Le Barn Appetit, Seward, Alaska

Yvon van Driessche owns and runs Le Barn Appetit, a funky inn and delicious restaurant in Seward, Alaska. I was looking for a room in Seward and all the hotels I could find on the internet were full, but someone was kind enough to recommend Le Barn. Yup, its actually an old barn. I called and got the “treehouse” room, which is (seriously) a small house built around a tree about 15′ off the ground and quite comfortable. I showed up tired from a long day of travel (San Diego / Anchorage / Seward) and Yvon greets me with good natured ribbing, a risky proposition perhaps but his is a colorful personality that one warms up to quickly. When I mentioned that I would be leaving at sunrise to go hiking the next morning he looked genuinely offended, and was disappointed that I would not be enjoying his breakfast. Yvon is a chef who takes his breakfast service very seriously, and the pride in his cooking is evident. While I usually do not eat breakfast, I agreed to return after my hike and eat. Boy, am I glad I did — his was absolutely, hands down the best Quiche Lorraine I have ever eaten and one of the most satisfying breakfasts I have had for that matter. He offered to serve me any size slice I wanted (its included in the room rate). I had a huge 4″ slice and still I could have eaten more it was so good. The other three guests who were there had what looked like crepes piled high with fruit — amazing. Next time I will get those. Yes, there will be a next time. The combination of unique, off-the-beaten-path, comfortable inn and terrific breakfast is just too good for me to pass up, and I am always looking for a reason to pass through Seward.