We’re actually a hundred miles or so from here now. In the Yakima Valley. We wine tasted some. We drove in the blistering heat (thank goodness for A/C in the car). We bought wine at Canoe Ridge in Walla Walla before we left there yesterday morning, that will be shipped home. Dave tasted wine at Millbrandt and had some shipped from Thurston Wolf And I think we’re topped up. Or tapped out. On wine. Not that we won’t have some with our dinner, but I think we’re done with wine tasting. Unless we make the side trip to Woodinville (near Seattle) to taste DeLille. That’ll be later today. We’ll see how interested we are in wine by that time. After we’ve gone over the mountain passes, breathed in the pristine clean air at higher altitudes. Hopefully COOOL air. Lordy, it’s hot in this part of the country.

One of my readers, Cindee J, suggested we stop in Zillah to see a national historical landmark, a funky previous gas station, in the shape of a teapot, called Teapot Dome. Looked cute as a bug from pictures  she sent me. The signs indicated which exit, but the directions stopped just as we got off the freeway. We drove around some, and couldn’t find it. Drove the full length of the town of Zillah and waited for 10 minutes at a dead stop for road construction to clear so we could continue. Guess I should have stopped to ask directions from somebody. So, sorry Cindee. We tried.

We stayed in a nondescript motel/hotel in Selah. We had a marginal steak dinner at a local eatery. And did I mention it was HOT? Get me back toward ocean.

Our first night in Walla Walla, we ate at Saffron, a Mediterranean restaurant a couple of blocks from 2nd Street, the main drag of Walla Walla. It was off-the-charts delicious. The menu was unusual – it contained numerous items that you won’t see on most restaurant menus.

I started off with a glass of house made sangria. This was no plop-a-piece-of-fruit-on-top kind of sangria. But one that contained a variety of local, seasonal fruit, obviously marinated for some time before serving. It was a tall glass, an ample serving. And really good. Dave and I shared an arugula salad with fresh spring peas (pictured above), some shaved cheese and some thinly sliced prosciutto on top. It was very tasty. A bit too much dressing for me, but it was good nevertheless.

Dave ordered a steak with kale and beans on the side. The kale was tender and barely cooked, so it still had form and texture. I ordered a guinea hen which was tender and juicy, and served on a bed of farro (perfectly toothsome), some smoked bacon and a few shreds of hearty greens (maybe more kale) as well. I wanted to eat every bite, but couldn’t finish it. It was too dark in the restaurant to take a picture, and I don’t do flash. Too rude, I think.

Dessert was a delish panna cotta made into a pie with an amaretti cookie crust. It was perfectly sweetened, a small serving which was fine with me, and a nice ending to a very special meal. With the wine and tax, our dinner was $106. I’d go back there for another dinner if I visit Walla Walla again.

 Saffron, 125 West Alder Street, Walla Walla Washington 99362, Phone: 509.525.2112

Our second night in Walla Walla we went to Brasserie 4, a very cute French bistro restaurant in downtown Walla Walla. A very different menu again, not the usual French fare. Certainly bistro food, though. Only 3 dinner selections (bouillabaisse, mussels frites and steak frites), but they had several appetizers, some cold plates, some nice sounding salads, croque monseurs and two quiche of the day offerings.

We ended up ordering a charcuterie plate (which would have been enough to serve about 6 people, I think). I wish they had offered a smaller portion but also some cheese. But that’s not the French way (cheese is only served after dinner, I believe). Then I ordered their freshly made cold baby turnip soup (picked that morning from the chef’s mother’s personal garden). Dave had French onion soup, which he proclaimed delicious. My soup was sensational. We’ve been eating so well these last few days, we called it quits after that. We were both contentedly full. The restaurant doesn’t have a website, but here’s Trip Advisor’s comments.

Brasserie 4, 4 E. Main St., Walla Walla, WA 99362, Phone:  509.529.2011

What a cute place this is. Charming atmosphere, spacious rooms, delightful patio if the weather cooperates, and some very fine dining. And very pleasant hosts as well. Alexa and Charles are a perfect pair – she runs the front of the house and he’s the professional chef who will prepare dinner for guests (by prior arrangement) and does lots of catering on the side too. And likely the recipes for breakfast are his, although they have an assistant who does the actual cooking each morning.

The inn has several guest rooms, a spacious dining room, a beautiful kitchen, and tucked in the back is a professional catering kitchen where Charles does most of the catering/cooking for events and dinners. One of the nights we stayed they were entertaining two different groups for dinner. So there was no room for us to have dinner with them. But if breakfast is any indication, the dinners are likely to be special. Just reserve it in advance.

The B&B breakfast was very nice – a quiche, some fresh biscuits and scones, fresh fruit, and an apple bread pudding (which they make from the leftover scones and was the standout of the breakfast offering, in my book). Copious amounts of coffee, of course, and friendly conversation with the other B&B guests.

Dave is thinking we need to make this an annual event – visiting the wineries in Oregon and Washington. Each time we come there are more new wineries to try. This area is just getting into high gear with high-tech tasting rooms, although some are still a kind of barn-like affair too. Something like Napa Valley used to be about 30 years ago.

During the daytime we visited just two wineries, both in downtown. Dave had a copious list, and specific wines he wanted to try. No way could we go tasting in 6 wineries and sample everything they had to offer. He sampled one or two in each place, with little more than an ounce. We can’t buy much wine because we would not want to leave it in the hot car anywhere. So we’re buying just enough to enjoy next week.

