A Man, a Can and a Plan
Well, not exactly, you see…
Turns out, I’m A girl, with a curl, a whip and a whirl
Armed and Dangerous
Yes, I went armed with a 3-ring binder filled with Menus, Shopping Lists, Recipes and some alternate options for meals that the crew didn’t so much care for.
Prior planning prevents poor performance, I’ve always subscribed to this idea, and I reasoned that, if I’m going to be in the middle of nowhere Alaska, I better be prepared to execute a full menu not knowing how many crew members I’d be serving on any given day.
In actuality, my numbers ranged from 6 to 20 hungry men for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sometimes I didn’t know the full count until a few hours before service time. The real problem was, I had to order my groceries 1-2 weeks before meal service and pray that the food would come before I needed it, sometimes it was a winner of a day, sometimes not so much, I even reached a point where my groceries hadn’t come, and I was shopping from the village inhabitants’ freezers!
My plan included 21 days of evening main dish meals, breakfast, I determined was going to be much like you’d find in a high-end hotel lobby, and self serve-hot items ie: eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, English muffins, waffles, pancakes, additional breakfast breads, fruit cups, cold and hot cereals, yogurt, milk juice, coffee and tea. While I was told I wouldn’t have to “make” lunches, I was expected to have sandwich fixin’s at the ready for the crew members to pack a sack lunch. The sandwich thing got short lived because it was boring, so many times I’d package a leftover meal in a to-go container and the readily took those, in addition to an occasional grilled ham and cheese sandwich that I made to order.
All and all, it was a great experience, and I would gladly do it again. I gained a healthy respect for anyone in the bush country trying to provide food service of any kind: schools, restaurants, independent cooks and bakers and the tiny village convenience stores.
Note: Items with an asterisk (*) were my plan, by I was unable to prepare them for one reason or another.
Day 01
May 28, 2024
Mexican Meal Night
First Course
Queso, salsa and Tortilla chips
Main Course
Chori Pollo
Mexican Rice
Charro Beans
Guacamole Salad
Flour Tortillas
Dessert Course
Sopapilla Cheesecake
Shoofly Pie
Day 02
May 29, 2024
Italian Inspired Dinner
First Course
Toasted Ravioli
Main Course
Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara
Greek Salad
Garlic Knots
Dessert Course
Chocolate Lasagna
Strawberries and Cream Cake
Day 03
May 30, 2024
Diner Delights
First Course
Crispy Sampler:
Onion Rings, Mozzarella Sticks, Jalapeno Poppers
Main Course
Roast Turkey
Gravy
Steamed Yellow and Green Beans
Garlic and Sour Cream Mashed Red Potatoes
Petit Salad
Grain Rolls
Dessert Course
Chocolate Cake
Pecan Pie
Day 04
May 31, 2024
Fish on Friday’s
First Course
Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
Main Course
Coconut Shrimp
Sweet Thai Chili Sauce
Apricot & Horseradish Sauce
Sweet & Spicy Green Beans
Mad Hatter Salad
Dessert Course
Blueberry & Peach Cobbler
Key Lime Layered Cheesecake
Day 05
June 1, 2024
Mama’s Kitchen
First Course
Buffalo Wings
Main Course
Boneless Butterflied Pork Chop
Herb Crusted Stuffing with Cranberries and Walnuts
Peas & Carrots
Deviled Egg Potato Salad
Pumpkin Dinner Rolls
Dessert Course
Chocolate Hazelnut Pudding Torte
Cherry Crisp
Day 06
June 2, 2024
Where’s The Beef?
First Course
Potato Cakes
Main Course
Ribeye Steaks with Saute’ed Mushrooms and Onions
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Steamed Broccoli
Dessert Course
Caramel Cheesecake
Apple Cobbler
Day 07
June 3, 2024
Pit Boss
First Course
Tomato, Corn and Red Cabbage Salad
Main Course
Bobby Flay’s Pulled Pork BBQ
Baked Russet Potatoes
Southern Green Beans
All the Fixin’s
Dessert Course
Gooey Butter Cake
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Day 08
June 4, 2024
Run for the Border!
