The Readers Have Spoken

The results of the 2013 Juneau Reader's Choice Awards were announced recently, and I was happy to see many of my favorite Juneau establishments earned first place spots!

Check out the highlights below, as well as the big long list here.

SANDPIPER

First Place - Breakfast, Place to Have Lunch, Sunday Brunch

ALASKAN BREWING COMPANY'S Raspberry Wheat

First Place - Beer Flavor

CANTON HOUSE

First Place - Chinese Restaurant

TRACY'S CRAB SHACK

First Place - Chowder/Bisque, Crab

BREEZE IN

First Place - Deli

ISLAND PUB

First Place - Family Restaurant, Pizza, Bar

PEL MENI

First Place - Russian Dumpling

TWISTED FISH

First Place - Salmon, Seafood Restaurant

Sleepless in Seattle

One of the awesome things about living in Juneau is the proximity to major cities like Seattle.  Since Washington State is just a hop, skip, and a jump from Juneau (read: 2 hour plane ride), I decided to make the most of my summer vacation and traveled to explore the Emerald City and much of the northern Washington coast.

Highlights from the Seattle leg of my trip were third row seats at a Seattle Mariners baseball game, perfect weather for Seafair Weekend, and of course the visual potpourri at the Pike Place Market.

Funny thing about Seattle is that despite the city being notorious for its gloomy rainy weather, I was blessed with blue skies and sunshine the entire trip. 

It was also the perfect weekend to check out Seafair and soak up the sun and sights along the Puget Sound.  The airshow, hydroplane racing, and Budweiser Clydesdales were so awesome to see first-hand.  

A visit to the Pike Place Market never disappoints.  I can't get enough of the hustle and bustle action, the fish tossing, and all the scrumptious treats.  The best part of my visit to the Market was feasting on the "Oh My God" peaches that were so amazing I literally had peach juice dripping down my hands and arms.  Messy, but oh so delicious.  And of course I had to visit the Market a second time - right before heading back to the airport - so I could bring back yummy fruit to friends in Juneau.  With the exorbitant price and lack of freshness of produce in Alaska, fruits and veggies from Washington State make excellent gifts to Alaskans and are met with open arms and big smiles.

Though sad to leave Seattle, I was blessed to have a great seat and awesome service as traveling back to Southeast Alaska on Alaska Airlines.  And best of all, the sun shone on my face as we landed in Juneau - a welcome change from the usual rainforest climate.

Oysterfest!

Raw, roasted, steamed.  Fried, scalloped, stewed.  Baked, stuffed, boiled.  Marinated, poached, sautéed. 

No matter how you cook them, oysters are delicious.  And oysters from Alaska - well, they're primo.

Haa Aani (HAH AH'-nee) and the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute recently hosted the Second Annual OysterFest in Juneau.  Alaska-grown oysters were featured, and executive chef Sandy Ingber from the Grand Central Oyster Bar and Restaurant in New York City was on hand for the festivities. 

As if all of that wasn't entertainment enough, a beer garden sponsored by Alaska Brewing Company provided the perfect backdrop, and the evening included an Oyster Crawl to local restaurants.   Oh, and there was sunshine.  Lots and lots o' sunshine!

Downtown at the Sealaska Corporation parking lot. 

Fresh seafood, practically from our backyard.

Chef Ingber preparing oyster shooters.

The barbequed oysters were my favorite! 

After filling my belly with yummy oysters, I strolled downtown with my friends, Mary and Chris, and we found a sunny spot at the Flight Deck to sit, nosh, and watch the floatplanes return to the Gastineau Channel.  It was a terrific seafood-filled Saturday.

King crab cones.  

Creamy decadent goodness.