bering Sea. Gray Whales travel by “line of sight”, which means that they travel close to the coastline on this amazing journey. While cruising this pristine setting, you will view alpine glaciers, Steller sea lions, Dall’s porpoise, harbor porpoise, harbor seals, bald eagles, puffins and many other types of marine birds. You might even be treated to sightings of Orca (killer whales) or Humpback Whales.

Price: $69 ($35 for kids 3-11) There’s a good chance you’ll see some other wildlife on your cruise–maybe even some other whales, a puffin or two…who knows?

Plan now for Renown Tours’ six-hour National Park cruises.Also, when you’re in Seward, you MUST go to the Alaska SeaLife Center. Must see! Must see!

Chef Mark Tafoya from the Remarkable Palate came up to cook with Kirsten Dixon of Winterlake Lodge. 

We love Winterlake.It’s out at Milepost 198 on the Iditarod Trail. In fact, the dogs run right through Carl and Kirsten’s front yard! Last month, we flew out to the lodge with Rust’s Flying Service from Lake Hood.

Carl met the plane, a deHavilland Beaver, with a cup of coffee for our pilot and two snowmachines with trailers for us and our gear. In fact, we had so much junk that Carl had to come back for another load.

Kirsten loves to do culinary weekends at the lodge. Folks come from all over the world to “unplug” at the lodge. There’s a wellness room with daily Yoga classes so you can get all limbered up for the day’s activities. You can mush a dog team, go on a snowmachine tour, go cross-country skiing or snow-shoeing. Or you can sit by the fire and read a book.

But you won’t go hungry! Kirsten and her staff do a wonderful job of making great meals so you have enough energy to do what must be done–even if it’s just a game of ping-pong in the bar!

Check out Chef Mark’s video. It’ll make you want to go to Winterlake Lodge. You won’t be disappointed!