Anchorage Foodie Adventures: Discovering Local Cuisine and Dining Hotspots

Anchorage, Alaska is a stunning bucket list destination. Known as the gateway to the 49th state, this charming metropolis is perfectly situated on the edge of a vast, majestic, untamed wilderness, and the ideal base camp for exploring the wild tundra, frozen glaciers, and dramatic mountain ranges of the Last Frontier.

While celebrated for its access to breath taking landscapes and extreme outdoor adventures, Anchorage is also emerging as a centre of food culture. The Alaskan foodie scene is an increasingly energetic and dynamic one, taking advantage of the abundance of fresh, wild produce and amazing local flavours to showcase the ingenuity and creativity of this fascinating region.

So if you are living the adventure with an Alaskan cruise and want to explore the remarkable flavours that the state has to offer, Anchorage is a fantastic place to start. Here are some of the best dining hotspots and regional culinary highlights to explore on a foodie adventure in Anchorage.

Wild Salmon Delights

Wild salmon is one of Alaska’s finest delicacies, and Anchorage is probably the best place to try it. Everywhere you turn in the city you will discover local restaurants serving up delectable dishes with freshly-caught salmon, in all sorts of styles from cured and hot-smoked to grilled and baked. The richness and unique flavour of the various species of wild-caught Alaskan salmon is incomparable, and a must-try for any foodie visitors.

Local Breweries and Alehouses



Alaska has long been a huge player in the US craft beer scene and Anchorage’s breweries and alehouses are thriving. With a diverse range of interesting, inventive, and eclectic brews in pubs, bars, and taprooms across the city, there’s no excuse not to quench your thirst when in town. Highlights of the brewing scene include local favourite The Midnight Sun Brewing Company, whose taproom is a cosy haven of warmth and good times, and 49th State Brewing, a lively brewpub with a rooftop patio doling out creative bar bites & house made ales.

Indigenous Alaskan Cuisine

Traditional indigenous Alaskan cuisine is an acquired taste, but one well worth trying. Places like the Alaska Native Heritage Centre offer the opportunity to try dishes that have sustained native communities for generations and provide a unique insight into the way of life of the indigenous Alaskan peoples. From salmon stew and smoked fish to fry bread, muktuk, and Eskimo ice cream (akutaq), trying the traditional food is a great way to connect with the cultural roots of Alaska.

Seafood Shacks and Oyster Bars



Anchorage is, as the name suggests, set right on the ocean. As a result, seafood is a huge part of its culinary offering. From fresh halibut to oysters, the harvest of the sea is a must-try in this glorious port city. Head to Sourdough Mining Company to try their seafood platter or check out the Bubbly Mermaid Oyster Bar, a cosy spot famous for its fresh oysters.

Sweet Treats and Bakeries

When the weather is cold and wet, nothing hits the spot like a little freshly baked goodness. Anchorage is full of charming bakeries where you can satisfy your sweet tooth, like Fire Island Rustic Bakehouse or the Flying Dutchman European Pastry Shop.

The culinary scene in Anchorage is a fascinating and eclectic blend of tradition, innovation, and the freshest produce the wild landscape of Alaska has to offer. From succulent salmon and amazing seafood to indigenous curiosities and amazing craft brews, there is something to satisfy every palate, with interesting, exciting, and unexpected flavours in every dish. Anchorage is the perfect showcase for the creativity of Alaska and its food scene is one to be savoured.

Note: The pictures in this article are courtesy of wikipedia.org and have been borrowed under the Creative Commons license. Each photograph has been linked to its host page on wikipedia.org.

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Find the Hottest Food Trend this Summer and win Prizes

Do you know what is hip in food this summer? Well, what is hip right now is you eat, you blog and you stand to win some fantastic prizes. Sounds too good to be true…right?

Well, Foodpanda is running a contest this summer. They are calling it ‘The best food items everyone should try out this summer’. The idea is to find out the latest food trends in the market. If you happen to find it, you might get lucky and get yourself a handsome prize.



All you have to do is go to Foodpanda’s website or mobile app, order yourself your choice of the happening foods from your favorite restaurant, take a couple of drooling pictures of that yummy food, enjoy your meal and then write a blog about the food and why you think it features in the summer’s top food trends.

It is awesome if you are a food blogger, but even if you are not, all you have to be is the food trendsetter. So go on, order yourself some lip smacking food, write about it and enrol yourself into this trendy summer food contest. There are 3 awesome prizes to be won. The Grand Prize is a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Tt231 phone, the second prize is a Fujifilm Instax Mini8 camera and the 3rd prize is a Jabong voucher.

I hope you totally win in this contest, but even if you don’t, you will still get to enjoy some trending food this summer at great discounts. Well, you heard me right there! If you order from the Foodpanda mobile app, you get a 50% discount and if you order from the website, you get a 30% discount on your total food bill. There couldn’t be a sweeter deal.

So go on and find the hottest food trends this summer!!

