Fresh Connections – The Parfitt Way Blog

Only 3 days left to the Coyote Farm Kickstarter fundraising project. They’ve experienced enough community support to reach their first goal — now only days left to reach their stretch goal so that all the new babies can have a new safe home.  If you haven’t had a chance to see the video and read their story follow the link to http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1103312156/for-the-love-of-goats-coyote-farm-creamery?ref=live .  There are some cool rewards for you to choose from.

New pictures from this morning at

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1103312156/for-the-love-of-goats-coyote-farm-creamery/posts/425129?ref=email&show_token=5a3bb5f2c1f348f3

In the United Kingdom (UK), many pubs have a Sunday menu that features a Sunday roast. The Sunday roast is a traditional British main meal served on Sundays (usually in the early afternoon for lunch), consisting of roasted meat, roast potato or mashed potato, with accompaniments such as Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, vegetables and gravy.

There are (at least) two opinions on the origins of the Sunday Roast. One holds that, during the industrial revolution, Yorkshire families left a cut of meat in the oven before going to church on a Sunday morning, which was then ready to eat by the time they arrived home at lunchtime. The second opinion holds that the Sunday Roast dates back to medieval times, when the village serfs served the squire for six days a week. Then on the Sunday, after the morning church service, serfs would assemble in a field and practice their battle techniques and were rewarded with a feast of oxen roasted on a spit.

Try our version of roast lamb, pork or beef at the pub on most Sundays – with beef we’ll often serve Yorkshire pudding.

This just in from our rancher at Harlow Cattle Co. in Spanaway, WA:

All,

Sharing my joy… February babies on the ranch bring a smile on a winter’s day.  Enjoy my pleasure as herdswoman tagging a few of the 20 odd new calves in the winter cow herd.

= )  Becky

Tonight’s Snackdown Menu includes Whole Roasted & Smoked Kapowsin Pig with North Carolina BBQ Sauce & Slaw mini-sandwiches; Baywater Shellfish Salish Blue Clams steamed  with Chef Jeff’s homemade Chorizo; Taylor Shellfish Winterbrook Oyster Shooters with a Bainbridge Organic Legacy Vodka Float, NW Farro and Veggie Salad, & Pegasus Delectable Sweet Tarts

Samples from Bainbridge Organic Distillers & Bainbridge Island Brewery!

After Hours Absinthe Lounge begins a 8PM

Happy Friday!

Chocolate & Wine Tour Weekend

Feb. 16 & 17, 2013

What could be more fitting for a Valentine’s Day outing than the Bainbridge Island Wine and Chocolate Weekend?  If that sounds good, you might want to delay your declaration of love for a couple of days and come to the Island for this Winery Alliance of Bainbridge Island event the weekend of Feb. 16 – 17th.  The tour features 5 Bainbridge Island wineries and a handful of artisanal chocolatiers.

Wine making on the Island goes back as far as the 1970’s, but the 6 wineries that belong to the Winery Alliance of Bainbridge Island have all gotten their start since 2003.  Most of the wineries began in someone’s garage or shed – and have grown up to create “The Northwest’s new wine destination” according to Sunset Magazine in November of 2010.  While each winery is independent, the Alliance has created a community of wine makers who work together, sharing experience, volunteers and even equipment, to build an award winning collection of wines.  Because they are making wine on such a small scale – by the 10s of barrels rather than the thousands of barrels, the wines produced harken back to the way wine has always been made – rather than the mass-produced ‘industrialized’ wine from the giant vintners.

Five of the six Alliance wineries will be participating in the Wine and Chocolate tour.  The sixth, Fletcher Bay Winery’s tasting room is closed until late February when they will open their new Tasting Room.  The five wineries (and their chocolate partners for the weekend) are listed below.

