Shishito Peppers, chocolate chip cookies, over priced Scotch – life is good

On By Terry ChristophersonIn Food and drink, Hotels2 Comments

There are hotels that break the rules the right way, DoubleTree is one of those. I am at the Disney Main-gate hotel, it is $129 for the night, and that is for a suite, a real two room suite. They waived the $16/night parking, and anyplace that has warm chocolate chip cookies on check in is a hit. The more I travel the more I love a suite, with real furniture, coffee table, etc. 

The Grappa Lounge is a hotel lounge, but when tired and not feeling like the excitement of Bubba Gumps a few blocks away it is a fine venue. The surprise of the evening was the Grilled Shishito Peppers, only $7.

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The Shishito Peppers are a low heat pepper with just a hint of spice, the grilling adds a nice sweetness. An addicting appetizer for sure, all backed by a Stone Pale Ale.

A Scotch in the room made perfect sense, the MacAllen 18 seemed the perfect choice, and worth the $10 or $12 it would cost. What a shock to find that it was $22. But the bartender made it a generous pour yet my Scots thinking struggled as I buy a whole bottle for about $60.

Back in the room, slowly sipping my Scotch, which goes well with a chocolate chip cookie, all is well with the world. Now it is time to check out a rugby match. Six Nations starts tomorrow, and to think some folks think Superbowl is the hot ticket.

Recipe – A neighborhood kitchen in Newberg, Oregon

On By Terry ChristophersonIn Food and drink1 Comment

screenshotNewberg, Oregon is the gateway to the Yamhill Valley wine country, which is the premier Pinot Noir location in the world. Oregon Pinots regularly surpass France and California; they make a native Oregonian like me proud.  Good wine cries out for good food, so allow me to introduce you to one of my new favorite restaurants – Recipe.

IMG_0255Recipe is housed in a former farm style house, they serve wonderful creative food, with local wines – what more could you ask for. Much of the produce is grown a block away in their middle of town garden. They are committed to local whenever possible, produce, meat, baked goods. Even the dining tables are reclaimed local barn wood.

IMG_0253One of my best recommendations for good eating is to let the server choose, Andrew, the front of the house manager, brought me crispy duck. How could he know duck is always a hit with me?

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When you go be sure to ask for advice on which wineries to visit. Andrew told us about Penner-Ash, which we fell in love with, planning to go back for a dinner in April.

Ramekin Mash and cooking for fun


It has always frustrated me to spend an hour cooking only to have the meal over in 20 minutes, thus I have become obsessed with small plates and courses. We have small bowls in 2 or three sizes, which work great for veggies and small soups, square plates of 4” and 6” sizes for salads and mains. The eye appeal immediately adds a bit of class to even the most simple of fares.

Small dinnerware invites small portions, health advantages aside it is more enjoyable to sample multiple tastes in sequence; the midweek meal is transformed into a special event without a lot of effort.

If you are cooking alone, then a glass of wine, good music, and a good meal is well earned pampering after a long day. If you have a friend or spouse to join you there is no better way to unwind and connect.

A simple menu: Tenderloin, Ramekin Mash, and salad with blue cheese crumbles, balsamic and olive oil- takes about 30 – 40 minutes to cook.

This side dish is a cross between garlic mash and herbed Yorkshire pudding. It goes well with steak or prime rib, the juices only add to the flavor. The best part is how easy it is.

Spray ramekins or small tart pans with oil.  Boil a medium Yukon Gold potato, mash with butter, milk and lots of garlic. Make a batter with flour, egg, milk, salt, and herbs, most any would work, as to how much, well when it comes to herbs if you have to ask you just don’t get it, some is the appropriate measure. The batter should be the consistency of pancake batter.

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Place a small amount of a batter in the bottom of each pan (a tablespoon or two). On top of the batter place a small pile of garlic mashed potatoes (I am convinced that most any combination of root vegetables and or squash would only enhance the flavor). Then pour a bit more of the batter around the mash. It is ready for the oven.

Bake in a pre-heated 400F oven until golden brown, should take 15-20 minutes. (If you have extras, save for a lunch, re-heat, then melt grated cheddar cheese under the broiler.)

Serve with an easy drinking red wine. Eat the salad after the main as the French might do. If you are feeling decadent some dark chocolate with a Tori Mor Port rounds the evening out well.

Food and cooking is one of the great blessings we have, the secret is to make it fun, share it with someone you love, and take your time.

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A good story = good writing.

On By Terry ChristophersonIn Books to read1 Comment

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When it comes to novels; good writing = a good story. I read about half of The River Why, by David James Duncan, which was highly recommended by a friend. The writing is creative, the metaphors are intriguing, and the descriptions colorful. Yet my interest waned because the story did not grab me, I plan to finish the book, and may change my review, but half way in it is dragging.

Most literary types were critical of Harry Potter, a kids book that they said was not well written, yet I read them all, most more than once. Why, because they are good stories.

Sometimes you get both like in 

  • Poison, by Kathryn Harrison
  • Anything by Richard Russo
  • A Case of Curiosities, by Kurzweil
  • The Piano Tuner, by Daniel Mason – this is one of the best

At social gatherings the topic often drifts to books and good writing, many proclaim judgement on the writing, good or bad, assuming that all present are cognizant of what they mean by good writing, usually I don’t have a clue what is meant. And often the books I have enjoyed most are deemed barely worth reading because they are “not well written.” All I know is that I enjoyed the story.

