Hula Hands, which has been an established restaurant in the Mountain View area, recently moved or opened a branch on Fireweed in midtown. ( Have not seen any definitive informtion on this, and my mouth was full of deliciousness almost the whole time I was there, so did not get to ask.) Mr EA and I have an interest in South Pacificiana, so we knew we needed to try it out.
Housed in a stand-alone building, the restaurant's look is cement block overlaid with a veneer of Pacificness, but in a charming sort of way. The staff is very friendly and welcoming, and were willing to explain things to us, which is really nice in a less-mainstream place. They boast a really varied menu, with something for everyone's tastes. I have been informed by sources who are in a position to know that the food is authentic to the Pacific islands, especially Hawaii and Samoa. There is a surprisingly large contingent of islanders here in Anchorage, and Hula Hands is one of the many benefits they bring to the city. The cuisine is a mixture of asian flavors and specifically island foods, such as taro products, and a very slight infusion of American food. Every section of the menu demonstrates this no-fuss fusion attitude. For example, under Burger and Sandwiches (which are served with fries or 1 scoop of macaroni salade), your options are Hamburger, Cheeseburger, Bacon Cheeseburger, Patty melt, Teriyaki Beef sandwich, Pulehu Chicken sandwich, Kalua Pig sandwich, or Grilled cheese. Pupus include Teriyaki sticks, crispy wonton, kimchee and a variety of Pokes, which I was not brave enough to try yet. Next time! We did, however, split a Spam musabi, due to Mr EA's love of Spam. It was very good, with a sort of ocean-y accent to the Spam flavor. I will say that that thing was enormous - small eaters will want to split with someone if they want to try it!
For our actual lunch, we each ordered a different combo plate, so we could try as many different things as possible. Mr EA got Lomi Salmon, Chicken Long Rice and Kalua Pig combo plate. I got Teriyaki Beef and Pulehu Chicken. As usual, we swapped bites back and forth, and really enjoyed all the entrees. Each selection had a distinct flavor, and each was delicious. Our big favorites were the Kalua Pig and the Teriyaki Beef. I like the salmon, but Mr EA was not a fan of the taro leaves wrapped around it. I thought they tasted like spinach and finished them off for him.;) Each combo plate comes with scoops of steamed rice, which we mostly ignored in favor of the deliciousness on the rest of the place, and a scoop of macaroni salad, which I loved and finished off as well. Their drinks include tropical juices, which I tried and found nicely complemented the experience.
Some things we haven't gotten to try yet include a variety of intriguing stir-fries, loco moco, and several taro-based items. Also, still working up the nerve to try a poke, but I'll get there, and then I'll let you know! The menu does include a few more mainstream burger and sandwich options, so if you have a friend of family member who is a little less adventurous, there will be something for them to eat, too. Go there and eat - you'll be glad you did!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Spenard Roadhouse
A recent addition to Anchorage's restaurant lineup, Spendard Roadhouse is a great stop for anyone looking for casual dining a little off the beaten path. The ambiance and menu put it in the same category as City Diner - and that's a good thing.
The building itself seems like a renovated and funkified former Pizza Hut. The decor is of the "junk stuck to the walls" school, which I have always had a sneaking fondness for. If nothing else, it gives you something to look at while you are waiting for your food :) They also have a nicely appointed patio. While normally I am all about eating on patios, the setting, overlooking scenic Northern Lights Blvd, made us decide to just stay inside. We sat near the bar, giving me a chance to look over the liquid offerings. The drinks promise to be a big part of the place's appeal - they infuse their own flavored boozes. But the sun was not over the yardarm at the time of our visit, so I reluctantly passed on a drink. (But I will be back, and I'll let you know if their drinks are as delicious as they sound.)
Anyway, it was lunchtime, so Mr EA and I each had a sandwich. He had a Cubano, which he said was one of the top 5 sandwiches he had ever had. The pork flavor dominates, which is a good thing as this is pretty good pork BBQ. I had the Toasted Veggie sandwich, which was also excellent. The veggies are cooked just enough to soften them and intensify their flavors, but not so much that they were mushy and wet.
