At the site in Kenai where many Alaskan legends were born and historic figures like Jay Hammond, Ted Stevens, Walter Hickel and Hugh Malone gathered to carve out plans for Alaska’s future, comes the new “Iditarod Café.” The inspiration of Steve and Bobbi England, well known for their Kenai Catering cuisine and service. With the lyric of Hobo Jim’s “I did, I did, I did the Iditarod Trail,” echoing in your mind you can now order up a lunch or dinner at the Iditarod Café that is good enough to satisfy any musher’s appetite. Then delight your sweet tooth with a dessert that you may not be able to pronounce but can’t resist from Bobbi’s award winning “Gotta’ Have Deserts,” where everything is made from scratch, “The only thing we don’t make is the chocolate, but if we could grow cocoa in Alaska we’d do that too,” said Bobbi. With the 4th of July celebration right around the corner Steve and Bobbi are planning a special celebration for America’s Birthday and to introduce the community and visitors to their new Iditarod Café, “While folks are enjoying the parade pass by we’ll be setting up our restaurant out in the parking lot and cooking everything on our menu right out there for folks to see and watch and enjoy with 4th of July specials all day long. We invite everyone to stop by or if it rains come on inside and experience what we’ve created at this historic site,” Steve told the Dispatch.
Capturing the spirit of the Last Great Race with décor and menu has been a labor of love and passion for Steve and Bobbi, “Ever since Bobbi and I came to Alaska well over a decade ago the Iditarod has had a place in our hearts. We’ve been involved with the race and we want to carry on that Alaskan tradition and the spirit of those Iditarod champions like Dean Osmar and Mitch Seavey and their families that live and work right here on the Peninsula. We want this to be a place where people will come to eat whenever they’re hungry and not just for special occasions or an evening out,” said England.
While people may be familiar with the specialties that Steve has become famous for at Kenai Catering, the menu at the Iditarod Café is new and creative, “We’ve created some pot pies from our house smoked brisket and made a pot pie that is already finding a lot of repeat customers coming into the café and we also have a roasted chicken pot pie, but what I am especially proud of is the Iditarod burger, it’s a half pound hand pressed patty that is placed on a fresh baked bun that is baked daily, with all kinds of choices for toppings like bacon, cheese or whatever you have a taste for. It may be hard to finish because it’s huge, but you can always get a to go bag and that way you save room for a dessert like a hand dipped truffle, gateau riche ice cream dessert, banana split or homemade pie. Come by on the 4th of July or before for something we promise will be Howlin’ Good,” said Steve.
You can check out the entire Iditarod Café menu at www.iditarodcafe.com. The Iditarod Café is open Tuesday-Saturday 11:30am – 7:00pm located across from the Kambe Theatre in Kenai.
