Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Favorites from the Pacific Northwest


The month of May has come and gone in a quick blur. I injured my back and was out of commission for the first half of the month. I had to get better so that I could go on vacation for the second half. I just got back from an Alaskan cruise with additional days in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. It was a really great time.

I was really excited to each Alaskan King Crab Legs right there in Alaska. Our breakfast waiter recommended Twisted Fish Company in Juneau. We went there after our tour and had to wait over an hour. By the time they got seated they told us they were out of crab legs! The only ones they had left were the legs with the claws. We said that was fine with us! They were good but nothing special. In fact, we later found out that all crab legs get frozen immediately so the we ate the same freshness of crab there in Alaska that I do in Chicago or Tampa. But at least we got to say we at crab in Alaska.

Some of my top foodie highlights from my trip:

The June tasting menu at Raincity Grill in Vancouver, which is known for their seasonal local food.

Poached Pot for breakfast to Mosaic Bar & Grille in the Vancouver Hyatt. This consisted of ham, asparagus, spinach, stewed tomatoes and poached eggs.

Noshing at the Granville Island Public Market in Vancouver. My mom got the freshest cherries we had even eaten! I got an amazing beer shrimp salad and a few other things. I really wished I lived there so I could shop and use all the fresh food in my own kitchen.

Fresh oyster's at Twisted Fish in Juneau. They were from local waters and the best I have ever eaten.

Tea time on the cruise ship. I'm very easy to please when you give me cucumber sandwiches and scones.

Fish and chips made with fresh cod at Steamer's in Ketchikan.

Eating spicy Indian food on the balcony at Moxie's in Vancouver.

Ice cream in Butchart Gardens in Victoria. Not that the ice cream was anything special, but it was a beautiful place and pretty hot, so an ice cream cone was perfect.

Wine and Thai peanut legs at Milestone's in Victoria overlooking the harbor.

Buying tea and wandering through the market in Vancouver's Chinatown.

Indulging in the Tasting Menu at CinCin in Vancouver where we spent as much per person and we should have for the entire meal.

I also can back with a The New Alaska Cookbook: Recipes from the Last Frontier's Best Chefs. I can't wait to get back in the kitchen and get cooking!


6 comments:

foodette said...

Wow, that sounds like a great trip! I agree, saying you ate crab in Alaska is a must, but that's funny that it's no fresher than if you had had it anywhere else. Kinda like how they say frozen shrimp is fresher than un-frozen, because it hasn't thawed yet - they were all frozen at one time.

Madeline said...

So glad you're back! I missed your food inspirations.

Anonymous said...

That is my kind of trip! Food inspired. Glad you had a great time and that you are back.

Valentina said...

Hi Rachel, this is my first visit to your blog. I got to know it through Kaylin and the weekend herb blogging event. I shall be submitting my post tomorrow. It sounds as if you had a great holiday. That's great! I shall be coming back to read about your new book and its recipes.I have never been to Alaska. HAve only heard great things about it.

Katie Zeller said...

Hi Rachel, I, also, just sent you my post.
I am so jealous of y our Alaskan cruise. I've wanted to do that forever! Now it's really far away...
The menu looks really good - altho I've never had spotted prawns...

Anonymous said...

what a whirlwind! :) glad you're up and about again :)