In some restaurants, the sides are just sort of there to fill up the plate, feeble lackies to the main dish. In others, they steal the show (White Spot french fries, I'm looking at you). Here they are equal partners with the main meal item. At least, it is if you are getting the, yes, tater tots. The presence of tater tots on the menu has been one of the interest points with this place. It's the one thing everyone mentions - whether they approve of tater tots in general or not. Mr EA loves tater tots. I could take them or leave them - they are really easy to mess up, though logic dictates that this should not be the case. Spenard Roadhouse does them right - crisp, not soggy, a little greasy but not dripping with oil. If you must eat tater tots, this is the place to do it. They are the most visible examples of Spenard Roadhouse's general aesthetic - self consciously clever and ironic takes on standards, and elevated middlebrow treats. And that's a good thing.
Prices are not low, but the food is good enough to justify the cost. Next time you are in a funky mood and near midtown, swing by - you'll be glad you did!
The building itself seems like a renovated and funkified former Pizza Hut. The decor is of the "junk stuck to the walls" school, which I have always had a sneaking fondness for. If nothing else, it gives you something to look at while you are waiting for your food :) They also have a nicely appointed patio. While normally I am all about eating on patios, the setting, overlooking scenic Northern Lights Blvd, made us decide to just stay inside. We sat near the bar, giving me a chance to look over the liquid offerings. The drinks promise to be a big part of the place's appeal - they infuse their own flavored boozes. But the sun was not over the yardarm at the time of our visit, so I reluctantly passed on a drink. (But I will be back, and I'll let you know if their drinks are as delicious as they sound.)
Anyway, it was lunchtime, so Mr EA and I each had a sandwich. He had a Cubano, which he said was one of the top 5 sandwiches he had ever had. The pork flavor dominates, which is a good thing as this is pretty good pork BBQ. I had the Toasted Veggie sandwich, which was also excellent. The veggies are cooked just enough to soften them and intensify their flavors, but not so much that they were mushy and wet.
In some restaurants, the sides are just sort of there to fill up the plate, feeble lackies to the main dish. In others, they steal the show (White Spot french fries, I'm looking at you). Here they are equal partners with the main meal item. At least, it is if you are getting the, yes, tater tots. The presence of tater tots on the menu has been one of the interest points with this place. It's the one thing everyone mentions - whether they approve of tater tots in general or not. Mr EA loves tater tots. I could take them or leave them - they are really easy to mess up, though logic dictates that this should not be the case. Spenard Roadhouse does them right - crisp, not soggy, a little greasy but not dripping with oil. If you must eat tater tots, this is the place to do it. They are the most visible examples of Spenard Roadhouse's general aesthetic - self consciously clever and ironic takes on standards, and elevated middlebrow treats. And that's a good thing.
Prices are not low, but the food is good enough to justify the cost. Next time you are in a funky mood and near midtown, swing by - you'll be glad you did!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
We're Back!
What we did with our summer
Well, it has been an eventful couple of months! We bought a house and moved, we had visitors, we did some painting in our new house (with our visitors' help) then I was plain lazy, then I couldn't remember my password, but now we're back!
Over the last few months, we have done a lot of revisiting of old favorites, but we have also gotten to some new places - some just new and some new to us. I'll be writing about Muse, Tango, Spenard Roadhouse, and Hula Hands over the next couple of weeks. We found some great food shops, mostly established, but new to us. Specifically, Mr. Prime Beef and New Sagayia (sp?) Market. And I've been trying out some new recipes - including candy! I plan to share my exciting kitchen adventures on that score as well.
One thing I wanted to mention today, though. Saveur magazine (and if you are interested in food, I recommend you check it out) is looking for subjects for their next year's 100 best issue, and the subject is food-related things that have inspired you. I nominated the food scene here in Anchorage! Yes, the whole dang thing! We have great restaurants - representing an extremely wide variety of cuisines and the whole range from greasy spoons to fine dining. We've got great shops. We've got excellent local ingredients. We've got passionate eaters. I have found more to inspire me as a cook and an eater in Anchorage than anywhere else I've ever been. If you think so too, go to Saveur and let them know!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Namaste again!
