lummi island wine tasting november 10 ’17

 (note: some photos will enlarge when clicked)

Bread this week

Barley & Rye w/ Pumpkin Seeds –  Fermented overnight with a levain then mixed with a nice mix of bread flour and fresh milled rye, barley and whole wheat flours. Some buttermilk makes for a tender crumb, honey for sweetness and toasted pumpkin seeds add to the flavor and texture. A really flavorful artisan loaf – $5/loaf

Kamut Levain – Kamut, also known as khorasan wheat, is an ancient grain that has more protein than conventional wheat. Some people who can’t tolerate wheat find kamut to be more digestible. The bread is also made with a levain that is fermented overnight before being mixed with bread flour and fresh milled whole kamut flour. It has a nutty, rich flavor and makes a golden color loaf. A great all around bread – $5/loaf

And for pastry, a rich and delicious treat…

Chocolate Babka Rolls – A sweet pastry dough full of eggs, butter and sugar, rolled and spread with a chocolate filling, rolled up and cut into individual rolls that are placed in baking forms for baking and then brushed with sugar syrup after baking. I’ve heard some people say they hide these to keep them all to theirselves. As always, quantities are limited, be sure to get your order in early – 2/$5

 

Montreal Murals

 

 

Saint-Laurent Boulevard, aka “the Main,” has for centuries been Montreal’s primary artery, splitting the city in two. It has also characterized Montreal’s inviting culture of art, food, and expression. Since 2000 it has become a unique expression of cultural, gastronomical and social avant-garde.

(compare this with last week’s Leonard Cohen mural...)

 

 

 

 

 

There are currently over a hundred of these murals along or near the Boulevard, punctuating block after block of shops, cafes, bistros, and boutiques with bold, incongruous, sometimes puzzling, sometimes profound imagery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Really Nourishing Takeway here is that Community Art like this can make any wall, any neighborhood, any Corner or any Block into Something Unique and Special…!

 

 

 

 

Tator Talk

We returned from our two weeks away to find Tator still holding her own– alert, good appetite, defending her Territory against Ulee the Barbarian. She is again able to take our daily mile-or-so walk down along Legoe Bay and back, and doesn’t seem to tire. She is having a little more trouble going up stairs than before, but we think that will pass as she weans from her meds.

Given how she was two months ago, not able to stand up or walk on her own, we are relieved and grateful that she is doing so well. We have all our paws crossed hoping she continues on this healing path. We all like to make Dog Happy whenever we can…!

 

Mar a Lago Update: Science and Opinion

At my recent 50th class reunion, I had an enjoyable but troubling dinner conversation with a classmate about politics. He and his wife are Trump Supporters, while Pat and I are Trump Resisters. So some serious Polarities. At some point the conversation turned to Climate Change, and my friend asserted that there were valid arguments that “Climate has Always been Changing,” with the implication that our current changing climate is as likely Random Chance as due to Human Burning of Fossil Fuels.

While I think we achieved some degree of rapprochement around a general disgust, disdain, and disappointment with Political Players of both parties, Acceptance of the Reality of Anthropogenic (human-caused) Climate Change seemed a Bridge Too Far for them. And that is Troubling.

That which we call the Scientific Method generally holds that at any moment in time the “Truth” is the Best Answer human inquiry has been able to come up with to date on whatever subject. Science is never finished or complete. However, it is Content to accept the Best Conclusion available at any point in time about any particular issue. In the case of Climate Change, for over forty years mathematical Climate System Models have observed the relationships among fossil fuel consumption, concentrations of CO2 and other “greenhouse gases,” ocean currents, atmospheric and oceanic temperatures and salinity, winds, rainfall and wind patterns, polar ice melting, flooding, high wind events, and so on. With each year’s new data, models are updated.

These kinds of models cannot predict particular weather events in particular places on particular days. However, they have become increasingly accurate in predicting Trends: more heat overall means higher temperatures, higher winds, more evaporation and rainfall, desertification in some areas and flooding in others, more forest fires, and so on. These are Not Opinions. Scientific Conclusions provide us with the our Most Informed Guess about what will happen if we do X, or Y, or Z. “Most Informed” means “taking Everything we know into Consideration.” It’s not Opinion. It’s What’s Left after all the other Conflicting Opinions have been shown NOT to be true. Another way of saying this is: if 97% if the World’s Scientists agree on something, that makes it As True as anything can possibly be, and we ignore Warnings at our Peril!

 

 

This week’s wine tasting

Domaine de l’Amauve La Daurèle, Côtes du Rhône Villages Séguret ’16    France    $17
Grenache blanc, clairette, viognier, & ugni blanc; expressive nose of white fruits, mirabelle plum, and acacia honey; soft on the palate with lively citrus flavors…very Food Versatile!

La Rocaliere Tavel  Rose ’16      France       $14
Scents of dark berries, cherry, and licorice, with a floral accent. Firm and structured, displaying cherry and floral pastille flavors and a hint of bitter herbs, finishing with good power and length.

Quinta des Aves Noctua Syrah ’14   Spain  $15
Bright cherry red with purple hints. Deep and long-lasting aroma of red fruits and crisp, spicy strawberry; soft and fruity, silky and long on the finish.

Brunelli Apricale  ’16    Italy  $14
Sangiovese Grosso with a little Merlot and Cab Franc; Fruity and persistent nose of wild berries and spice. Soft and balanced with fine tannins this Sant’Antimo Rosso works well with any meal!

Syncline Subduction Red ’15   Washington    $18
Syrah dominant Rhone blend; perfumed aromas of fresh blue and purple fruit, spice, and herbs lead to rich fruit flavors and a plush texture that persists effortlessly through the finish. Delightful!


 

 

Wine Tasting

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