Serving Up Alaska’s Flavors and Stories
Can you share a bit about your background and what inspired you to start your food tour company? Was there a specific moment or experience that sparked your journey in the tourism and culinary industry?
I moved to Juneau in 2009 and found my happy place. To stay in touch with family and friends in the Lower 48, I started a food column, “Meals with Midgi.” I also worked at Travel Juneau at the time, which gave me a wonderful perspective of the visitor industry. In 2014, I combined my passion for food with my passion for hosting visitors and started Juneau Food Tours, a culinary walking tour in Alaska’s capital city.
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What makes your food tour unique? Are there any signature dishes, local stories, or hidden gems you are particularly proud to showcase to your guests?
We pride ourselves on delivering tasty memories and telling Alaska’s stories through food, which is our amazing seafood. We start at the Alaska Commercial Fishermen’s Memorial, which we feel is the most important part of the experience, as we take a moment to honor the men and women who work so hard to bring us that delicious seafood our guests are about to enjoy. A highlight of the tour is the variety of fish we incorporate into the tour, from wild Alaska salmon to king crab, halibut and rockfish. Guests tell us they love the food, but also truly appreciate all the stories we share that connect them to our community.
What impact have your tours had on the local community? What’s something you hope to achieve in the future for the area?
In the 10 years we have hosted hungry travelers, we have contributed more than $1.3 million into our local economy with food purchases alone. We hire only locals to ensure our guests have the best experience possible, and we source all products in our gift shop only from Alaskan manufacturers. Our goal is to deliver as much of Alaska as we possibly can in the few hours our guests are with us. In the future, I hope to expand our culinary experiences into other parts of the state and to utilize our mobile kitchen for even more fun and creative culinary experiences.
SALT taking with Nel
What trends or opportunities do you see in food tourism right now? How is your company adapting to or leveraging these trends to enhance the traveler’s experience?
Food/culinary tourism is still a rapidly growing and evolving component of the tourism industry. However, I am seeing a trend in more wellness and mindfulness experiences appearing on the scene and I couldn’t be more excited. We have partnered with Breathe Alaska, a mindfulness company in Juneau that incorporates meditation, active breathing techniques, and delicious Alaskan fare into an well-rounded experience.
In 2024, we purchased a mobile kitchen which will allow us to work with travel advisors, meeting planners, and group tour organizers to create unique and custom experiences that will ensure they experience Alaska their way. We feel the partnership with Breathe Alaska will enhance our opportunities to deliver those experiences.
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What tips or best practices can you share for effectively organizing food tours for group travelers? What impressions or stories are you trying to leave behind for guests after the tour is over?
I never say no in the initial conversation, I always say, “Let me see what I can do.” I work with multiple other operators in the area and can package experiences together, such as a whale watching excursion paired with a gourmet lunch in a remote location. Our mission is to deliver tasty memories. Whether this is through our flagship food tour, a custom Jeep experience, or chef-curated private event, we hope our guests leave with happy bellies and unique stories of their time in the Last Frontier.
What is one of the biggest challenges and rewards you’ve experienced while running your business? How did you navigate through these and how did it shape the way you approach future tours?
As with most companies, the pandemic took its toll. My biggest concern was losing my business, so rather than close, I created a new business, Taste Alaska!, which started as a gift box subscription service. We have now moved away from the subscription model and offer a variety of gift boxes, each filled with Alaska-made products. The success of this plan motivated us to move to a new location in 2020 and we now have a store front (which is also a stop on our food tour), a packing/shipping area, and our offices. This has been such a rewarding experience, as not only was I able to stay in business but I retained most of my employees, and we are now thriving again as a company. In 2025, we will rebrand the company as Taste Alaska!, a culinary experience company. No matter how our guests wish to experience Alaska, we will ensure they leave us with lasting and delicious memories.
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