Bellingham photos

Here are some photos from Nettles Farm owned by Willows Inn on Lummi Island.

Belly-ng-Ham Day 3 photos

And even more photos. Preparing Poffertjes in Lynden video. View from Nimbus Restaurant. Entree at Nimbus.

BELLY-NG-HAM DAY 3: FOOD FOR THOUGHT by Merle Exit

My bags are packed as I depart my sauna-style room at the Willow’s Inn on Lummi Island. Needless to say we had a tasty breakfast before our long 10-minute journey on the Whatcom Chief Ferry. It looked as if someone missed the boat as we arrived at Gooseberry Point in Bellingham.

On board Bellair Charters Shonie Schlotzhauer shared information about a 48-page brochure that she had written called, “Sustainable Connections Whatcom Food & Farm Finder” that allows consumers to easily find 132 farms, markets, restaurants, and caterers that are dedicated to food locally produced in Whatcom County. The adventurous itinerary that followed certainly allowed for experiencing this phenomenon.

It was far past the 15-minutes of traveling and feeling a little weak our first stop was to Everybody’s Store in the town of Van Zandt, located in the foothills of Mt. Baker. Jeff Margolis, who originated from Brooklyn, gave us a tour of this exotic grocery, noted for its specialty cheeses, custom made sausages and selections of international ingredients. The surprise was finding true bialys, something that tends to be a New York known “bread”.

After some cheese tasting we were taken to the back for a tour of the garden of fruits, vegetables and herbs. This was followed by further noshes of the garden’s berries and a few other tidbits to sustain us until our next venue, Cloud Mountain Farm in the town of Everson.

What began as an apple orchard has turned into a 20-acre farm with a multitude of fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers. I slowly hiked up the mountain to check out the hothouses of tomatoes and peppers. Most of the tomatoes are “heirloom” with a variety of sizes and colors, all of which sported a different flavor. More of a sampling would be done during dinner as Josh, the Executive Chef of Nimbus, laced his bill of fare around this and a few other local farms. The wine grape vines were for show at this point as the growth had not blossomed as yet. However, our next stop was to the Samson Estate Winery.

Located in the Nooksack River Valley, less than 15 minutes (thank goodness) from Cloud Mountain Farm, it is a small family-owned operation noted for the raspberry and blackberry wines produced by their winemaker Rob Dhaliwal. We were led to the raspberry field and let go to pick and sample. You’d think that I was deprived of food on the entire trip the way I just couldn’t stop eating these absolutely most delicious and largest raspberries I’ve ever indulged in.

Not only were they sweet but also lacked those tiny little seeds that get stuck between your teeth. Having been joined by representatives of the Washington Red Raspberry Commission, we got the low down that 65% of all US raspberries are grown in Whatcom County. The fresh ones that you tend to buy from Driscoll may be fresh but not picked when they are fully ripened. Thus those annoying seeds are embedded. The raspberries from Washington are either sent to companies to “juice” or frozen. It means that you have to read the package to be sure that it did come from Washington. I’m still hunting for them. In the meantime, as August is the season for raspberries on the East Coast, particularly Long Island and New Jersey, I will compare them.

As far as the wine tasting, we were provided with lunch (I know that your laughing) to pair with their various wines including one regular raspberry and sweeter dessert version.

It’s off to Lynden for the Raspberry Festival. I love this town, Washington’s largest Dutch settlement with 30% of its residents still embracing their Dutch ancestry. I know that we’re there specifically for the festival, but I just needed to sample some of the Dutch fare, specifically the sweets. It was at least 15 minutes and they were making something called “Poffertjes” (little pillows)…then there was the Dutch bakery and Dutch chocolate shop. Oh yeah, the raspberries. We had a freshly made vanilla ice cream with a chunky raspberry sauce.

