by Ashley Lodato, Bluebird Grain Farms staff writer Arriving at Kirkland’s Cafe Juanita feels a little bit like arriving at the home of a friend. A friend who is an exceptional cook and fantastic hostess, with a fabulous house and enviable yard. Although the mid-century modern house has served as a restaurant for more than… Continued
by Ashley Lodato Bluebird Grain Farms staff writer photos courtesy of Cow & Clementine Like many people, Cow & Clementine bakery owner Joe Cowan found himself having trouble digesting wheat. But unlike many people, Joe sought and found a solution. After consulting with his father, the renowned holistic physician Dr. Thomas Cowan, Joe began baking… Continued
by Ashley Lodato Bluebird Grain Farms staff writer Imagine these items on a menu: Asian Beef Rice Bowl with Broccoli Spring Roll, Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich, Chicken Yakisoba. Vegan Chickpea Masala. Sounds like the kind of place you’d want to eat, right? Then imagine those menu items created from scratch using locally and regionally sourced… Continued
By Brooke Lucy We almost missed two months of posting our newsletter. Jeeeeeez…. I don’t know if we have ever missed a month in the last eight years. Alas, life has caught up with us, no excuses, here are some of the reasons why… I attended two food shows in the last two months, The… Continued
Spring! Sort of. Truth to tell, the birds all seem to think spring is here though April has come along begrudgingly. I’ve begun the seasonal habit of taking coffee on the south porch as opposed to fireside, to better hear and see what really is going on. From this perch I’ve been listening to both… Continued
by Ashley Lodato staff writer, Bluebird Grain Farms photos courtesy of Sage Mountain Natural Foods As if farming, running a fermented vegetables business, teaching in Wenatchee Valley College’s sustainable agriculture program, and raising three kids under the age of 12 weren’t enough, Danielle Gibbs had to go… Continued
by Ashley Lodato Bluebird Grain Farms staff writer Perhaps more so than any other cuisine, Italian cooking is imbued with the rich and comforting flavors of love, and the pizza and other dishes that come out of the Nonavo Pizza kitchen are a vibrant example of food steeped in this tradition. For chef Joey Chmiko and… Continued
by Ashley Lodato Bluebird Grain Farms staff writer photos by Aubrie Pick With a resume that includes culinary leadership at restaurants named for the Pacific Northwest’s most renowned explorers, Executive Chef Dolan Lane might be mistaken for a man who favors hardtack and pemmican. After all, the namesakes of Portland restaurants Clarklewis and Meriwether’s survived… Continued
“ The desolate, deserted trees, The faded earth, the heavy sky,” Oh, I can’t help but quote Robert Frost’s My November Guest when one of my absolute favorite months settles in. Indeed the trees are bare, and skies have turned heavy here right around the year’s earlier Thanksgiving. This, however, only after weeks and… Continued
by Ashley Lodato / Bluebird Grain Farms staff writer In these times of corporate conglomerates, independently-owned businesses are a welcome prospect and employee-owned co-ops are downright refreshing. Sno-Isle Food Co-op (Sno-Isle) located in North Everett, WA, is one such breath of fresh air. The 21-year-old non-profit retail food source is democratically governed by a board… Continued