The Season of Hops

Hops. Where would beer be without them? They add not only that distinctive floral-citrus-resiny flavor to the hop-heavy ales many of us in the Northwest love, but as a backbone of the beer-making process they contribute to the characteristic aroma of beer and act as a sort of preservative to help [...]

2021-06-18T19:40:11+00:00October 17th, 2013|Beverages, Northwest Character|

Coffee: A Taste of Place

The sense of place is an ever-increasing subtext when we consider our cooking and dining experiences these days. Shopping farmers markets and choosing to dine at restaurants that source locally as much as possible (if not growing much of the food they serve themselves) are de rigeur for many of [...]

2020-02-05T19:43:41+00:00October 30th, 2012|Beverages, Food and Drink|

Taste of Summer: Rose Sangria

I recorded a radio interview earlier this week, chatting about great foods and beverages to enjoy during the summer. When it comes to "summer" and "drinks" I get fixated on one thing: rosé sangria. I'll admit to not usually being a sangria fan. Random fruit and sweetened red wine, just not [...]

2020-05-26T21:45:49+00:00June 24th, 2010|Beverages, Northwest Treasures, Seasonal Eats|

Smith Tea: Return of an Icon

Welcome back, Mr. Smith! I was wondering what had come of you..... About this time last year I was working on a feature article for Horizon Airlines Magazine recounting the lives and times of Northwest tea companies. It's a story impossible to tell without the name of Steven Smith coming up. [...]

2009-10-16T14:59:25+00:00October 16th, 2009|Beverages, Northwest Character|

Ultimate Peach Milkshake

While driving through McMinnville, Oregon earlier this week, a sweltering 100+ temp day, my friend pulled into a local drive-in to get a milkshake. He opted for fresh peach, his son picked raspberry, while I tried to be good and forgo the indulgence. Even when the cheery guy on the [...]

2009-07-31T13:50:53+00:00July 31st, 2009|Beverages, Seasonal Eats, Sweet Treats|

On the Calendar: Cask Ale Festival

Wow. Ten years already. I was at, if not the first, definitely the second Cask Ale Festival put on by the Washington Brewer's Guild. In fact, I think this festival was among the earlier ventures the Guild took on after forming in the late 1990s. The first cask festival had [...]

2009-03-20T17:16:55+00:00March 20th, 2009|Beverages, Delicious Events|

A Reverie of Kir

Last weekend, in the midst of our mingling and visiting before sitting down to dinner here, a friend pointed out my bottle of cassis from Clear Creek Distillery in Portland, Oregon, noting what an extraordinary example of the traditional black current liqueur it is. Yes, I agreed wholeheartedly. And despite the fact that [...]

2016-05-04T15:22:02+00:00March 12th, 2009|Beverages, Food and Drink|

Rich and Spicy Hot Cocoa

Yes, we are going to "spring forward" tomorrow. And the vernal equinox is just two weeks away. But the little crocuses blooming in my planter boxes can not drive away the winter chill. Earlier today at my house in West Seattle (very near the highest point in the city) it snowed [...]

2009-03-07T15:23:04+00:00March 7th, 2009|Beverages, Sweet Treats|
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