South Sound Eats

You have heard us talk about our good friend Kris Blondin (recently of Vin Grotto).  Well, she has a new venture with Ed Murietta (recently of the Tribune).  It is a resource for local food and wine info.  Here’s the kicker:  Carrie and Aura served as extras in their commercial.  (Hey, if someone asked you to come to Pacific Grill and eat and drink for free, you’d say yes too!)

The commercial will air locally on cable channels like Food Network and HGTV.  But why wait?  You can see it now!

Watch it here.  And while you are there, sign up for the South Sound Eats newsletter!

Tacoma Food Co-Op

I promised the fellow at the Tacoma Food Co-op booth at the 6th Ave Farmers Market that I would tell you all about the big meeting they are having on Saturday.

I think he was feeling a bit frustrated because I heard him saying things like: “People say they want a co-op, but no one is actually stepping up when it really is finally happening.”

So, if you are at all (even a little bit) interested, perhaps you could go to the meeting?

Mingle with local farmers, musicians, restaurants, business and community organizations who share our common mission of providing healthy and affordable food for Tacoma.

4-9 PM July 19, 2008

People’s Park

S. 9th  & MLK

Family Friendly

Need more info? Email.

The first 6th Ave Farmers Market is a hit!

Same time next week.  See you there!

More about the 6th Ave Farmers Market

Image via Wikipedia

6th Ave Farmers Market Press Release

MEDIA RELEASE (written by Vance Corum)

Top Washington farms headline new 6th Ave market

Contact:

Rich Hines, (253) 257-9525

Heather Hanson, (253) 376-5845

For release: July 8, 2008

The new 6th Ave Farmers’ Market has lined up an impressive mix of high quality farmers and other food vendors as they await Tuesday opening.

At the top of the list is Nash’s Organic Produce of Sequim. Owner Nash Huber is renowned among Washington organic farmers, having farmed 40 years on the alluvial soils of the Dungeness Valley. He also is in high regard nationally, recently receiving American Farmland Trust’s 2008 Steward of the Land award.

The award recognizes his achievements in protecting water quality with vegetative buffers along waterways and being certified “salmon safe,” providing migratory waterfowl habitat, a chemical-free pest control program and helping save hundreds of acres of farmland. Clallam County has lost 75% of its prime farmland to development over the last 50 years.

PCC Farmland Trust stepped up to the plate several years ago to purchase a critical 80-acre property that was prime for development. Nash’s now has a 35-year lease that allows young farmers training with Nash to have a future farming.

Stella Mestre, a Nash’s employee, said, “Rising fuel prices are pushing our shipping costs upward, so we are turning more to farmers’ markets. Local customers are literally keeping us alive. We need them to keep the land alive and keep us farmers going.”

Nash’s will be joined by Estrella Family Creamery of Montesano. Kelli Estrella’s cheese came home from the World Cheese competition in London last year with two silver medals for her Grisdale Goat Silver, a semi-hard goats’ milk cheese, and her Caldwell Crik Chevrette, a rind-washed cheese. Both will be part of her display of cow and goat cheeses on 6th Ave.

Local farmer Terry Carkner of Terry’s Berries will bring her first raspberries and a medley of A to Z vegetables from Asian cabbage to zucchini, including broccoli, chard, collards, kohlrabi, lettuce, fava beans and snap peas. “We’re excited to celebrate our 25th year in the Puyallup Valley with this new opportunity to sell in a great Tacoma neighborhood,” said Carkner.

“My goal is provide people with a garden experience where all they need to do is add water,” said Todd Giltner, another Puyallup operator who will have a variety of herbs, fruit trees and trailing plants available in many types of pots.

Full Circle Farm of Carnation will be present as will Pat Tweehy of L’Arche Farm & Garden, Cottage Gardens, Bee Lady, and Hayton Farms from Skagit County.

Seafood will come from Brady’s Oysters and Rolf’s Choice, whose owner Rolf Torgerson is currently fishing in Alaska. Meats and poultry will come from Stokesberry Sustainable Farm, Cheryl the Pig Lady, and Toboton Creek Farm.

