Saying Goodbye to the Salmon

I’m not ALL about beer, since I also enjoy travelling and food.  It is just that when I’m traveling I immediately think of the places with the best beer selection first.  But as the trip winds down, I realize that I should take advantage of the food offerings that the region is known for and I have to adjust my plans.  That is where I am tonight, my last night in Seattle, and I’ve realized that I haven’t had any salmon yet.  So Kevin and I headed off to a restaurant that was highly recommended by friends, Chinook’s.

Chinook’s is located on a harbor where part of the salmon fleet is moored, so I can’t imagine getting any fresher seafood than this.  The view is great and the people are real nice.  And then there is the menu, offering large portions of their seafood specialties.  Kevin got the fish tacos (he’s really a fan) while I started off with a cup of New Jersey clam chowder.  Intrigued, I was a little disappointed when I found out that it was simply a mixture between New England and Manhattan, but it tasted good (especially with dashes of Tabasco).  I then got the wild Copper River sockeye salmon (the Chinook was $12 more).  Salmon from the Copper River are arguably some of the most flavorful in the world, and this dish was cooked on alder planks for a delicious smokiness with red pepper butter.  It was delicious, especially with Anthony’s Pale Ale from Scuttlebutt brewing.   And although I typically don’t get dessert, they had a rhubarb tart ala mode that was to die for.

We were stuffed, so we went for a walk on the piers and at a local park.  Good views for remembering this beautiful town.  We went back to one of my favorite bars from the week for a nightcap.  I found out that Brouwer’s Café had the same owner as the Bottleworks, which is why they had a limited edition bottle of Bottleworks XII brewed by The Bruery.  This beer was brewed specially for Bottleworks XII anniversary.  It was classified as an imperial wit, using Berliner Weisse yeast, with red raspberries added and aged in red wine barrels.  It was fantastic, a great ending to our last evening in Seattle. 

 
I loved my week in Seattle, but it is time to get home to start our vacation.  My daughter Jessica celebrated her last day of elementary school today, and I wasn’t able to make it to her moving up ceremony.  I’m so proud of her and Jacob, I can’t wait to get home and give them both a hug. - 5785/10987

"Filled with mingled cream and amber, such hilarious visions clamber, through the chambers of my brain, quaintest thoughts, queerest fancies come to life and fade away; What care I how time advances; I’m drinking ale today." – Edgar Allen Poe