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The Best Restaurants To Experience Italian Food In Milan

Milan is a city where culture is incredibly diversified. You can find people from all around the country and the truth is that basically all cuisines are represented. While you can easily locate various restaurants that offer different cuisines, you will find it a little difficult to find those that offer Italian cuisine.

Italian cuisine is all about various traditional dishes that come from every region in the country. With this in mind, let us consider some really interesting Milan restaurants that you will want to take into account in the event that you want something special. Keep in mind that some of the restaurants are included in the best food tours of Milan but the diversity of Italian cuisine is rarely properly represented through such a tour. You will want to look for the specialties you want to try.

Piedmontese Cuisine

1. Trattoria Aurora
This restaurant is located right in the middle of Milan, close to Navigli. It is a small and quite familiar restaurant for locals, offering the best of Piedmontese cuisine. Pasta and bread here are always handmade and the Bagna Cauda needs to be considered. It is served as a fondue and is really tasty.

2. Trattoria Masuelli S. Marco
You cannot miss this location. It offers traditional Piedmontese cuisine with a special Milanese touch. The restaurant was opened an impressive 90 years ago. The style is old-fashioned, classic and guests always love the experience.

Ligurian Cuisine

1. Pizeria Del Ponte
If you want to experience traditional Genoese focaccia at a Milan restaurant, this is the one to consider. You can easily try the Recco traditional focaccia and pizza that is made with special ingredients that come directly from Liguria. The really impressive thing here is the atmosphere. It is simply cozy and highly welcoming.

2. U Barba This is a trendy and informal restaurant. Enjoy a classic Genoese lunch and shop for some handmade pasta. Make sure that you try the trofie here. It is served with pesto sauce.

3. Osteria Via Pre The old-fashioned atmosphere is always reality here. You will feel like in an ancient restaurant. Based on traditional Genoese customs, the cuisine is 100% genuine. Try the pansotti once you are there. It is served with vegetable soup and tomato sauce.

Lombardian Cuisine

1. Al Garghet
The atmosphere here is intimate and the soft lights are welcoming. The restaurant is really comfortable and the vegetable soups are really delicious. All desserts are hand made with the use of genuine ingredients. You will also appreciate the fact that the menu is written in Milanese dialect.

2. Antica Trattoria Della Pesa
Many locals see this as the best restaurant in the city. You can taste some really great Lombardy dishes. It was opened in the year 1880 so we can say that we are looking at a historical restaurant. You can easily try a Milanese risotto with ossobuco. The atmosphere makes you feel as you are living in the past and. Just remember the fact that this restaurant is a little expensive. However, you can experience some authentic Milanese flavors that are not available anywhere else.

Veneto Cuisine

When referring to Veneto cuisine, you will want to consider La Tana Del Lupo. It has a very cozy atmosphere and you can taste the really typical polenta, which is cornmeal that is boiled into a porridge, eating baked or directly grilled or fried. You will love the fireplace as it makes the entire atmosphere more intimate and familiar.

Emilia Romagna Cuisine

1. Tigella’s
This is a fancy restaurant but the atmosphere is still cozy. Here you can try various specialties from Modena like tigelle, which go perfectly with ham and salami and is a traditional Emilia Romagna bread made with the use of flour.

2. Ristorante Da Giordano Il Bolognese
The restaurant is renowned for the delicious, genuine handmade pasta that it offers. It is a perfect location in Milan if you want some tortellini or lasagna. The traditional and familiar atmosphere is practically a place that you can easily fall in love with. Mix up the pasta with some fruits to replenish your Vitamin D doses and then go for a walk or travel to another restaurant.

Tuscany Cuisine

1. La Tavernetta Da Elio
In a very familiar and simple atmosphere you can experience traditional dishes like papa al pomodoro, which is a Tuscan soup that is usually made with bread, basil, garlic, olive oil and tomatoes. Try some trippa and make sure that you consider the restaurant if you want to taste a part of Tuscany cuisine.

2. Ristorante Alle Colline Senesi
This is a restaurant that you have to always consider in the event that the weather is a little cold and you want something that is traditionally Tuscan. Taste their Ribollita and pici with sausages. If this is not enough, consider the Florentine steak and the spelt soup.

Lazio Cuisine

1. Nonna Maria Osteria Romana
The restaurant is quite small but you will feel comfortable. You will enjoy the lunch there if you want something that is truly genuine. If you consider a visit, the carbonara pasta has to be tried.

2. Cacio E Pepe
This is something different, offering quite a typical Roman experience, helping you to enjoy delicious artichokes, among many others. The design style is contemporary. That is interesting since most of the dishes in the menu come from Roman cuisine.

Abruzzo Cuisine

If you are looking for Abruzzo cuisine in Milan, Il Capestrano should be visited. It is interestingly arranged in 4 rooms, each dedicated to one Abruzzo region. You will find the very best arrosticini in the city. To make everything even more attractive, the dishes and the decorations are reinterpreted, becoming more modern.

