Category: Food

Berry season

Summer in the Pacific Northwest brings the sweet ripening of berries, which sometimes seem to grow like they were invented here. After strawberries are picked out a steady parade of berries ripen. Last week I noticed that Graysmarsh Farm is advertising raspberries and I headed out for my first pick of the season.

I love raspberries and fresh pick-them-yourself berries will spoil any berry lover for the “store bought” variety that promptly seem overpriced, not ripe enough, and, well, just plain old. And Graysmarsh on a sunny day has a wonderful view of the Olympics.

I said, “overpriced,” didn’t I? I didn’t catch the exact weight of my booty here. I think it was about two and a half pounds. This set me back $4.56.

Strawberry fields. . .for a few more days

The Beatles had the right idea with “Strawberry Fields Forever,” but it doesn’t work that way in Sequim. They come and go w–a–y too fast, and our intermittent rain this month hasn’t helped much. These are the last days of strawberry season at Cameron’s, my favorite go-to spot.

Cameron’s is selling the last of their pre-picked berries and dedicated pickers like those above can still pick their own for the next several days. I stopped by, innocently, to take a few shots. Then I innocently bought some to take home for breakfast. After inhaling strawberry perfume on the way home, remembering that there are a few square inches in our freezer, I headed back for more. Strawberry smoothies anyone?

Memorial Day

Ahhhh! Today’s Memorial Day in the U.S. Long holiday weekend. Got the watermelon? Check.

Barbecue fired up and ready? There are plenty waiting at the hardware store if the old one didn’t make it through winter. Check.

Flag flying? Check.

Now, if you haven’t already done it, it’s time to thank those who’ve fought and served, and send a prayer of thanks to those who’ve lost their lives in the service of their country.

Blondie’s Plate

There’s a new venue in Sequim’s restaurant scene, Blondie’s Plate, on Second Avenue. I’ve read it offers small plates – tapas style eating with dishes meant to be shared by tablemates. The owners/chef have come from Bella Italia, a very good restaurant in Port Angeles, so they’ve got the credentials. Online reviews are so far very positive. If I ever remove myself from my current, virtuous diet I’ll check it out and report back.

Take mine. They’re free.

Okay. You say “escargo,” I say, “escargot.” Maybe the free range kind, you know, the native-born U.S. sort used to the wide open spaces, maybe their species has a different name spelling.

This was in front of a restaurant in Annacortes. They can have all the free range escargot they can find in my garden. They’re hearty. And well fed.

You are what you drink

I had a rush of memories when I saw these Coke bins recently at Gere-A-Deli in Annacortes. I remember galvanized bins like this at outdoor events filled with bottles of soda – bottles, not cans, mind you – and never, ever enough ice to combat the heat.

I suspect nonfat milk was the leading edge of our dieting obsessions, or, more accurately, our fantasies. Trade out one or two foods for a lighter alternative and the pounds melt away. Wouldn’t it be nice?