Turkey Red - Sophistication with a Mission...in the Mat-Su

I was in the Mat-Su with my in laws and used my Yelp iPhone app to discover my current Mat-Su favorite...Turkey Red.  Until Turkey Red, I had no idea that Palmer had an upscale restaurant, let alone one with such a great mission:

Turkey Red is dedicated to serving fresh, high quality, local and organic ingredients prepared in traditional ways with care and creativity. We purchase and employ locally to: 

• Retain money in the community

• Promote Local Agriculture

• Increase flavor and nutrition of food

• Lower energy use

 The well-trained staff will provide the most thorough and caring service. Our top priority is happy customers. Turkey Red is the inspiration of local cook, caterer and gardener, Alex Papasavas.

Let me say up front...Mission Accomplished!

That said, let me write about my dinner at Turkey Red.  We started with the Hummus and Crostini ai Funghi appetizers.  The Hummus could have used a bit more salt, but it was unrivaled in rich creaminess.  The Crostini ai funghi was simple and delicious, with sautéed Portobello served over the bread.  We combined the appetizers with a biodynamic Maryhill, Sangiovese from Washington state...perfect!

For an entree, I went with the light and fresh Chicken brushetta.  The thin slices of grilled chicken breast were incredibly tender, and topped with fresh tomato and basil.  I could tasted the garden freshness of the topping, as well as the fresh sautéed side of vegetables.  This dish was a wonderful light option to what could be an overfilling meal.

The four of us shared a couple of desserts.  We tried the yogurt cheesecake with raspberries, and the chocolate flourless cake...also with raspberries.  Besides going perfectly with our choice of wine, these two desserts each satisfied palate in different ways.  The cheesecake was both light and fruity on the palate, while the chocolate cake satisfied the need for richness and sweetness.  Alternating bites of each, along with sips of the Sangiovese, was an amazing way to finish the meal.  Our group was all smiles!

The food was great, but the best part of the meal may have been the friendly waitstaff!  So friendly and pleasant, it was an absolute pleasure to be waited on by our server and the support staff.  It has been a while since I was so happy with a restaurant's service.  A huge thumbs up from the diners in my group.

Turkey Red:

Address - 550 S Alaska St, Suite 100, Palmer, AK 99645

Phone - 907.746.5544

Website - www.turkeyredak.com

Overall Recommendation:  Turkey Red is a wonderful little restaurant with the freshest variety of locally inspired dishes.  I would recommend this restaurant on it's commitment to keep money local alone.  The tasty food is just a bonus.

Villa Nova Restaurant - Italian cuisine with a special atmosphere

Villa Nova Restaurant is another one of those strip mall gems that Anchorage is known for.  Located on Arctic Blvd, and not too far from the Ted Stevens International Airport, Villa Nova is a very nice "date night" option.

Our Friday night meal featured a classical guitarist who played beautiful acoustic pieces throughout the evening.  We enjoyed the music and began our meal with the Escargot.  The appetizer featured six mushroom caps, each stuffed with snails, fresh garlic, Italian herbs, and olive oil.  The dish is baked and served in the same dish, and brought to the table piping hot.  I love Villa Nova's escargot, and I could have eaten this dish all night.  The oil and herb mixture made a great dipping option for the bread at the table, and the escargot stuffed mushrooms are a wonderful combination of textures and flavor.  The almost sweet flavor of the snail blend with the earthy flavors of the mushrooms and the bold, rich flavors of the oil and herbs.

I also enjoyed my house salad.  I chose the garlic dill dressing, which was new to me.  It is a creamy dressing with highlights of garlic and dill, but subtle and balanced.  The romain lettuce, carrots, legumes, and tomatoes were all fresh and bright.

For my main course I chose the Tournedos Fra Diavolo.  These two, very tender, filet mignon medallions are each served with a delicious sautéed prawn and a mushroom, crushed red pepper sauce.  The filets were so tender I could cut them with my fork.  The prawns were succulent and flavorful enough to stand up to the spicy sauce.  The sauce really brought the dish together, but without overpowering any of the components.  I still got the great flavor of the filets, prawns, and mushrooms, all the while feeling the warmth of the crushed red peppers.

