Brian and Madison Schwartz are getting ready to open their new business, Alaska Legacy Seafood, specializing in locally sourced seafood prepared in their bright red trailer.
When cruise ship passengers disembark, a frequent question is: "Where can I get some local seafood for lunch?"
Wrangell hasn't had a lot of options, because local residents typically don't go out for seafood, they just pull something out of the fridge or freezer.
Brian and Madison Schwartz saw this as an opportunity and are launching Alaska Legacy Seafood, a 24-foot-long food trailer with a menu specializing in locally sourced seafood.
They were excited to find a fully equipped food truck available on the island and began working to pull together all the elements of their new business, from permits to napkins, for a soft opening April 24.
Even before that, they had a successful trial run, catering a dinner for the Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department.
The first big event they will work is the Milk Run Music Festival, May 2-3.
Cooking in a food truck is a different experience, Madison Schwartz noted. "It's more efficient, more compact and cuts down on steps. The biggest challenge is probably the limited counter space."
For this first season, they will be parked on the gravel pad close to City Dock. There was some pushback to their original proposed location, a sublet site off of Front Street. Brian Schwartz said he is grateful to the Port and Harbors Department, which worked with them to find a space. "They really helped us out for this summer."
Their intention is to be open on cruise ship days and weekends through September. While the initial startup plan is seasonal and geared toward visitors, they hope to also attract local diners, which could lead to a year-round schedule.
There will be some consistent menu items, like halibut tacos, but the rest of the menu will vary depending on the catch of the day, which could include crab, shrimp and salmon. They will collaborate with Canoe Lagoon for oysters and Heritage Fisheries for halibut.
They will also feature soft drinks and root beer floats from 49th State Brewing in Anchorage.
One specialty will be fries cooked in beef tallow, which gives fries a meatier flavor and is considered by many as a healthier option compared with seed oils. All the food will be prepared with alternative oils, like olive and avocado oils, they said.
"When you eat out and you're going to have the best seafood on the planet you might as well have the best ingredients!" Madison Schwartz said.
They will post updates on menus and hours on the Alaska Seafood Legacy Facebook page.
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