Day 1: E-ville to Yakima

Day 1: E-ville to Yakima, Oct 5, Friday

Sorry girls, you aren't old enough yet to pick apples

Quote of the Day: What is the wine’s name?

Weather: Nice in E-ville, raining in Portland (moderate) and in Yakima (lightly), temp around 50

THB and DB are off to Tieton for a short adventure: apple picking in the orchards of CC and SC. We opt for the scenic drive option: fly to Portland (on Southwest, not Hawaiian Air), rent a car, drive 3 hours to Yakima and set up at the Hotel Maison.

The flight is loaded and ready to go on time then we sit at the gate for what we believe is air control slowing things down for the Blue Angels rehearsal. THB takes the opportunity to catch up on his sleep. We arrive about an hour late, walk and bus around the airport for what seems like a half hour to get to the Budget off airport office and pick up our generic white 4 door sedan.

The drive is easy and pretty, the first hour is a repeat of a drive along the Columbia River that we did with SA and DA recently. Because of the on-going drizzle we don’t get much of the light on the water; the stone canyon walls are very pretty with a fuzz of dried bush and grass covering the rocks.

Our room at the Maison is very spacious and a bit eclectic since there is about 150 sq ft of wasted space between the door and room proper. Short unpacking and we’re off to dinner with SC and CC at Crafted, a few blocks from the hotel (downtown Yakima is not all that expansive except for the wide roads going through the middle of town).

Full and loud

Not so full and very easy talking

For the first part of the meal, the place is packed and loud; out table is right in the front. For the last hour or so the two tables right behind us are empty and the decibel level goes down considerably. Two more apple-picking couples show up, and after introductions, we finish up dessert and head back to the Maison.

Overall, the meal is excellent: eclectic, dishes made to be shared, and a terrific wine for THB and SC, Gilbert Cellars Allobroges Red (a Rhone style blend), 2 drinks, 5 glasses of wine, $170 per couple.

Pics from dinner:

THB's fave, Elk Tartare

Shrub Steppe Farm heirloom tomatoes, brioche crumbs on the side

Shrub Steppp Farm potatoes with house choirzo, farm egg and sweet onion - a meal by iitself

Roasted cauliflower with smoked almond picada

wild boar tagliatelle with guajillo chicharron and creme fraiche

seared Alaskan weathervane scallops with corn, cornito rosso and braised pork belly

Another full meal: grilled petite tender steak covered with bonito flakes with okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake) 

Graham cracker ice cream, chocolate, toasted housemade marshmallows, graham cracker crumble

YOWZA!!! Sweet and smoky, terrific

butterscotch budino

 "the little bake shop" apple pie with Ritz cracker ice cream, made to feed a family of four...or six....or eight

Pics from here and there:

This guy with the rifle is rotating non-stop

Restaurant and Sports center?