The market will celebrate a diversity of produce and flowers from Asian immigrant farms including Mee Garden, Vue Meng Farm and Xee Yang Garden.

From east of the mountains, Terri Martin will bring cherries and Perfection apricots from her Cashmere farm while Calvin Collins will bring his Rival apricots, Bings and Rainiers from Selah. Alvarez Farms of Mabton will have organic vegetables. Additional tomatoes and pepper plants will come from YMCA’s Friends and Servants program.

Residents won’t be the only ones swooning over these local products. Area chefs are expected to make a play for some of the top produce. Primo Grill’s Charlie McManus is expected to check out Nash’s endive, dandelion greens and baby white turnips.

Market consultant Vance Corum, of Farmers’ Markets America, who has helped open dozens of farmers’ markets, said, “In 30 years I’ve never seen such a quality line-up of local producers for a farmers’ market opening. We’re lucky to have many of Washington’s best farmers committed to 6th Avenue.”

Nash Huber is the first organic farmer and the first Washington farmer to receive the 12-year-old national Steward of the Land award. His presence at the new 6th Ave market means that residents and restaurants will have access to the best produce in the country, from a farm that respects the environment and local food while preserving wildlife and salmon habitat. And he isn’t the only one.

These days, “organic is good for people and planet,” “save the farmland” and “eat local” are on everyone’s lips — but “Nash had this vision 25 years ago,” said Clallam County Commissioner Steve Tharinger.

A barrel of oil is more than double the price of one year ago. The world’s population is reeling from dramatic price increases in essential foods. Many individuals feel helpless to address the major impact of oil and food prices on their lives.

Seattle University professor Stacey Jones, whose students have analyzed lower food prices at farmers markets, says, “With the issue of food prices in the news every day, this is a good time to examine our vision for how we feed ourselves in this region. One small step toward solving the global food crisis may be to support a strong, regional food system simply by shopping at local farmers’ markets.”

Starting July 15, Tacoma will witness whether local residents and restaurants will do just that.

Dine Out For Life with us

The Azarra staff will be Dining Out For Life next Thursday, April 24.  If you want to join us, we’ll be at the Crown Bar on Sixth Avenue around 6:30 or so.

If you need a list of other places to go, check this out.

Hello, Cupcake!

Hello Cupcake is one of our neighborhood businesses.  I thought you might like to read this article from Cakespy, a Seattle based blog about cake.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Batter Chatter: Interview with Reina Miller of hello, cupcake in Tacoma, WA

Cakespy Note: This interview also appeared on our Cakespy Seattle outpost!

Let’s face it–between the paper-mill aroma and the collapsing bridges, Tacoma doesn’t have the best reputation. But have you been there recently? Like whoa. Downtown Tacoma has undergone a massive revitalization and has become quite the budding art scene, what with its gorgeous museums, newly-renovated airy artist lofts, and a thriving UW campus. But really, to the Cakespy crew, the most exciting part of this revitalization is hello, cupcake, a cupcake shop whose wares have been aptly described as “coo-worthy”. Walking into hello, cupcake is like becoming a child again: there’s no turning back once you’re greeted by an intricate cupcake mosaic tile design on the floor, on a crash course toward sugar overload…but then again, why would you want to? The cupcakes are not only adorable but delicious, with a tender, moist crumb and creamy, rich frosting which melts oh-so pleasingly in your mouth (not your hand). Recently, we had a chance to talk cupcake with one of the owners, Reina Miller; here’s what we found out about life, love and the pursuit of cupcake nirvana:

Read the rest of the article here.

The latest on the plans to fix Pacific Avenue – Part 2

Thanks to Exit133 I see we are having a meeting so they can give us the scoop:

Pacific Paving Project Open House

Remember the paving project on Pacific Avenue? Well, as the date approaches, more details are emerging. The City of Tacoma is hosting an open house on Thursday, April 10, to provide details of the upcoming project. The project team will share the preliminary plans and schedule for the project, which runs on Pacific Avenue between South 17th and South 25th streets and South 25th Street from Pacific Avenue to C Street. Sidewalks and curb and gutter will also be repaired where needed.