My wife chose the Pate a Choux for dessert.  It is a homemade puff pastry filled with homemade chocolate mousse, all topped with a dark chocolate sauce.  I only meant to have one bite, but ended up having 3 or 4.  Ooops.  The puff pastry was flaky with a little crisp, and the mousse was light and airy.  A decadent dessert for the likes of me.  Quite good.

To my way of thinking, Villa Nova is on par with the best of Anchorage's Italian restaurants.  Definitely a good choice for a night out.

Villa Nova Restaurant:

Address - 5121 Arctic Blvd, Suite 1, Anchorage, AK 99503

Phone - 907.561.1660

Website - www.villanovaalaska.com

Reservations - Highly Recommended.

Overal Recommendation -  Villa Nova is a very good option for Italian dining in Anchorage.  They are the place to go if you are on the west side of town, or coming back from a trip to the airport.

CampoBello Bistro - Mediterranean in Midtown

I have said it before, but it bears repeating :  It is amazing the number of great restaurants in Anchorage that are in strip malls!  CampoBello Bistro is one of those strip mall gems, and it is in the heart of midtown Anchorage.  My wife enjoy the service, wine list, and food at this small restaurant.  We just recently made it back and were not disappointed.

We started with the Bruschetta Pomodora.  Savory grilled seasoned bread with fresh Roma marinara, basil, mozzarella, and parmesan.  Warm, savory, tangy, this appetizer sings on your palate.  This is a great way to start your meal...give it a shot.

Next we had the house caesar.  This is not a bad caesar salad, but it is no stand out, especially when compared to the rest of the meal.  I recommend going with the soup.

For my main course, I chose the Calamari Scallopini.  I have to respect the chef who can cook a fillet of calamari just right.  The calamari are so tender and mild.  They pair perfectly with the lemony caper picatta sauce.  It would be easy to overcook the calamari, or to have the picatta overpower the delicate calamari.  This presentation is just right.  Served with CampoBello's layered scalloped potatoes.  What a combination.

To cleanse our palate we chose a dessert of lemon ice cream.  Scratch made in the restaurant, this is a perfect little bite to share with someone special, and not feel over stuffed.

All in all, another nice meal in one of the best kept secrets in Anchorage.

CampoBello Bistro:

Address - 601 W. 36th, Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99503

Phone - 907.563.2040

Website - www.campobellobistro.com

Reservations - Walk-ins are welcome, but I recommend calling ahead.

Overall Recommendation - This is a nice little restaurant with a tasty menu, nice wine list, and reasonable prices.  I recommend giving CampoBello's a try.

Kincaid Grill - "Fine Dining Without Attitude"

Nestled at the end of the mall on the northwest corner of the "Four Corners" neighborhood of Anchorage is the Kincaid Grill.  My wife and I recently made our first visit to the acclaimed restaurant, and we were excited to try Chef Al's restaurant.  The dining area is well lit with a medium noise level and plenty of seating.  There is a well stocked bar and a nice wine list.

I did a little online research before going to the Kincaid Grill, so I had a good idea of what I was going to order, however, the specials for the night were tempting, and we both tried some of those offerings.

We started with the Roasted Oysters Casino.  With applewood bacon, parmesan, and herbs, these appetizers were excellent.  They were savory and satisfying.  I loved them because they were not overly salty.  I paired the appetizer with a light Pino Gris, and it was nice.  A well done appetizer will whet the appetite and not overwhelm the palet.  The Oysters Casino hit the mark.

For our salad we each has the special.  Mixed greens with roasted almonds, feta, and fig confit.  It was one of the better salads that I have had in Anchorage restaurants.  Each of the components worked together, and the feta and confit tasted great.  It went great with solid Chardonnay.

