Just for the Hell-Of-It: A Halibut Dinner in Homer Alaska

If your group of buddies does not take an annual guys or girls trip, you’re really missing out on life.  Sure, it is nice to take family vacations, travel with loved ones and significant others, and see the amazement in kids’ eyes when they first see some of the wonders of the world.  But, it is also nice to just get away with your best friends, leave all your worries behind you, and enjoy other cultures for a little while.  For me, enjoying other cultures means experiencing traditional food and drinks as well as customs, music, and general attitudes about life. 

On a recent guy’s trip, seven of us from Louisiana ascended to Homer, Alaska for a week where we were blessed with gorgeous weather and even lovelier people.  We had no ideas about the ties between Alaska and Louisiana.  Apparently everyone in Alaska is somehow from Louisiana, knows someone from Louisiana, does business in Louisiana, or at least appreciates Louisiana like few other people do.  Maybe it has something to do with the uniqueness of our cultures that few people in the rest of the United States understand.  It possibly has something do with the economy since two of the major sources of wealth for both states are energy (oil) and seafood.  Whatever it is, I found it to be really interesting, and when I saw a museum exhibit about the Exxon Valdez oil spill from 1989 it really hit home.  In many ways, Louisiana is just a warmer, flatter, humid-er version of Alaska… complete with delicious seafood, friendly people, a rich, unique culture, and an oil disaster of its own! 

Scenic Homer, Alaska from East End Road Looking Out Over Kachemak Bay

Homer, Alaska is a rustic yet hip fishing village and tourist destination on the south end of the Kenai Peninsula, resting on the west side of Kachemak Bay.  They boast themselves as the Halibut Capital of the World, and guided fishing trips bring in the majority of the tourists to the otherwise quaint town.  Knowing that their busy season stretches from Memorial Day to Labor Day, our group decided we would plan our trip for the week before Memorial Day, thereby missing the heavy crowds and tourist-induced price inflation.   

On our first full day in Homer we booked a charter halibut fishing trip.  I’ve been on charter fishing trips in the Gulf of Mexico before, but I had never before reeled up anything like a halibut.  The largest fish we caught weighed about 65 pounds, but they can grow over 300 pounds!  Our captain took us way out so that we could have a chance to catch a big one, and then brought us back into the bay so we could be assured a good catch.  All in all we had a great trip and left the docks with over 100 pounds of fresh halibut filets!

 

Jay, Brent, Matt, Eusebio, Gary, and Eric Returned from a Successful Halibut Fishing Trip!

The following day we invited some Homer locals over for dinner and drinks with a little Louisiana flair.  Among our guests were Karen and Steve, owners of the Homer Brewing Company, a small and passionate microbrewery that produces fantastic local beers that you can’t find anywhere else save the rare keg that makes it up to Anchorage.  The Homer Brewing Company treated us well all week long, and I am very thankful to Karen and Steve for sharing their beers and hospitality with us!  Their favorite brew seemed to be the Red Knot Scottish.  This ale uses Scottish yeast and cask conditioning to create an amber ale that is mild yet extremely flavorful. 

Growlers from the Homer Brewing Company Were Empty by the End of the Night

After sharing a few brews, the time had come to turn our attention to the food for the evening.  Chef Eusebio Gongora, who happened to be a member of our traveling party, prepared a beautiful halibut-four-ways meal for us that began with a fresh Alaskan halibut ceviche.  The ceviche included morsels of halibut filets, roasted bell pepper, orange, red onion, jalapeno, garlic, lemon juice, lime juice, salt, and pepper.  The dish had a tropical taste that I don’t think they get very often in Homer.  The halibut easily highlighted the ceviche with its fresh and tender marinated flesh filling up the bowl of sweet, sour, and spicy deliciousness.

Fresh Halibut Ceviche Whet Everyone’s Appetite

Not to let the ceviche highlight the night by itself, Eusebio also served up a batch of crispy halibut fritters.  They shared similarities with Southern hushpuppies, though I’ve never had a hushpuppy with seafood stuffed inside before!  The fritter had a cornmeal base that was cut by a little bit of flour.  Chef Gongora then added onion, celery, bell pepper, garlic, butter, smoked cheddar, salt, and pepper to go along with the fresh and beautiful diced halibut.  After mixing all the ingredients together they were formed into balls and deep fried in vegetable oil until they turned crispy and light brown on the outside.  The contrasting textures between the crunch on the crust and the warm, moist core made the fritters a pure delight to bite into. 

