Neighbors of The Nave: Wild Fork Catering and Bleu Sage Noshery
If you’ve ever driven past Bleu Sage Noshery at 3002 Spenard Road, you may have felt a flicker of curiosity. The navy-blue exterior and floral sign offer a quiet hint of what’s inside.
Step through the door and it’s immediate—lush, intimate, a little unexpected. Plants soften industrial edges, and the space feels less like a restaurant than an imaginative, multi-room experience, with private dining areas throughout. Just behind Bleu Sage Noshery sits Wild Fork Catering, a familiar local staple known for its “feel good food.” Many are surprised to learn both are owned and operated by the same team.
Heather Houck took over Wild Fork in 2020 from founder Dianne Tydings after years of building a relationship. “I was working as a private chef and needed a commercial kitchen. Someone connected me with Dianne—we hit it off right away… Then I bought the business on March 1, 2020—right before COVID hit.”
The timing was, in her words, intense. “I suddenly had seven or eight employees depending on me… I spent most of that year wondering if I had made the worst decision of my life…but we survived.” Her goal since has been preserving Dianne’s legacy. “We’re still Wild Fork, doing what we do best.”
Bleu Sage Noshery emerged from that same uncertainty. After Tatilani Restaurant operated in the space during COVID, Houck reconsidered her approach. “I needed more kitchen space but wasn’t sure I wanted to run a full restaurant… I started the permitting process, got cold feet, and pivoted.”
Instead, she created something more flexible: a space for private events, pop-up dinners, weddings, and immersive multi-course meals. “My goal is sensory… I want people to come in with no expectations. Just don’t expect to leave hungry.” Guests share dietary needs in advance, and celebrations are thoughtfully acknowledged. “If you’re spending that kind of money, you deserve attention.”
Strategy meets caviar: this conference room at Bleu Sage Noshery includes fine dining for VIP guests.
That intentionality extends to the design. “I did everything myself… I decided to just be myself,” Houck says, rejecting conventional restaurant aesthetics in favor of brightness and creative expression.
This new venture has remained deliberately under the radar. “I don’t really advertise… It’s all word of mouth.” Partly logistical, partly intentional, the approach allows for intimacy and control. “I want to keep it special. A little exclusive.”
Bleu Sage Noshery hosts a secret Mystery Dinner Supper Club, in which guests are invited to enjoy a multi-course, progressive mystery dining experience. “Each Mystery Dinner has a theme, and I bring in special ingredients from all over…like alligator from Louisiana, or wild boar from California. It’s about the experience.”
Together, Wild Fork and Bleu Sage form a balance. “Wild Fork keeps us busy—that’s the backbone. Bleu Sage Noshery… is where I get to be creative.” That creativity has led to seven- and nine-course dinners, weddings, and curated private events. “It’s flexible—everything is malleable,” she says.
Houck’s notoriety as a chef has grown beyond Spenard, including catering a high-profile international delegation in 2025 and hosting a film wrap party for Dakota Fanning and Jake Johnson. Still, the business model remains deeply personal. “I refused to go into massive debt… So I did everything myself—painting, building, designing. It’s all DIY at Bleu Sage.”
An original painting by Heather Houck; one of many creative delights within Bleu Sage.
At heart, Houck sees herself as an artist. “I feel like an artist who never got an art show… This space might be that—but I’ve kept it hidden.”
Bleu Sage is part of a growing creative ecosystem in Spenard, built on collaboration and mutual support. “We’re all kind of growing together… It takes supporting each other.”
Looking ahead, Houck is considering small, careful expansions. “Maybe a daytime grab-and-go… something accessible that lets people come in and see it.” But growth isn’t about scale. “I don’t just want more people… I want the right people.”
For now, Bleu Sage remains a hidden gem—by choice. Local foodies vying for a seat at the Mystery Dinner Supper Club can reach out directly for an invitation. Bon appetit!
Heather Houck, Owner and Executive Chef of Wild Fork Catering and Bleu Sage Noshery in Spenard.
Neighbors of The Nave is a series of interviews, profiles, and updates related to our neighboring businesses and organizations located in the Spenard neighborhood of Anchorage, Alaska. The goal of this series is to amplify the positive efforts of local small business owners, artists, and community organizers to support and empower their neighbors. If you or someone you know would like to be featured, please contact us at info@thenavespenard.com.