As predicted, as soon as Mr EA heard how great Namaste Shangri-La was, he wanted to visit for dinner. So we did.
As you can imagine, the decor and atmosphere are pretty much exactly the same as they were yesterday, so I'll skip that part of the general review.
Mr EA got a lamb kebab and I got Aloo Cauliflower, both of which came with the same salad and rice as described yesterday, and we also again got the side of garlic naan. Both entrees were as delicious as the saag paneer was yesterday.
Mr EA's lamb was very tender and flavorful, and was served with two sauces, one of which seemed cilantro-based, and another that was tart and a little sour - I would guess plums were involved, but that is purely a guess. He loved it very much, and I enjoyed my bites as well. My Aloo Cauliflower was also very tasty, with a medium spicy creamy tomato-based sauce. Sadly, the sauce was not as plentiful as with the saag paneer, but one can't have everything!
Another great visit, two more great meals!
As you can imagine, the decor and atmosphere are pretty much exactly the same as they were yesterday, so I'll skip that part of the general review.
Mr EA got a lamb kebab and I got Aloo Cauliflower, both of which came with the same salad and rice as described yesterday, and we also again got the side of garlic naan. Both entrees were as delicious as the saag paneer was yesterday.
Mr EA's lamb was very tender and flavorful, and was served with two sauces, one of which seemed cilantro-based, and another that was tart and a little sour - I would guess plums were involved, but that is purely a guess. He loved it very much, and I enjoyed my bites as well. My Aloo Cauliflower was also very tasty, with a medium spicy creamy tomato-based sauce. Sadly, the sauce was not as plentiful as with the saag paneer, but one can't have everything!
Another great visit, two more great meals!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Namaste Shangri-La
Following the always-excellent advice of Feathers, I finally got to Namaste Shangri-La restaurant for lunch today!
Why it took so long to get there is a lengthy and tedious story - I work a block away, and since getting the recommendation I have been trying to get over there - but finally managed it!
Namaste is tucked into a little strip mall on the corner of Lake Otis and Tudor - not much help, I know, since there are strip malls on three of the four corners of that intersection. This is the strip mall that does not have the Starbucks or the Golden Donuts shops.
Anyway. Namaste Shangri-La is a lovely place with sunny yellow walls and a discreet bit of appropriate decor. The tables are beautiful - maroon tablecloths protected by glass table tops. About which let me say a word. Many places use these things that really shouldn't. I know it lets you use a tablecloth which you then don't have to wash with every diner. But so many places let their glass tops get all chipped and nasty looking, besides which if you don't clean that glass well, it really, really shows up. I'm not fussy personally, so I don't much care unless it's really grievous, but still. Namaste Shangri-La is not one of those places. This tabletop was truly clean enough to... well, you know how that goes. Also, each shimmering tabletop had a small vase of carnations on it that really gave it a nice touch.
I was, sadly, not there with Mr. EA but instead with a friend from work. However, now that Mr. EA has heard how good it is, you can bet we will be going there together soon. My friend is a long-time devotee of Yak and Yeti, so she was also excited to hear that there was a good source of Indian/Tibetan food within easy lunchtime striking distance of our office. She ordered the Chicken Curry lunchtime special, and I got the Saag Paneer lunch. The proprietor asked how hot we wanted our dishes - my friend said mild, and I, forgetting the Golden Gate heat level debacle, said hot. We also got garlic naan, which was even better than regular naan, though I would not previously have believed such a thing was possible. It was crispy on the bottom and soft on the top, and the topping had a good mix of cilantro and minced fresh garlic. Mmmmmmmm!
