Happy Birthday Stone House

Throughout the summer and for other special occasions (New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day) Ryan does wine dinners on Sunday nights.  It is a great way for his customers to learn more about the amazing wines of Washington and the Pacific Northwest and provides a way for Ryan to be creative in his menu planning.  I am constantly amazed by what he does and I am always thinking he could never top this, yet each time is better than the previous one.  The biggest wine dinner is on the anniversary of The Stone House opening in September of 2008.  It is always with Stevens Winery.  Tim Stevens has been a family friend of the Donaldson's for years and now has his own winery, with some of the best wines in Washington.  If you ever have the opportunity to try his wines do not miss it!  I love these wines!  This year's Anniversary Dinner was really incredible.  Ryan did 12 courses with 5 main wine pairings and two different champagne pairings.  The dinner ran four hours but as a customer that night it never felt that long because I was constantly being challenged and surprised by the menu.  I am so proud of Ryan and the hard work, dedication and passion he puts into his work every day.

Menu of the fantastic dinner to come

Course #1: Oyster, Creme Fraiche, Caviar paired with champagne

What a decadent and rich way to start the evening 

Course #2: Textured Mojito

Think Mojito jello shot!  On top is spun sugar (read cotton candy) toped with mint - delicious

Course #3: Lemon, Sage, Sugar

A lovely palate cleansing amuse, I took a small bite before I took the picture, opps! It was like a little sponge that melted in your mouth

Course #4: Sope, Coconut, Red Pepper paired with 2010 Stevens Viognier

So yummy! The sope corn cake on the bottom topped with fresh crab, on the side a gelee of red pepper and coconut topped with avocado, spicy and smooth

 

Course #5: Salmon, Peach, Hazelnut, Lily paired with 2010 Stevens Viognier

This was the first of the interactive dishes on the menu, notice the salmon is over a bowl of lilies, the waitresses brought out hot steaming water and poured it into the bowls so that the smell of the lilies emanated the room and brought the flowers of the wine into the food.  Oh and the food was pretty amazing too!  Salmon cooked perfectly crusted in hazelnut with a peach sauce, wow!

Course #6: Dork Balls, Zucchini, Tomato, Cheese paired with 2008 Stevens Cabernet Franc

This was a really fun play on an old classic spaghetti and meatballs!  The Dork ball is a meatball made of duck and pork - read oh so delicious!! the Zucchini are sliced and cooked quickly to have the consistency of noodles with a tomato sauce and little cheese on top.  This was one of my favorite courses of the night.

Course #7: Duck, Endive, Marionberry, Licorice paired with 2008 Stevens Cabernet Franc

Perfectly cooked duck over sauteed endive and a licorice sprinkled on top with a marionberry dipping sauce.  This really complemented the Cabernet Franc beautifully.

 

Course #8: Foie Gras, Toast, Blackberry, Licorice paired with 2008 Stevens 424 Blend

Just a last little amuse before the last two main courses, a little foie gras decadence with blackberry and licorice to bring out the flavors of the wine, probably my favorite of the Stevens Winery the 424 blend!

Course #9: Buffalo, Fig, Gnocchi, Goat, Grape paired with Stevens 424 Blend

This was another perfectly cooked piece of buffalo and another interactive moment of the dinner.  The fig part of the dish is that encapsulation over the gnocchi (handmade of course).  You would break the encapsulation with your fork and out would pour a lovely fig sauce to enjoy with the buffalo, gnocchi and the goat cheese in the middle of the plate.

Course #10: Wagyu, Potato, Red, Blue, Rosemary paired with Stevens XY Cabernet Sauvignon

This was the most fun and I think the best dish of the night.  Let me start with the wagyu that was again cooked to perfection and melted in your mouth.  Now see the little glass on the top left part of the plate?  There is a small sprig of toasted rosemary inside, as you lift the glass the scent of the rosemary again permeates the room and flavors both the wine and the dish.  Potato- yes a little pomme frites on the side and Red and Blue? It's that little square on the top right a small square of blue cheese topped with a cabernet sauvignon gelee (the Stevens XY to be exact!)  This dish was perfect you would take a small bite of the wagyu with a chantrelle mushroom a few pomme frites, a small piece of the Red/Blue and then take a sip of wine, PERFECTION!

Course #11: Corn, Gelato, Crust, Banana, Curry paired with Stevens Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc

This was a delicious and fresh way to begin the end of the evening.  A very clean tasting corn gelato with pie crust and curry butter.  I really got a lovely honey taste from the dish and the wine it was so nice and clean and light.

