It was -20°F in Fairbanks, I was bundled up like a marshmallow, and we still had to eat. Luckily, Pike’s Landing is right next to the lodge we were staying at, so dinner was a very short walk. Here’s how the meal went.
King crab stuffed mushrooms. Very cheesy and very creamy, with only a hint of crab. The buttery lemon sauce on the side made the dish, though, and the lemon tartness brought out the mushroom and crab. Not much crab, but a good appetizer if you like mushrooms and cheese.
Alaska’s Berry Blast Infusion. A big, icy drink full of berries soaked in alcohol. The strawberry flavor was strong, with a hint of blueberry. The alcohol was faint in the drink itself, but the strawberries soaked in it were a different story, and I felt that hard-liquor kick when I ate one. It’s also huge, so plan to share it.
Prime rib dip sandwich. The bun was soft, but the prime rib was the star, with a great charred flavor. With the lettuce, tomato, red onion and the au jus for dipping, it made a very good sandwich. The shoestring fries tasted like a slightly healthier McDonald’s fry.
Halibut sandwich. Beer-battered halibut, crispy breading, and you can really taste the fish. I’d call it an upgraded Filet-O-Fish, with a nicer crunch and better fries.
King crab bisque. Very creamy, almost cheesy, and heavy on the bisque and light on the crab. Good if you like bisque. King crab itself is expensive, but the soup is much easier on the wallet.
Alaskan Ragin’ Cajun pasta. This was a fettuccine dish in a sauce halfway between tomato and cream, with shrimp and andouille sausage made from reindeer meat. The sausage was seriously spicy, and I couldn’t taste anything that said “reindeer,” just a really spicy sausage. If you like heat and Louisiana-style sausage, this is a fun one.
Baked Alaska. This is the one to order, if they have it in stock. It was ice cream and shortcake-style cake under a layer of toasted meringue, with a berry syrup underneath. The top tasted like a toasted marshmallow, and the berry flavor went well with the ice cream. If you get the chance to eat a baked Alaska in Alaska, go for it. It’s worth it.