The lunches came with a salad, which consisted of shredded carrots and celery and onion in a lightly tangy dressing; steamed rice, and daal. Our entrees were delicious, as were all the sides! Although I had said "hot" it was still humanly edible. There was a bit of heat there, make no mistake, but it was nowhere near as damaging as when you say "hot" at other nearby places. Saag Paneer is cubes of fresh mild cheese (paneer) in a spinach-based sauce. Feathers my fellow sauce-hound, if you have not tried this dish, I highly recommend it. There is a reasonable amount of paneer in there, to be sure. But it is basically a good sized bowl of sauce. And it is good sauce. The main flavor is spinach, but there is a lot going on there. I think there was some curry and/or cumin, a little tangyness that might have been yogurt. Mmmmmmm! I believe it will require a lot more analysis!
I did try my friend's chicken curry, but it was a polite, friend's-plate sized bite, not the full-fledged plate ravaging that I feel free to indulge in when it is Mr EA's plate I am pillaging. So all I can really say is that my bite was quite good, but it too requires further analysis.
Namste Shangri-La is a great place - clean, pleasant, and well run. Their menu is not encyclopedic, but there is a good variety of vegetarian and non-veg entrees, appetizers and soups. Not to mention some interesting-looking desserts that I intend to try as soon as I can lure Mr EA in there.
Go there, you'll be glad you did!
Why it took so long to get there is a lengthy and tedious story - I work a block away, and since getting the recommendation I have been trying to get over there - but finally managed it!
Namaste is tucked into a little strip mall on the corner of Lake Otis and Tudor - not much help, I know, since there are strip malls on three of the four corners of that intersection. This is the strip mall that does not have the Starbucks or the Golden Donuts shops.
Anyway. Namaste Shangri-La is a lovely place with sunny yellow walls and a discreet bit of appropriate decor. The tables are beautiful - maroon tablecloths protected by glass table tops. About which let me say a word. Many places use these things that really shouldn't. I know it lets you use a tablecloth which you then don't have to wash with every diner. But so many places let their glass tops get all chipped and nasty looking, besides which if you don't clean that glass well, it really, really shows up. I'm not fussy personally, so I don't much care unless it's really grievous, but still. Namaste Shangri-La is not one of those places. This tabletop was truly clean enough to... well, you know how that goes. Also, each shimmering tabletop had a small vase of carnations on it that really gave it a nice touch.
I was, sadly, not there with Mr. EA but instead with a friend from work. However, now that Mr. EA has heard how good it is, you can bet we will be going there together soon. My friend is a long-time devotee of Yak and Yeti, so she was also excited to hear that there was a good source of Indian/Tibetan food within easy lunchtime striking distance of our office. She ordered the Chicken Curry lunchtime special, and I got the Saag Paneer lunch. The proprietor asked how hot we wanted our dishes - my friend said mild, and I, forgetting the Golden Gate heat level debacle, said hot. We also got garlic naan, which was even better than regular naan, though I would not previously have believed such a thing was possible. It was crispy on the bottom and soft on the top, and the topping had a good mix of cilantro and minced fresh garlic. Mmmmmmmm!
The lunches came with a salad, which consisted of shredded carrots and celery and onion in a lightly tangy dressing; steamed rice, and daal. Our entrees were delicious, as were all the sides! Although I had said "hot" it was still humanly edible. There was a bit of heat there, make no mistake, but it was nowhere near as damaging as when you say "hot" at other nearby places. Saag Paneer is cubes of fresh mild cheese (paneer) in a spinach-based sauce. Feathers my fellow sauce-hound, if you have not tried this dish, I highly recommend it. There is a reasonable amount of paneer in there, to be sure. But it is basically a good sized bowl of sauce. And it is good sauce. The main flavor is spinach, but there is a lot going on there. I think there was some curry and/or cumin, a little tangyness that might have been yogurt. Mmmmmmm! I believe it will require a lot more analysis!
I did try my friend's chicken curry, but it was a polite, friend's-plate sized bite, not the full-fledged plate ravaging that I feel free to indulge in when it is Mr EA's plate I am pillaging. So all I can really say is that my bite was quite good, but it too requires further analysis.
Namste Shangri-La is a great place - clean, pleasant, and well run. Their menu is not encyclopedic, but there is a good variety of vegetarian and non-veg entrees, appetizers and soups. Not to mention some interesting-looking desserts that I intend to try as soon as I can lure Mr EA in there.
