My latest swim meet road trip was great for three reasons: my swimmers did well, I got to visit my parents, and I got to eat breakfast Little Richard's Family Diner.
Just off the Richardson Highway, in North Pole, is a great little restaurant that harkens back to what I think of as the classic american diner. Stainless steel and chrome fixtures, a black and white tile floor, table seating, counter seating, period decor, super friendly service, and most of all really good food! I love this place.
I took a seat at the counter and ordered the Meat Lover's Omelette with hash browns and sourdough toast. It was fun to watch from the counter as my breakfast was prepared. The counter is all that separates the kitchen from the dining area, which is great because the cooks are amiable guys and fun to watch as they work smoothly with each other and the wait staff.
The omelette was stuffed (and I mean stuffed) with bacon, ham, reindeer sausage, buffalo sausage, hot links, and cheese. The hash browns are great, and can be ordered extra crispy. The portions are so generous, that it would be easy to share a breakfast like this...I could only eat about two thirds of what was served.
I loved breakfast, but I think that the charm of the restaurant augments the overall experience. As I mentioned, the decor and service is great, there is something more. Maybe it is the music that is being piped in (Roger Miller, Glen Campbell, etc). Maybe it is the small town clientele. Whatever it is, it just seems like the perfect place to take the family, or just belly up to the counter. I look forward to going back soon.
Little Richard's Family Diner:
Address - 2698 Hurst Rd, North Pole, AK 99705
Phone - 907.488.2117
Overall Recommendation: If you are down with a classic diner and classic diner food, then you have to give Little Richard's a try. If you are in the greater Fairbanks/North Pole area, then this is well worth the stop.
For the last few years I have been curious to go to this huge event just up the street from my neighborhood. I first took notice when I was inconvenienced by all the traffic. This year I actually made a note in my iPhone calendar to remind me to go.
The Alaska Greek Festival is kind of like St. Patty's day. Everyone is Irish on St Patty's day, and everyone at the Alaska Greek Festival is Greek...in spirit anyway. There is wonderful shopping, raffles, activities, music, silent auctions, and yes...even a beer/wine garden. There is no gate or entry fee, but the food and drink does cost. All of the proceeds go to the church. This is a wonderful place to bring the family, and get a bit of the Greek culture and, most importantly, some Greek flavor.
My wife, my friend, and I walked to this year's festival. This turned out to be good for two reasons. First, we did not have to hassle with parking. This is a huge event, and parking is a bit of an issue...although not a major one. Second, we didn't have to feel as guilty about indulging in the great food.
First, we all tried the Loukoumades. These are divine! From the [From the website "In ancient Greece, these heavenly, hot honey puffs, sprinkled with cinnamon and nuts, were awarded to top athletes at religious festivals."] I would have worked my fanny off if these were the prizes. Good thing I can just go to the festival and buy them.
After a couple of beers, my wife and I shared the Lamb Dinner [Roast Leg of lamb, yiouvetsi (Greek pasta in sauce), tiropita, dolma, fasolakia (green beans), Greek salad & bread] and the Moussaka Dinner [Layers of eggplant and potatoes, flavorful meat sauce and cheese, topped with bechamel sauce, served with tiropita, Greek salad and bread].
The Lamb Dinner must have come fresh off the spit (yes, they have the legs on a spit out back). It was succulent and juicy! The tiropita was flaky, rich, and delicious. The dolma had the perfect citrus and olive oil balance. All in all, the Lamb Dinnner was terrific.
The Moussaka Dinner came with same delicious tiropita. The Moussaka itself was better than I have had in most restaurants (except Little Italy in Anchorage, read my April 2011 post). I love eggplant, and the layers of richness in this dish are wonderful. The meat, cheese, and beschamel all play very well together...without overwhelming the palate.
On the way out of the festival, we stopped and picked up Baklava Sundae. If flakey file, nuts, spices, and fruity honey syrup just aren't enough to satisfy your sweet tooth, try it on rich and creamy vanilla ice cream. This may have been a bit over indulgent, but you know how the saying goes..."When in Greece!"
I can't wait to go back next year and give a few more dishes a spin! Opa!
Annual Alaska Greek Festival:
Address - Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, 2800 O'Malley Road, Anchorage
Website - akgreekfestival.com
Overall Recommendation: Get ready to party Greek style. This is a family event, so take the kids. It only happens three days each August, so keep checking the website to find out when next year's event will be. Don't miss it!
This weeks's Sunday morning breakfast started with a search on my iPhone's Yelp app. The closest restaurant, that was open, was Terra Bella Bakery & Café. I feel like I should have checked their website first, because it's head says Terra Bella Organic Coffee, Waking the World...Naturally. If I were a coffee drinker, this would have further encouraged me to go, but sadly, I am not a coffee drinker.
Based on Yelp's advice, my wife, daughter, and I took off for the Dimond location. The café is very clean and tidy, with a relaxed feel and friendly staff, and they do offer some gluten free baked goods. Unfortunately, for this foodie, those are the nicest things I can say.
I ordered the Bacon Cheddar Egg Bagel. The bagel made me feel good at least, as it was a sprouted grain flax bagel. She sandwich had bacon, egg, and cheddar cheese. Somehow there managed to be absolutely no flavor to this offering. The bacon must have been some sort of low sodium variety, because there was little to no savory aspect in this breakfast sandwich. Like I said, at least the sandwich made me feel good...even if it didn't taste that good.
My wife tried the Grizzly Scramble. This blend of reindeer sausage and eggs, was inundated with too many onions and roasted red peppers for her to make a dent in the dish. The only thing she did make a dent in was the side of potatoes...but only after they searched high and low for some ketchup...so she could stomach them.
My wife did say that her Raspberry Mocha was okay, and my daughter really liked the whipped cream on top. I guess I found another positive thing to say.
Terra Bella Bakery & Café:
Address - 601 E. Dimond Blvd #6 & 2932 C Street, Anchorage, AK
Website - terrabellacoffee.com
Phone - 907.562.2259 & 907.562.2229
Overall Recommendation: I am not a coffee drinker, so this place is not really for me. For the fanatical coffee drinker, Terra Bella may be nirvana. But for me it's just an average café with average food.
Just off the Richardson Highway, in North Pole, is a great little restaurant that harkens back to what I think of as the classic american diner. Stainless steel and chrome fixtures, a black and white tile floor, table seating, counter seating, period decor, super friendly service, and most of all really good food! I love this place.
