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Culinary Adventures in the Wilderness
at Winterlake Lodge

Head to wilderness for adventures in cooking with Chef Kirsten Dixon of Winterlake Lodge. Board a floatplane for a trip to this remote outpost, nestled in the foothills of the Alaska Range. The gorgeous setting is where the Cordon Bleu-trained chef offers culinary weekends, a series of specialized cooking classes offered throughout the year. In the relaxed and informal setting students may learn the art of sophisticated backcountry cooking with Kirsten or from the many world-class chefs who visit the lodge.

Chef Kirsten Dixon developed the Within The Wild Adventure Lodges culinary programs, due to an interest in cuisine, particularly Alaska cuisine. These educational programs emphasize culinary excellence and regional ingredients—the source of Kirsten's inspired creations. The Winterlake Lodge Culinary Series is a selection of weekend specialized cooking classes offered once a month throughout the year. These weekends are priced the same as a regular weekend excursion. Wine and culinary topics are selected for each class and the instruction, course materials and accompanying wines that compliment the culinary subject are included. The classes focus on topics covering a range of subjects from smoking and grilling or cooking from the garden, to recipes from great chefs or cooking with game. A complete roster for 2003 is listed on their website.

Winterlake is one of three remote lodges operated by Kirsten and her husband, Carl. The property overlooks its namesake, Winter Lake and lies along the historic Iditarod Trial in the Alaska Range. The unsurpassable setting offers seclusion and spectacular scenery with vistas of glaciers and rugged mountain ranges. The area provides guests with many opportunities for hiking and wildlife viewing and the chance to see many species of Alaska birds, wildflowers and berries that are difficult to view in other locales. The lodge is also the starting point for neighboring adventures with trips for exploration offered daily. Guests can spend as much, or as little time as they like in the kitchen with Kirsten or they have the option of joining Carl for exciting outdoor adventures when they are not involved in the culinary festivities.

Kirsten Dixon has successfully built her culinary reputation on two themes: world-class cuisine and America’s Last Frontier. She is an internationally recognized chef. Early in her career, she was named one of the Ten Best Chefs by Pacific Northwest Magazine and one of Ten Best New Chefs by Esquire. In 1992, she was selected as a James Beard Foundation Special Events Chef. Later she was named a “Culinary Legend” by the House of Blues and Alive Culinary Resources. She’s the author of The Riversong Lodge Cookbook and a new soon-to-be-released second book, The Winterlake Lodge Cookbook, due in September 2003.

Winterlake Lodge, accessible only by small plane, dog team, or snowmobile, is open year-round. Travel and Leisure Magazine has named Winterlake Lodge one of “25 Best Lodges in America”. For more information about Within The Wild Adventure Company’s Culinary Programs and other offerings or to make reservations call them at 907-274-2710 or visit their website at http://www.withinthewild.com.

Photos courtesy of Winterlake Lodge

Edited by Dave Shultz

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