Category: Food

How the pros do it

I saw this contraption the other day while I was at Graysmarsh Farms picking berries. I had no idea what it was until my friend asked if I’d ever seen the berry picker in operation. Nope.

In the middle of the machine are twirling rows of poles that brush along rows of berries. Ripe ones easily drop from bushes and the poles coax them into conveyors. The two big vents at the top of the back of the machine blow out excess leaves or twigs. The conveyors rotate the berries up onto the sides of the machine where workers catch them in plastic berry bins and pick out any unnecessary bits. I thought it was pretty interesting. If you don’t…well, just humor me, ok?

Berry season

Berry season is one of the rewards for a long winter in the Pacific Northwest. Some berries grow wild here but if I’m ready to do some serious picking I go to Graysmarsh Farm, a U-Pick operation that offers a variety of beautiful, cultivated berries for a fraction of the cost of store bought. This is a blackberry. It’s easily more than double the size of those found on wild bushes.

I picked a couple of pounds of blackberries and raspberries this week and was happy with my harvest. But I think the peak of the season is still to come. Some blackberries, above, still have blossoms and ripe berries are surrounded by ones that should be perfect later this month. I may make a return visit. It’s such a summery sort of thing to do.

Let’s do lunch

DH had wanted to go to Sequim Kabob House for ages. We finally decided the moment had come. Since there was so much we hadn’t tried we ordered a platter that gave us some of everything. Actually it was two platters. Part 1 is above, an array of “starters” from falafels and hummus to baba ganoush and pita bread.

Here’s Part 2. The food was so good I kept forgetting to take pictures. So the shish kebabs have been attacked. They arrived with delicious pieces of lamb, chicken, and beef along with rice and grilled peppers, tomatoes, and onions.

Need I say we pretty much skipped dinner that night?

Afternoon tea

There are a number of places to enjoy afternoon tea around Victoria B.C. but the Dining Room at Butchart Gardens is an ideal setting. It is in the former Butchart family residence.

On the way into the residence you pass the private garden of Mrs. Butchart. One of the two dining rooms looks onto this beautiful, tranquil spot.

Both dining rooms are lovely. This is the larger of the two.

Tea for two. Everything was very fresh and delicious. And who would guess that the cucumber sandwich would be DH’s favorite?

Another one down

Two of us have big birthdays within four days of each other. Our younger friend took us out to lunch at AlderWood Bistro for an indulgence in deliciousness. That little cup of soup was a bell ringer, described as corn with mussels, a restrained, fabulous combination of both. And perfectly cooked, crunchy calamari on a citrus dressed salad. A heavenly meal I’m still dreaming about.

Happy birthday to me. I think I’ll celebrate for a few days.

Harvest season

You can get a lot of pumpkins around here these days. But if you want something a little different Sunny Farms is the place to go. They have a great display of all colors and shapes.

These are described as a “red warty thing” and “it’s a squash.”

There are large and small variations, orange, white, you name it.

And if you want something a little spooky, in my opinion these are just the ticket.