TASTE! Alaska : The Busiest Day of the Year.

TASTE! Alaska

Explore and learn about all aspects of the local food scene. Together we can see what’s going on at restaurants, the markets and products as well as unique artisan items that make Alaska just a little different. Artwork by Lee Post, used with permission.

About me

Rob Kinneen

Rob Kinneen was born in Petersburg, AK and started his career in culinary classes at the King Career Center by day and bustin' suds at local restaurants by night. He attended the Culinary Institute of America, worked prestigious dining establishments in New Orleans and Durham/Chapel Hill, then returned to Alaska in 2001 as Seven Glaciers chef, Noble's Diner inspiration, and now at Orso.

LOCAL CONNECTIONS

Alaska grown

Find those cool blue and yellow T-shirts and hoodies here, as well as seasonal market information.

PRODUCTS I USE

Moosetard: gourmet Alaska mustards

Locally produced artisan product with bold Alaska- nspired flavors. I use in spreads, for sandwiches, vinaigrettes and to finish meat sauces.

Alaska Chip Company

Potato chips made only from Alaska potatoes.

Alaska Birch Syrup

Made from birch tree sap and available in four flavors. Medium is the best to cook with.I use it for a birch syrup-brown butter sauce over pastas and incorporate it with cr�me brulees. Currently I'm using birch syrup to glaze pork belly for a summer dish.

Simple Pleasures of Alaska

Producers of spruce tip syrup, kelp pickles and other unique items out of Sitka.

Alaska Native-made jams, jellies and syrups

For thousands of years Alaskan Natives handpicked plump, sweet, wild berries. Today local and tribal residents continue this tradition, bringing some of these wonderful berries to our modern kitchen.

Alaskan Brewing Co.

Home of eight beers including Alaskan Amber, ESB, IPA and winter and summer ales.

Midnight Sun Brewing Co.

Home of year-round, seasonal, X-special and series beers.

Ring of Fire Meadery

In Homer since 2004. Meads and honey ciders produced without sulfites and with local fruits and berries.

Celestial Meads

Produce at least 18 meads, located in Midtown Anchorage.

The Busiest Day of the Year.

Posted by chefalaska

Posted: December 29, 2008 - 8:36 am

I am finalizing the prep list and making the final phone calls to purveyors for the busiest day of the year, New Years Eve. As a rule it is a busy day, and with ORSO it will add on a fifth more people to the busiest day in the summer.
This is achieved by cooks coming in early and staying late, real late... By the time most people are blowing their horns and slugging back Champagne, cooks are breaking down the line after a long night.
My responsibilities are to staff accordingly and make sure there are correct par levels of menu and specials that night. I always like to make sure the menu specials are "front end heavy" meaning that the dish can be prepped mostly ahead of time, with only heating up or cooking to order, usually for large pick ups.
That said, better get crackin'
New Years eve is bitter sweet for me, I don't mind the work or the long hours on the day, but my wifes' birthday is on that eve. For the past 13 years she usually eats and gets to hang out at the place of employ, for a while with friends stopping by periodically. We try to finish off the night catching the tail end of the celebration somewhere...
Hope to se you there!