Go there, you'll be glad you did!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Yak and Yeti
Yak and Yeti is a funky little slice of the Himalayas right in the heart of Anchorage. Located on Spenard Road (characterized by the famous saying "What happens in Spenard, stays in Spenard!"), it seems to be part of a cluster of eateries from more exotic climes. However, we had been hearing about this place since shortly after we got to Anchorage. Everyone we spoke to had liked it, but been a little hesitant to recommend, as in "I don't know how you feel about Tibetan food...?" We like Indian food, we like food from many of the other countries around Tibet, so we took a chance. Also, the notion was so bizarre we had to go. And eat!
In all seriousness, I was a little bit hoping it would be weirder than it was. I looked in vain for yak butter tea, but what was there was delicious. Also, they have goat curry for lunch on Mondays, so I plan to go back for that at some point!
Y&Y is a smallish family-run business, short on table space but long on charm and great food. Following the link at left will take you to their website, where you can read their story, which is quite interesting, and also get a look at the menu and the hours. Be aware that they are only open for dinner certain days of the week - plan accordingly!
We started with an appetizer of Aloo Tikka, which is basically crispy fried potato cakes, served with a couple of chutneys. They had a great texture and a good, lightly spiced flavor. One of the chutneys, a creamy green one, was so good we finished it off with spoons. For our entrees, Mr EA had Kalimpong Shapta, which is stir-fried pork. The pork was tender and wonderfully flavorful. Subtle but flavorful spicing enhanced the taste of the meat, but did not hide it. This came with two delicate steamed buns. I had Mutar Paneer, which was also delicious. This dish consists of cubes of paneer (fresh, mild cheese) and peas in a rich tomatoey sauce. It came with rice, which I used to mop up all the sauce I hadn't managed to eat with the paneer and peas. I looooooooove sauce!
My entree choice was partly tactical. My parents will be coming up to visit us in about a month and a half or so, so I am on the lookout for places I can take them. My mom is a vegetarian, so I try to keep an eye out for places where she will be able to find good choices! She gets tired of just having sides, or spaghetti with no meatballs, or a salad. I am happy to report that vegetarians will have a really good variety of clearly labelled dishes to choose from. And if our meal was anything to judge by, it is all delicious!
We finished off with Gajar Ki Halwa, shredded carrot cooked in sweetened milk. It is light and mildly sweet and better than it sounds like it would be. Mr EA intended to have just a spoonful of it just to try it. He wound up having around half!
So I won't be tentative. You'll like Tibetan food. You'll like Yak and Yeti. Go there - you'll be glad you did!
In all seriousness, I was a little bit hoping it would be weirder than it was. I looked in vain for yak butter tea, but what was there was delicious. Also, they have goat curry for lunch on Mondays, so I plan to go back for that at some point!
Y&Y is a smallish family-run business, short on table space but long on charm and great food. Following the link at left will take you to their website, where you can read their story, which is quite interesting, and also get a look at the menu and the hours. Be aware that they are only open for dinner certain days of the week - plan accordingly!
We started with an appetizer of Aloo Tikka, which is basically crispy fried potato cakes, served with a couple of chutneys. They had a great texture and a good, lightly spiced flavor. One of the chutneys, a creamy green one, was so good we finished it off with spoons. For our entrees, Mr EA had Kalimpong Shapta, which is stir-fried pork. The pork was tender and wonderfully flavorful. Subtle but flavorful spicing enhanced the taste of the meat, but did not hide it. This came with two delicate steamed buns. I had Mutar Paneer, which was also delicious. This dish consists of cubes of paneer (fresh, mild cheese) and peas in a rich tomatoey sauce. It came with rice, which I used to mop up all the sauce I hadn't managed to eat with the paneer and peas. I looooooooove sauce!
My entree choice was partly tactical. My parents will be coming up to visit us in about a month and a half or so, so I am on the lookout for places I can take them. My mom is a vegetarian, so I try to keep an eye out for places where she will be able to find good choices! She gets tired of just having sides, or spaghetti with no meatballs, or a salad. I am happy to report that vegetarians will have a really good variety of clearly labelled dishes to choose from. And if our meal was anything to judge by, it is all delicious!
