Chicago has its deep-dish, Philly has its cheesesteak and New York has its bagels.
Anchorage is known for spectacular seafood, game meats and diverse approach to flavors. Pack an adventurous palate and enjoy these signature dishes.
King Crab
This mammoth crustacean is celebration food, impressive in stature but refined in taste. The thick, spiky shell reveals tender, sweet crab meat, made all the better by a quick dip is molten butter and spritzed with lemon.
I eat king crab whenever I get the chance, but I find it tastes better when shared with friends at a seafood shack on the Homer Spit.
Reindeer Sausage
You can tell summer is here when the smell of grilled sausages and frying onions starts wafting through the air.
Fourth Avenue becomes a favorite place to eat, perched on a park bench with a reindeer dog, fragrant and spicy with mustard. Some hot dog carts stay open late into the night, so you can enjoy a midnight snack under the midnight sun.
King Salmon
If things seem bigger, bolder and burlier here, it's because they are. King salmon average 10-50 pounds, but can weigh up to 100 pounds.
The taste of a just-caught king salmon is incomparable. This is a prized Alaska favorite.
Halibut
Halibut charters draw people from all over the world with their sport-fishing challenges and promise of fish to last through the winter -- sometimes longer.
Meaty and dense, halibut is mild and can take on any flavor profile. Halibut cheeks are a special delicacy and when stuffed with king crab, will easily become your most-talked about meal.
Moose
This is not something that can be picked up at the supermarket, but many locals will have moose meat readily available in their freezers.
Moose meat is similar to hamburger, but with more flavor and depth. It's delicious in stews and chilies, as well as in lasagnas and on top of pizza. If you're visiting friends and family, be sure to peek in the freezer for a taste of moose.
Sourdough Pancakes
Old-time Alaskans (Sourdoughs) got their name from the pouches of sourdough starter they carried around their necks or belts, and brought to bed with them to keep the precious mixture from freezing.
Sourdough pancakes are yeasty and distinctively flavored. Sprinkled with Alaska berries and served with birch syrup, they are a hearty and delicious local breakfast.