The Dutch chocolate shop didn’t compare to our next stop, Chocolate Necessities, back in Bellingham (Hey…more than a 15-minute ride). Kevin Buck uses the finest grade of Callebaut Chocolates for most of his creations. Aside from tasting the various cocoa percentages of both dark and milk chocolate, we went to the kitchen where he was preparing chocolates with fruit. We just had to sample those. This was the first chocolate store where I was able to taste Amarena cherries dipped in chocolate.

It wasn’t long before dinnertime at Nimbus Restaurant, located on the 14th floor of Bellingham Tower, the tallest building in Bellingham. Great views! What did Josh prepare for us? Marbled King Salmon Tartar – cherry tomato, California olive oil jam and powder. Braised Lamb Shank – grape leaf, golden raisin, pine nut “risotto”, Meyer lemon puree. “Chili Relleno” – Buffalo mozzarella, heirloom tomato, Guajillo relish, basil. Crispy Pork Belly – tart cherry mustard, thyme spaetzle. Sous Vide Washington Halibut – summer onions, house cured pancetta, baby turnip confit, fava bean puree, sunflower sprouts (and, of course, more wines).

We had to pass on dessert as this final day’s venue was taking place at Silver Reef Hotel, Casino, Spa, located in Ferndale, where we were also bedding for the night. Amongst the dessert offers were: chocolate rockettes, a pastry topped with chocolate feet; a peanut butter cookie creation (created by pastry chef Audrey Hursh); and both a flaming bananas foster and cherries jubilee prepared tableside. Sparkling gets created using powdered cinnamon.

The Lummi Nation is responsible for the acreage used for this resort and operates the casino. I didn’t partake in the casino due to the smoking, nor the spa due to my time constraint as I was hosting my radio show there. You can listen to two shows about Bellingham on Whirl With Merle on www.blogtalkradio.com I did get a great night’s sleep in a most comfortable king bed, that had a chocolate on the pillow. Oy! www.silverreefcasino.com

Although I didn’t get to visit some of the other culinary delights participating I would like to thank Holmquist Hazelnut Orchards, Red Barn Lavender, BelleWood Acres, The C Shop and Glacial Lake Missoula Wine Company. Needless to say much thanks is given to the staff of Whatcom County tourism for assisting in my amusement and humor.

Belly-ng-Ham Day 3 photos

Here are some more photos from Day 3. Samson Estate winery provided a lunch pairing with wine. Raspberries grown in Bellingham. Video of raspberry picking while I'm running.

Belly-ng-Ham Day 3

My final article of Day 3 will be available soon. Here is a preview of photos. Nosh in garden of Everybody's Store. Windmill at Dutch town of Lynden. Pastries in Lynden.

Mystery Package Delivered

It was about 20 minutes prior to my radio show when UPS arrived with "The Package". I could smell the aroma of a rotting apple...and yes, its was. The smell wasn't overwhelming due to a company sending us lavender. Let's begin with the bottle of wine that I wasn't even sure about. Aside from being a red wine, which I am allergic to, it was paper wrapped and then wrapped in bubble. When I removed the paper, I noticed that the foil top was almost removed and a part of the cork had risen from the top. I'm not sure what that means, and if it has to do with its arriving almost two weeks later. Next, there was a company called C Shop that gave us a gift box of various chocolates and other candies. The box was crushed and all candies were melted, some of which the wrapping was opened and stuff had oozed out and onto much of my press kit papers. There was a pint of honey roasted peanut butter, but the plastic container had cracked and some of the peanut butter had oozed out. Then there was this Camembert Cheese, having not been refrigerated for about two weeks. Pretzels in a small plastic bag had gone stale. Only salvageable food was the bag of some special hazelnuts. I think I'll have them with a bottle of Blue Moon beer.

