lummi island wine tasting jan15 ’21
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Bread This Week
Pain au Levain – “Levain” is more familiat to Americans as sourdough. It’s made with a nice mix of bread flour and freshly milled whole wheat and rye flours. After building the sourdough over several days and then mixing the final dough the dough gets a long cool overnight ferment in the refrigerator. This really allows the flavor to develop in this bread. A great all around bread – $5/loaf
Cinnamon Raisin – Made with a poolish of bread and fresh milled whole rye flour fermented overnight before the final dough is mixed with bread flour and freshly milled whole wheat and rolled oats. Unlike a sugary cinnamon roll, this is a hearty rustic loaf with the cinnamon is mixed throughout the dough. Great for breakfast toast, even better for french toast. – $5/loaf
Chocolate Babka Rolls – A rich pastry dough full of eggs, butter and sugar, rolled out, spread with a chocolate filling, rolled up and cut into individual rolls. – 2/$5
Wine of the Week: Maryhill Winemaker’s Red ’16
Over the last decade Washington’s Maryhill Winery has been making more and more, and better and better wines. The winery is located at a “wide spot in the road” in the town of the same name on the Columbia River near Goldendale. The town has a fascinating history. Perched high on the north bank of the Columbia, the winery provides visitors with a panoramic view of the Columbia Gorge. Quite spectacular.
The winery produces some fifty different wines from vineyards across Eastern Washington. Therefore, like most large wineries, there is a lot of fruit left over after the best fruit is selected for flagship wines, the next best for its second tier, and so forth. Each year the leftover red juice is blended in many different combinations to find the best blend for that year’s juice, and put into the Winemaker’s Red. Similarly, the leftover white juice is blended into that year’s Winemaker’s White.
All of that results in wines that are tasty and inexpensive. And since we are devoted advocates of wines that offer a lot of quality per dollar, we often stock this wine.
We will be offering complimentary tastings of this wine during Bread Pickup!
Maryhill Winemaker’s Red ’16 Washington $13
Wine Emergencies…Who Ya Gonna Call?
While Covid continues to limit our movements and associations, we will continue to help you keep your wine shelves topped up. We know how it is…one minute your wine shelves are reassuringly stocked, and the very next day you reach for something and OMD, where did it all go?? It happens to all of us during these undifferentiated days and weeks of semi-quarantine.
But fear not, mis amigos! When a wine emergency strikes YOUR wine pantry, just click on the Order Wine link in the header above to browse our list of currently available wines with tasting notes and prices. When you have made your selections you can phone us with your order or email us using the Contact Us link above. We will confirm your order and make arrangements for pickup/delivery at your convenience. EZ-PZ!
Mar a Lago Update: Tea Party Grieves Loss of Mad Hatter
In 2011 A Pew Research study based on the 2010 mid-term national election showed that Tea Party supporters made up 41% of the electorate, and 86% of them voted for Republican House candidates in that year’s election. The study found that those who self-identified as Tea Party supporters not only had substantially more conservative views on taxation, government spending, and corporation rights than other Republicans, but also had more conservative views on abortion, immigration, and gun rights. It was a growing political force, dating back to Gingrich.
In 2018, Lawrence Rosenthal wrote a lengthy and absorbing piece for the Othering and Belonging Institute at Berkeley called
Trump, The Tea Party, The Republicans, and the Other. The article clarifies and unifies a number of seemingly disparate trends we have all observed over the past four years…and which relate in a very real way to the finding noted above in 2010.
We all remember when Trump became a viable candidate in the Republican debates and began surging ahead in the polls. It was his promise to build The Wall that would keep out “those Mexican rapists and murderers” who were swarming across our Open Borders by the tens of thousands. This position was not something he made up. Rather, he learned it was the Tea Party’s No. 1 issue by listening to right-wing talk radio and hearing Tea Party Nation’s Judson Phllips say, “…amnesty is the defining issue. There is no middle ground. There cannot be any form of amnesty. We need a president who will put the interests of Americans first.”
And that was that. Trump is not without skills. He has been a professional con man his entire life. He was in his element. Everything after that was easy: he had the Tea Party, the new majority of Republican voters, in his pocket. In fact there was a report during his ascension in the polls when numerous supporters were interviewed. Curiously, they all dismissed everything he said except for one or two phrases that convinced them that He Understood their particular kind of pain. This kind of emotional salesmanship is the hallmark of a true psychopath, who unconsciously knows when to use the lure of carrot and threat of stick to elicit the desired behavior.
Later in the article Rosenthal discusses how, philosophically, the broader context of the Tea Party illustrates Nietzsche’s view of the interplay between Resentment (anger toward members of the Superior classes), and Contempt, its opposite (disdain for members of Inferior classes.). Very broadly speaking, this point of view suddenly sheds a new light on the last ten years (or more) of American politics, one which has really come into sharp focus in the past few months and days. Numerous liberal late night talk show hosts regularly taunt their attitudes to the point that “The Tea Party Right is acutely aware of, and deeply resents, an attitude in the liberal world that regards them as the backward, almost premodern, fraction of American society.” Ouch!