Most of my reading is for work or study, I read novels for pleasure, to escape. A good Louis L’Amour western fills the need quite often. They are good stories therefore they are well written.

 

Oregon and back – a weekend stir-fry

On By Terry ChristophersonIn Uncategorized2 Comments

Stir-fry is a quick cooked meal composed of a variety of often disassociated fixin’s, that all come together end the end. Such was our weekend.

Saturday

10.00am Pick up rental car, load Alexis’ stuff into her car.

11.00am Total Wine and More in Tukwila, shop, taste, buy.

Noon – 1.00pm At airport to pick up Alexis, she was arriving from Bangladesh, via Dubai.

Drive to Newberg arriving at 4.35.pm, we dropped her off and helped her unload.

Tim and Cheri’s at about 5.35pm, wonderful evening of roasted chicken, green beans, fireplace, good music.

Red Lion Jantzen Beach by 10.30pm

Sunday

screenshotAfter a fruitless search for a latte, I found one at the hotel. Tim picked me up at 7.45am for coffee at the Red E in Portland.

We met up with Tricia and Cheri at about 9.30 then headed to breakfast at a funky, odd, car themed diner- Beaterville – I had the “Mini Cooper” – scrambled eggs with pepper-jack cheese, potatoes, biscuits and gravy.

At 11.30am we got to Adam’s house, my son. He wanted us to eat frozen pizza which we did, just to not offend.

We left for Seattle at 1.00pm.

What a weekend, yet it all worked out great, we saw Alexis, Adam, and our friends all in the same weekend. We had some great food, and probably too much Scotch. But it was a wonderful time.

Sometimes the crazy just works.

Tablas Woodstone Taverna

On By Terry ChristophersonIn Food and drink, Happy HourLeave a comment

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The best part of Tablas Woodstone Taverna in Mill Creek, WA is the live Flamenco guitar. It is not a bad place, but as a frequent visitor to the sister restaurant, Dimetri’s in Edmonds, WA, I was expecting a lot more. We had a good experience, but based on our history with Dimetri’s and recommendations from Mill Creek locals it was not what I hoped for.

The Tablas decor seems a bit worn, sitting in the lounge you get the wonderful view of a messy bar, if you are going to have seating that allows patrons to see behind the bar then it is important to keep it meticulously clean, this was cluttered. The view toward the kitchen/server station was just as unappetizing  The food was good but then again not up to Dimetri’s quality, though I did enjoy the grilled sardines.

Most disappointing was the wine list, I know this is a Spanish theme, but please, we live in Washington, have at least something local on the list.

I loved the music, Flamenco is a weakness of mine, so that made it better, as did the bartender who was a pleasure.

Thank God for taste buds!

On By Terry ChristophersonIn Uncategorized1 Comment

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Sometimes great meals are easy meals. For a great steak my fallback is so simple – olive oil and garlic salt. People rave, and it is so easy.

This meal was a tenderloin, along with green beans that were sautéed with hazelnuts.

Steam the beans, then sauté in olive oil, garlic and rough crushed hazelnuts, then sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

The second course was a grilled Cesar Salad. I wish I could take credit for the recipe but I found it at a blog site “the Little kitchen” and it is one of the best I have ever had, as well as a simple one.

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In The Red Wine Bar

Thanks to Groupon we found a new place to hang out, In The Red Wine Bar. Located on Phinney Ridge in Seattle. They have a happy hour from 3-6 with small plates at prices from $5-8

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Think of sitting in a living room decorated with retro chairs and tables, a couple of overstuffed wingback in front of electric fireplaces.

Chad, the owner, escaped the corporate world of telecommunications to serve good food and wine at the only place of its kind in the area. Well worth checking out.

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25th Anniversary – at Death Valley

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Death Valley, for your 25th Wedding Anniversary? Folks found that humorous, we could hardly wait.

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The end of November was the perfect time to visit a place that had been on our list for many years. Temperature in the 75-80F ranges, lots of sun to break the gray of Seattle November, and lots of hiking and exploring to keep us occupied; what more could you ask for?

Looking back, it was one of the best trips ever, the right choice for sure. Tricia said that the name Death Valley does not fit all of the rugged beauty we saw. What we did not see was just as significant, no rain, AND no rattlesnakes or scorpions. Trcia calls this pic, “Running From Snakes” though there weren’t actually any there, but it was good practiceImage

We stayed at Furnace Creek Ranch, a resort that is 190 feet below sea level. If you want more luxury, try the Furnace Creek Inn a mile away, but you pay dearly for the difference. Our rustic room was just fine, we were there to hike and explore, not sit in a room.

We drove by Stovepipe Resort on the way to Mosaic Canyon and were relieved that we did not stay there. It might be a bit newer, but it is also lacks charm. There is also Panamint Valley, which looks worth checking out, but we did not actually see it, just the web.

For foodies like us the venues for eating were a bit slim, yet we did fine. The Steakhouse at the Ranch was OK, and appetizers in the lobby of the Inn.

Great trip, great anniversary – looking forward to the next 25 years of travel with the best travel buddy there is, Tricia.

75K here I come

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This mornings flight will be by 90th flight on Alaska this year, that elevates me to 75K Gold status. A lot of flights, but not too bad a life this on the road stuff. Gives plenty of material for the blog.