Halibut Fritters

Finally we readied ourselves for the main course.  Eusebio prepared some mashed potatoes and asparagus for side items, but what really got us all excited were the two additional variations of Halibut. 

Alaskan Halibut Filets Await Our Stomachs

The first method of cooking took the smaller pieces of halibut, dipped them in egg and milk, rolled them in Cajun fish fry, and then dropped them in a pot of hot vegetable oil.  Much like fried catfish in the South, this variation of halibut left the fish tender, moist, and flaky while providing a nice crisp on the outside. 

Cajun Fried Halibut… In Alaska!

The final round of halibut for our dinner was prepared a little more traditionally but still contained every bit as much taste and flavor.  Chef Gongora used the larger halibut filets, seasoned them up real nice, and then pan seared them before finishing them off in the oven.  Before serving, he topped each filet with a homemade lemon butter that offered a tangy taste to complement the fish.  The pieces of halibut ate like ridiculously tender steaks.  Each bite offered tremendous, fresh flavor that you could cut with a fork and would melt in your mouth. 

Alaskan Halibut for a Bunch of Louisiana Cajuns

The Alaskan halibut dinner satisfied everyone from first bite to last.  The growlers of beer from the Homer Brewing Company went extremely well with dinner, and nobody left hungry.  After eating halibut the way we did I can understand why it can cost as much as $20 per pound to get it fresh in Louisiana.  Good thing we brought about 70 pounds home with us!            

Beer and Pizza at the St. Elias Brewing Company in Soldotna, AK

Our second day in Alaska brought a road trip from Anchorage, down the Kenai Peninsula, to the town of Homer where we had a house rented for the week.  Along the way we passed through a town called Soldotna which is home to two craft breweries.  Ready for lunch and brews for the non-drivers, our caravan stopped in to see what the St. Elias Brewing Company had to offer.

While St. Elias only opened its doors and tapped its first kegs in 2007, the brewery and pizza joint is already well known for producing high quality bites and boozes.  They claim that their beer matches the personality of their business: fun and lively yet historic and eclectic.  In addition, the brewery also serves brick-oven baked, rustic, traditional Neapolitan style pizzas.  I was ready to get started and see what I thought about these proclamations.

Our party of seven arrived at St. Elias and were promptly greeted by the aromas of baking pies and boiling mash.  Within minutes we had a table and began ordering brews.  My first choice was a pint of Marathon Mild.  The Marathon Mild is a seasonal that is brewed in the style of a  English working class ale.  Though the beer is very dark in color, it actually tastes a fair amount lighter than it appears.  I enjoyed the brew and prepared myself for more.

The St. Elias Brewing Company, Soldotna, Alaska

Brew Tanks and Brick Oven at the St. Elias Brewing Company

Since there were seven of us there, we decided to order seven different pizzas and share the variety amongst ourselves.  Boo tried to mess this process up, but in the end we got it taken care of.  All of the pizzas were pretty good, though I think my favorites were these two:

Brewhouse and Chicken on the Ranch Pizzas

The Brewhouse pizza is loaded with garlic oil, mozzarella, provolone, bacon, Italian sausage, pepperoni, marinated mushrooms, and caramelized onions.  The salty pie tasted fresh and delicious with the meats, mushrooms, and onions all melting together with the cheese blend.  The Chicken on the Ranch pizza had garlic oil, ranch, mozzarella, provolone, garlic chicken, marinated mushrooms, roasted tomatoes, and fresh basil.  Although the pizza seems very similar to the Brewhouse pie, the flavors were actually a good bit different.  The real killer ingredient in all the pizzas was the dough.  The fire-baked crust had a crisp and flavorful outside with a remarkably chewy inside for a small thin crust pizza.

Hawaiian, Chicken Pesto, and Lonestar Pizzas

Running in the close second tier were the Hawaiian, Chicken Pesto, and Lonestar pizzas.  The Hawaiian was an average version of the classic pineapple and ham combination.  St. Elias's Chicken Pesto was a like a the second cousin to the superior Chicken on the Ranch.  Finally, the Lonestar showed a little originality by putting red peppers, chicken, onions, and pineapples on a homemade barbeque sauce base.  It proved to be an interesting combination that succeeded in offering something other than the typical pies.

