Eye on the Trail: Petit Wins Lakefront Anchorage Award

Posted by in Iditarod
Date: March 8, 2019 9:32 am

Winner of the Lakefront Anchorage First to the Yukon Award – Nicolas Petit

Nicolas Petit (bib #20), of Girdwood, Alaska, is the first musher to arrive at the Anvik Checkpoint to earn the Lakefront Anchorage First Musher to the Yukon Award.  Petit checked into Anvik at 04:23 with 14 dogs in harness. This is the third successive year that Petit has claimed the Lakefront Anchorage Award.

The award consists of a five-course meal prepared by the Lakefront Anchorage executive chef Roberto Sidro.  Petit and a guest will enjoy:

  • Bison chili topped with cheddar cheese, served with parmesan crostini;
  • Roasted beets served with caramelized macadamia nuts and goat cheese on artisan lettuce, topped with a champagne vinaigrette;
  • Seared jumbo scallops with a saffron sauce, topped with blueberry chutney;
  • Surf-and-turf style main dish of seared beef tenderloin with a whiskey sauce paired with jumbo Alaska spotted shrimp in a champagne sauce, accompanied by a potato pancake and sautéed broccolini;
  • A pan-fried, cinnamon banana served with vanilla ice cream and warm brandy caramel sauce. 

Petit also receives an “After Dinner Mint” of $3,500 in crisp one-dollar bills along with a bottle of Dom Perignon.  Andrew Adlesperger, food and beverage director a The Lakefront Anchorage, and chef Sidro will serve the “mint” on a commemorative Alaska gold Pan.

In 2017 Nicolas lead all mushers into the Village of Tanana.  This was his first of a trio of Lakefront Anchorage awards for Petit and perhaps many more will follow.  Chef Sidro had his two-burner Coleman stove ready and prepared a five-course meal for Petit and a guest.  There was much jovial conversation in the checkpoint as villagers and volunteers observed while Petit and his guest, a village elder, enjoyed the meal.  I was fortunate to be in Tanana for the festive event.  In 2018, like today the meal will be served up in Anvik.

Earlier in this race, Nicolas earned the Spirit of Iditarod Award presented to the first team into McGrath. Nicolas received a beaver hat and a pair of beaver mittens.