Category: Life in the Pacific Northwest

In Search of Pasta Fazool

Julian’s father had a stock response when we’d ask him what was for dinner: “Pasta fazool.” He wasn’t particularly fond of the soup, he just liked saying its name. There was also an Olive Garden just outside his condo complex. This was a frequent dining destination when we’d visit them, as Julian’s stepmother was not …

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Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2019/08/25/in-search-of-pasta-fazool/

Sunday Brunch with Otters

This morning I looked out the living room window and saw four otters on the river. They were enjoying a fine brunch of what I assumed were crawfish. I must have watched the quartet dive and surface for 15 minutes before they swam to the far shore in search of more food.

Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2019/08/18/sunday-brunch-with-otters/

One Thing Leads to Another

Ah, the joys of home ownership. If one thing needs repair, it usually cascades into several. See my previous post, The Homeowner Begets. We’ve had an annoying problem with dishwasher odor, even after we’ve run a dishwasher cleaner. If plumbers are going to come fix one thing, we may as well have them fix several …

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Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2019/08/16/one-thing-leads-to-another/

A Night at the Opera

This post has nothing to do with the Marx Brothers or Queen. I went to the dress rehearsal of Rigoletto last night. Our friend Bruce volunteers with the Seattle Opera. Since his main date was out of town and Julian wasn’t up to go, I joined Bruce. The Seattle production of Rigoletto is set in …

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Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2019/08/09/a-night-at-the-opera/

A Plethora of Pepperoncini

I have four varieties of pepper plants on the upper deck this summer: One hot (mirasol), the other three less so. The two padron plants are doing well. The mirasol is slow, but steady. It has two peppers that are nearly ready to pick. I started the Japanese variety from seed late, and they haven’t …

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Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2019/08/07/a-plethora-of-pepperoncini/

Recent Acquisitions

It goes without saying that no trip to Portland is complete unless we stop at Powell’s Books. Because there was a blues festival downtown when we were there, we went to the home and garden branch on Hawthorne Street. I showed admirable restraint and walked out with four books, one of which Julian bought for …

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Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2019/07/24/recent-acquisitions/

How Do You Like Them Onions?

I’ve been disappointed by the quality of yellow/Spanish onions in grocery stores hereabouts. They  often have soft spots or are on the moldy side. Last night I asked the produce guy in our regular store why that’s the case. He admitted that they weren’t particularly good, and suggested I substitute the Walla Walla sweet onions. …

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Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2019/07/13/how-do-you-like-them-onions/

Seattle vs. Portland Smackdown!

Seattle and Portland are friendly rivals, be it on the soccer pitch or in the national imagination. In the spirit of my previous compare and contrasts, here is the Seattle – Portland smackdown! Coffee. Seattle has Starbucks, Caffe d’Arte, Vivace, and other outlets. Portland has Stumptown. Stumptown has come to Seattle, with one outlet on …

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Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2019/07/09/seattle-vs-portland-smackdown/

Days in the Hood (River)

Hood River, Oregon is known for two things: It’s the windsurfing capital of the world, and it serves as a dividing line between lush forest and desert ecosystems along the southern bank of the Columbia River. Tourism plays a big role in the local economy, between windsurfers, mountain bikers, and backpackers. It is also the …

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Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2019/07/07/days-in-the-hood-river/

July 4th Follies

It’s been our tradition since we moved to Seattle to do a short trip around July 4. The last two years we were in Vancouver. In previous years we’ve gone to the Olympic Peninsula. This year we’re in Hood River, Oregon.  Our home base is the Columbia Gorge Hotel, an old school hotel perched on …

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Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2019/07/03/july-4th-follies/

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