Construction is slated to start in the summer of 2008 – after the Tall Ships Festival – and is scheduled to be complete by the end of fall 2008. No construction work will take place during the Tall Ships Festival.

Details
Thursday, April 10 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Greater Tacoma Convention Center lobby
1500 Broadway
For more information about the open house or the Pacific Avenue improvement project, visit www.cityoftacoma.org/PacAve.

The Harmon Hub

The Harmon Brewery & Restaurant is close to our hearts because we like the food (favorites are fish & chips and the coconut prawns) and the beer and because it is directly beneath our feet.  It is very nice to have a restaurant near the salon.  I use it as place to hold meetings with vendors or prospective employees as well as a place to have a drink at the end of the day.  (I like the Bartender’s Margarita.)

Saturday Carrie and I went to the Friends and Family opening (pictures here) of their new venture, The Harmon Hub.  Be sure to visit them if you like wood fired pizza with a paper thin crust.  (Read the whole menu here.)  Carrie had the salmon appetizer and I had the caprese sandwich, both of which were darn tasty!  We also enjoyed a few more of their Margarita Fresca (fresh juice…very limey…yum!) than we should have.  Next time we’ll take a cab.

Read a more thorough review from Ed’s Diner here.

See you there soon!

What am I making for dinner? Reservations!

It is no coincidence that my name is right in the middle of the word restaurant.  While I do enjoy crafting a wonderful meal, at the end of a long work week I really enjoy sitting on my ass and having someone bring me a wonderful meal!

Our dear friends at the Trib have put together a great resource for us.  The South Sound Restaurant Guide will help put an end to the “What sounds good to you?  – I don’t know, what do you feel like eating?” conversations that always seem to end with a visit to the same old places.

You can search by category or use the map and pick something close.  As an added bonus, you can even read the reviews from the Trib food guy, Ed Murietta.

For the record, the rib eye I had at Asado this weekend made my eyes roll back into my head with pleasure.  The house margerita was fresh and perfectly limey.  The husband had the prawns wrapped in serrano ham (which was lovely, but nowhere near as good as my steak!)

The latest on the plans to fix Pacific Avenue

Yes, they are going to dig up Pacific Avenue. Again.

Apparently no one checked the soil upon which we built a road and a light rail.

The Tribune has a story with all the details, but here is the schedule: Start digging after the Tall Ships event, finish in November.

We have never been so thankful for our rear building parking and entrance. While the construction will make things unpleasant, it will not cripple us in the same way it would if we only had access from Pacific Avenue.

Downtown Tacoma businesses win bid to postpone rebuilding of Pacific Avenue

JASON HAGEY; jason.hagey@thenewstribune.com

Published: March 17th, 2008 01:00 AM | Updated: March 17th, 2008 04:44 AM

Score one for the merchants. After hearing from downtown business owners, the City of Tacoma has decided to delay its plan to shore up sinking Pacific Avenue until after Tall Ships Tacoma 2008.Once the ships – and throngs of expected visitors – leave town, work will begin, possibly as early as July 8 but more likely the following Monday, July 14, said Dan Seabrands, a Tacoma public works engineers. The $2.6 million repair of the substructure between South 17th and South 25th streets is expected to be finished by about mid-November, before the heart of the holiday shopping season, Seabrands said.

Read the rest of the story here.

Sixth Avenue Stroll

Azarra spent its first 13 years on  Sixth Avenue (and Christine is still there at Azarra on Proctor: 253-752-5678).  Carrie grew up blocks away and she and I still live walking distance from Sixth Avenue (although I am ashamed to admit we drive more often than we walk!)

A local band has recorded a song celebrating the area.  Turn on your speakers and click over here to have a listen. 

About Azarra in the blogosophere

One of the blogs at the Trib that I subscribed to is “In Your Neighborhood.”  As luck would have it, there is an entry about us today!  Oh, please click over and read, won’t you?

Monday, March 3, 2008

Tacoma Talk Beauty and Fun: Azarra Salon

I haven’t had a “regular” hairstylist in years; my low maintenance long hair doesn’t go to the hair salon that often and I haven’t found the right person or salon that I wanted to stick with for the long haul. Well, I have now.

