If you can’t, or don’t want to eat gluten there’s good news: Natural Pantry is putting in a gluten free kitchen in its new store. The store is being built in that vacant lot beside the library, just north of the midtown Post Office. There will also be a regular kitchen and bakery. The new place will be 13,000 square feet larger than the original one, for a total of 45,000 square feet. There will be about 100 employees. Co-owner Rick Solberg tells me they hope to move into the new place by 2014. So what do you think, do you look for gluten free? Plus, check out the artist rendering!
Archives: September 2012
Gluten Free Kitchen
Mucho Gusto
Because of my job I end up the Anchorage Jail about once a week. As you can imagine we cover A LOT of arraignments and we have to drive past Oscar’s Taco Grande to get to the jail. I’ve always been curious about it, mostly because of it’s location and because the parking lot is always packed with cars.
I stopped by this week wanting something spicy. Salomon Hernandez worked the grill and told me to order the chile relleno. It was fabulous. I stayed and chatted for awhile. While I leaned against the counter Salomon’s brother spoke to other customers in Spanish. Salomon told me his father, Oscar, started the business in 1978. At that time he used an old People Mover bus for a restaurant. Ten years ago they upgraded to a trailer. Oscar’s from Mexico City and moved to Alaska right after the 64 earthquake.
As we talked a steady stream of customers came. Most were dressed for working outside. A few house painters, plumbers and construction workers. Then there were the people in fancy suits. Salomon said they get a lot of defense attorneys here. I had to ask, does anyone who spent time in the jail come in to eat?
“We do, they say, ‘I just got out of jail do you got any cigarettes?’” Salomon said, “I’m surprised how forward they area about it sometimes.”
Don’t let that scare you off from eating here. It’s fabulous, fast and worth a visit.
Hello You
Hello out there. After a fabulous two months of maternity leave I’m back at work. The girls and I spent a lot of our time in North Carolina where I stuffed my face with fresh produce and seafood. Once we got back to rainy Anchorage, (what happened to our summer!) I’d walk us to fire Island Bakery to eat chocolate chip cookies. Now that I’m trying to get back into the mix I need your ideas. What food stories should I cover, what have I missed? I need help! Here are my two little loves, including the newest member: Poppy Marie William Hopkins. Email me your ideas, rpalsha@ktuu.com.
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