It's chili in Alaska

[cleofus1]

http://www.adn.com/life/story/6852551p-6748317c.html




Unless you're one of the 25 hardy souls who will arrive in Palmer on the morning of Sept. 3, naked but for their clothes, a few utensils, some food and an appliance. While they dare to bare all for the world to taste, you will remain just one of those poor, gray, timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. Standing alone, valiant in your darkness.

Let us now herald the future chili champion who will stand tall, wooden spoon thrust to the sky, atop a mountain of discarded pepper stems and flank steak fat, while we remark upon the passing (unless she repeats) of the 2004 crown holder: Vicki Wolfe.

"Somebody had to bring home the bacon," said Wolfe, who had helped her fiance, Rex Burgett, in previous years at the contest, including two grand championship efforts. "He hadn't won in a couple of years, so I decided I would enter. Compete against him."

[calico1]

1. What other kinds of foods are popular in

Alaska?

[cleofus1]

2. there is no specific cuisine here...

game food is kinda neat...reindeer sausage...salmon...and of course the native foods...seal, whale, moose...etc...

but over all the popular foods depends on who you're hanging with...it's pretty cosmo...thai food...greek...italian...mexican...india...etc etc...

[cleofus1]

3. here's a link

to the alaska state fair food guide

http://www.alaskastatefair.org/2005/foodguide/index.html

[calico1]

4. Thanks. So have you ever had whale? n/t

[cleofus1]

5. yup...

beluga whale...and whale blubber...it's an acquired taste...my wife in inupiat eskimo and of course almost all my friends are native...so from the time i arrived i have had the opportunity to taste subsistance foods...

[no name no slogan]

6. Does anybody use venison in their chili?

My ex-brother-in-law used to make really good venison steaks and sausage each year after he got his deer. I think the meat was probably too lean to use like hamburger, though--

[cleofus1]

7. i think so

but caribou/reindeer are the more popular meats...
here's a pick of eskimo women from kotzebue preparing whale..

[calico1]

8. I have had venison sausage.

A friend of my DH's hunts and he gave us some last year. Interesting taste. I think its a matter of knowing how to prepare the meat well so it doesn't taste so "gamey."

[cleofus1]

9. my kids love

reindeer sausage...you can buy it regular or extra spicy...

[calico1]

10. I think I read somewhere that in Alaska

YOu can buy the local meat like that. Doesn't Alaska supply most of its own? That's pretty neat. Is it cheaper because its right from there?

[cleofus1]

11. oh yeah

it's made right here in anchorage...but it's not cheaper...

[cleofus1]

12. in fact...

this is where we go to get game food pre-prepared

http://www.alaskasausage.com/IBS/SimpleCat/Shelf/ASP/Hierarchy/02.html

[calico1]

15. I thought about ordering some

but then I looked at the shipping charges. Holy cow! Looks good though. But can't you get stuff like this locally? Wouldn't it be cheaper?

[cleofus1]

16. same cost

just no shipping charge....sure i can buy it at any of the local grocery stores or at the shop itself...located in midtown at arctic and benson...

[calico1]

17. Ah, ok. The shipping cost was $44 plus.

But without shipping its very reasonable.

[Saphire]

13. But will it be hot tamale?

[cleofus1]

14. if you want a good hot tamale

you have to go to taco loco...on international airport road...if that's what you meant mija....O8)

[tigereye]

18. but where do you go for cool poetry readings and such?

didn't know you lived in Alaska, that's pretty cool!

[cleofus1]

19. there are a few venues

http://www.anchoragepress.com/archives/document5beb.html
this is an exerpt from the anchorage press...re the "fly by night club" on arctic blvd in anchorage


The place is packed elbow to elbow, standing room only. People were
turned away at the door. The crowd is in high good spirits, almost rowdy. Audience members have been cheering or booing off and on at a small group of people sitting close to the stage. The group is armed only with a pile of number cards. On the stage is a microphone. Mr. Whitekeys is softly tickling the ivories in the background. A man comes up to the microphone, no instrument in sight. The audience quiets. The man reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. He begins reading — get this — poetry.
The semi-annual Poetry Slam — coming Tuesday, May 19, at 7 p.m. for $5 in the Fly By Night Club — is a war of the wits that pairs poets in rounds of three-minute readings. Judges score each poet Olympic-style, with a rating of zero to 10. Winning slammers read against winners of other rounds until a final winner emerges in two categories. Live Poets are local writers reading their own works. Dead Poets are poets, actors, and closet thespians reading the works of famous dead (or famous living) poets.

Brian Hutton, an on and off slammer, spoke recently with Peter Porco, the organizer of the local slam since May of ’93, about his favorite past performances, the future of the local "spoken word" movement, and how one might (or might not) influence the judges.