I'm finally getting around to posting about the fantastic meal we had the other night at a 14-acre dairy farm on Vashon Island, Washington.
These dinners are held every Sunday night and most everything on the table is grown or produced on the farm (with the exception of coffee and sugar and flour and salt and a few other things). This meal was like living Michael Pollan's book, The Omnivore's Dilemma.
I'd post the name of it but the owner asked me not to. He'd rather stay under the radar; I respect that.
Here is the proprietor:
Here is the chef, Tyler Palagi and his delicious gougères:
Gougères are savory choux pastries made with cheese — in other words, French cheese puffs. They are SOOO good. Especially with a nice glass of white wine (sorry, I forget what it was).
Chef Tyler Palagi is from Seattle's Spring Hill.
I really want to go there, after reading their dinner menu. Can you say Veal Sweetbreads, Duck Egg Yolk Ravioli, Pork Liver Paté, and Lardo? Oh, and Spruce Needle Cured Moose?
I ask, does that not make you want to run as fast as your legs will carry you to Spring Hill?
Here's my sister, readying herself for the onslaught of courses (there were many):
So many courses that I was not able to capture them all — but I will try to enumerate most of them…
We started with a Winter Squash Soup with Sauteed Currants:
Then we had this fantastic raw milk cheese (similar to a Camembert) made right there on the farm:
Then this amazing carpaccio (thinly sliced raw beef):
Along with that, we had “Tongue & Cheek” — a plate of pork tongue and cheeks. Fabulous!
There was also some delicious tomato jam, something I had never tasted before but was so very good.
And some homemade pickled lemon cucumbers.
And some kind of cabbage salad.
And a plate of carrots and peas in butter.
And then some scrambled eggs — made from pastured eggs, of course.
Um, yeah, we're missing some photos here. I guess I was too busy eating to take pictures or take notes. :-) Can you blame me?!
After that we had this pasta — made with butter and garlic and shell beans:
Then we had Beef Bourguignon. And Yukon Gold potatoes mashed with butter and cream.
And finally, for dessert: strawberry milkshakes made from raw milk from the Jersey cows on the farm. And some dessert wine (sorry, I didn't catch the name).
And lastly, coffee that was roasted for us on the spot:
Don't these people look happy?
We were blissful. Good food does that to you.
It was a stunning, perfect meal and I would go back every week if I could.
If you want to attend one of these dinners, held every Sunday on a dairy farm on Vashon Island in Washington State, email me or comment below and I'll mail you the info.
My goodness, you sure do find some GOOD places to eat at!! Between this and the burgers, my mouth is watering :) HAHA!
I only wish we had some nice places like that to eat at around here.
Hi,
I just wanted to let you know about a chance to vote on raw milk on Obama’s official website. If you go to http://change.gov/page/content/openforquestions20081229/
and put in ‘raw milk’ on the search it will come up with 5 questions on raw milk. Obama’s official website is seeking opinions on the top issues for the new year. We need your votes. Currently one question asks, “should raw milk be legal?” and the response currently is 50%yes and 50%no. Let’s help Obama make a ‘change’ for legalizing raw milk for everyone!!!
Kathy
Mmmmm looks so delish!
(hey just a heads up, you did post the name on another post I only remember because I’ve been reading their blog)
Happy New Year!
Diane
My bad….looks like you already got it! Way to go! It’s a sad state when we have to live under the radar. I mostly try now to do so anyway. What’s this country coming to? I really do hope Obama will listen to the voice of the people. We can always hope. (by the way, I think it’s too late to vote. I tried again yesterday and they said it was closed.)
Diane
Oh wow! It all looks delicious…especially the cheese. Was this Sea Breeze farm? I would love to go out there and pick up some of their bounty…it’s not too far from me…hmmm.
I was just able to vote, Diane you might want to try again.
wow, amazing, i want to go there sometime this coming year!
Oooohhhhh the cheese looks so creamy and yummy I just want to taste it!!! I love the pastries too…it all looks so nutritious and mouthwatering. How wonderful that you posted this for us to see! Thankyou ;)
holey moley…. coffee roasted on the spot????????? Whoaza. How do you get to eat at a place like that??????