New month brings new activity to local cuisine scene

There is lots going on in the local food scene as the calendar flips to May. At least two restaurants are on the move to new locations, and a third that recently moved is settling in to its new digs and bringing on changes for the summer season.

It’s also a time for increased activity among mobile food operations. Chef Matthew Shaughnessy, the creative mind behind Birdhouse Sandwich Co., has introduced new hot sauces to his already loaded inventory.

A July 2025 feature story in the Frontiersman outlined Shaughnessy’s process and the evolution of his line of Birdhouse Originals Hot Sauce. His passion for food and travel exposed him to a wide variety of cuisines and flavors that can be experienced in his creative combinations of peppers, fruit, and other ingredients to develop complex and tasty sauces.

“My fusion cooking style is very much alive in my sauce venture. I like looking into world cuisines to see how they work with certain peppers,” he said. “I am all about the complexity of flavor and utilizing the pepper in that fashion, not just for heat’s sake.”

That changed with his latest creation, Ghost Fruit, which should satisfy even the most hardcore heat junkies. Providing that piquant punch is the venerable ghost pepper, which is blended with pineapple and pear to form the base of the new sauce.

Roasted onion, bell pepper, carrot, garlic and ginger are also among the ingredients, which are brought together with white and apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and brown sugar.

Ghost Fruit, and all of Shaughnessy’s sauces are available at his food trailer, which is parked in the Palmer Towne Food Court, 127 S. Alaska St. Customers can use the sauces on any of the menu items, and they’re also available for sale in 4-ounce squeeze bottles. Hours vary, but Shaughnessy provides regular updates on his Birdhouse Sandwich Co. Facebook.

Food trucks will be out in force May 15, as the first of the weekly Friday Flings returns to downtown Palmer. Sponsored by the Palmer Chamber of Commerce, the outdoor street festival brings together a different lineup of vendors, food, and entertainment each week.

As summer progresses and harvests begin, local farmers will also be selling their fresh produce. The event runs every Friday until mid-August. Festivities begin at 11 a.m. and close out at 6 p.m.

In the realm of brick-and-mortar restaurants, several changes have altered the local cuisine landscape. Donut lovers are lamenting the recent closure of Dead Horse Donuts in Palmer, which followed the shuttering of Donut King in Wasilla a few months ago.

It is unlikely we’ve heard the last from Dead Horse owner Heather Greenwood. Her culinary chops are impressive, as anyone who enjoyed her previous venture, Feather and Flour, knows.

Donut King’s Main Street location in Wasilla didn’t remain vacant for long. Leo’s Doner Kebab and Pizzeria, which opened a couple of years ago less than a mile up the road in a Creste Foris Street strip mall just off Wasilla Fishhook Road, is set to open at the 490 Main St. address today, May 1. Leo’s old site barely had time to be listed. Triple A’s Soul Food has already relocated there from its former West Parks Highway spot and is back in operation at its new 1450 N Creste Foris St. location. Triple A’s offers its full menu line with a dine-in option or its new drive-thru service.

Over in Palmer, local favorite Sweet Gypsy, with its outstanding cheesecakes, other desserts, and delicious paninis, developed a loyal following in its original location in the downtown Palmer space formerly occupied by Humdinger’s Pizza. Owner Janelle Fox moved the popular eatery across town in December, to 1150 S. Colony Way, next to Homespun Alley. The smaller space did not originally offer adequate room for diners to sit and eat. But that changes this week. After a five-day closure to rearrange, with the end goal of better accommodating tables and providing access to a bathroom, Sweet Gypsy reopened this week with new menu items and a better space in which to enjoy them. In a recent Facebook post, Fox announced that other changes are coming, including different dinner options every week or two and new hours of operation. Keep an eye on Sweet Gypsy’s Facebook for news as it develops.

Also worth a look in May are the variety of Mother’s Day buffet options for diners looking to celebrate Mom.

The recently reopened Settlers Bay Lodge, fresh off its sold-out Easter Sunday buffet, is ready to do its part on May 10. The long-running landmark Valley restaurant was closed for four months after a December windstorm damaged the roof and a bunch of HVAC equipment.

Settlers’ sister restaurant, Chop House at Lake Lucille, is also offering a Mother’s Day buffet. The menu at both places is extensive.

Owner Joshua Broda, a skilled chef himself, knows how to impress. Diners can always count on a lavish spread. Everett’s at Mat-Su Resort is also featuring a special buffet for Mother’s Day. If the weather is favorable, it’s hard to beat dining on Everett’s deck overlooking Wasilla Lake.

Reservations are required at all three places. Full menus and pricing can be seen on each restaurant’s Facebook.

Mark Kelsey is a retired journalist and foodie who lives near Wasilla.