Welcome to my kitchen!

Hi there, I’m Aaron Nimbrake, a 33-year-old cook from the wild and beautiful state of Alaska. I was born and raised just outside of Anchorage, where the mountains greet you every morning and the air always smells like spruce and salt. My earliest food memories are tied to the seasons—fresh-caught salmon grilled over open fire in the summer, hearty moose stews in the winter, and the magic of berry picking in late August when the tundra bursts into a kind of edible sunset.

I didn’t go to culinary school—I learned the way I think a lot of great home cooks do: by watching, messing up, improvising, and trying again. My mother had a habit of cooking big, bold meals with whatever was on hand, and she always trusted me to “season with instinct.” That’s still how I approach food today. If you’ve got a pantry, a few fresh ingredients, and a bit of curiosity, I believe you can make something unforgettable.

My kitchen isn’t fancy—just a cast-iron skillet that’s seen its fair share of experiments, a pile of mismatched measuring spoons, and a sourdough starter I named “Juneau” because she’s temperamental and unpredictable like the weather. I specialize in rustic comfort food with Alaskan roots, but I love playing with flavors from everywhere. Reindeer sausage jambalaya? Why not. Wild mushroom ramen with spruce tip oil? Absolutely.

I cook because it brings people together. Whether it’s friends thawing out around a pot of hot chowder or neighbors showing up unannounced for homemade cinnamon rolls, food has always been my way of building connection. I don’t care if you’ve never poached an egg or don’t know what the heck umami is—if you love to eat and don’t mind getting your hands a little messy, you’re in the right place.

Welcome to my kitchen. Let’s make something delicious.