In Alaska, the cost of living is high, and this is reflected in fast-food prices. In cities like Juneau, products from fast-food chains can cost at least 30% more than in the rest of the country.

The hot salt/cool tang combo struck teenage me as alchemy, a food of the very cool. I didn’t know at the time, though, how Alaska that mouthful was. Turns out a fry dipped in ranch — a favored ...