Salmon Candy: A Taste of the Pacific Northwest The first time I tasted salmon candy, I was hiking along the shores of Puget Sound. The salty air, the scent of pine trees, and the earthy aroma of damp soil all mingled in the air. A local fisherman offered me a piece, a glistening, mahogany-colored strip … Read more
Pacific Northwest Stir-Fried Asparagus & Sugar Snap Peas My grandmother, a true Pacific Northwesterner, had a garden that was the envy of the neighborhood. I vividly remember her showing me, a wide-eyed child, how to carefully snap asparagus spears at just the right point, and how to gently pull the strings off plump, juicy sugar … Read more
Innkeeper’s Mussel Chowder: A Taste of the Pacific Northwest The first time I tasted mussel chowder, it was a blustery evening in a small seaside town nestled along the Oregon coast. The salt air whipped through the streets, and the only refuge from the chill was a cozy inn, its windows glowing with warm light. … Read more
Salmon with Blackberry Butter: A Taste of the Pacific Northwest There’s something truly magical about the first bite of wild salmon, especially when it’s kissed with the sweetness of ripe blackberries. I remember fishing with my grandfather in the Puget Sound as a child, the crisp sea air filling my lungs as we patiently waited … Read more
Northwest Dungeness Crab Cakes: A Culinary Ode to the Pacific The briny tang of the Pacific air, the rhythmic crash of waves against the shore, and the sweet, succulent flavor of Dungeness crab – these are the sensations that instantly transport me back to childhood summers on the Oregon coast. My grandfather, a seasoned fisherman … Read more
Herbfarm’s Red Pepper Hazelnut Sauce: A Taste of the Pacific Northwest I still remember the first time I tasted a sauce like this, years ago at a small Italian trattoria nestled in the hills of Tuscany. The vibrant red color, the nutty aroma, the unexpected sweetness balanced by a hint of spice – it was … Read more
Easy Pacific Northwest Steamers The salty air, the cries of gulls overhead, the tang of seaweed – these are the sense memories that flood back whenever I cook steamers. Growing up on the Oregon coast, summer evenings often meant a trip to the bay at low tide, buckets in hand, to dig for these briny … Read more