Author: dkaltenb

March Meets ?

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It’s March which means Spring is just around the corner.  It’s time to think about spring cleaning (have you cleaned behind your appliances recently?) but it also Washington Wine Month and there is much to see and do around town.  So do both…stay in and get things cleaned up and get out and about to see what there is to see.  A number of suggestions for this month are:

  • Skip everything else this weekend and head to the Poverty Bay Wine Festival, Des Moines, Mar 1-3
  • Take a tour/walk of Kubota Garden, Seattle
  • Experience the Washington Coast – road trip worthy to awaken those weary bones
  • Penn Cove Mussel Festival, Coupeville, Mar 2-3
  • Taste Washington, Seattle, Mar 23-24
  • Participate in an Easter Egg hunt
  • It’s Dine Around Seattle time – check out  http://dinearoundseattle.org/ to view the participating restaurants – you can’t go wrong with these great selections, Puget Sound area
  • Shen Yun 2013, McCaw Hall in Seattle, Mar 28-30
  • Do you have a love of Opera or would it be your first time?  La Boheme, Seattle, thru Mar 10
  • Visit the new MOHAI (Museum of History and Industry), Lake Union, Seattle
  • It’s that time of year!  Irish Festival, Seattle Center, Mar 16-17
  • March 20th is Daffodil Day!  It’s the Spring Equinox!

Volterra Restaurant – Kirkland

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Volterra Restaurant is a fairly new gem of a restaurant in Kirkland.  The original Volterra is located in Ballard and is still a major draw for foodies in the Puget Sound area.

Volterra in Kirkland is located on Kirkland Ave and parking can be found in the parking garage close to/behind the restaurant as well as on the street and neighboring lots nearby.  The feel of the restaurant was almost European like with the exterior restaurant walls being windows, letting the natural light in. Our server was quite knowledgeable (has been to Italy before) and provided excellent service.  The bar has a nice variety of seating options and is located on the other side of the restaurant from the dining room.  We were fortunate to visit at brunch/lunchtime and found that the menu to be varied and enticing.  To get an idea of the menu options, check this out:  Wild Boar Sausage Benedict, Chestnut Pancakes, Duck and Yukon Gold Potato Hash, Dungeness Crab Ravioli, Roasted Eggplant Pouches, Gorgonzola Burger, Open Face Porchetta, Roasted Beet and Arugula Salad… and more.  Our party ordered a Bellisimo Bloody Mary and White Peach Thyme Bellini’s to drink.  The brunch items chosen were:

  • Wild Mushroom and Truffle Scramble – topped with Fontina, arugula and white truffle oil.  Served with Volterra hash browns.
  • Pear and Gorgonzola Frittata – White wine poached pear, Prosciutto and Gorgonzola Dolce.  Served with Volterra hash browns. (see photo below)
  • Milano! Milano! – Savory herb bread pudding topped with 2 eggs any style, asparagus tips and smoked Gouda cream  (can add Ham or Bacon).

Although all entrees were enjoyed thoroughly, the hit was probably the Milano! Milano!  It’s unique and flavorful.  They are also known for their Fennel Salt.

http://volterrakirkland.com/

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Le Grand Bistro Americain

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This gem of a restaurant at Carillon Point in Kirkland, WA is sure to please.  The visit took place nearly six months ago, yet I thought it worthy to mention.  Le Grand Bistro Americain serves up great views of Lake Washington, parking, service, and French/American style steaks, raw bar, and more.

Le Grand Bistro just happened to be the restaurant of choice during last October’s Seattle Restaurant Week. http://seattletimes.com/seattlerestaurantweek/ It also has participated in http://www.dinearoundseattle.org/ The evening started out with a Bordeaux ~ ch. le graves barrau ’06, Cabernet – Proletariat and a bubbly – Dom. Carneros Brut ’06  and then we moved on to the 3 courses for $28 options.  We were very impressed with how the manager stepped in to assist with service when everything was happening at once (it got busy!)