Sampler Platter of Brews

To get off the subject of pizza for a bit, let's switch gears back to beers!  Not knowing what to order and wanting to try them all, the logical choice involved something that brewpubs like to call "samplers."  I got eight 3-ounce pours of brews to indulge on.  Starting on the left and going clockwise: Even Keel Kolsch, The Farmer's Friend, Puddle Jumper Pale Ale, Mother's Milk Irish Stout, Williwaw IPA, Vanilla Bean Porter, Brass Monkey ESB, and Marathon Mild.  I'd tell you what my favorites were, but after a week of drinking I really don't recall.  I'm pretty sure that the darker the beer, the more I liked it.  The light beers were just average, but some of the others like the Vanilla Bean Porter and the Brass Monkey ESB were fantastic!

Peter Rabbit and Smokestack Pizzas

My bottom rung of pizzas were still tasty, but they would be the least likely for me to order again.  The Peter Rabbit filled the role of St. Elias's vegetarian pie.  Broccoli on pizza just doesn't fit with me despite it being quite edible.  For a veggie pizza it did the trick, but not being a vegetarian myself, I'd shy away from it next time.  Finally, the Smokestack had bacon, olives, and rosemary.  Again, the pizza was fine, just not up to par with some of the other ones.  I would have appreciated a little pizazz.  Still, simple is okay when you have bacon, so it's not all bad!

Yukon Gold Tater

Eusebio took the adventure of ordering a dessert.  The Yukon Gold Tater is not actually a baked potato at all!  The artistic creation is actually a larger portion of cookies 'n' cream ice cream rolled in powdered cocoa, then topped with whipped cream, pistachios, and a little custard that looked like butter.  The dessert could maybe earn credit for creativity, but I'd have a hard time saying that it earns much merit otherwise.  The ice cream is Dreyer's and isn't anything special or homemade.  The cocoa powder that is used to give the potato skin appearance is so fine that both Eusebio and I both accidentally inhaled it to the point that we choked.  After coughing a bit and drinking some beer to clear my throat, it became obvious that the dessert did not quite tickle my fancy.  Oh well, I still enjoyed the pizza and beer, and I had plenty more of Alaska to eat and drink!  

Things To Do
Soldotna

Fleming's for an anniversary!

It sure is nice to get to go to Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar for an occasion such as somebody else's wedding anniversary. That was exactly what happened last Thursday when Jim and Dana Higgins came in town from New York. Dana is Jason Wesley's sister, and Brent is really good friends with all of them as well. I met Dana several years ago and then caught up with her again and met her then-fiancé Jim two summers ago while visiting New York. Since they came into Baton Rouge on their first anniversary weekend, Brent organized a trip to Fleming's for them, and I was invited to attend. Brent brought Chelsea as his date and I was accompanied by my dear friend Caroline. Our group was hungry, thirsty, and ready for a fabulous evening at Fleming's where we knew Eusebio would take care of wining and dining us like we were on Top Chef or Jim's Favorite, Hell's Kitchen.

Jay, Caroline, Jason, Jim, Dana, Chelsea, and Brent at Fleming's

We all started with a cocktail at the bar. I very quickly noticed that I did not get the jacket and tie memo before the evening began, but I got over it. I've been underdressed before, and I'm sure I will be again! I imbibed on a Fleming's Classic Martini because I wanted to make sure I thought it tasted as good as the last time I drank it. When we sat down at our table we were greeted by our wonderful wait staff and were informed that Chef Eusebio had a special appetizer planned for us that would be coming out soon.

Duck Breast with Raspberry Glaze, Seared Scallops with Roasted Corn, and Lobster Lettuce Wraps with a Homemade Slaw and Sauce

The appetizers made their way to the table and everyone sat in awe and amazement. Eusebio explained how each of the dishes were prepared in the kitchen and then we were invited to dig in. The duck breast was amazingly tender and paired perfectly with the sauce that sat atop the fowl. The scallops were seared nicely and topped with a roasted corn mixture that partnered with the scallop surprisingly well. The lettuce wraps were filled with sautéed lobster, a fresh slaw, and a simple sauce. From the moment the wrap touched your lips you knew you were getting something special. The lobster was clean and fresh with a delicate texture that was complimented very well by the slaw that was served with it.

