Fall is the time of year when all the winemaking happens. It’s “go time” from mid-August (for some wineries harvesting early-ripening grapes like sauvignon blanc) until early November. For most of the wineries in Western Washington, harvest season means multiple trips back and … read more
Just in time for Oktoberfest, the little purplish blue Italian prune plums ripen — and all over Germany, slices of sweet, succulent “zwetschgenkuchen” fill the cases of pastry and coffee shops. This cake is also a popular dessert at Oktoberfests and all German … read more
Preserving farmland is an indispensable part of Erin Smith’s life. “I want to save farmland,” he shares. “I believe the best way to prevent farmland from turning into developments is to incentivize its use as farmland. In other words, make it easy to … read more
I’ve been making this salad for 20 years and have tweaked it enough times to make it my own by now. This salad is best at the height of summer, when fresh corn, beans and tomatoes are at their peak of flavor. I … read more
The rosé season is upon us, and pink wine is all the rage. Not the pink, white zinfandel your mother (or maybe even you) used to drink, but dry, crisp wine made from red wine grapes. To make a rosé, you can start … read more
Although this column generally deals with something baked or sweet, this month — in acknowledgment that nearly everyone already has a favorite zucchini bread recipe — it includes a couple of savory dishes that can be served for a summery brunch, lunch or … read more
At 3:45 p.m. on a weekday afternoon, Agate Restaurant is abuzz with staff preparing for the doors to open at 4:30 p.m. Napkins and silver are freshly rolled and carefully placed on each gleaming table, along with water glasses and candles. As the … read more
With so many bottles crowding the shelves of your favorite wine shop or grocery store, it’s hard to know what wines you might like, especially when the label doesn’t even tell you the kind of grape is in the bottle. With a simple … read more
Nothing says summer like a leisurely glass of lemonade in the backyard and a light, melt-in-your-mouth cookie to accompany it. Lavender shortbread, an unusual, easy-to-make cookie, is sure to get high praise from friends and family. Herbs of all sorts have been used … read more