My wife had the special:  Petite Filet Mignon with lobster hollandaise and lobster medallions.  I tasted the hollandaise, and it was light and delicious.  She loved it.

I had heard that the Cioppino was the star of the menu, so naturally I had to give it a try.  I have had cioppino in other restaurants, and I feel like most restaurants are lazy with the dish.  Often it is too salty and/or spicy.  The Kincaid Grill cioppino, however, was wonderful.  The light tomato fume did not fight with, or overwhelm the lobster, shrimp, scallops, clams, and fin fish.  If have any complaint about the dish, it was that the lobster and scallops were a bit overdone and rubbery.  That aside, the flavor profile of the dish balanced the flavor of the seafood and the fume.  I would order it again in a heartbeat! It went well with nice strong Shiraz.

For dessert we shared the warm Raspberry Rhubarb Crisp.  The crisp was a savory and buttery crunch, and I think it was the star of the dish.  It helped sedate the tartness of the fruit, and the sweetness of the butter pecan ice cream topping.  It would be too much to eat alone, but it is the perfect size to share.  Try it with an ice wine.

Kincaid Grill:

Address - 6700 Jewel Lake Road, Anchorage, 99502

Phone - 907.243.0507

Website - www.kincaidgrill.com

Reservations - Definitely.  I used my Open Table app.

Overall  Recommendation - I think the Kincaid Grill is one of the bright spots on the Anchorage fine dining scene, and I look forward going again.  Give the ciopinno a try.

Sky City Restaurant - A meal with a view

It is hard to compete with a restaurant that offers a 360 degree view of a major American city.  The Sky City Restaurant offers just that.  The restaurant rotates 360 degrees in about an hour.  It is definitely an experience...and the food okay too.

Sky City is in the Space Needle a floor below the observation deck.  Your meal includes an elevator ride to the restaurant and access to the observation deck after you eat.  An adult ticket to ride to the observation deck is $19, so it is a nice bonus to your meal.  The minimum food and beverage charge per guest is $35, so don't plan on just going for appetizers and skimping.

I had gotten a cheap pair of tickets to Seattle a few weeks ago, before Christmas.  I wanted to make the trip special, and thought of getting us some reservations at the Sky City.  It was a spur of the moment trip, and we were lucky to get some reservations for a late Sunday brunch.

The brunch is Prix Fix, and includes a starter, a main course, and a dessert.  I have been trying to watch my figure, so I started with a Caesar Saland and then opted for the Seasonal Vegetable Benedict:  Poached eggs over Heirloom tomato, wilted spinach, Chanterelle mushrooms.  I have had better Hollandaise, but I have also had worse.  I would just give the main course an "OK", and the salad was about the same.

The dessert was a bit better.  I had the Seasonal Cobbler (apple), which was served with Snoqualmie Gourmet Vanilla Bean ice cream.  It was difficult to stick to just a couple of bites.  In all it was a nice dessert.

By far, the star of the meal was the view.  Even though it was a bit cloudy and rainy, it was stunning to see the skyline of Seattle sweep leisurely by.  It was an excellent experience, which I recommend.


Sky City Restaurant:

Address - Space Needle, 400 Broad St, Seattle WA 98109

Phone - 206.905.2100 or toll free 800.937.9582

Website - www.spaceneedle.com/restaurant/

Reservations - A must.  Online or over the phone.  Plan well ahead of time.  I barely got a seating with 2 weeks advance notice.


Overall Recommendation - When you eat at Sky City, you are paying for decent food and an exceptional view.  I was not blown away by the meal, but it wasn't too bad.  We really enjoyed eating in a rotating restaurant.

Southside Bistro - Great Date Night Dining

I lived in Anchorage for nearly 10 years before I every ate a the Southside Bistro.  People would always tell me I should go, and I would forget to go.  I would always think of the fine dining restaurants in downtown Anchorage.  Somehow I could not get my mind to remember that there is very nice dining available south of Anchorage's Mid-town.