It is a terrible thing to feel inferior, and it is a terrible thing to make another feel inferior. It is (by definition) the mark of Gentlefolk do neither. Could it be that the root of all human discontent derives from such a simple thing as feeling inferior or making another feel so? Is that why Tea Party Republicans are always so Angry? Why at Congressional hearings they are incapable of talking in declarative sentences? Why they seem incapable of speaking without raising their voices, without sarcasm, without exaggerated disrespect? Why people invade the Capitol with willingness to kill and destroy?
Two thoughts:
- It is always a bad idea to confuse people by acting angry when you feel hurt, because people respond to what they see. Show me anger, I will be defensive, show me hurt, I will be supportive. It’s not complicated. Just ask for what you need; don’t confuse people.
- An old Kung Fu episode ended with Caine lamenting to an angry young man he has befriended, “My friend…what a difficult path you have chosen.”
lummi island wine tasting january 8 ’21
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Bread is Back!
Multi Grain- Uses a preferment where a portion of the flour, water, salt & yeast is mixed and fermented overnight before mixing the final dough to begin the enzymatic activity and gluten development overnight in a cool environment. The next day it is mixed with bread flour and fresh milled whole wheat and rye, then flax, sunflower and sesame seeds are added for a nice bit of crunch and some extra flavor. – $5/loaf
Rosemary Olive Oil – also made with prefermented dough like the multi grain and then mixed with bread flour and a bit of freshly milled white whole wheat for a little more flavor and texture. Fresh rosemary from the garden and olive oil to make for a nice tender crumb and a nice crisp crust. A great all around bread – $5/loaf
and pastry this week…
Fruit & Spice Rolls – A nice change of pace after all those holiday sweets. About half whole wheat but still have plenty of butter, sugar and egg for flavor and a tender crumb. Dried cranberries, golden raisins, and fresh oranges, and an interesting mix of anise, cinnamon, mace and cardamom are topped with demerara sugar before baking for that extra bit of sweetness and crunch. – 2/$5
Wine Emergencies…Who Ya Gonna Call?
While Covid continues to limit our movements and associations, we will continue to help you keep your wine shelves topped up. We know how it is…one minute the wine shelves are reassuringly stocked, and the very next day you reach for something and OMD, where did it all go?? It happens to all of us during these undifferentiated days and weeks of semi-quarantine.
But fear not, mis amigos! When a wine emergency strikes YOUR wine pantry, just click on the Order Wine link in the header above to browse our list of currently available wines with tasting notes and prices. When you have made your selections you can phone us with your order or email us using the Contact Us link above. We will confirm your order and make arrangements for pickup/delivery at your convenience. EZ-PZ!
Mar a Lago Update: Long National Nightmare Almost Over
Four years ago, in late February of 2017, just a month after the “Biggest Inauguration Ever,” and the contemporaneous worldwide Women’s March, many of us were still in Denial that this disaster from Galactic Left Field had somehow actually really happened. Below are excerpts of a letter I sent to Senator John McCain at that time. Though time has confirmed our reason to be concerned, no one except perhaps Michael Cohen could possibly have imagined how bad it might really get.
Dear Senator McCain,
Thank you for your excellent speech at the recent Munich Security Conference. As a fellow graduate of the Naval Academy (’67), I share your deep concerns about the rise of Authoritarianism both in Europe and here in the United States, and was reassured by your strong position on preserving our common values.
Your comments also suggest that you are as disturbed as many fellow Americans that a man as singularly unqualified as Donald Trump should have somehow become President of our country. He consistently demonstrates a severe narcissistic personality disorder, the emotional maturity of a spoiled child, and the critical thinking ability of Lewis Carroll’s Mad Hatter.
Perhaps no quality of leadership is more important or less appreciated than maintaining a steady and reassuring hand on the tiller. Yet each day Mr. Trump remains in office adds more chaos and confusion, upsets long-established expectations at home and abroad, and undermines our ability to achieve and maintain our strategic and economic interests around the world.
Beyond the issue of his ability to meet the demands of the office, serious questions have also arisen about Mr. Trump’s financial ties to Russia and other foreign governments, with frightening implications for our nation’s security. Therefore Congress must insist that he release his tax returns, divulge in detail all financial relationships, and divest from all that present even the merest hint of conflict of interest. These security concerns must transcend party politics, and you are in a unique position to be a unifying force on this important issue.
Fast forward to today, four years later, and events of the last 24 hours have recalled to us Gerald Ford’s remarks as he was sworn in as President on August 9, 1974, just minutes after the official resignation of Richard Nixon: “My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over.” And in a way it was, through the Ford and the Carter 70’s, when ordinary people did pretty well. But since Reagan took over in 1981, real (adjusted for inflation) wages have remained essentially constant while all the gains from increasing worker productivity have ballooned the pockets if the 1%.
