Living Within the Wild - by Kirsten Dixon & Mandy Dixon (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Living Within the Wild features over 100 original recipes, accompanied by personal stories and stunning photographs, to illustrate the lives of one Alaska family that has learned to live well amidst the intense but scenic backcountry of Alaska.

James Beard Foundation Semifinalist, Outstanding Hospitality (for Tutka Bay Lodge, Homer, AK)

Finalist, 2022 IACP Cookbook Award, Culinary Travel

"When I stayed five nights at Winterlake Lodge in Alaska, I looked forward to my breakfast, lunch, and dinner to see what delicious creations chef Mandy Dixon would serve me and my crew. She did not disappoint and these dishes are all in her terrific new cookbook, Living Within the Wild. Some are so good, I just might steal them and put in my next cookbook. Don't worry, I'll give Mandy the credit."
--Nancy Silverton, James Beard Award-winning chef, author, co-owner of Pizzeria Mozza

The Dixons have been running award-winning adventure lodges in Alaska for over thirty years, celebrating the bounty that the land has to offer with guests from around the world. Their lodges and restaurants are known not just for the rare adventures and incredible views of the Alaskan wilderness, but also for appealing dishes created from the freshest local seafood and produce.

Chefs Kirsten and Mandy Dixon's combined culinary experience has been recognized nationally and internationally, from cooking at the famed James Beard House in New York City to serving private dinners for National Geographic guests. In this book, mother and daughter offer their favorite recipes, featured on their menus at the lodges and café but specially recreated for the home chef's kitchen. They also share their unique experiences of life at the lodges--from embracing entrepreneurial challenges to working with family, to sharing the deep purpose and meaning in living in the natural world and wilderness.

Chapters are organized thematically, weaving through stories about the seasonal shifts that make this women-run business unique. A final chapter honors the men in Kirsten and Mandy's lives by sharing quick profiles along with a favorite recipe.

From your own kitchen, learn to make delicious dishes such as Black Bean Reindeer Chili or King Salmon Bowl with Miso Dressing; snack on Dried Tomato Sesame Cookies, or dine on Smoked Caramel Blueberry Brownies. And along the way, experience a sense of backcountry Alaska through the flavors of seasonal and regional ingredients as the Dixons welcome you into their secret world in the remote wilderness.

Review Quotes

"The Dixons (The Tutka Bay Lodge Cookbook), a mother-daughter chef duo, combine fascinating stories and delicious food in an enticing work inspired by their Alaskan adventure lodges. . . Home cooks wanting to bring the outdoors in, or those simply looking for an escape, will cherish this heartfelt work."
--Publishers Weekly

"A talented chef, Kirsten Dixon regales us with culinary treasures that pay tribute to Alaska's rich bounty."
--Country Living

"Collects rustic yet elegant recipes that serve as 'snapshots in time and place, ' highlighting local ingredients and the melting pot of cultures. . . The outside comes inside through desserts infused with spruce sugar, or topped with crystallized cranberries that look frost-kissed. The food and landscape photographs are superb. . . The beauty of Alaska and its tempting culinary offerings come through equally in Living Within the Wild."
--Foreword Reviews

"Kirsten and Mandy Dixon are truly Alaska's biggest culinary champions. No family has done more to put the state's bounty on the map and raise the bar for Alaskan cuisine. When I first visited Alaska, I was warned not to make comparisons to the lower 48. The meals I had at Winterlake Lodge and Tutka Bay rivaled any restaurant experience I could have had in New York City or L.A. in terms of quality of ingredients and presentation. What made the meals so special, was that each dish was rooted in place and left me with a deeper understanding of Alaska. Kirsten and Mandy's dedication to showcasing regional ingredients in an elevated, unexpected, yet thoroughly delicious way is admirable. This book truly captures the spirit of Within the Wild and the family behind the magic."
--Jen Murphy, writer, editor and Wall Street Journal contributor, former editor Food & Wine

"Living Within the Wild is the new cookbook from Chefs Kirsten and Mandy Dixon. The Dixons are known for running award-winning adventure lodges in Alaska. But you don't just visit these lodges for the adventure, you go for some delicious and unique meals, featuring some of the region's best ingredients. In this cookbook, the mother-daughter team share some of their favourite recipes from the lodges (and their cafe in Homer Spit) as well as stories of what life is like living in the wilderness of Alaska."
--Veggie Table for Two