Chef Gaynol

Royal Rose Radicchio

The nice folks at Royal Rose Radicchio sent me a ton of radicchio to try out.  Radicchio is actually one of my favorite lettuces in salads and this gave me the chance to try it in some summer recipes.  The radicchio pictured above is Radicchio di Chioggia.  It's the most widely available variety and is especially prized for it's vibrant maroon color and sharp, intense flavor.

Wild Kingdom Bainbridge Island Edition

Hi All!  I've been traveling over the last several weeks but I hope to be back blogging soon.  Until then here are a few photos of the furry creatures who I am convinced are secretly planning a takeover of our humble abode.  If we're ever missing,  put the screws to the chipmunks.  I'm convinced they're the ringleaders.

Spur Gastropub

  

 

We stopped in to visit Spur Gastropub for the first time a couple weeks ago.  It was one of those rare, warm Seattle days which resulted in me being slightly sun burnt and really sweaty. In an effort to show off my new pedicure, I'd made a disastrous shoe choice for schlepping through the city.  My resulting mood can only be described as nuclear. Woe unto the poor restaurant that displeased me tonight.  

We walked into the small building and were immediately greeted by an amazingly thin woman who whisked us to our table and quickly provided us with water and cocktail menus.  My imminent meltdown was averted. 

 We started our evening with a couple of drinks.  I had an Empress, which was a refreshing mix of Jamaican rum, grapefruit and st. germain.  One of the things that made this drink so wonderful was it arrived at the table chilled.  It felt like liquid ice slipping down my overheated throat.

Next to arrive was a small, white ramekin of crunchy bites.  We were chomping away trying to figure out what we were eating when my PIC  (partner in crime) said, "they taste like corn."  Our server called these "fancy-pants corn nuts."  They start out by blanching white hominy and then they're fried and coated in seasoning.  The final product is a crunchy, corny blast with just enough salt so the nuts taste seasoned but not overly salty.

Olympic Sculpture Park Farmers Market

Hey Seattle shoppers!  There's a new farmer's market in town with a location that can't be beat.  The Olympic Sculpture Park will be hosting a farmer's market every Thursday from 3:30 - 7:30 p.m.  They've got over thirty local farmers signed up along with some mighty fine food booths.  So you can get a little snack, pick up some produce and wander through the sculptures in the sunshine (Finally!  Thank you Mother Nature!)

Ice Cream Recipes

I've been getting requests for ice cream recipes, so here are a few from years past.  For those of you who are not so patiently waiting for my mint chocolate chip ice cream recipe,  you're going to have to wait a little longer.  Something got into the mint on my front porch and we are back to square one while I wait for it to regrow.  Sorry!  Here's the recipe for the rocky road ice cream above.  Or if you're more of a strawberry fan...