The Fat Duck Inn, 527 Catherine St., Walla Walla, WA, Phone: 888.526.8718

Sorry, I don’t have any photos of this restaurant. Or the food. I know, a picture speaks a thousand words, but I just didn’t feel like photographing in the restaurant that night. It isn’t a fancy place necessarily and casual attire is fine.

Just trust me, okay, that the food is worth it? Our dinner was really wonderful. We ordered a little lighter meal, actually – we both had some local wine (most restaurants in the area serve a preponderance of local wines).  They served us some fresh bread including a paper thin baked lavash with some kind of seasoning on it. Very different. VERY good.

We both ordered a scallop appetizer as our entree. It was 3 gorgeous sea scallops on a bed of onion puree with some microgreens sprinkled on top. And some little drizzles (I think it was extra virgin olive oil and balsamic) around the plate. Dave and I both wished we could have picked up the plates and licked them clean. The onion puree was to die for. Probably local sweet onions (Walla Walla sweets) is my guess. Dave had asparagus soup (cold, a brilliant bright green) and I ordered a rustic cherry tart with their house made vanilla bean ice cream. Splendid is all I can say. Hood River isn’t exactly in a mainstream location, but they do have some great restaurants.  Don’t miss this one if you happen to be driving through. Open for lunch and dinner, plus Sunday brunch too.

Celilo
16 Oak Street, Hood River, OR
Phone: 541 386-5710

Sakura Ridge - the B&B on the left - the owner's home on the right

In the last couple of years I’ve become a regular reader of Trip Advisor – the website that contains nothing but user reviews of hotels, restaurants, and things to do in places around the world. Whenever we’re traveling and I want guidance, I go there to read what others have had to say about a particular B&B, or to get ideas about restaurants. Having never stayed in Hood River before, I searched for the low-down on B&B’s, our preferred kind of accommodations. There were other places I considered, but in the end I kept reading rave reviews about Sakura Ridge.

The couple who own it have lived in the area for a long time. Deanna and John Joyer have a working organic cherry orchard. It’s a large spread, including lots of bee hives for pollination too. In yesterday’s post I had one picture of Sakura Ridge and one picture of Mt. Hood. The B&B is located on a mountain top and has just a spectacular view of the mountain. It’s so close you feel like you could reach out and touch it.

The original part of the home was a “kit home,” the kind of log cabin style that comes in a huge shipment, everything you need, to build a home. Then you put it together. You might need help from an electrician and a plumber, and maybe laying a foundation, but it’s  a nice home for a relatively moderate price, so I hear. Anyway, the Joyers bought the property with the log home, added onto it at some point and now they have their own side of the house (also log) and the 6-bedroom kit cabin is the B&B. They’re seamlessly joined together and you’d hardly know it was once a separate part Makes a perfect adjunct to their living quarters. The whole house has a clean, finished look and ambiance, though. There really isn’t anything about it that feels like a cabin. It’s home; a large home at that.

Anyway, the rooms are lovely. The environs spectacular, that’s all I can say. If you’re ever in the neighborhood, you should make a point to stay. Deanna served a extremely tasty breakfast (3 couples were overnighting there) which included some fresh greens, strawberries, herbs, etc. from her own large garden. We enjoyed a piece of a potato and kale quiche, some small sturgeon and salmon cakes, the greens, ample fresh fruit, including the just picked strawberries, rustic toast and a bowl of Deanna’s home made granola and yogurt. And, of course, some hot coffee or tea. She also included a small banana and berry smoothie for each guest too.

The B&B is located several miles outside of Hood River off relatively straight roads. No particular mountain curves, but you come over the crest of the hill and there in all its glory is Mt. Hood. And the B&B nestled in the cherry orchard.

Sakura Ridge Farm & Lodge
5602 York Hill Dr.
Hood River, OR 97031
Phone: 541 386-2636

Driving through the Hood River (and Gorge), we stopped beside the river briefly and here’s what met my eyes. Temp: 65. Sunny, Warm. Comfortable. Not a person in sight. Below is Mt. Hood.

After reaching the Columbia River (inland from Portland) we stopped in the town of Hood River. Had a delicious lunch at the Hood River Hotel cafe. Sat outside and enjoyed glasses of lovely local wine. Visited one winery (not memorable) and then off we went to our pre-reserved B&B. Once we topped the ridge, that is the scene. Is that not spectacular? As I’m writing this, it’s 5 pm, we’ve already had enough wine today. Dave is out on the porch (where I took the picture of Mt. Hood) reading and I’m about to join him.

The B&B, called Sakura Ridge Lodge, is located high on a mountain knoll, faces Mt. Hood. Upstairs there is the community living and dining area. Our room is downstairs, in the kind of dark area just in the center of the picture. The Mt. Hood room. What a gorgeous place.

Roadside waterfall on Rogue River

If you drive north out of Medford, Oregon, you’ll go through some really beautiful forests. Part of the road parallels, or snakes next to, the Rogue River. It’s a 2-lane road, hard to view the scenery and still pay attention to the driving. But this scene popped up just beside the road and I quick-like pulled over and hiked back to this view.

We sampled Mouvedre, Grenache, Syrah, Cab, Rhone blends, a chocolate Port (yup, I bought one of those) and a Muscat Canelli. Visited three wineries (Narrow Gate, Holly’s Hill and Miraflores) and my DH bought 2 cases of wine. They’ll get stored in a closet at our daughter’s home until we make the return trip to Southern California in a couple of weeks.

It’s hot here today – in the mid 90’s – and not much fun to be OUT in. Too hot to sit in the car. Almost too hot to sit on chairs outside the wineries. We’re glad to be back in the house with A/C running. Here’s a picture I took on one of the side roads. Beautiful little creek. Our grandson says it’s Weber Creek.