A couple bottles of wine were ordered for the table, one white and one red. I'm a much bigger fan of red wine myself, so I opted for a glass of the Malbec. I'm not sure exactly which vineyard it came from but Davida, the Queen of Wine at Fleming’s, picked it out for us so I knew it would be excellent!

A Beautiful Glass of Malbec

After the appetizers we were ready to order the rest of our food. Caroline and I thought it would be a good idea to try the soup de jour... that's the soup of the day. It sounded good, so we thought we'd have that (Dumb and Dumber reference in the Fleming's blog post! Point Jay!). On this day the selection was Butternut Squash Soup. It was rich and creamy with several flavors that were like candy on the tongue. It was a perfect amount of sweet and savory that I look for in this type of soup.

Butternut Squash Soup

For the main entree I ordered the mixed grill. I had previously always gotten the cowboy-cut bone-in rib eye, cooked medium rare, when I was at Fleming's, but for my birthday this past year I got the mixed grill and couldn't have been happier, so I thought I would go that route again. The mixed grill is an opportunity for the chef to be creative with some stuffings and sauces each day, which is one of the main reasons I like it. It is always a pleasure to go for specialty items or off the menu because you really get to see what the chef can produce rather what is established and cooked routinely every day. This particular mixed grill contained a duck breast, a boneless quail, and filet mignon.

The Mixed Grill at Flemings

To give you better idea of what you are looking at in the picture above; from the top center and rotating clockwise: boneless quail stuffed with a goat cheese mixture, macaroni and cheese, blackberry glazed breast of duck, grilled asparagus spear, filet mignon with mushroom sauce, and Fleming's potatoes (sorry the picture is so dark, the mood is set in the restaurant, if you know what I mean!). All of the food was fantastic but I think I could pick out the winners and losers from the bunch. The filet was average. I was not too impressed with the mushroom sauce compared to the other sauces and flavors on the table. The meat was tender and delicious, but I'm not a filet kind of guy, so it was off the mark for me. The asparagus spear was good, but a little ordinary compared to want they do with a lot of things at Fleming's. I feel like I could get grilled or steamed asparagus of that quality (which is high) at quite a few restaurants around town. The Macaroni and Cheese is fantastic with chipotle and cheddar flavors in every bite, but I've had it several times and know there other sides on the menu worth trying. The side item that I do think is worth getting every time is the Fleming's Potatoes. This potato dish is made with cheese, jalapenos, and cheddar cheese and is one of the best side items in town. The duck breast was also a winner. Even though I already had some duck breast on the appetizer plate, I can always eat more! The sauce on the mixed grill duck was a mouth-watering blackberry reduction that enhanced the flavors of the dark duck breast to the point of ecstasy in my mouth. However, my favorite item of the evening was the boneless, goat-cheese-stuffed quail. While the wings and legs actually still had bones in them (they are a little small to be de-boning), the breast portion of the quail was bone-free and stuffed with succulent goat cheese mixture. The combination of the tender quail breast infused with the melting, grilled goat cheese flavors created a taste bud explosion and all that was left to do was try to remember to chew and swallow instead of sit there drooling.

Naturally, no meal is complete without dessert, and Eusebio had worked up something sweet and special for the anniversary couple and the rest of us as well.

Cheesecake, Chocolate Cake; Buttered Pecan, Cafe Au Lait, and Peach Ice Creams

Pictured above are a classic cheesecake with chocolate topping, a chocolate cake, and three different varieties of Kleinpeter Farms Dairy Icecream. I will give Fleming's props that even though they do not make their own ice cream in house, they do serve a local product that is still emerging in the marketplace. If you have not had Kleinpeter Ice cream yet, I suggest you do so soon! The real treat of the dessert parade that was placed on our table is not pictured above. Eusebio made a special chocolate-flavored baked dish, like a cake, that was extremely light and fluffy. He then sliced that in half and spread a layer of crème brulee in the middle, and then stacked the two halves back together again. It was incredible! The cake melted in your mouth as the crème brulee lined your tongue to create a unique sensation to go along with the exquisitely sensational taste.

I should be back at Fleming's in November for their Bourbon Dinner... that will make one hell of a blog post! Until then, keep the mouths watering!