The annual Alaska State Fair is held in the fertile Matanuska Valley, where cabbages can grow up to 70 pounds in the short summer season.
Yield: 4 servings
The rugged Chugach Mountain range that rises above the valley gives the whole fair a travel-poster look. As at any state fair, quilts, rabbits, and big zucchini are on display, but do-it-yourself log cabins and fur shoes add a distinctively local touch. The food is hearty, and barbecued ribs, served fresh off the fire out of a big metal tub, are a popular favorite. Corn on the cob, a big serving of beans, and two paper napkins are the embellishments. Carefully, you carry your plate over to the "Sluice Box," a Quonset hut with long tables, beer, and a neighborhood Western band. Everyone there is chomping on ribs and having fun.
Grill
Oven