The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

We just returned from a weekend jaunt to Seattle for the sole purpose, to quote Daniel, “to eat properly.” To start our culinary weekend, we raced into our hotel and hungrily snatched up a bottle of wine and four snack boxes from Starbucks. Not gourmet, but when you’re hungry, culinary perfection is overrated.

There was enough time before our dinner reservation for me to do a little shopping. My usual haunt is the Nike store where I cross my fingers, hope for sales, and if nothing else, kill some time. Nike has moved their store to Bellevue, but across the street is a North Face store. As usual, I impulsively bought a few things, which I will return in a few hours.

Our Friday night dinner was in the West Seattle area, and I was pumped. I knew it was a Japanese restaurant by the name, and I was ready to indulge in some great sushi. I suppose I should have previewed the menu online; it was Japanese but there wasn’t a fish in sight. The meal was good, but a little too light. I was glad we gorged on Starbucks snack boxes first. To add to my “no fish dismay,” it was raining, and we had to walk over a block to find the place; I looked and felt like a wet rag. We were seated on the patio with a ferocious heater that substituted as a hair dryer; that helped save the night.

Saturday morning, I proudly went to the fitness center and ran on treadmill, lifted a few weights and did some sit-ups. I wanted to be ready for our breakfast at the crumpet shop and then of course, the evening’s dinner. After one and a half crumpets for me and three for Daniel we needed to move, and NOT to another eating place.

We headed to the Seattle Art Museum, always worth the walk. Their galleries are beautiful and it’s an eclectic collection, with several docents to direct you or answer questions.

On our way to the museum, I saw a storefront with images that I immediately recognized from one of Daniel’s vast mix of books. It was a gallery exhibiting the photography from the “Modernist Cuisine: The Art & Science of Cooking” by Nathan Myhrvold. Daniel knew the writer was an inventor, scientist, and physicist, however he hadn’t been aware that Myhrvold was also a professional photographer, professor, and had gone to culinary school in France. All of which amounts to an approach to his craft that includes the sensibilities of artist, scientist, inventor, and gourmand.

In addition to all his accomplishments and accolades, what impressed me was that he is a Washingtonian who currently lives in Bellevue. Not all the photographs were of food. There were jaw dropping photographs shocasing the beauty of Eastern Washington, including the Palouse, meandering wheat fields, and yards of garbanzo beans.

After an afternoon of art, we were ready for our Saturday night dinner. We were not disappointed. It was a fun, interesting and delicious dinner. This time, we didn’t need fortification from Starbucks before dining, I’m glad we didn’t snack after our morning crumpet extravaganza.

Then of course, the flight home. I’m not sure what the occasion was, but the Seattle airport was jammed. Daniel lost his patience before we had even gone through security. We were sent to three different TSA areas before finally getting through to the gate. I figured It was going to be the longest short trip we’ve been on in a while. At least the new jets on the Seattle to Walla Walla route made it go by a little faster. It was good to be home, and eating simple again.