Showing posts with label Wenatchee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wenatchee. Show all posts

Saturday, May 18, 2013

WA Weekend: Wenatchee's Summer Sips and Savories

We’re taking a quick detour from Greece to tell you about a couple great reasons to put Wenatchee, Washington on your summer travel list. First there’s:

Ohme Wine and Food Gala, July 13th, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

CashmereVictoriaBC 061

We attended this event last summer which is set in the midst of Ohme Gardens, a lush treed oasis high overlooking Wenatchee, offering stunning views of the Columbia River Valley as well. We are still talking about what a fantastic time we had there!

This year,12 Wenatchee Wine Country wineries will provide the sips to go with savories from 12 of the top chefs in North Central Washington, using locally farmed food. We can assure you, they start planning the pairings weeks in advance to give you the most amazing array of tastes.

CashmereVictoriaBC 064Live musicians provided the background music as we strolled through the terraced gardens sipping and sampling. They’ll be doing it again this year.

Note:  while it is an extremely popular, well-attended event, you don’t find yourself tooth-to-jowl with fellow attendees as can happen at similar events near Seattle.



CashmereVictoriaBC 062

Attendees will experience the pairings of: Viscontis  and Jones of WA Winery; Cured and Malaga Springs Winery; Tastebuds  and Horan Estates Winery; Ivy Wild and (Beaumont Cellars; Smokeblossom and Martin-Scott Winery;  Shaktis and Crayelle Cellars; Windmill and Stemilt Creek Winery; Iwa Sushi and Voila Vineyards; Cashmere Cider Mill and Baroness Cellars; Inna’s Cuisine and Saint Laurent Winery; The Eatery and Esther Bricques Winery;  Chateau Grill and Chateau Faire le Pont Winery; and Cave B and their Tendrils Restaurant.

Ticket info: The gala is a benefit for Ohme Gardens so the price is: $60 per ticket if purchased by June 30; $70 July 1-12. Tickets can be purchased at www.wenatcheewines.com, Ohme Gardens, or the participating wineries.

The New Pybus Public Market has opened –

After more than a year of dreaming, planning and construction,Pybus Public Market, the second-largest, covered year-round market in the State, opened its doors last weekend in a remodeled 1940’s building in the heart of Wenatchee. Food vendors aplenty are filling its stalls, check the link below for details. 

Soon it will be sporting a bright neon red sign similar to Seattle’s Pike Place Market, the largest covered year-round market.

CashmereVictoriaBC 044The Wenatchee Valley Farmers Market, located in the west parking lot of Pybus Market, also opened last weekend.

(They do have wine tasting at this market – a ton of fun.)

Pybus Market will be open seven days a week starting at 7:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. on Sunday. Tenant hours will vary. A list of tenants and their business hours is available at www.pybusmarket.org.  Grand opening: Saturday, June 22, 1 p.m.

Getting to Pybus Public Market, 3 North Worthen):

Wenatchee is about 150 miles from Seattle by car. Flights from Seattle on Alaska/Horizon air.

CashmereVictoriaBC 055(Easiest tip: It is walking distance to the Columbia River bridge, pictured to the left.)

Wenatchee Ave traveling South: Take a left at 2nd Street down to Columbia. Turn right and follow Columbia south to Orondo. Turn left at Orondo and cross the railroad tracks. The entrance to the market is straight ahead.

Wenatchee Ave traveling North: Take a right (east) on Orondo Avenue and cross the railroad tracks following it right down to the market.

Map picture

Happy Travels! We’ll have some more Greek tales for you on Sunday’s Snippets and Snapshots.
If you’ve not signed up to receive our posts, just head to the home page, www.TravelnWrite.com.  Sign up box is in the right-hand column.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Washington Weekend: Our Roots in the Fruit Bowls

We were born and raised in fruit bowls.                             
Figuratively speaking, that is. 

I’m from Yakima and Joel hails from Chelan; cities some 160 miles apart in Central Washington State. It’s a land of lush orchards, truck gardens and vineyards. 

Map picture

Having now lived for many years in the bustling Seattle Metropolitan area we have a greater appreciation for our ‘roots’ and  often find ourselves drawn back to our hometowns when we need a deep breath of blue sky and open spaces.
CashmereVictoriaBC 092

Sometimes we’re so focused on our hometowns, though, that we miss some incredible places along the way.

For instance, it took an invitation from the tourism association to get us to visit Wenatchee, a charming town of just under 33,000 residents that stretches out along the banks of the Columbia River.  Located only 30 minutes from Chelan, we’ve driven past it for years, never stopped. 

CashmereVictoriaBC 056But having spent a weekend there in July, we now know we’ve missed winery tasting rooms, charming restaurants, (the one pictured is housed in the old train depot) and one-of-a-kind dress and decorator shops scattered throughout its historic downtown. I'll get to all that in a future post. For now. . .





