We saw all the shops in Anchorage, Skagway, and Juneau selling products from Barnacle Foods so when we came across this little stand next to the Alaska T-Shirt place, we had to stop in. They also offer plenty of samples! The two most interesting items I tried:
Spruce Tip Shortbread - This tastes like shortbread. I'm not sure what the spruce tip part is supposed to taste but I didn't really get anything special here.
Kelp Pickles - Woah, super interesting. It's pickled like a... well, pickle, with the included vinegar acidity, but is cut cross section wise along the stem, resulting in a hollow ring that's gives kind of a firm but slimy crunch. Since the ring is on the thicker side, it's somewhat different texture as compared to wakame or other seaweed.
I ended up purchasing a jar of their Kelp Chili Crisp for $15, which adds seaweed umami to a base of crunchy chili crisp. It's fragrant and sweet with just the right amount of heat, perfect on rice, as a dip (I used it for dumplings), or for cooking.
The Barnacle Foods Outpost is an excellent place to pick up some uniquely Alaskan made food. As a bonus, it's cheaper than all the gift shops and grocery stores around since it's the company outlet store! I had already purchased a bunch of gifts earlier in the week, otherwise I would have bought more! read more