LAMB JAM!!!!!!!

     I have been looking forward to this event for a while now, so when the day came I was ready.  However, first things first. 

     Today ended up being a pretty decent day for Western Washington in late October.  The temp was around 56 degrees and mostly sunny.  We decided to go for a walk in Ed Munro Seahurst Park.  It's right on the water with some fall colors happening.

     Ok, the second one is from our parking lot, but still you got to love the fall colors.  Speaking of which.  Another reason I love Autumn is for the Fall fashions and colors.  I actually make it look good. 

     Yes, I know, I'm letting my vanity get the best of me.  But still, am I wrong? 

     After our walk, we went to downtown Seattle to attend the incomparable Lamb Jam.  We went to this last year and it was great.  It's many different restaurants competing with lamb.  It's truly the American spirit and ingenuity.  Plus it's lamb so it's very good. 

     There are so many different ways to prepare it and using different parts of the lamb, such as the leg, shoulder, loin and shank.  It was so much fun seeing all of the different, creative ideas that all of the chefs displayed.  My favorite presentation was the one by the Bell Harbor Conference Center.  It was like a lamb cone if you will.  It was lamb stuffed into a waffle cone then topped with fig tart and a whipped parsnip crown.



     How much fun is that!  It was also really good.  It was really hard to pick just won favorite, but that was the task we were given.  I eventually chose the Sumac masala lamb shoulder with cauliflower puree, royal pine mushroom and honey crisp apple.  Talk about flavors.

     Another one of my favorites was the lamb sausage.

     Here are some of the other highlights of the Lamb Jam.

     We were so stuffed when we were done we could barely walk to the car.  When we did finally make it to the car we came home.  I just had to relax at this point. 

     Here is tonight's evening sky for good measure.

     Yes, this is from our deck!

PMK at the VPC

     So that's Pumpkin at the Volunteer Park Cafe.  Yes, we had more pumpkin this week and it was just as fabulous. 

     Last night we went there to eat the Pot 'o Gold, but we'll talk about that later.  Volunteer Park Cafe is situated by Volunteer Park, of course, at 17th Ave and Galer in the Capitol Hill area.  Volunteer Park Cafe is a small, rustic and very intimate eatery. They strive to use the freshest ingredients and it shows.  

     We started out with the pumpkin bisque which was rich and creamy and delicious.  It was garnished with pine nuts on top.







     Then came the reason we came; the Pot 'o Gold.  This is a gourd filled with nothing but savory deliciousness.  It's a pumpkin filled with cheesy polenta, a savory cream sauce and chantrelle mushrooms.  It's then baked so all of the flavors meld into the pumpkin.  This is one of those iconic seasonal dishes that everyone should try at some point.

     This was so good!  It's won of the greatest things ever.  This is a great seasonal comfort food, I could eat this all season.  Hmm, there are a lot of pumpkins around these days.

     Of course there was dessert.  Dessert was a bread pudding that was made with chocolate croissants.  I threatened to call the police because this should be illegal.

     I so recommend this place.  It's good, the staff are friendly and most of all the food is great.  Go there next time you have the chance.  You won't regret it.

     

The Dahlia Workshop: Pumpkin Edition

     I love Autumn!  It is my favorite season of the year for many reasons.  I like the cool crisp weather and the colors of the fall foliage (such as it is here in the Northwest.)  I also love the food of the fall harvest.  This is the time of the year when everything is pumpkin spice flavored.  When it's done right it is amazing.  However, far too often it's artificial flavoured.  Tonight was all about natural, local and seasonal flavors, with an Indian (India) influence. Pumpkin with Indian spices and flavors? Oh, you betcha! 

     Tonight we had the distinct pleasure of attending a cooking class at the Tom Douglass owned Dahlia Workshop.  In conjunction with Prosser Farms, run by his wife Jackie, we were able to enjoy the best of the region.  Tonight was all about pumpkin and squash, but mostly pumpkin.

     Our teacher this evening was Dev of both Prosser Farm and Serious Pie.  We were first treated to a squash pizza with Gorgonzola and Walla Walla onions.  So rich and creamy and well Autumn like.  That was just to whet our whistle until the real epiphany came.  First was the pumpkin seed with some toasted spices and honey.  These were pumpkin seeds that I had never tasted before.  A combination of sweet and earthy spices. 