It is August. The harvest season. And if you find yourself in this fruit bowl you can have a taste of the area at:

CashmereVictoriaBC 0311. Tiny’s Organic is a family-owned farm (and anything but 'tiny'), that participates  in a CSA (community supported agriculture) program.

This farm/orchard combo delivers weekly to subscribers of its service in Seattle just-harvested veggies and fruit. And they also welcome visitors to come experience the farm and see what they raise first-hand.

For those old enough to remember it, this East Wenatchee spread, is no relation to the famous Tiny’s Fruit Stand that operated decades ago along the highway outside Cashmere.

CashmereVictoriaBC 035Harvest of Lapin cherries had begun only hours before we arrived. 
Walking among the pickers and the bins of harvested fruit, we were invited to pick samples right off the tree (no big deal to some of you, but I had never done that before. Yes, this photo is all that remains of these lovelies - I ate them.)





CashmereVictoriaBC 026 Both young and old will love the chicken coup. Suppose this could be considered ‘glamping’ in the animal world?




Tours and Tastings:
Tours are free but do require advance reservations at Tiny’s Farm, 669 S. Ward Avenue, East Wenatchee, 509-264-3973, www.tinysorganic.com


2.  Snowdrift Cider Company, just down the road from Tiny’s makes award-winning hard cider.  I’d heard of the beverage before but never had sampled any until this visit.  I just may have a new ‘bad’ habit’!
CashmereVictoriaBC 038
Peter Ringsrud and his family operate this business that offers five blends (each with an alcohol content of 8 – 9%and slightly sparkling, meaning slightly bubbly), Dry Cider, Orchard Select, Cliffbreaks Blend, Semidry Cider and Perry.  The beverages reminded me of a cross between an Italian Prosecco and the Portuguese Vinho Verde.
CashmereVictoriaBC 041Peter led our tour and tasting, teaching us about pairing each with a particular sliced gourmet cheese and crackers. (This is the view from outside the tasting room.)

Tours and Tastings are free (but advance reservations are recommended)  at Snowdrift Cider Company, 277 Ward St., East Wenatchee, 509-630-3507, www.snowdriftcider.com

3. The Farmhouse Table Foods Market, at 10 N. Mission Street, Wenatchee, operates year round.  There you’ll find locally grown vegetables, fruits, meats, eggs, cheeses, honeys and baked goods here.  

CashmereVictoriaBC 028Food Market’s hours are May – November: Tuesday – Friday, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.. Winter hours (December – April) Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. For information: 509- 888-3010.

Our stay in Wenatchee was as guests of the tourism association, but we aren't the type to make recommendations if we didn't like the place. Speaking of recommendations, where are your favorite ‘fruit and produce’ stands in Washington? What about wineries and locally made beverages? Add a comment below or email us at travelnwrite@msn.com

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Washington Weekend: A Cashmere Sampler

DSCF0271We sampled Cashmere – home of the world-famous Aplets and Cotlets fruit candy - on a recent trip to Eastern Washington.

This visit provided a bigger slice of the hospitality and warmth found in this tiny town tucked away in the orchard lands of Central Washington than we’d had on previous stops. 

As a result, we are ready to go back real soon.

CashmereVictoriaBC 089A stop in Cashmere, (population 3,100+) located along the Wenatchee River, feels like entering a Norman Rockwell painting.

Along its Cottage Avenue, we strolled past late 19th and early 20th century bungalow-Craftsman homes with flowering gardens bordered by picket fences, wide porches, arched doorways and windows. Fifty-one of them make up a historic district listed in the National Register of Historic Places. 

CashmereVictoriaBC 090Cashmere’s history dates back to 1860 when a Catholic Mission was established along a nearby creek to serve the Indians of the area. The town that grew up was named Mission.  It  continued to be called Mission until 1904 when  -- and here’s where the stories differ – either a  founding father went to India and came back saying this town reminded him of Kashmir or . . .

. . .as www.historylink.org explains, “Judge James Harvey Chase (1831-1928) suggested the name Cashmere from a popular and sentimental poem, “Lalla Rookh,” by Sir Thomas Moore, extolling the mountainous beauty of the Vale of Kashmir in Himalayan India. The judge had once been a teacher of elocution, famed for his public readings, and no doubt this poem was part of his repertoire.”

CashmereVictoriaBC 010Mission Avenue, a block from Cottage Avenue, is home to Liberty Orchards (makers of Aplets and Cotlets) factory/store and to Mission Square, 207 Mission Avenue.

This renovated fruit packing house is home to more than 30 businesses including several winery tasting rooms, a spirit distillery, a coffee and gelato shop, tavern and in the basement we discovered the delightful workshop and showroom of a furniture-from-wine-barrel maker. (that's one of his tables is pictured here).