I have 10 years of catching up to do, because Southside Bistro is very good.  They serve lunch and dinner Tuesday - Saturday.  They are closed on Sundays and Mondays.  I have only been there for dinner.  I have been twice now, for Friday night/Date night.  I have been happy both times.  Most recently I was treated to dinner when I was given a gift card for Christmas.  Those folks are now on my "Nice" list! 

I started with the Butterleaf salad.  A wonderful salad with tender butterleaf arranged on the plate with a champaigne vinaigrette, candied pecans, grated blue cheese, and chopped grapes.  The candied pecans are the star of this salad!  They bring out the subtle flavor of the leaves, and pair perfectly with the vinaigrette.  It also went well with the Pinot Grigiot that I let the waiter pick out for me.

For my entree' I had a special of elk medallions.  They were served with asparagus spears and delicious mashed potatoes.  The elk had a savory brown sauce over it and was served medium rare.  The richness of the sauce matched the lean elk just right.  It was wonderful.

For dessert, my wife and I shared the peach and raspberry cobbler.  Served warm with brown pecan crust and vanilla ice cream, this dessert was the perfect ending to a memorable dinner.

Southside Bistro:

Address -

Phone - 907.348.0088

Website - southsidebistro.com

Reservations - Highly recommended.  I use my Open Table app on my iPhone.

Overall Recommendation - This is great place with a very good waitstaff, nice wine list, and very good food.  It isn't super intimate, but it is a nice place to go for date night.  Make a reservation, as I have never seen this place when it is not packed.

Open Table - The must have foodie app

Ever say to yourself, your spouse, or your group of friends, "Where are we going for dinner?"  Well I have a foolproof way to not only narrow your search, but to also make your reservations.  Get on your smart phone and use your OpenTable app or go online to opentable.com.

OpenTable can bring up a list of restaurants in your area with available seating for your party.  You can read reviews, view menus, and get directions.  You can make your reservation, along with any special notes/requests you have for the restaurant, and then later on leave a review for others to read.  You can do all of this from your phone.

The great thing about OpenTable is the selection of restaurants.  The OpenTable affiliates are all great restaurants.  These restaurants are fit for foodies.  Each one is a standout with outstanding food, service, etc.  You can't go wrong!  Give it a try the next time you go out for a night on the town.

Spenard Roadhouse

The Spenard Roadhouse is a big step up from the previous occupants, Hogg Brothers Cafe.  The Spenard Roadhouse has the same ownership as Sacks Cafe and Snow City Cafe.  I was unaware of the relationship between the three restaurants, but I do see some commonalities.  Happily, my recent visit to the newest iteration of the location left me satisfied.

My late Sunday breakfast foursome enjoyed a variety of items off their Weekend Breakfast menu.  One of my friends had a mimosa and a meal called the Hangover Helper, ½ lb. all natural beef patty, fried egg, cheddar, bacon, tomato, onion, kaiser roll, served with a side of tater tots...she was thrilled.  My wife and other friend enjoyed the 2 egg breakfast, with their choice of bacon, ham, or Polish reindeer sausage, potatoes and an english muffin.  


I dug into the Roadhouse's version of eggs Benedict (I promise this will not turn into an eggs Benedict blog).  The Eggs Benny Benson is a traditional eggs Benedict with their own house made, very rich, hollandaise sauce.  I liked the thinly sliced ham as opposed to the usual slab of ham that is used in so many versions of my favorite breakfast.  The highlight is definitely the house made hollandaise.  At first I was taken by surprise...I think that I have gotten used to packet versions of the sauce.  The Spenard Roadhouse sauce is far superior to your typical hollandaise.


The Spenard Roadhouse has a full lunch and dinner menu as well as a children's menu.  I am inclined to think that the Roadhouse may be one of the best restaurants in the Spenard/Midtown area.


Spenard Roadhouse:


Address - 1049 W. Northern Lights Blvd, Anchorage


Phone - 907.770.7623


Website - spenardroadhouse.com


Overall Recommendation:  Definitely worth your while.  It made a very good impression on me.