We finished off with Gajar Ki Halwa, shredded carrot cooked in sweetened milk. It is light and mildly sweet and better than it sounds like it would be. Mr EA intended to have just a spoonful of it just to try it. He wound up having around half!
So I won't be tentative. You'll like Tibetan food. You'll like Yak and Yeti. Go there - you'll be glad you did!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Everybody Loves Ray's Vietnamese
Ray's is possibly the one place that no one - really literally no one - in Anchorage seems to have a bad word for. Tell people you are going to almost anyplace in town, and you will get at least one "Really?" or "Why?". But not Ray's. And in spite of all that love, it took us only 10 months to get there. But better late than never! Now, I will say right up front that I have no way of knowing how authentic Ray's is. And when push comes to shove, I don't really care. What I do care about is that they have delicious food.
We got an appetizer of fried egg rolls, Mr EA got Beef and Broccoli, and I got Spicy Tofu with Tamarind. Fans of Asian food in general will find a lot on the menu that looks awfully familiar, but when it arrives it will be different than what you might expect. The decor gives you a lot to enjoy while you are waiting for your food. There are wildly elaborate, prism-encrusted chandeliers, lots of plants, oriental-style paintings, and western-style paintings of Vietnamese subjects. When the food does arrive, you are in for a treat.
The eggrolls are more delicate than their Chinese counterparts, and contained ground pork, those thin transparent noodles, and some light vegetables. My Spicy Tofu with Tamarind was delicious. The tofu came in crispy chunks, accompanied by a variety of vegetables in a light sauce (really almost a broth) that managed to be spicy and lightly sour without overpowering the flavors of the main ingredients. Mr EA had Beef and Broccoli, which was basically a drier and crisper version of the Chinese dish of the same name, which was also distinguished by its healthy infusion of cilantro. In his words, it was "absolutely wonderful!" We both felt that in general, the Vietnamese dishes we ate were lighter and fresher-tasting than Chinese, which tend to be a bit denser and have thicker sauces. Both can be incapacitatingly delicious, don't get me wrong. They are just different styles, and it's good to be aware of that.
We spent so much time deliberating over our choices that I know we will need to go back soon - there are some interesting looking soups and duck dishes that we are going to need to try. (We'll let you know!) So if you are the mood for fresh, flavorful food, try Ray's. You'll be glad you did!
We got an appetizer of fried egg rolls, Mr EA got Beef and Broccoli, and I got Spicy Tofu with Tamarind. Fans of Asian food in general will find a lot on the menu that looks awfully familiar, but when it arrives it will be different than what you might expect. The decor gives you a lot to enjoy while you are waiting for your food. There are wildly elaborate, prism-encrusted chandeliers, lots of plants, oriental-style paintings, and western-style paintings of Vietnamese subjects. When the food does arrive, you are in for a treat.
The eggrolls are more delicate than their Chinese counterparts, and contained ground pork, those thin transparent noodles, and some light vegetables. My Spicy Tofu with Tamarind was delicious. The tofu came in crispy chunks, accompanied by a variety of vegetables in a light sauce (really almost a broth) that managed to be spicy and lightly sour without overpowering the flavors of the main ingredients. Mr EA had Beef and Broccoli, which was basically a drier and crisper version of the Chinese dish of the same name, which was also distinguished by its healthy infusion of cilantro. In his words, it was "absolutely wonderful!" We both felt that in general, the Vietnamese dishes we ate were lighter and fresher-tasting than Chinese, which tend to be a bit denser and have thicker sauces. Both can be incapacitatingly delicious, don't get me wrong. They are just different styles, and it's good to be aware of that.
We spent so much time deliberating over our choices that I know we will need to go back soon - there are some interesting looking soups and duck dishes that we are going to need to try. (We'll let you know!) So if you are the mood for fresh, flavorful food, try Ray's. You'll be glad you did!
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