For the last 45 years, Yakima has had its own coastal connection, keeping it styled in seafood and gourmet items of all kinds. That is coming to an end. Our beloved Deep Sea Deli is officially saying goodbye. They have been selling off their inventory, and the doors will close soon. Aileen and I stopped … Continued
Only a few days left until Valentine’s Day. You know what that means. Sugared delights. But like candy corn at Halloween, and fruitcake at Christmas, February 14th has its own traditional treat that <1% of the population of North America actually eats. Those ubiquitous crappy candy hearts with messages on them like Be Mine, and … Continued
This is a tale of an ugly empanada. A platter full actually. Made with love and buffalo meat, they were juicy, flavorful, and entirely unattractive. No matter. Sometimes it’s the doing and completing of something new that matters more than a perfect end result. This story actually began south of the equator, in Buenos Aires, … Continued
Something special happens every December here in the Yakima Valley—Leda makes tamales. These are a bit different than the corn husks filled with masa and meats that are steamed to perfection and eaten with zeal around these here parts. These are Costa Rican tamales, made a bit differently but in the same spirit. Most notably, … Continued
Baby, it’s cold out there. As winter is finding its way to the Yakima Valley, it seemed a good move to go inside. The steamy windows of the panaderias lured us like a siren song. There is something about the baking of bread that is comforting on a DNA level. The kneading of dough, the … Continued
There’s a social media trend that takes place this time every year where people make a daily effort to mention something they are thankful for. You have to love Thanksgiving for bringing an appreciation of the now center stage. I confess, I love this. Seeing people look around at their everyday lives and comb it … Continued
It’s November again, and that means people are reminded to count their blessings. With Thanksgiving around the corner, gratitude creeps to the forefront of our minds taking on a thoughtfulness that is both beautiful and refreshing. It is apropos that this story should run in November, but really, the thoughtfulness of Northwest Harvest, a food … Continued
Crack a beer. Any beer. Chances are good there are some Yakima Valley hops going on in that pour. One brewery in particular however, is taking some extra time to spotlight the origin story of the hop by creating special small batch brews using the hops from a single source where relationships have been forged … Continued
In a word, heavy. There is a lot happening in the world right now that is downright weighty. Stepping out for some air seems sensible. Early this morning, as the sun was just starting its rise, I stood on my back porch to enjoy the new cold in the quiet of nearly dark. It felt … Continued
There’s a monster in my garden. I can see its arched back as it writhes through the foliage. A leviathan made of my own abandon. It’s a zucchini. A ridiculously massive zucchini. A zucchini plant is like a pesky teenager this time of year. They know when you’re not watching, and as soon as they’re … Continued