An Epicurean in Nome

Airport Pizza, Nome AK

I’ve always rated Nome, Alaska as one of my five favorite North American birding locations. It’s remote, rarities come often and who can knock standing on the finish line of the Iditarod?  I never thought, however, that a restaurant in Nome would make an appearance on the Epicurean Birder Blog.  My food-associated memories of Nome include walking into the blue smoke haze to dine at Fat Freddies.  I’ve held on to a sense of distrust (dismay?) over local restaurants that specialize in Italian and Chinese under one roof.  I am delighted to report that Nome’s Airport Pizza now offers a sunlit, welcoming venue complete with coffee bar, starters, Glacier Brewhouse (Anchorage) and other microbrews brews on tap, fresh salads and fun. Tired after a long day of birding? Try their Menu To Go. We took salads with dried cranberries and pecans to the shores of Salmon Lake, where we added fresh blueberries on the spot. We returned several times in our five day stay.

I enjoyed the news articles, framed on their walls, that describe adventures incurred by honoring their motto “you buy, we fly”.  Those that want to bird the bush, take note!  If you need a pizza fix in Gambell or Shismaref, they will deliver on the next regular run of the local Frontier Flying Service, or – if you are really keen – you can charter the plane!  Imagine the fun at the bush community of Savoonga on St. Lawrence Island when the mayor had pizzas delivered as Christmas gifts one year (http://www.airportpizza.com/custompage.asp?pg=map )!  

Happy Diners at Airport Pizza

We had a grand time sampling an unexpected array of ingredients such as artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto and reindeer sausage in pastas, pizzas and sandwiches to go.  Salads had a mix of fresh leafy greens, amazing considering that there are no roads to Nome – everything comes in by barge or plane.  At dinner our group enjoyed fresh fish, good steaks and gyros. We loved going there for breakfast when we could order Eggs Benedict with our espressos and lattes – yes, you can do this now in Nome!  I loved finding fresh cilantro and jalapeños in my Mexican Skillet.  Later I returned for a glass of wine (great selection) and got on WIFI.  I just had to email other long-time Nome faithful birders, feeling nostalgic and wondering if, perhaps, I should not be quite so joyful to find such amenities just shy of the Arctic Circle….   Find them at 406 Bering Street, close to Hanson’s Market and the Anvil City Square marked by the historic church.  907.443.7992. www.airportpizza.com