All choices made were enjoyed completely:

Wine – Cabernet – Proletariat

Appetizers –

  • Oysters on the Half Shell four, with mignonette
  • Chef’s Soup
  • Charcuterie (Choice of 2) rillauds, country pate, jambon cru, rillettes

Entrées –

  • Moules Frites mussels steamed with white wine, bacon, parsley, touch of cream, served with french fries  A suggestion:  wear a bib 🙂
  • Boeuf Bourguignon stew of beef with bacon, red wine, pearl onions and mushrooms

Desserts –

  • Glaces
  • Creme Brulee
  • Fromages (Choice of 2) comte, delice de bourgogne, bleu de basque, ossau iraty, cirrus

Check out the menu options for happy hour, lunch, dinner, and how about brunch? It looks delicious!  http://www.bistrolegrand.com/menus/

Among the Pines…

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One kind word can warm three winter months. ~Japanese Proverb

I frequently tramped eight or ten miles through the deepest snow to keep an appointment with a beech-tree, or a yellow birch, or an old acquaintance among the pines.  ~Henry David Thoreau

 

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February Adventure Awaits

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February is a month that allows you to get out and experience a host of different avenues… whether it be to catch the Superbowl at a local establishment, go snowshoeing, or take in a wine and chocolate festival.  A number of options are:

  • Just missed the Enumclaw Wine & Chocolate Festival, Feb 1-2…I attended… but if you didn’t, maybe next year?
  • Seattle Wine and Food Experience, Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, Jan 24
  • See Cirque du Soleil’s Amaluna at Marymoor Park
  • Start thinking about registering for your favorite marathon, walk or dash
  • 2013 Northwest Flower & Garden Show, Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, Feb 20-24
  • Have you checked out an Everett Silvertips game yet this Winter?
  • Visit a museum or art gallery – try the Bellevue Art Museum’s (BAM) Biennial 2012: High Fiber Diet which continues through Feb 24
  • Seattle RV & Outdoor Recreation Show, CenturyLink Field and Event Center, Feb 7-10
  • 2013 Seattle Home Show, CenturyLink Link Field and Event Center, Feb 16-24
  • Take in a restaurant this month or have someone in for a nice dinner.  Did you hear that Rover’s is set to close in April?
  • Check out a Wine & Chocolate Festival this month.  Decide where you want to go… Yakima, Lake Chelan, Olympic Peninsula and more… Feb 9-10 or 16-17
  • It’s a great month for a snowshoe hike or cross-country skiing – visit the Washington Trails Association site for ideas
  • In the mood for a movie?  Plenty to choose from this month – action or maybe a love story?
  • Enjoy!

Chihuly Garden and Glass

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Chihuly Garden and Glass is an all-around must see!  Out of the various outings this holiday season, this was indeed my favorite.  Located at the Seattle Center (near the base of the Space Needle), Chihuly Garden and Glass is a gem whether rain or shine, day or night.  It showcases the inspiration and work of artist Dale Chihuly.

It is made up of an Exhibition Hall, Glasshouse, Theater, and a Garden.  The galleries showcased in the Exhibition Hall are the Northwest Room, Sealife Room, Glass Forest, Persian Ceiling,  Mille Fiori, Ikebana and Float Boat, Chandeliers, Macchia Forest, and Drawing Walls. The Glasshouse is the centerpiece of Chihuly Garden and Glass.  There is also a theater that presents short videos and the Gardens, which offers a lush landscape of art that depicts nature.  Visit  http://www.chihulygardenandglass.com/ to obtain more info on the various exhibits.

One thing I liked was that the museum provides plastic umbrella bags for use if you have just come in out of the rain.  Hint:  If you are a King County resident, have your ID ready and you’ll get $4 off the regular admission price.  They have a number of ticket package options available, including a ride to the Observation Deck of the Space Needle.  The Bookstore will tempt you with Chihuly coffee table books, glass ornaments, Pendleton blankets (especially designed for the Chihuly), and other fun gift items.  The Bookstore can be entered without admission to Chihuly Garden and Glass.

The Collections Cafe, located within the Exhibition Hall (come by anytime as the entrance is open to all that pass by), is complete with vibrant colors, vintage accordions hanging from the ceiling, vintage radios, a collection of bottle openers, and more (although I am not a fan of the carnival chalkware).  Each table has a glass enclosed center that showcases a different theme.  Each plate that passed our table looked especially delicious – they screamed fresh Northwest!  I will look forward to my next visit.

“I never met a color I didn’t like” – Dale Chihuly

“I love to find the beauty in everyday objects” – Dale Chihuly

 

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Holly Days of December

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It’s a holly jolly time of year!  Dash through the snow (maybe the rain?) and see about…