Yesterday’s occupation of the Capitol by Fox-fed, brain-dead, Trump-led zombies and a growing authoritarian Republicanism is a wake-up call we ignore at our peril. Every Congressional Republican who supports the Big Lies of “Voting Irregularities” and “Rigged Elections” is now exposed as a fascist-racist Authoritarian. Their sense of Entitlement to Power. Their Disdain for critical thinking. Their disgust with Diversity. Their inability to speak without yelling. Fear-biters. For at least the next ten years we turn our backs on them at our peril.
lummi island wine tasting new year’s day 2021
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A Toast to the Good Old Days
Let’s face it, 2020 has been emotionally and economically challenging, an endurance test for most of the planet. Humankind enters 2021 with hope for a better world that brings the pandemic, climate change, inequality, and social division into peaceful integration– all very big challenges as long as environmental destruction remains profitable to the unscrupulous.
So, as we turn the calendar to the New Year of 2021, we can find some encouragement by looking back to a few reminders of the good times, good friends, and good cheer we have enjoyed in in our little wine shop over the years…in the collective hope that we may begin enjoying them again soon in 2021!
After all, we are social animals, and we need each other. We need food, clothing, and shelter to get by, and conversation, humor, closeness, and hugs to thrive.
Aye, let’s all raise our glasses to that!
Best wishes to all for the Best Year Ever in 2021!!
Standing By For Wine Emergencies
While Covid continues we will continue to be here for your wine needs. When a wine emergency strikes YOUR wine pantry, just click on the Order Wine link in the header above to browse our list of currently available wines with tasting notes and prices. When you have made your selections you can phone us with your order or email us using the Contact Us link above. We will confirm your order and make arrangements for pickup/delivery at your convenience.
Mar a Lago Update: Duck Season Ending Soon
please stand by…
lummi island wine tasting dec 25 ’20
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Bread Countdown
The whole year has been strange and stressful. Now here we are at Christmas Eve, just home from a “drop by” outdoor gathering on Mike and Diane’s back deck down the street. Lots of munchies, a bit of wine, beautiful view…and…brrrr…cold!
Pat made some simple and delicious piroshkis (left) that were hot when we left home with them, but the heat didn’t last long. Still, they were very satisfying with a little soy sauce and mulled wine! Diane made lots of lots of delicious goodies, and several other neighbors dropped by. Social distancing protocols were followed and it was reminiscent of pre-Covid days…except of course that we were Outside and it was Cold (temp in mid-thirties). It will be lovely when we can be social animals again.
Bread will return in two weeks, on Friday, February 8. Look for your pre-order email on Jan 3. In the meantime, we will continue to accept wine orders as requested.
Annual New Year’s Party canceled
This will be the first New Year’s Eve since 2005 that we will not be holding our annual New Year’s Eve celebration. Since this blog didn’t start until 2009, the first blog entry about the party was the Fifth Episode of our Annual “East Coast New Year’s Eve” celebrations. Losing a tradition brings a little sadness, so to help us all through it we will post a few photos of past parties over the next few weeks.
2009
2015
Standing By For Wine Emergencies
We will be staying close to home through the holidays. So please be assured that we will continue to be here for your wine needs. As you all know this may be the Only kind of Emergency that CANNOT be resolved with duct tape! So if a wine emergency should strike YOUR wine pantry, just click on the Order Wine link in the header above to browse our list of currently available wines with tasting notes and prices. When you have made your selections you can phone us with your order or email us using the Contact Us link above. We will confirm your order and make arrangements for pickup/delivery at your convenience.
Mar a Lago Update: Running on Empty
As we approach the end of 2020 and the end of the Tweetster regime, it is a good time to reflect, metaphorically at least, on the many obvious overlaps between the Tweetster and, of course…Chicken Little. After all, let’s admit it, over the past five years we have all been thinking about it but too shy to talk about it. Am I right? You know I’m right. So let’s just bring it out into the open while (giggle) there’s still time.
The story of Chicken Little, in various forms (my childhood reader named her Henny Penny), dates back some 2500 years. In the earliest version, a hare is hit on the head by a falling fruit, and rouses other animals into a panic. A lion, seeing the turmoil, investigates the cause of the panic and restores calm, teaching the importance of calm deductive reasoning.
Though there are countless variations on the theme of the fable, they really boil down to two. They both begin with a less than brilliant chicken who experiences a blow on the head by something falling, probably from a tree, like an acorn, but for whatever reason, decides that “the Sky is falling!” and rushes about trying to warn people of the coming catastrophe.
It appears that for some many centuries, most of the variants of the story one way or another led the predator Foxy Loxy to deceive Chicken Little and his panicky followers, leading them to his den where they are all killed and eaten by “Foxy and Friends.” The moral of this version is “Don’t believe everything you hear.” It was used in Nazi propaganda to help stop rumors.
In the other major variant, Chicken Little earns the respect of the Emperor with her concerns and saves the day, with the moral “have courage and stick to your convictions.”
And here we are today, with pretty much everyone actually believing the sky IS falling, and convinced The Other Guys are making it happen. Meanwhile, Foxy Loxy and Friends are very busy convincing both sides they are right…while also keeping them afraid they are wrong. It is a cynical but very effective strategy.
2072 Granger Way