I considered rescheduling. Drinking coffee at the kitchen window, watching the rain come down in dollops…I figured this was no day for a farm tour. Logic, however, holds no weight in the face of my restlessness. The very idea of staying indoors that morning, my farm visit foiled in part to another soggy Seattle day was enough to shoot me out the door. Mt. Vernon is about an hour and a half North and the first two-thirds of the drive were miserable. Why? Because people continuously baffle me by way of their ineptitude. In a city that is steeped in rain most of the year, the majority still have trouble driving in it…its fucking unbelievable really. Alas, as I got closer the sky dried up and so did my temper. Maneuvering my way down narrow dirt roads, acres of farm land sprawling on all sides, I go slow enough to attempt to decipher what these fields contain as well as avoid any run ins with animals or potholes . And then up…up a steep gravel driveway, bouncing along…finally arriving at Hidden Meadow Ranch greeted by a pair of dogs that are less than thrilled with a stranger pulling onto the property. (more…)

We took a greyhound bus around the states for a month. Mini & I, fresh out of high school climbed aboard with only backpacks and a 30 day pass to get on any bus to any where within the continental US. It was dirty and tiring, exhilarating and crazed…overall extraordinary. To this day I cant believe Mini’s parents went for it. California, Arizona, Iowa…and the most memorable of all places- New Orleans, Louisiana. This city, so rich in history and so thick with culture. There was a peculiar ambiance, a texture to the air. I’m just going to say it…call me batshit crazy if you want- it felt fucking haunted. Not in an alarming way really, it surprisingly didn’t creep me out. Here I was in the home of voodoo, mosquitoes the size of catchers mits and the lovely, delicious Cafe Du Monde. (more…)

Tilth glows. It emanates warmth- from the paint on the walls to the food on the plate. Not cozy comfortable warmth but a glow that’s reserved for Hollywood dreamland sequences. Its all a bit stark but what is there carries an ethereal halo of light. The food, I swear, appears illuminated. Keep in mind that I’m a cynical broad and having heard high praise of Tilth for some time now, I was initially a tad apprehensive. Hype is best disregarded -all the positive talk bound to inflate my expectations beyond feasible food wise. Well, it was finally time to buckle down and judge for myself. (more…)

I like Erin Fetridge. Reddish brown hair, bright eyes and a radiant smile- my first impression is that this woman is going to be a lot of fun. She is indeed a fantastic interview-warm, funny, informative and charismatic as hell. At times, I get so caught up in her stories I forget to jot notes-I actually had to remind myself that the sit down we had was not a social call. The Stumbling Goat opened nine years ago, it was the baby of Erin and her husband at the time, Craig Serbousek. Years down the road, Craig and Erin separated and Erin took on ownership of the Bistro (Craig went on to open Seattle restaurants- Crow & Betty). When she speaks of that time I get a sense of the challenge she took on in stepping up to solo ownership. She lovingly credits her parents for making it possible by mortgaging their home in order to provide the financial support necessary. Throughout the years, the Bistro has been host to a number of well known chefs (ie. Matthew Dillon of Sitka & Spruce headed the kitchen for 2 years) all of them sharing in the vision of supporting local farms and promoting only the best ingredients. (more…)

I know now that I owe a lot of my culinary knowledge and interest to my mothers cultural whirlwind of lovers over the years. Her marriage number 8 was to a Moroccan man by the name of Mohammed. The details I recall- long lashes, cinnamon hued skin, an affection for Marlboro reds and a bewitching hand when it came to spices. A fantastic cook, for the 3 or 4 years that they were together our tiny apartment smelled like a spice bazaar. His oxtail stew was truly astonishing in its range and depth of flavor-it singlehandedly changed my perception of what food was capable of. How I wish I would’ve taken notes on his cooking- especially on that particular dish. (more…)

1 Acre. Who knew that 1 acre could produce so much food? Tomatoes, eggplant, squash, green beans, sweet corn, peas, onions, beets, broccoli, 12 types of lettuce, 4 types of potatoes, edible flowers, cut flowers, eggs and more…

I drove out from Seattle taking I5 South past Olympia a little ways. Happy Hen Farm is in Rochester, Wa. I had no idea there even was a Rochester Wa but upon visiting this farm that was the least of my surprises. This place is a well oiled machine, putting out an unbelievable amount of produce for its tiny size. For the past 13 years, Lee and Ora Jacobson have been selling their goods through the Olympia farmers market and as a CSA with 31 subscribers. Their eggs are a business all their own with locals stopping in and paying through an honor system upon pick up. The farm sits on 4 acres- only 1 of which is cultivated. (more…)