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 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.
Full kitchen view. On the left is a rolling kitchen cart with large cutting board on top. All of the dishes, cookware, extra cutting boards for meat, and cooking utensils are stored here. On the kitchen counter from left to right are the coffee and french press, two burner stovetop with water kettle, salt, pepper, and olive oil, utensil holder, deep sink with hot & cold running water, dish soap, sponge, and drinking water dispenser. Below the kitchen counter are the recycling and trash cans, dish drying rack, and extra supplies including paper towels. Photo: Janessa Anderson
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. Blues at the Cove 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 coming right up! 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 Sammies-
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
-Ramen-
Your favorite ramen packet. Check the Fred Meyers or Natural Pantry in Anchorage for a wider selection of single serving ramen packets.
Don’t forget those cozy hot drinks! We provide coffee and a french press to make it. Other drink ideas include tea, hot cocoa, or hot toddys. 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) 750-8095 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
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