Red Dog Saloon - Full of Memories

This is the "Red Dog" and as the sign says, it is a hotel, bar, and restaurant. Before that, until the early 1970s, it was "Jennie's." That, too, was a bar and restaurant.

Jennie Nelson came to Naknek in the early 1950s and bought the building from Mrs. Patty Pierce. Jennie then renovated it, doing a good share of the work by herself. She filled it full of antiques and fishing memorabilia. Jennie left Naknek in the 1970s, to live in Washington state.

Many people have memories of Jennie's gourmet meals. These meals would have been unusual anywhere, not just Naknek. On New Year's Eve, she would cook whole suckling pigs. Other dinner menus included lobster, steak, and many other courses, along with homemade bread, and wonderful surprise desserts. Desserts were often of the flaming variety and included liqueurs. After the meal, hot scented towels were passed around, and then a finale of Jennie's special coffee. The only catch was that you had to make reservations a long time in advance so that Jennie could prepare for you.

©Photo by Doug Littau with a Canon 20D

The picture used on this page is COPYRIGHTED.