Course #12: Chocolate Red Wine Truffle paired with Stevens special dessert wine

Pure decadence in a small bite to end the evening with Tim Stevens giving our table a little special dessert wine.  

First let me say that my pictures do NOT do this meal justice.  One of Stone House's regular customers should be putting some pictures on the facebook page if he has not done so already, so please look at those if you get the change.  Again, I cannot express how amazed and impressed I was by everything placed in front of me on this fantastic night of eating and celebration.  I think one thing I really enjoyed was seeing the process develop this year, whether in my kitchen or from the ideas and inspiration Ryan drew on from our dinner together in Chicago and from reading about several world famous chefs.  It was so neat to see him in his interpretation and memories of those experiences.  I am so proud of him and honored to have experienced this meal!

Vegas Baby!

As a final hurrah of summer and to celebrate Sue's (Ryan's mom) 60th birthday the Donaldson's, and their significant others headed to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada!  We all flew down on Saturday of Labor Day weekend and stayed at the Flamingo.  Great pool and great location on the strip.  We spent the long weekend, lounging by the pool, shopping at all the fabulous shops, dinning out at fun restaurants and of course just living it up and enjoying the night life.  Oh and how can I forget partaking in Sue's favorite drink - the Bella Peach - at the Bellagio, at least twice a day!  

A view from my spot at the Flamingo pool, I loved soaking up the sun

The girls! Sue, Carrie, Joni and Sarah on our big night out in front of Caesar's fountains

We really made sure to BLING it out and always travel with minis! Too much fun!

Ryan and I at the Fremont Street experience in old Vegas

Me and Norelle, it was so great to see one of my Chicago girls!!

On our return trip to the strip we found it easier to travel by limo, this was a 60th birthday celebration!

Probably my favorite picture of Sue from the trip she looks so excited to be in the limo

On our last night in Vegas Ryan and I ate at Olives in the Bellagio Patio.  We had an incredible view of the famous Bellagio fountains it was very nice and romantic.

Ahhh a final view of the strip.  Lots of great memories from this trip, I can't wait to go back

I'm an Outlaw Cowgirl!

The last few weeks of summer I helped out Joni, Ryan's sister by watching the kids for a few hours.  I love spending time with them and have really become closer to all four of them this summer.  One of the times I watching them Miss Caitlyn showed up in this outfit...

So we have pink rubber boots, a sequined cowgirl hat with a skirt and tank top.  She told me she was an outlaw cowgirl!  Her hair was a super cute side french braid, to that she said she was "going Swifty"!  

A House by the Lake

This summer was also full of big decisions and big moves!  My first contract with the travel company was complete on May 1st and I was extended for another 3 months through the end of July.  In June the managers at Seattle Children's offered me a permanent staff position starting in August.  I gladly accepted the position!  However, this meant that I would not have housing provided by the travel company and I would need to move.  Ryan and I started looking for places to live together in the Seattle area.  An area we focused on was the Green Lake area.  Yes, the same Green Lake that I have talked about in other posts, I was very excited to start exploring the area.  We found that renting a house was a great option for us, as it had lots of room for both of us and for Roscoe!  On the first trip (actually the first house) I found a very cute little Craftsman the the west side of Green Lake right on the edge of Green Lake and Phinney Ridge.  It was a 3 bedroom/2 bathroom house with a corner lot and basement too.  Even luckier for us, it was empty and move in ready with in two weeks!  Our new home is two blocks from the lake, two blocks from highway 99, just about 10 minutes to downtown and also close to the hospital.  So our packing began and the last week of July Ryan and I moved to 703 N. 67th Street!

View from the front.  We love to relax and eat dinner on the porch.

View of the living room from the front door, we can't wait to use the fireplace

The Kitchen, I am really enjoying all the counter space

This room is the Master, but we actually moved to the downstairs bedroom because this was so bright in the morning with it's skylight.  It's beautiful, but not so great if you work night shift.  This is now Ryan's office and will be a guest room when you all come to visit!!

Jack and Jill bathroom between the upstairs bedrooms

Downstairs bathroom

The view of Green Lake from just a block east of our house

Roscoe really likes his new house! 

Choose Your Adventure!

Adventure racing is one of the latest and greatest trends in running.  It is a way to test your endurance, use your brain and have a great time!  Some examples are the Muddy Buddy, Warrior Dash, and the Mud Run.  I tackled, and successfully completed the Oyster Race and the Great Urban Race.  My first experience was the Oyster race which has several options, the full Oyster which includes biking and running with challenges all over the city, the half oyster - same idea only half as many challenges, and the individual Oyster - only on foot and five challenges but you can use help from other individuals.  Ryan's sisters Carrie and Joni joined me in the fun!  We had a great time and even got a cowbell as a medal!  ANY race that has a cowbell as a medal is pretty awesome if you ask me.