Where can I read more blogs about Tacoma?

Our venerable local paper, The News Tribune, has a number of blogs specific to our region.  There is one about neighborhoods, one on music, one for dining….

I just subscribed to some, so I will share with you any time something pops up that I think would be of interest.  But, if you would rather gather your own news than rely on me (probably a wise choice!) click on over here for the list. 

Much ado about nothing? * Updated 4:18PM *

UPDATE:

A client emailed me a link to photos of the protest.

Seems pretty low-key.  Hope tomorrow is the same.  🙂

The news vans were here this morning, but there seems to be nothing to report. Clients have been arriving fine. No horrible traffic. We can’t see the site of the “official” protest area, so I can’t tell you if anyone is there or not, but I am happy to report that things are smooth so far!

An article from the Tribune about the planned protest and the counter-measures

Protesters plan to ‘shut down’ downtown

SCOTT FONTAINE; The News Tribune

Published: November 8th, 2007 05:37 PM

Protesters plan to “shut down” downtown Tacoma Friday and Saturday to “send a very clear message that will be heard by the powers that be” that they’re unhappy with federal immigration policy.The group, spearheaded by a group of self-proclaimed anarchists, is unhappy with the 1,000-bed Northwest Detention Center on the Tideflats. It’s the main detention center for Immigration and Customs Enforcement for Washington, Oregon and Alaska.

The protest will be centered at a “green zone” near Tollefson Plaza at South 17th Street and Pacific Avenue. “Bring puppets, musical instruments, signs, banners, creativity and passion,” a Web page about the protest reads. “The rest of downtown will be open to diverse and creative tactics!”

The protest was planned at Pitch Pipe Infoshop at 617 South 17th St. It bills itself as “a not-for-profit, collectively run radical lending library and community space” and boasts it “has the potential to become a hub for regional anarchist networking, skill sharing, and organizing.”

No one from the shop returned phone calls or e-mail messages.

There also appears to be a counter-protest brewing. A group called March for America! sent out a mass e-mail in a “call to all American patriots who are able, to stand in solidarity against the communist/socialist/anarchist pawns who call for an end to the nation state, who call for an end to America.”

Jonnie Crivello, the founder of March for America! Washington, was unsure how many people the group will have because of short organizing time.

The Tacoma Police Department expects the rally to be peaceful. However, it’s also heard that some smaller groups might use the rally as a way to move throughout the downtown corridor and engage in “unlawful behavior,” police officials said. The department is prepared to respond if there is illegal activity during the rally.

The department has been aware of the rally since last month and have been planning their response.

“Hopefully we won’t be needed whatsoever,” spokesman Mark Fulghum said. “We’ll be ready in case we are.”

The department encourages business owners and residents to go about their activities as usual. However, they ask business owners to make sure their outside area is free of debris and obstructions like sandwich boards, displays and other signage. Officials ask people to report suspicious activity to the police.

The Business Improvement Area is adding an extra security patrol Saturday, Paul Ellis said.

Patricia Lecy-Davis, the president of the Downtown Merchants Association, said she’s not sure what to expect, but one thing should be different.

“This will be the largest crowd we’ve had in downtown for a while,” she laughed.

Few expect violence to erupt, but some businesses near Tollefson Plaza are taking precautions. The Courtyard by Marriott hotel at 1515 Commerce St. will add an extra security guard this weekend, front-office manager Jennifer Chell said. Warren Cabes, the owner of Tacoma Art Supply at 1552 Jefferson Ave., said his biggest concern is customers finding parking this weekend. And, he adds, the protest could become a positive.

“I might (tell the protestors), ‘Well, you know, this is an art store,” he said. “We sell markers and paint if you want to make signs.’”

Shut Down Tacoma?

There is a protest planned next week (November 9/10). You can read here what it is about and what is planned. I guess when your business is near the Federal Courthouse, you have to be prepared for the occasional protest. Our concern for this one is that their stated goal is to “Shut Down Tacoma.” We don’t want to see WTO-style destruction and mayhem. If you have any inside scoop, we’d love to hear it!