Pickled Bull Whip Kelp

Bull Whip Kelp- flavor of brine-y oysters with the texture of raw jicama.  Unique and Fantastic!

King Crab and Pineapple Weed

A new edible weed that has been sprouting up on the property is Pineapple Weed also known as Wild Chamomile.  The yellow buds give off a sweet pineapple aroma.  It has a sweet pineapple/green apple taste and a bitter finish much like a tea.  It's always exciting to find a plant that gives off the aroma of a tropical fruit in a climate that isn't associated with those smells or tastes.  Since the flavor of the Wild Chamomile is rather strong it seemed to make sense to pair it with something rich and sweet like king crab.  I was very excited about this dish mainly because when you eat a few buds of the Pineapple Weed it creates a subtle numbing effect on the tongue which makes for an interesting dining experience.  It begins rich, vegetal, and oceanic, becomes slightly bitter and creamy, and then leaves a light numbing sensation on your tongue once you've finished.  It's also exciting to think of how the diner's palette reacts when drinking wine while eating this dish, the experience changes several times while eating one small plate of food!

Pineapple Weed/Wild Chamomile

Crab Pineapple Weed dish pre Broth

King Crab, Pickled Bull Whip Kelp, Crispy Seaweeds, Wild Chamomile, Beach Pea-Wild Chamomile Broth, Crab Oil

Guest Arrival

A large part of the day here at the lodge is scheduling and organizing guest arrivals.  People are coming and going everyday and making sure that they receive a proper greeting is a very important part of our job here.  Making a good first impression and having a guest feel welcome is extremely important in any hospitality business.  The interesting thing here at Tutka Bay Lodge is that the staff gets more excited for new guests arrivals than the actual guests themselves.  There are a few ways to travel to the lodge, one is by boat or water taxi, another by float plane and the one I definitely enjoy the most is HELICOPTER!  There's few things cooler than seeing a helicopter landing on the deck right in front of you.  It automatically get's me excited for who's arriving.

Alder Smoked Carrots, Buttermilk, Rye, Molasses, Oyster Leaf

I was able to locate some of the first "Oyster Leaf" on the beach a few days ago!  Due to the minimal amount I wasn't able to harvest too much but this is still an exciting time to be foraging on Kachemack Bay.  Oyster Leaf, tastes exactly as it sounds.... like oysters.  This is the first time I have ever experienced this highly sought after plant that I've read about so often, it's flavor is truly unique.  Luckily for us here at the lodge it grows on our beaches just a short walk away. 

Vegetables

Sea Pea Blossoms and Sea Plantain

Field of Wild Dandelion

Roasted Beets and Grapes, Pickled Seeds, Twisted Stalk, Ground Ivy, Sandwort Blossoms, Beach Pea Shoots and Blossoms

Roasted Cauliflower, Pickled Apple, Salmon Roe, Soured Cream, Clover, and Yarrow

Wild Dandelion Custard, Pickled Farros, King Crab, Dandelion Petals 

Zucchini and Leeks, Salmon Rillette, Mare's Tail, Yolk Vinegar, Mahon