     Next was a tempura delacotta squash, served with a pumpkin ketchup.  Blast it, I didn't get a picture of that.  I can assure you it was delicious.

     My favorite dish of the evening was in fact the Pumpkin Curry.  I mean c'mon, it's curry.  Prepared with japones chilies, mustard seeds and curry leaf.  Along with an onion, garlic, ginger and jalapeno paste.  Next were some tomatoes, and of course pumpkin.  And let's not forget the Garam Masala.  This is a curry that I am going to make as soon as possible.

     This class gave a whole new meaning to my favorite season.  Warm, earthy flavors.  Like I said, I love Autumn!

    

Mt. St. Helens via Norway Pass

     I have discovered why it is so worth a three hour drive to go hiking.  Whenever I go to Mt. Rainier National Park there is always a million people there trying to hike the same trail that I was planning on hiking.  It can be very frustrating and annoying as I am trying to get away from people and they end up at the same place as me.  I understand why, I just want to be on a trail with less people. 

     Yesterday we discovered a place where there are limited run ins with my fellow hikers.  Well, I should say Kieko discovered this place. As with our trip to Mt. Adams, we had to drive about three hours mostly along mountain highways and U.S. Forest Service roads.  Unlike last time however, all of the U.S.F.S. roads were paved.  When I say paved I really mean there is asphalt but it will probably wash away during the next rainstorm.  Hmmm, maybe time to invest in a horse.  Anyway, yesterday's adventure took us to the incomprable Mt. St. Helens.

     We started our adventure at 8:00 am.  Yes, on a Saturday morning!  So we headed out to Randle, WA via Eatonville, Elbe, and Morton.  Once in Randle, we started down Hwy 131 for a couple of miles until we hit the forest service roads.  Driving along USFS roads you really have to keep a look out for the roads you are looking for as they can sneak up on you in a hurry.  F.S. 25 is very forested and as such the lighting doesn't help.  F.S. road 99 was well marked and nice and curvy like a mountain road should be.  FS road 26 was marked but again we were looking closely for it.  By this time we are out of the forest and among the devastation left by St. Helens.  There are no big trees.

     At the parking lot, there were only three other cars.  That is always a good sign.  We started our hike to Norway Pass and immediately encountered two hunters coming back.  We said "hey" and continued on through the ash laden landscape.  As we are winding our way up the trail we see this massive peak in the distance.  You guessed it, Mt. Rainier.

     Continuing along the trail, looking into the valley below we eventually see Mt. Adams.

     The trail was one of those single track that makes you feel like you're in the wilderness.  I loved it.  Anyway, we continue on and we came to a trail junction.  We went around the bend and found what we came looking for. 

     Yeah, we had the same reaction as well.  However, the picture absolutely does not do it justice.  It was the most amazing moment.  Maybe it was the brisk autumn air along with the sunshine, but I think I have found my new favorite place!

Salty's

     Good evening all.  Welcome to another installment of "Where did Steve eat tonight?" brought to you by All Around the Sound.  In tonight's edition we bring you to a Puget Sound staple, Salty's at Redondo.  Why would we go there on a Thursday night?  Let me answer that question with a question.  Do you like clams? 

     Tonight was Salty's Clam Boil which kicks off their "Aww Shucks" Oyster Fest.  I know, clams are not oysters.  Jeez, why are you asking so many questions, let me finish already.  Anyway, we went there and started with their clam chowder and Cesar salad. The salad was fine, it was your average Caesar Salad; but the Seafood Chowder was amazing.  It's chock full of seafood such as scallops and bay shrimp and bacon.  I know bacon isn't seafood but still, it's bacon. It's rich, creamy, and just enough spice.  They top it off with cream sherry and ground pepper.  Wow, it was good.  I could have ended the evening there.

     Next up was the reason we were there.  The clam boil.  Clams boiled with a mirepoix ( a French base of carrots, celery and onion.)  Served with corn on the cob and potatoes.  Prawns were also served with the clams, but they were just OK.  They weren't bad, just not great.  But again, the clams were great.



     By this time we were to full for dessert.  Next time maybe.

     As good as the food was, and it was good, the service was excellent.  Our server was the effervescent Melanie.  She was friendly, attentive, and informative.  She was there to ensure that our experience was the best. 

     Thank you Melanie, we'll be back.