August in Alaska

The adventurous McKeever-Duys clan returned last week from an Alaskan sojourn - Sloane in tow - and provided Cafe Drake with some gorgeous photos of the breathtaking landscape. We're still jealous of the whole "coats and scarves thing" in mid-August, boiling away in our concrete jungle, but have nonetheless supplied visitors with two Yukon recipes below: the first being one of our favorite ways to prepare salmon quickly and without a fuss for a large dinner party, and the second from Anchorage chef Danny Costanios of that city's Downtown Deli & Cafe. We haven't actually made the stew yet but may break down and order the reindeer meat from one of several online suppliers. Just not at Christmas.

OVEN-BBQ'd SALMON

You could always add 1/4 cup of brown sugar to the sauce below, but we've found the ketchup provides enough sweetness.

1/2 pound melted butter / 1/4 cup ketchup / 4 Tbs. soy sauce /2 Tbs. prepared mustard /1 clove garlic, minced /Dash Worcestershire sauce

Mix all ingredients together and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Pour over 2 LARGE pieces of salmon and bake at 425 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until your desired doneness. Reserve some of the sauce for basting the fish at least once while in the oven, and a bit more to serve at the table as a condiment.

REINDEER STEW

Once Susan extolled the tasty virtues of Alaskan reindeer sausage, our mouths began to water, loving gamey wild meats and any food with such exotic panache. Of course you could easily adapt this recipe for a venison stew, though if so, we suggest 2 cups of broth and 1 1/2 cups of red wine.

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour / 1 pound reindeer meat cubed /2 tablespoons cooking oil 1/4 cup chopped onion /1 cups carrots sliced /2 1/2 cups potatoes cubed /3 1/2 cups beef stock

1. Flour meat and brown in hot oil. Add stock and bring to a boil.


2. Reduce heat cover simmer one to one and a quarter hours or until tender.


3. Add vegetables. Cover and simmer 30 minutes.


4. Skim fat.


5. Makes four servings.