Shearwater Cove is a remote wilderness location, and traditional food service is not available on-site. Each yurt has a private kitchen for preparing meals, and guests shop for food for the duration of their stay prior to boarding our boat.
That said, we realize that shopping for groceries in the middle of vacation can be a hassle, and even totally out of the question for larger groups. Below is our food preparation option so that you don’t have to meal plan and grocery shop during vacation! See our Group Travel page for additional food options tailored specifically for reservations of 4+ yurts.
Build a menu, we shop, you cook. Work with us to build a menu for your stay. We do the shopping and have everything conveniently packaged and labeled for you at check-in. You prepare the meals in your yurt’s kitchen.
Cost of food plus $50 per person, per night. You can add this on to your reservation at the time of booking, or shoot us an email to add it on to your existing reservation.
If you prefer to take care of the food preparation and shopping yourself, the rest of this blog is for you!
Cooking dinner in a Premier Yurt. Photos: Journey More
Meal planning for a stay at Shearwater Cove is like meal planning for a car camping trip: you might not cook the most decadent or complicated meals that you would at home, but you can still get pretty fancy if you want to. As long as you are up to the challenge of carrying whatever you do bring up several flights of stairs to your yurt, you can get as deluxe (or keep it as simple!) as you want. By no means is this backpacking - leave those spendy dehydrated meals behind.
Below are meal ideas that can be adjusted for your taste and desired amount of prep. Keep in mind that in the yurt you will be cooking on a two burner propane range with a large saute pan and a 4 quart pot. Cutting boards, knives, a can opener, colander, cooking utensils, a large serving bowl, olive oil and salt and pepper are all provided in addition to plates, bowls, cups, mugs, and cutlery. A yeti-style cooler is provided on each yurt’s deck. Guests supply their own ice. 1-2 bags of ice is sufficient for a 2-3 night stay. A complete list of provided items is at the bottom of this blog post.
The yurts do not have an oven or a grill. Shearwater Cove is a wilderness location and shares the coastline with many animals including black bears. The grease and meat residue of a grill on each yurt deck would be an inevitable bear attractant.
-Sample Menu-
Breakfast
-pancakes, eggs & bacon-
pancake mix
butter
small container maple syrup
eggs
bacon
-Breakfast Burritos-
tortillas
eggs
protein of choice: bacon, sausage, can of black beans, etc.
veggies of choice: potatoes, bell peppers, onion, garlic, etc.
cheese
sour cream & salsa
-Granola-
box of granola
milk of choice
berries, nuts, or dried fruit
Pancakes with fresh blueberries. Blueberries are generally ripe for picking by late July/early August. Photos: Sarah Conlin
Dinner
-Pasta-
noodles
jar of pasta sauce
protein of choice: beef, chicken, beyond beef, beans, etc.
veggies of choice: onion, garlic, bell pepper, mushrooms, etc.
cheese/fresh basil to sprinkle on top
-Stir-Fry with Rice/Noodles-
protein of choice: chicken breast, steak, sausage, tofu, etc.
veggies of choice: onion, garlic, bell pepper, broccoli, carrot, mushroom, snow peas, etc.
stir-fry seasoning packet
rice/noodles of choice
-Tacos-
tortillas
protein of choice: ground beef, beyond beef, chicken, etc.
taco seasoning packet
onion/garlic for cooking with the meat
fresh veggies for toppings: lettuce, cabbage, bell pepper, tomato, avocado, lime, etc.
salsa & sour cream
-Mac n’ Cheese-
box of mac n’ cheese
can of black beans or other protein to mix in
-Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup-
bread
cheese
box of premade tomato soup
fresh basil to garnish. Yum!
Stir-fry with sausage - simple and delicious! Photo: Sarah Conlin
Lunch/Snacks
-Charcuterie Board. Let’s get fancy-
cured meats, salamis, etc.
goat cheese, brie, aged cheddar, etc.
nuts
dried fruits
chocolate
crackers
-Cold Cut Sandwiches-
bread
slice cheese
lunch meat
desired toppings: avocado, romaine lettuce, tomato, mayo/mustard (pro tip: check a gas station for packets instead of purchasing a whole bottle that won’t possibly get used up)
or keep it simple with peanut butter and jelly
-Chips & Dip-
chips/crackers/veggies
hummus/salsa/insert your favorite dip here
Coffee, hot cocoa, and an assortment of teas are provided in each yurt. Photo: Sarah Conlin
Final Thoughts
There is a Safeway grocery store in Seward, but if you have time to shop in Anchorage or any other larger town like Soldotna or Homer you will find a wider selection of items and better prices than in Seward.
If you are planning to bring alcohol please note that liquor stores in Seward do not open until 10am. If your check-in time to meet our boat is 10am, please purchase alcohol the night before.
Please do not purchase styrofoam coolers. It is sadly very common to see bits of styrofoam floating around the ocean and on Alaska’s remote beaches. There is no need to buy a styrofoam cooler as we have an ice chest on our boat for storing your ice/cold foods during the boat ride to the Cove. Once at the Cove your cold foods can go straight into the cooler on your yurt’s deck. If you are a local and have your own cooler feel free to bring it. It’s just the styrofoam we want to avoid.
Thanks for reading! As always feel free to call us at (907) 491-0201 if you have any questions about your upcoming stay. Below is a comprehensive list of the kitchen items provided in each yurt.
Kitchen items provided in each yurt
two burner propane stovetop
water kettle
ground coffee, hot cocoa, assorted teas
french press for making coffee
sink with hot & cold running water
dish soap, sponge, and dish drying rack
kitchen towel
paper towels
drinking water
cutlery, mugs, glasses, bowls, dinner plates, and app plates for 4
large saute pan
4 quart pot
large serving/mixing bowl
cooking utensils: spatula, ladel, stirring spoon
can opener
colander
chopping knife
olive oil, salt and pepper
wine bottle opener
trash and recycling bins
cutting boards, including boards specifically for meat
pot holder
large Yeti-style cooler