Tonight's Episode: A Shuckin' Good Time

So just before the start of the summer season we took a road trip out toward Long Beach, as one does in Washington. Passing through tiny South Bend we saw a little shack looking out on the Willapa River with the magic word OYSTER. Well, of course we stopped in! Boy was that a good decision. Perfectly located near the Washington summer hotspot (or the Oregon coast if you are planning to spend a week there and write about it in an upcoming post), we popped a couple of local craft beers, took in the view, and enjoyed a lazy lunch in a town most people don't even realize they drove through.

Only open for three days at this point, Oyster Bay Seafood Restaurant has the benefit of being located in the heart of the best oyster beds in America. Owners Dan 'The Man' Lindt and Shane Moncy aim to wow with stunning views, a relaxed setting, and the freshest local ingredients.

Now if you don't know about Willapa oysters, you should realize these are hands down the best you've probably never had. They don't ship well, which is sad considering their sweet light brine flavor. Make sure you grab a dozen or so to tide you over until your sandwich arrives.

The sandwiches (or Po Boys) may not be the initial draw of this oyster shack but they are the reason you will be back. Starting with the chipotle-lime chicken ($9) and the similarly spiced shrimp ($12), you have wonderfully cooked, bright and beautiful sandwiches stuffed to almost excess. That may be the only complaint I have with the po'boys, that they might actually be TOO big. If value is your biggest concern then rest assured you get your money's with these massive sandwiches.

The heftiest two po'boys are the super stuffed Tsunami crab melt ($14) and the 3 day marinated pulled pork ($10). The crab melt is big on flavor, and big on crab meat. If this sandwich was on the menu in Portland or Seattle it would top $20 easily, and frankly I would order this to share. The pulled pork has a beautiful flavor and is topped with a crisp and bright slaw that enhances the house made bbq sauce flavor.

The large outdoor dining space overlooking the Willapa River is a communal space that encourages you to get to know your fellow dinners. This relaxed neighborly atmosphere really drives home a sense of authenticity in a seafood shack that feels like it has always been there. Amazing food, treated simply and with respect, in an amazing setting, by good people should alway be a win. Especially when your only complaint is "the sandwiches are too big." 

Tonight's Episode: Wood-Fired Bavarian Alps in Western Washington

Over the Thanksgiving weekend The Girl and I decided to head to Bavaria for a traditional Christkindlmarkt. Luckily we now live in Seattle, so its a short 30 mile drive. "But wait a minute...." you say "when did you move to Seattle?" Hey, it happened and this isn't the time or place to discuss that Im trying to tell a story. "Sorry." Its ok, did you have any on topic questions? "Actually, yes, how are you driving from Seattle to Bavaria? I thought that was in Germany. Did Elon Musk finally build a James Bond villain super car?" Ok, first, I really need to stop talking to myself. Secondly, Western Washington has its own Bavaria.

Photo courtesy of ingejohnsson.photoshelter.com

I could wax poetic about the little town of Leavenworth. This hamlet in the Cascades reinvented itself as a Bavarian village, located where Icicle Canyon runs into the Wanatchee, is nestled in some of the most stunning landscapes in America. Approaching from Seattle US 2 (when open) is a scenic highway unparalleled for its beauty. 

The town really dresses itself for Christmas. Beautiful towering trees. Sledding hill in the center of town. Snow on the riverbanks. If you are there early enough in the year the hiking up Icicle Canyon is stunning.

And yes, they have restaurants. This tiny village of 2,000 people has 26 restaurants, a brewery, wine tasting rooms, a distillery. The main focus of most of the restaurants in town are, unsurprisingly, German. You can start off with something super authentic like King Ludwig's. This about as kitsch and authentic as you can get. The traditional rouladen, Thinly slicked beef rolls filled with a scrumptious filling of pickle, carrot and bacon, is especially tasty. They also have large family style platters that can be rather intimidating unless you brought a hungry brood.

A slightly different take on German cuisine can be found at Uncle Uli's Pub. This is the dive sports bar taking a spin through the Alps. Stop here for a section segregated from children, live sports fix, and a burger with a bratwurst patty.

The culinary highlight for us was a stop at a restaurant with no discernible Germanic influence, Sulla Vita. This upscale European small plate restaurant is tucked in between Icicle Brewery and the tasting room for Baroness cellars.

The first dish was a flank steak with wild mushroom marsala. This was a good dish. The meat was cooked well, the mushrooms were very nice, it was just missing something. Maybe just a bit more salt, maybe a little red pepper. Its a very solid dish, but just missing that extra something to make it memorable. 

The other two dishes we tried were far more successful. The first, a scallop piccata with crispy speck. This beautiful white wine sauce has just enough lemon to offset the richness, the scallops are just cooked through. Every bite is wonderful, but dipping the accompanying pita in the sauce is particularly delicious.

The third dish was a surprisingly delicious chorizo and sharp white cheddar stuffed mushroom. I'm not sure how this dish didn't end up a soggy grease bomb, but it was bright and biting with just a touch of heat. 

Leavenworth is a beautiful town in a picturesque setting. Busy weekends will turn this tiny hamlet into a mad house, but it is well worth it for the quaint village in a stunning natural landscape. Add in some very solid restaurants, and you end up with the perfect weekend get away just a short drive outside of Seattle.