First Course
Beef & Chicken Taquitos
Main Course
Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas Ranchero
Mexican Rice
Guacamole Salad
Pico de Gallo
Dessert Course
Mexican Cinnamon Brownie
Chocolate Pecan Pie
Day 09
June 5, 2024
Little Italy
First Course
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Main Course
Chicken Parmigiana
Spaghetti
Roasted Root Vegetables
Dessert Course
Tiramisu
Warm Apple Pie Donuts*
Day 10
June 6, 2024
Dunkin’ Diner
First Course
Fresh Berry Salad*
Main Course
Country Fried Steak
Hearty Gravy
Garlic and Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
Christmas Carrots
Oatmeal Dinner Rolls
Dessert Course
Banana Cream Pie
Carrot Cake
Day 11
June 7, 2024
Sea Food
First Course
Salmon Croquettes
Main Course
Beer Batter Fish
Cole Slaw
Steak Fries
Corn Fritters
Green Beans
Baked Beans
Dessert Course
Pineapple Upside-down Cake
Lemon Meringue Pie
Day 12
June 8, 2024
Taste of Home
First Course
Veggie Snack Tray
Main Course
Baked Ziti
Steamed Broccoli
Bread Sticks
Dessert Course
Bananas Foster Sunday
Rocky Road Freezer Pie
Day 13
June 9, 2024
The Beef Stops Here
First Course
Caesar Salad
Main Course
Prime Rib
Au Jous
Au Gratin Potatoes
Green Beans
Buttermilk Biscuits
Zucchini Tomato Pasta
Dessert Course
Red Velvet Cake
Turtle Pecan Brownie
Day 14
June 10, 2024
Bubble and Squeak
First Course
Cucumber and Onion Salad
Main Course
Smoked Sausage Sampler
Fried Cabbage
Ranch Style Beans
Twice Baked Potato Casserole
Dessert Course
Brookie
Double Berry Cobbler
Day 15
June 11, 2024
Fantastic Fajita Night
First Course
Jalapeno Popper Dip
Main Course
Beef & Chicken Fajitas
Saute’ed Peppers & Onions
Mexican Rice
Refried Beans
Flour Tortillas
Dessert Course
Apple Pie Enchiladas
Tres Leche’ Cake
Day 16
June 12, 2024
It’s Amore’!
First Course
Caesar Salad
Main Course
Classic Lasagna
Saute’ed Green Beans
Garlic Knots
Dessert Course
Limoncello Cake
Hummingbird Cake
Day 17
June 13, 2024
Down Home
First Course
Creamy Split Pea Soup
Main Course
New England Boiled Dinner: Ham, Potatoes, Carrots, Parsnips, Turnip, Cabbage and Onions
Hawaiian Rolls
Dessert Course
Carrot Cake
Creamy Coconut Dessert*
Day 18
June 14, 2024
Salmon, Alaska’s Chicken of the Sea
First Course
Crispy Dragon Shrimp
Main Course
Sesame Soy Salmon
Grilled Brussels Sprouts
Broccoli Tortellini Salad
Roasted Rosemary Red Potatoes
Dessert Course
Angel Food Cake
Fresh Fruit & Berry Salad*
Day 19
June 15, 2024
Ode to Julia
First Course
Pizza Rolls
Main Course
Julia Child’s Beef Bourguignon
Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes
Fluffy White Rolls
Dessert Course
Blueberry & Lemon Trifle
Dulce de Leche’ Cookie Bars
Day 20
June 16, 2024
Texas Roadhouse
First Course
Spring Mix Salad
Main Course
Beef Tips
Noodles Alfredo
Mashed Potatoes
Pepper Cream Gravy
Caramelized Brussels Sprouts
Dessert Course
Double Fudge Cola Cake
Strawberry Shortcakes
Day 21
June 17, 2024
Off the Grill
First Course
Garden Salad
Main Course
1/3 Pound Ground Beef Burgers
1/4 Pound Beef Hot Dogs
Rolls, Condiments
Pasta Salad
Steamed Corn on the Cob
Dessert Course
Lemon Bars
Whoopie Pies
Makes me hungry reading about all those wonderful meals being served in rural Alaska. I have the upmost respect for your ability to overcome the challenges of getting the goods and establishing a plan sometimes and the willingness to change on a dime what needed to be done to prepare these incredible meals!