As The Package Turns

After going out for the day I return to find a message from Andrika (not sure of the spelling) who owns up to placing the wrong address on the label and says that I should be receiving the package tomorrow (Thursday). Wait! Did someone from PURPLE SMILE WINES call UPS yesterday as instructed so that I would get the package today. Although she apologized for the error, someone didn't own up to the truth when I asked if the call was made yesterday. How do I know? Tracking, again. It says that at approximately 1 p.m. EST, the package was rerouted to the correct address. That means that the call must have been made today. So, now the contents of the package, which was handed over on the 18th will not be seen until the 30th. Good grief! In the meantime, due to having not called early enough, the package was again delivered to the wrong address and no one was home to sign for it. Hey, it simply states that an adult has to sign for it. The person could simply to that I enjoy the bottle of wine and smelly cheese.

I'm really wondering who the UPS guy was that made the delivery to the wrong address, as we're talking about two blocks away. With so many UPS deliveries here, you'd think he'd know my last name by now. Tune in tomorrow for the results.

Mystery Package

Leaving Bellingham,WA on Saturday the 18th I decide to request that the organizing group send me a package of various items that were picked up along the trip, such as press kits and food. I am waiting for the package and ask when it should arrive so that I can complete my articles and do have a concern about a large wedge of cheese. I'm not sure as to whether there was a bottle of wine as I did take home a bottle of red wine, wrapped it up well and placed it in my luggage to go under the plane. When I opened the luggage, it appeared that security needed to look at the bottle of wine but did not wrap it up in the jacket to cushion it. However, it did not break. Okay, back to the package. I am told that the package was sent out on Tuesday and will arrive by Friday. It is sent via a place called Purple Smiles Wine in Fairhaven as they are licensed to send alcohol. Friday is arriving (still concerned about whatever perishable food has gone in there)and I call Purple for a tracking number. Seems that it was shipped UPS Ground and to arrive on Tuesday, the 28th. I stay home and am even concerned about hitting the toilet so as not to miss UPS. It is supposed to arrive by 7 p.m. and it is now 6 p.m.

I check the tracking again to find out that at 5:06 or whatever, there was no one to sign for it and it states that an adult has to sign for it. I call UPS to find out that the package was sent to 9434 instead of 9134. UPS says that I either have to hike over to their building (not a place that you can take public transportation and even if I did, it would cost me $4.50 rt (the fares here went up) to pick up this 8 lb package of which I don't even know what the fark is in it anymore.

I call Purple and they say that they put it into the system as 9134 but not clear as to what actually went on the packing slip...or who put the address on the packing slip. Now, UPS says that they have to call UPS to tell them of the error in order for me to get the package delivered to my home. They say that they will take care of it and call me back with the information. Despite a few calls, I am not called back.

Okay, so let's say that they take care of this tomorrow (Wednesday), I probably won't get it until Thursday as I picture rotten fruit and a wedge of cheese which was originally a white cheese and has become a sort of bleu cheese. I also picture the UPS guy needing to wear a gas mask and swatting flies.

Now, it is possible that UPS made an error. They have done this before...big time as I addressed the labels of three packages for pickup and even wrote the addresses on the boxes and despite my effort, all three packages went to the same location...two were going to Pennsylvania and the other to Minnesota.

So I await to see the mystery package and who will own up to placing the wrong address. If someone was home at the 9434 address, they could have simply signed for it and kept it. It didn't request my signature...just one of an adult.

Tune in for "All My Packages"..."As The Package Turns"...."One Package to Live" or "General Bellingham".

Bellingham Day 2 - Yummy Lummi

Here are some of the food photos from Willow's Inn restaurant, Taproot Pub on Lummi Island. Top left Potato & turnip soup with greens, radish buerre fondue. Top right Bacon wrapped king troll caught salmon, polenta & peas, bordelaise sauce, parsley salad. Bottom Shaved Zucchini, squash blossom & pecorino salad, sherry shallot vinaigrette, poached egg, caper berry.

Bellingham

I'm back from Bellingham, WA. Fabulous place to visit. Will be writing all about it, but here's a few photos. I'll be eating my way through Bellingham. Fairhaven building on the top left. The other is a photo of the owner of Fairhaven Village Inn, where I stayed the first night.