  • Christmas Lighting Festival, Leavenworth, Dec 1,8,9,15,16
  • Holiday Barrel Tasting, Walla Walla, Dec 7-9
  • Winterfest, Seattle Center, through Jan 6
  • Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis,various WA state locations/dates
  • Wildlights, Woodland Park Zoo, through Dec 23
  • Head to your favorite nursery – Wight’s, Molbaks, Squak Mt., Swansons, Emery’s and more…  The Dept. 56 display at Wight’s Garden & Home is nicely displayed this year (fabulous actually) – check out the props!
  • Winter Beer Festival, Hale’s/Seattle, Dec 7-8 http://www.washingtonbeer.com
  • Bellevue Magic Season, Bellevue, through Jan 13
  • Holiday Ale Festival, Portland OR, Nov 28 – Dec 2
  • Downtown Rockin’ New Year’s Eve, Yakima, Dec 31
  • Saint Nick’s Winter in Woodinville, Nov 30 – Dec 2
  • Green Lake Pathway of Lights, Green Lake Park, Dec 8
  • Great Figgy Pudding Street Corner Caroling Competition, Seattle, Dec 7
  • End of the World Party, search it out, Dec 20
  • How about a holiday craft show?
  • Winter Solstice Lantern Festival, Vancouver BC, Dec 21
  • Seattle Men’s Chorus, “Baby It’s Cold Outside”, Puget Sound Area, through Dec 22
  • Argosy Christmas Ship Festival, Lake Union/Washington, through Dec 23
  • Garden d’Lights, Bellevue Botanical Garden, through Dec 31
  • Zoolights, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Tacoma, through Jan 1
  • Toy Train Christmas, Northern Pacific Railway Museum, Toppenish, Dec 1-2, 8-9, 15-16
  • Have you started your Christmas cards yet?
  • Choose a bit of culture… Black Nativity, The Nutcracker, The SantaLand Diaries, Fiddler on the Roof, etc…
  • and fa la la …more

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Encircled with cedar…

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Cedar is like our mother.  Our whole lives were encircled with cedar.  – (Jerry) Dennis Jones, Tulalip Master Carver (1940  – 2003)

We are the salmon people.  We knew if we were to continue our heritage, we needed to find a way to bring the fish back.  –Terry Williams, Commissioner, Fisheries and Natural Resources, Tulalip Tribes

And the 2012 Taste of Tulalip highlights?

Small plates – 1) Chef David Buchanan – Dungeness Crab Towers (with roasted corn and apple bacon) 2) Chef Gerry Schultz – Smokey Risotto (smoked port belly, smokey bleu cheese, chanterelle mushrooms, roasted red peppers, sage and cippolini onions) 3) And it’s hard to resist a Seared Furikake Smoked  Scallop – Chef George Riedel

Wine – As far as the vast number of high quality wines available… some of my favorites included Five Star Cellars, Stephenson Cellars, Rasa Vineyards, JB Neufeld (all Washington State),Tenuta Dell Ornellaia (Northern Italian) – Wow!  And many more…

This event is one of the best of its kind.  Easily SOLD OUT, so plan ahead for November 2013!  Interested in a great night’s stay?  Stay at the Tulalip Resort – comfort at all turns…

http://www.tasteoftulalip.com/   http://www.tulalipresort.com/comfort/index.aspx

November Rain….of Events

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It’s November and the rain is back in the Pacific Northwest.  It’s a time for feasting on the earth’s bounty and gathering with friends and family.  The holiday season is getting into full swing… so enjoy!

  • The Taste of Tulalip, Tulalip Casino Resort, Nov 9-10
  • Oak Bay Artists’ Studio Tour, Oak Bay/Victoria, British Columbia, Nov 3-4
  • Christmas Lighting Festival starts on Nov 30th, Leavenworth
  • Christkindlmarkt, Leavenworth, Nov 23-25
  • Dine Around Seattle, Nov 4-29 (Sunday thru Thursday)
  • Arts Alive, La Conner, Nov 2-4
  • Bellevue Club Holiday Bazaar, Nov 3, Bellevue Club 9 am – 6pm
  • Northwest Artists’ Holiday Show, Edmonds, Nov 3-4  
  • Cornucopia – Whistler’s Celebration of Wine & Food, Whistler BC, Nov 7-11
  • Fall Release Weekend, Walla Walla, Nov 1-3
  • On the Road to Paradise Fall Wine Festival, Ashford, Nov 3
  • Woodland Park Zoo, Turkey Toss Nov 23; Wildlights – daily 11/23 – 12/23
  • Seattle International Auto Show, Seattle, Nov 14-18
  • Seattle Marathon, Nov 25 – run run run away!
  • Vancouver Rotary Festival of Trees, Pearson Air Museum, Vancouver, WA,  Nov 23-25
  • Grotto’s Christmas Festival of Lights, Portland, OR  Nov 23 – Dec 30
  • Check out a Seattle Seahawks game at home, Nov 4 & 11
  • and more…