If  You Go:
From Seattle driving time is about 2 ½ hours. Either head east over Highway 2 via Stevens Pass or over Interstate 90 and Highway 97 (Blewett Pass).

Map picture


Lodging
Village Inn Motel, 229 Cottage Avenue, near the historic cottages and an easy walk to Mission Square. 21 guest rooms. 509-782-3522. www.cashmerevillageinn.com

CashmereVictoriaBC 016Mission Creek Cider Mill and Guest Suites, 5420 Woodring Canyon Road. Two rooms in a renovated 1910 house overlooking an orchard, 866-459-9614, www.washingtonapplecountry.com.


Information about the area:
Cashmere Chamber of Commerce, 509-782-7404 or www.cashmerechamber.com.
Wenatchee Valley Visitors Bureau, 800-572-7753 or www.wenatcheevalley.org.

Some ideas for you:
CashmereVictoriaBC 086
The Cashmere Museum and Pioneer Village, 600 Cotlets Way. www.cashmeremuseum.org.

Liberty Orchards, 117 Mission Ave. Free factory tours daily. www.libertyorchards.com.

DSCF1073




Mission Creek Cider Mill and Guest Suites, 5420 Woodring Canyon Road. Cider tastings. Snack bar. Cooking classes. www.washingtonapplecountry.com.


Mission Square: Among the businesses housed in this renovated 1937 pear packing house are:

Snapdragon Coffee Shop and Gelato – home of “Snappy Hour” a take on Happy Hour drinks but all made with juices or coffees; non-alcoholic (www.facebook.com/SnapDragonCoffeeShop)
It's Five O'Clock Somewhere (www.5oclocksomewheredistillery.com)
The Waterville Winery (www.watervillewine.com)
Crayelle Cellars (www.crayellecellars.com)
Horan Estates Winery (www.horanestateswinery.com)
Dutch John Wines (http://dutchjohnwines.com)
Devil's Gulch Drinkery (www.devilsgulchdrinkery.com)
Wine Design, custom wine barrel products, (www.winedesignllc.com)


Photos: In order: Aplets and Cotlets factory (free tours are available to the public), street scenes of Cashmere, table from a wine barrel in the entry of Mission Square, Mission Creek Cider Mill, Pioneer Village at the Museum, Mission Creek Cider bottles.


Note:  We have visited Cashmere several times in the last few years.  But thanks go to Marcia Janke at the Wenatchee Valley Visitors Bureau and Marcia Green of the Cashmere Cider Mill and SnapDragon Coffee for setting up the tour and tasting at Mission Square that we took in July.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Washington Wednesday: Road Trip Sips

A couple of weeks ago we focused on nibbling your way through our Evergreen State, so today we're sipping through Central Washington – legally, of course.
DSCF1076
We love stopping in the small town of Cashmere on our road trips to Joel’s hometown, Chelan.  Its main street is simply a Norman Rockwell painting come to life.

But it wasn’t until last month that we finally followed directional signs posted throughout the town and into the orchards that surround it to the Cashmere Cider Mill.

DSCF1073

Cider is a term used in the United States for a non-alcoholic beverage made from fruit; primarily apples.  And at the Cider Mill they have ratcheted up the art of cider making!  After the lady at the tasting counter insisted we sip one flavor, we quickly worked our way through four flavors and left  with two bottles of those we liked best -- one a traditional apple and another pear – promising them we'd be back and stock up again the next time we were in town.

Don’t let that plain warehouse of a building in the photo above deter you because they've transformed the cavernous inside into a charming store that, besides featuring their ciders, offers a tasting counter for other products and edible souvenirs galore.

DSCF1074A lush green garden area with plenty of seating borders the parking lot and makes the perfect spot to eat and drink the goodies you’ve purchased – and there's an art barn (pictured on the left) for more shopping!

For those who want to sample some of the area’s local wines, head a bit further east to the Wenatchee Valley Visitors Center, in the town of Wenatchee, where this summer a new wine tasting center opened.  For $4 you can taste wines from seven wineries and another artisan cider (this one a  hard cider – that is, one with alcohol.)

If You Go: Click the link above for hours of operation at The Cider Mill, 5420 Woodring Canyon Road, Cashmere, 509-782-3564.  Wenatchee Valley Visitors Center, 5 South Wenatchee Ave., Wenatchee, 800-572-7753.

Getting There:  Cashmere and neighboring Wenatchee are in central Washington State. Fly from Seattle to Wenatchee’s Pangborn Memorial Airport, four miles outside town.  Or take a scenic 2.5 hour drive from Seattle through Washington's Cascade Mountain range.

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...