• Amelia Wynn Wine:   Named for his twin 5 year old grandchildren – Amelia and Wynn – owner and vintner Paul Bianchi has been winning awards since 2009 when he won the Double Gold in the Seattle Wine Awards for his Bordeaux Blend.  For the Wine and Chocolate tour, Paul will be hand selecting artisanal chocolates to go with his excellent wine.
• Eagle Harbor Winery:   Originally from Poland, Winemaker Hugh Remash sources his grapes from the Walla Walla AVA.  His wines are served at a number of Bainbridge Island restaurants – including the Harbour Public House. (In fact Hugh specially kegs his a unique Bordeaux blend, Pubordeuax exclusively for the Pub.) For the tour he will be pairing his wine with handmade chocolates from a Pasticceria of the Scuola di Arte Culinaria Cordon Bleu (which is Italian for pastry chef from the school of Cordon Bleu).
• Eleven Winery:  The winery is run by husband and wife Matt and Sarah Albee.  Also on staff is their son Cole, who holds the position of Chief Hinderer (he is 6).  Assistant Chief Hinderer is little brother Cameron.  The Albee’s family goal is great wine and great fun.  Their plans for the Chocolate tour have been kept super-secret.
• Rolling Bay Winery:  Located on a hillside, overlooking Murden Cove, this winery is a destination for excellent wines – and a great photo-op.  The Tasting Room (which is also the fermentation room) is fronted by a handmade rock wall and antique doors from a Mongolian monastery.  For the Chocolate tour, they will feature a delectable line-up of Theo Chocolates.
• Perennial Vintners:  Mike Lempriere of Perennial Vintners is one of the few winemakers who grows his own grapes on Bainbridge Island.  PV specializes in the delicately nuanced white wine made from cool-climate grapes such as Melon de Bourgogne, Siegerrebe, Madeleine Angevine and Muller Thurgau.  For the Wine and Chocolate tour PV will be featuring chocolatier Keith Jackson of Yukon Jackson’s chocolates.

Bainbridge Island is just a short ferry ride from downtown Seattle.  Whether rain or shine – the Wine and Chocolate tour will make for a memorable (and delicious) day trip!

Filmmaker, Mark McKnight’s show “Owl People” has begun at the pub starting yesterday, January 23rd.  The show consists of photographs of his watchful neighbors, the Barred Owl, who share the woods in Suquamish and seemingly tolerate his curiosity. Reprints of the photos are available.

Starting January 31st, sit in with your favorite strings and Ethan J. Perry & friends for a good old-fashioned pickin’ acoustic jam.

All ages and abilities welcome.

Todd Houghton marks the Pub’s Open Mic 20th Year Celebration!!

Feb. 5, 2013 8:00 pm – Midnight

In January of 1993 local musician Todd Houghton began hosting the  Harbour Public House’s longest-lasting event. Since then he has returned on the 1st Tuesday of every month for the past 20 years.  According to Todd, the music scene on Bainbridge Island enjoys an unusually high number of quality musicians – many of whom show up to the Open Mic nights at the pub. Todd himself ranks high among that number.  He was born in Kansas, grew up in Colorado and moved to Seattle from Boulder. He has extensive experience as a performer and composer, with guitar, keyboards, electric bass, and vocals both as a soloist and currently with the band Ranger and the Re-arrangers.  The band plays Gypsy Jazz – which is an exciting style of music combining jazz with the instruments typically found in Gypsy music.  Todd’s original music reflects an inner vision that he has depended on since becoming blind at the age of 7.  His songs capture an energetic and soulful passion.

Todd on stage with Ranger and the Re-arrangers

When he isn’t performing or hosting – Todd is involved in his other passion – education.  He has a Masters in Experiential Education from the University of Colorado and works as an educational consultant in the field of outdoor ed for the disabled.  He is also a principal adviser for the Blind Youth Audio Project, which is a program of the Department of Services for the Blind, in conjunction with Jack Straw Productions.  Each summer, blind and visually impaired high school students come to the University of Washington to participate in a Youth Employment Services job placement program.  As part of the program they have the option of participating in in the Audio Project.  Working with Todd, they write, produce, and record audio dramas, learning everything from soundscaping, interview skills, radio production, multitrack and stereo music recording and mixing.  Whether in the recording studio or in the outdoors, Todd’s dedication to education is making a huge difference in the lives of the students he teaches.

He brings that dedication to his Open Mic nights at the Harbour Pub.  When speaking with Todd, what comes across is his excitement about providing a relaxed and fun atmosphere for aspiring musicians to bring their music out of their living rooms to perform in front of a live audience.  Todd creates a space for musicians to not only perform, but to jam together and learn from each other.  His goal is to create a stress free environment so that it is a fun and non-threatening way for musicians to stretch, create and enjoy. And from all reports – he reaches that goal on a monthly basis.

As a bonus – Open Mic starts off with an number from Todd.  That way, he can make sure that everything is set up and working.  It is also a wonderful warm-up for the 5 – 8 musicians to follow.  Each musician performs about 3 songs.  If there is extra time at the end of the evening, musicians can offer additional songs, or join together for collaborations.  If you want to participate – sign-ups begin around 8:30 and the music starts at 9 – continuing to midnight.  February’s event will be especially meaningful – marking the 20 years of great music that Todd has brought to the stage.  But any 1st Tuesday of any month – the Harbour Pub is really the place to be for a wonderful evening of great food, drink, company and especially – great music.