A couple of weeks ago, the boys and I went to Seattle for their spring break. We had a very sweet visit, stayed with four different friends, ate in some restaurants I had been wanting to try, played in some parks, hit the Pike Place Market, visited Book Larder, and drove around in a minivan loaned to us by our friend Debbie. It was exactly what I needed. Graham can be a little unsettled when we travel but he was so happy to be in a place he recognized and remembered. When we got out of the car at the Market, it started to rain. He lifted his beautiful face up to the sky, held out his arms, and yelled, “I miss the rain!”
We got plenty of sun too and gorgeous skies.
I took the boys to the park I liked best when I was a kid. Luther Burbank on Mercer Island if you are a Seattle dweller.
The restaurants we went to were a little disappointing (Wandering Goose and Shanik). By far the best food I had were the meals made by friends. My friend Joy made this delightful lunch for us.
Favorite coffee spot and a visit with Megan. There is very good coffee in Oakland but it is better in Seattle.
Leaving Seattle on a day like this is tough.
Back in Oakland, I made these cakes for Easter Sunday. The recipe was a bit perplexing but they turned out well.
I got a review copy of Deborah Madison’s Vegetable Literacy. I made this delicious kale and soba noodle salad.
I shared my struggles with acid reflux and a recipe for this Thai green curry. Thanks so much to all of you for comments, emails, and suggestions. It is a journey, that is for sure.
At hair cut time, I was ready to chop most of it off. My stylist dissuaded me, suggesting I would miss the curl. She proposed this happy medium. I liked it for one day, until I realized that it is totally uneven and now I’m back to wanting to chop it.
My books from Book Larder came. Is there a better mail day? Sadly, I don’t think I chose well with Mr. Wilkinson’s Vegetables – too much meat.
Driving around the hill of Montclair can be entertaining. Many of the streets are named after astrological signs. Or planets.
So. Many. Lemons.
We picked about 100 of them and gave them to neighbors. I also made a quick pickled lemon recipe from the Jerusalem cookbook. They are amazing!
On Friday, the boys and I got on BART and went into the city to meet Randy at his office. This is the view from Randy’s office, looking back across the Bay Bridge and into Oakland.
We started a supper club here in Oakland. We did one in Seattle for almost eight years and loved it so decided we should do one here. We invited some of the other kindergarten families and had a great night. A friend noticed that you can see Randy and Graham welcoming our guests in the upper right hand corner of this shot.
Appetizers.
I made these potato and Jerusalem artichoke blini. A bit of work but they turned out really well. I topped them with blue cheese, broiled them, and then topped them with dressed salad leaves and pear slices.
I didn’t get a shot of the dessert, which is a shame because it was awesome. Chocolate Whiskey Tart. I served farmers’ market strawberries along side that I tossed with lime zest and chopped candied ginger. I learned that tip from Denise and wow! does it make strawberries taste incredible and a little dressed up.
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What a great post Dana – thank you! And you should know that it has been raining, chilly, and gray since that sunny day you left – maybe you’d come again soon and bring another couple of those days!
Comment by Katy Gilmore — April 9, 2013 @ 6:40 pm
Well, I think that’s a very good excuse to make that tart again! So you can take a picture and make a full blog post for us! ;-)
Comment by sallybr — April 9, 2013 @ 6:41 pm
I love how much you stuffed into this post! Sounds like you guys had a fun visit to Seattle, which I’m sure was much needed. :)
I’ve been (literally) begging for a review copy of vegetable literacy and we’ll see if I get one eventually…fingers crossed! It looks like a gorgeous book!
I want to know where those cakes were from!
And how fun is a supper club?! I really hope the.boy and I someday have friends who are into food enough that we can do something like that. i suppose we should start seeking some out but right now all my peers are much more into drinking than eating!
Comment by Joanne — April 9, 2013 @ 9:08 pm
I haven’t been to Seattle for a couple of years myself and I miss Pike Place Market, the fish markets, and Beechers. The rain I have had no chance to miss
Comment by bellini — April 9, 2013 @ 10:49 pm
LOVE this post; so fun seeing all you are doing. Your haircut looks amazing and your boys are adorable. I hope your acid reflux is getting better. Sending you hugs from NYC.
xoxo
LOVE U!!!
Comment by The Healthy Apple — April 10, 2013 @ 3:36 am
“I miss the rain!” made me smile huge. I can picture him and even hear him saying that!
If that chocolate whiskey tart is from the Baked guys, I made it for Harry’s birthday. Oh, my. I loved it. Whiskey whipped cream to top! :)
Comment by Kathleen — April 10, 2013 @ 4:40 am
Great post Dana! I’ll have to try that tip for the strawberries.
What are your thoughts of the Jerusalem cookbook? I’ve heard some great reviews but was wondering what you thought?
:)
Comment by Natasha @ Smorish — April 11, 2013 @ 10:00 am
Honestly Natasha, I’m still on the fence about that book. I love Yotham Ottolenghi and Plenty is one of my top 5 books. This one is amazing for the story and the photos and the food I have made from it is delicious. It think there is just too much meat, I feel very limited by what I can make from it. If I ate meat, I would not hesitate to buy it.
Comment by dana — April 14, 2013 @ 8:50 pm
Yes Kathleen, that very tart! So good! So easy! I wand to post about it so I will just have to make it again. Darn. :)
Comment by dana — April 14, 2013 @ 8:50 pm
I’ve never visited Seattle, but I’ve never heard anyone say bad things. I’d probably have trouble with too much rain.
The kale and soba noodle salad looks fantastic.
Comment by Timothy — April 16, 2013 @ 9:25 pm