Juneau Food

It feels like forever since I started the tour, and indeed it's been a while filled with treats like Haines Spruce Tip and other delights all different from the ever-refreshing martini, but Red Hat got a move on to the Imperial this evening for Stop # 2 of the Martini Tour.

The place gets ten points for ambiance on a sunny, breezy evening such as this. A perch in the window allowed lots of fresh air, a great view of the Scene on Front and a nice place to greet friendly passers by. The mile-long bar started out crowded but not too smokey. In time, the excitement in back built up 'til the Thursday night salsa dancing began, thinning out the corridor but filling up the floor. Everyone seemed to be having a good time.

Everyone except, perhaps, the bartender. It took a long, long time to place an order. She was digging out from under a sudden influx of customers, and it did not help her to have to get from one end of the bar to the other. But, to her credit, she got the drink order right the first time even with Red Hat's somewhat unconventional favorite. That being the Stoli extra dry double twist no olive lots of bitters drink of choice. There didn't seem to be much time for flamboyance or even flare in assembly. The glass, one of the short stubby kind that don't make for dramatic presentation that stemware brings, was properly chilled with ice water before filling though. The drink itself was not especially ample, but neither was it terribly expensive. The twists, plebian but there were two and they were lemon. And this baby was loaded with bitters. I mean loaded. Pink? It bordered on brown. So I got what I asked for, and it was a well-made and refreshing salute to a beautiful Juneau day.

Did Red Hat go to Pelmeni afterward? Sure... did I actually eat some? Maybe next time. This time I just watched my companion happily plow through an order of 'meat' dumplings, all coated with curry powder and cilantro and dipped each one in sour cream, rye bread mopping up the hot, tangy sauce. There were some pretty bizarre tunes on the table. The conversation was not about the food, and that's all I remember.

I might as well have had another one of those tasty martinis, right? Definitely, next time...