The days are longer, the rain feels a little gentler, the patches of blue sky are bluer and the bird nesting frenzy is in full swing — it must be spring. In our kitchens, we are looking for lighter menus and timesaving dishes that will give us more time to spend gardening or enjoying other […]
Barb Bourscheidt
A Gig Harbor artist potter and community activist, Barb Bourscheidt is a freelance writer who writes on subjects of personal interest, usually the arts, gardening, cooking and the environment. A working artist, she creates pottery that reflects her love of nature, incorporating leaf motifs on surfaces of functional kitchen, garden and decorative ware. Although posts are infrequent, Barb has a personal blog at clayladybarb.blogspot.com.
Posted inFood & Entertainment
Asparagus Quiche
There is no other vegetable that speaks to spring like asparagus. It emerges from the bare ground when soil temperatures reach about 50ºF and grows rapidly for two to three weeks. Gardeners who grow asparagus understand the difference in size of the stalks, with the skinny ones being produced by young plants and the thicker […]
Posted inHome
Collecting with an Artist’s Eye
Self-proclaimed “thrift store addict” Helen Dodge uses her forays into thrift shops as a form of entertainment, but also to augment her artistic lifestyle. Her home is tastefully accessorized with colorfully decorated pottery from around the world. She is drawn to bold designs in bright colors such as that found on Italian and Portuguese vases […]
Posted inGarden
Lisa’s Leaves — An Enchanting Destination
Sitting serenely at the top of a hill with a peek-a-boo view of Sinclair Inlet is the home and business of Lisa and Dave Connelly. Towering trees border the open spaces of the 8-acre property that showcases the picture-book home, orchard, garden, flower beds, greenhouses, trout pond and chicken coop. A journey up the winding […]
Posted inFood & Entertainment
Sourdough Willy’s — an Elevated Pizza Experience
Seldom does one have the opportunity to be invited into the spotlessly clean dining room of a master pizzaiolo champion, but Kitsap residents are the lucky ones. Sitting next to the Kingston Ferry toll booth is Sourdough Willy’s pizza house par excellence. Owner Will Grant has travelled the world and honed his culinary skills since […]
Posted inFood & Entertainment
Appetizers in a Flash
Your phone dings and a favorite friend asks, “Are you home? We thought we would stop by for a few minutes.” Or, you look at the clock and think, “It would be so nice to have Dick and Jane stop in for a drink this afternoon.” Your brain clicks into entertainment mode, and myriad possibilities […]
Posted inFood & Entertainment
A Gingerbread House You Can Actually Eat
Everyone knows the story of Hansel and Gretel, the German fairytale by the Brothers Grimm. Abandoned in the forest, the children came upon a house made of gingerbread and other sweet delights, but owned by a wicked cannibalistic witch. The witch intended to fatten up Hansel and eat him, but Gretel pushed the witch into […]
Posted inGarden
A Lifelong Love Affair on the Land
The view from the farmhouse porch instills a sense of peace and tranquility, as the ever-changing light signals the progression of seasons — and only the voices of birds flitting in and out of gardens and over the flood plain below break the silence. The calm and quiet of this place has nurtured generations of […]
Posted inFood & Entertainment
Brix 25˚ — A Destination for Authentic Northwest Cuisine
Thad Lyman and Katie Doherty continue to amaze and delight Gig Harbor diners with their innovative, fresh and seasonal Northwest cuisine at Brix 25°. The menu is updated as frequently as when new food products are available, or when standbys are in short supply. Lyman — the creative chef — and his staff juggle their […]