Sarah, Carrie and Joni after mastering the Oyster Race!

My next attempt at an adventure race, was much more akin to The Amazing Race.  In this particular race the top 25 teams qualify for the National Championship!  You may or may not know that I am pretty competitive and it is a dream of mine to qualify for a National Championship in something.  So Ryan and I set out to tackle the Great Urban Race in our matching Washington Husky gear.  We were very systematic and opened our clues and took a few minutes to make a plan for the race to eliminate as much wasted time as possible.  (Unlike the Amazing Race - in the Urban Race you get all 12 clues at the beginning there are about 300 teams competing, so it's necessary to do it this way) We mapped a great plan and started out on about a mile run to the Market.  About halfway there I somehow tripped over a barricade in the middle of the street and slid across the road and twisted my ankle.  Oh yes!  Did I mention I am a klutz???  I got up shook off the fall and we competed very very hard and finished at team #20!!! We qualified for the National Championship, bleeding legs, bum ankle and all!  It really was a great experience I would highly recommend to anyone, well except the getting injured part!

The National Qualifiers!!!

OUCH!!! Road rash!

Oregon Coast Get-a-Way

If you are a devout follower of my blog you will remember that for Christmas Ryan surprised me with tickets to see Wicked in Chicago and an outfit to boot!  If you haven't read that blog post you should go back and check it out.  It was so much fun and I was so surprised.  Anyways maybe you were wondering what did Sarah get for Ryan?  That is a fantastic question!  I bought Ryan a weekend      get- a -way to the Oregon Coast.  We dropped Roscoe off at the "grandparents" and headed down PCH to Depoe Bay, Oregon.  Our first stop was Oregon Wine Country.  Last year Ryan had an amazing opportunity to attend OPC - Oregon Pinot Camp.  It was a great opportunity to learn more about the amazing Oregon wines and meet several winemakers from Oregon.  One of those winemaker was from the AMAZING Domaine Drouhin.  A quick stop by the winery and buying a bottle of wine was a must!

View from the winery tasting room out onto the vineyard, WOW!

 We continued on our way down the road to lovely little Depoe Bay, Oregon to The Harbor Lights Inn.  A very cute small hotel run by a husband and wife who even cook breakfast in the morning for all the guests.  Needless to say Ryan and I had a very relaxing weekend and enjoyed beautiful views from the coast.  This was a very different beach experience for me as I really have only been to more tropical beaches.  But I think these beaches are even more beautiful!  We shopped, ate lots of fresh seafood, walked on the beaches ,visited Rouge brewery, went to art galleries and relaxed and read books.  A great trip!

Just one of the amazing Oregon coast beaches

I love the contrast between the rough edges of the rocks and the pristine water

These black rock bluffs are amazing!

Wow!  It looks like they are sprouting right from the middle of the beach

So cute!  Sarah and Ryan on the beach!

The view from our last dinner at Whale's Cove Inn just south of our hotel, breath taking!

Orcas Island -Beach Haven

Every year Ryan's family goes on a vacation to the San Juan Islands, specifically Orcas Island. The San Jauns are a small chain of islands accessible only by ferry boat in the Northern part of the Puget Sound on the Canadian border. I can't really even explain how beautiful it is in Orcas Island, the pictures below will have to be my words. It is also the most relaxing place! There is no cell phone service, as when you arrive to the Beach Haven resort area your phone tells you, "You are now in Canada", and no TV. Reading, Kayaking, Hiking, Exploring sea life,Board games, trips into town are the highlights of every day here. Honestly I can not put into words what an incredible place this is. Be warned there are a LOT of pictures. Enjoy! And if you EVER get the chance please go to the San Juans!

Mason and Dyllan playing on the beach

A view of Canada, yes CANADA, from the beach as we read our books

Little island for good fishing affectionately called "Goose Poop Island" by the kids

Gone Fishin' to Goose Poop - truth is we caught a lot of jellyfish and not so many real fish

First Sunset in Orcas

Goose Poop at sunset

There are no words, amazing!

Morning tide pool classroom, this is a starfish!

Sea Anemone! These are soooo cool!

Yes a fairy princess skirt is a necessary accessory to a bathing suit!

View of the Beach Haven cabin from the tide pools

Unbelievable view from the summit of Mt. Lookout a view to all the San Juan Islands

Last sunset at Orcas, I think this may be what heaven looks like