The Bear Den – Haines, Alaska 10/14/2012

The Bear Den – Haines, Alaska 10/14/12

8 Main St  Haines, AK 99827
(907) 766-2117 http://www.alaskabearden.com/

I was in Haines, Alaska waiting for the Alaska State Ferry. The ferry would be my ride to the Lower Forty Eight States; my destination, Bellingham, Washington. It was after the regular tourist season and only the viewing of the gathering of eagles along nearby Chilkat River a bit later in the month was left before the city would close shop for the winter. The last of the season’s cruise ships was long gone and it would be weeks before the air, ferry and road passengers would arrive for the viewing of the eagles festival, the largest gathering of bald eagles in the world. I had several days to wait before the ferry so I had an opportunity to sight see the tiny community and sample some of the food at the local shops that cater to the tourist trade; all in uncrowded conditions.

Just up the street from the RV park where I was staying is the Bear Den. And up the street here has two meanings, both direction and elevation. It is located on a very steep slope of road going from the main town level to the much lower waterfront.  I had passed it several times on my walking tours of the city. Each time I read over the large menus poste in the window and wondered just what a bear-ritto was like. Early one morning, a blustery morning where the rain could turn to snow at any time, I decided a hearty breakfast was needed to steel me for the day’s adventures.  It was a three minute walk to the Bear Den. It is sort of eerie to be the only customer. The young lady took my order for a Classic Breakfast Bear-itto ($9.95 Bacon, home fries, eggs and cheese smothered in country gravy) and I took a seat. It was a rather lengthy wait; I suppose they don’t precook a lot when the business is so slow. I took the patient view that cooking from scratch was better and would make for a better bear-itto. The store is very clean, very neat, decorated in an amusing combination of southwestern and Alaskana kitsch.

At last the young lady brought me my order in a Styrofoam to-go container inside a brown paper bag. When I picked it up I was almost startled by the weight. It seemed to weigh several pounds. I hurried back to the RV to enjoy my breakfast. I opened the container and saw a very large, very full burrito-style tortilla wrap. Once I could have eaten the entirety of the lumberjack portion without problem. These days a lower activity level, despite the calories for the cold weather, meant that I would split it, half today and half tomorrow. Actually, that’s not bad as I got effect of two bear-ittos for the price of one.

Cutting it open I found the tortilla wrapper full of the promised bacon, home fries, eggs and cheese. There was a goodly portion of country gravy, a sawmill type with large chunks of meat, possibly sausage. I ate the first half for breakfast. It was very good – a bacon, egg and fried potato breakfast with country gravy. In this case it was wrapped in a flour tortilla with some cheese. It all went together very well, the tortilla making a flavor and texture addition to the already familiar contents. By the time I had finished the first portion I was sure that I had made a good decision for the day’s breakfast.  I put the remainder in the ‘fridge for tomorrow’s breakfast.

The next morning, while the coffee was perking, I eagerly reheated the remainder of my bear-itto in the microwave. When I opened the container, I saw the rest of my bear-itto but it looked different somehow. It was drier, the moister in the gravy having been absorbed by the potatoes and flour tortilla. That also changed the texture. I started out and it tasted pretty good, very much like it did yesterday. By the time I finished, however, it had become tiresome and I ended thinking it was just okay at best.  I though it sad that such a good and filling meal couldn’t maintain its vibrancy overnight. The choices would eat it all now or share. Sharing would be a good option but in this instance I was traveling alone. I am glad I had this bear-itto. The question is whether I would do it again; all things being equal, probably not. But, it has occurred to me that if I asked for a small side of gravy to slather the left over portion the next day it might coalesce the ingredients that had become disjointed overnight, returning the remaining bear-itto to its original state. I don’t know for sure but it is food for thought.