Campania Cuisine

1. Friienno Magnammo
All the ingredients utilized here are fresh and genuine, according to Campania traditional cuisine. In addition, here you can shop for Campania specialties after you enjoy the traditional dishes.

2. Nisida
In the event that you are looking for one of the best pizzas in Milan, visit Nisidia. Every dish is prepared with fresh ingredients, including mozzarella di bufala or paccheri cooked with fresh tomatoes.

Keep in mind that these are just some of the Italian cuisines that are covered in Milan. Many others exist with dozens of other restaurants. Learn all that you can about the cuisines that are available so that you can enjoy something that is truly special. According to Travel Tipsor, Milan is the perfect city in Italy to experience all the cuisine that Italy has to offer. It is actually better than Rome. This is surprising to say the least. If you know other great restaurants in Milan that offer a traditional experience and that you see as being great, make sure that you comment and make a recommendation.

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Great Food and World Cup Cricket: A Fantastic Combination

As much as I love watching the world cup cricket matches at home on weekends, I miss getting out during the weekends. And this has put a huge dent into my culinary experiences during the weekend. On a normal weekend, I would explore the new restaurants in the city or simply go to my favorite hangout place and have my favorite meal. But, with most of India’s matches scheduled to take place on weekends, my weekend food trips have taken a backseat.


And that is when I thought why not watch the cricket matches at home and order my favorite food from my favorite restaurants. And make it a win-win situation. My outing may not be possible, but I don’t have to sacrifice on the good food. I could have Rajasthani, Gujarati, Punjabi, Italian, Biryani, Pizzas or anything I liked from Foodpanda, one of India’s top food websites and get it delivered right to my doorstep.

There are more than 3600 restaurants to choose from from Bangalore alone. I can pay online. I can choose from pure vegetarian restaurants. And I can claim my Citibank dining benefits. Actually, there is one more important benefit. Foodpanda is running this interesting campaign called CricBites for the world cup. If I use the promo code for my food orders, I get a discount on my orders. Which makes a sweet deal even sweeter. Now, I can enjoy my good food while I enjoy the thrilling world cup matches on TV. I hope India wins the world cup again. #WeWon’tGiveItBack!!

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Taste the flavors of Spain

Spain is famous for many things, its beaches, football, architecture and, of course, sangria; it should also be noted that this rich country is full of flavour! Spanish cuisine is diverse and certainly not limited to just tapas and paella. Take a holiday with Saga Travel and you will find this out for yourself. Generally Spain can be divided into six culinary regions, each with distinct flavours and dishes worth trying.

Northern Spain

The North of Spain, particularly Galicia and Asturias, with its higher rainfall and lush green pastures is known for its excellent selection of fresh vegetables and dairy produce. The Atlantic and Cantabrian seas provide the ingredients for their fish and seafood dishes which are usually accompanied by fresh local vegetables. Additionally, hearty soups and stews such as caldo gallego and soft artisan cheeses are very popular.

Cataluña
Cataluña is renowned for tasty sausages such as the butifarra (pork, pine nuts and tripe) and casseroles (cazuelas). Local specialities include delicious fish and seafood stews and classic sauces such as romesco (chillies, red peppers and tomatoes). Local cooks also like to combine the sweet and the savoury in their recipes.

Central Spain
Roast meats and stews dominate the daily diet in Central Spain due to the plentiful supply of game such as pheasant, wild boar and hare. Local dishes in areas like Extremadura include el frite, a delicious dish of fried lamb with garlic, lemon, paprika and onion. Castilla La Mancha is best known for its saffron, introduced by the Moors many centuries ago and found in many of Spain’s traditional recipes. Castilla y León is a traditional farming area where pulses or legumes in particular are produced. Consequently, many local dishes consist of a variety of wholesome, one-pot pulse/legume stews.

Eastern Spain
The Eastern region of Spain, including the Valencia Community, is the principal rice-growing region and unsurprisingly one of the primary dishes is paella. There are many variations of paella -meat, seafood, chicken, but the main ingredient is always round grain rice with saffron added into the mix to give it a golden yellow colour. This area is where you'll find the well-known Mediterranean diet which is considered to be extremely healthy because it's based on the local foods of fish and seafood, olive oil, plus fresh fruit and vegetables.

Southern Spain

Andalucía, in the south of Spain is where tapas was invented and you can sample plenty of delectable dishes in this region. Grilled fish is very popular, in particular calamares (squid) and sardines and tomatoes and peppers are used in many local recipes. Gazpacho, a cold tomato soup also originates here. There are vast olive fields in Andalucía and the region is the third largest exported of olive oil to the rest of Europe.

Pyrenees
Warming, hearty meat dishes are typical of the Pyrenees region. These dishes are served in chilindrón sauce which is made with tomatoes, ham, garlic, peppers and wine. Fresh mountain trout is also a firm favourite. No matter what part of Spain you find yourself in, the flavours that surround you will instantly make you feel comfortable, happy and hungry for more. Be sure to try as many different dishes as you possible can.

Images by Juantiagues and Cyclonebill, used under the Creative Commons license.

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