Tag Archives: Olympia

Olympia’s Award-Winning Ranch House BBQ

Olympia’s Award-Winning Ranch House BBQ

My brother Jeff’s birthday was this past weekend, and he had one request: Good barbeque. To be honest, I haven’t had any local BBQ I’ve been wowed over, until now.

I come from a family of food lovers, and we all have our own opinions when it comes to choosing a restaurant for a family dinner. Doing as brothers do, Jeff reminded me I don’t know everything about everything, even restaurants, and he did a little research on his own, finding Ranch House BBQ and Steakhouse in Olympia. I took to Twitter and asked folks what they thought. From the unanimously positive responses I received, it seemed like a good idea to check out what people were calling the best BBQ in the South Puget Sound.

The drive to Ranch House is scenic, and while it is a bit out of town, it’s worth the drive down the tree-lined highway. Just when we thought we were lost or must have passed the restaurant, we spotted it on the side of the road, right alongside Kennedy Creek. The giant smokers outside were a good sign.

When we stepped through the doors, the first thing I noticed were the walls lined with awards. There are trophies on the window, banners and plaques everywhere you look.

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Whitewood Cider Co. Wants Your Homegrown Apples and Pears

Whitewood Cider Co. Wants Your Homegrown Apples and Pears

I really love this idea — Whitewood Cider Co. (which I wrote about recently for the Weekly Volcano) is looking for your homegrown apples and pears to use in their ciders. For more details on how to participate, check out Whitewood Cider’s blog.

Just think…you could be part of Whitewood’s amazing story, just as they’re blowing up big time. Imagine stopping by Pint Defiance or your other friendly retailer, popping open a bottle and knowing that you had something to do with its production. Their South Sounder cider (which I’ve had, and it’s delicious) is made up of 100 percent local apples. So very cool.

According to Whitewood Cider, thousands of pounds of fallen apples go to waste each year. So if you’ve got extra apples or pears, be part of this hyper-local business and drink to sweet success.

Image via Whitewood Cider Co.

Washington Cider Week, Tacoma Style

Washington Cider Week, Tacoma Style
  • So…I’m a little behind this week. I meant to post this last week, so as to give you enough time to appropriate plan all of your cider activities. But there’s still time! It’s officially Washington Cider Week, September 5-15th. And the good news is, it’s actually longer than a week. Those smart cider people sure know what they’re doing. There are all kinds of fun cider-related events going on this week. If you love cider as much as I do, you’ll want to get to an event, or at least pick up one of your favorite local ciders to celebrate. I know I’ll be imbibing…in fact, I need one right now. It’s Monday, that’s reason enough.Check out all the Washington Cider Week events on their website, but here are some Tacoma-area cider activities to wet your whistle:
  • Pint Defiance Events
    Get daily cider tastes of all your local favorites, and stop by on Sunday, September 15 for a Sunday Cider Sampler from 11:30-4 p.m. to taste ciders from all over the country.
  • Events and Ciders on Tap at the Red Hot 
    Tue Sept 10th, 5 p.m.
    Whitewood Cider Co.
    Tap List:
    1. Old Fangled Heirloom Blend (100% WA grown blend of Jonathan, McIntosh, Gravenstein, & winesap. Dry & crisp w/clean citrus flavors)
    2. South Sounder (100% South Sound community grown apples, flavors of apricot & green grape, tannic bite)
    Wed Sept 11th, 5p.m.
    Schilling Cider Night
    Tap List:
    1. Schilling Original (blend of 100% Washington apples w/light dry hopping of NW whole leaf hops)
    2. Radler Session Cider (w/grapefruit & lemon)
    Thu Sept 12th, 5 p.m.
    Tieton Cider Night
    Tap List:
    *all Tieton Ciders made with blends of their own farm-grown fruits.
    1. Apricot (crisp, tartness of apricot, notes of fresh and dried apricot)
    2. Cherry (A well balanced apple cider blended with Cherry w/big mouth feel & long finish)
    3. Wild WA Apple (w/pineapple aroma & pronounced mineral quality that gives the cider a lively mouth feel. Notes of green apple & preserved lemon)
    4. Yakima Valley Dry Hop (aroma of fruit-forward nuttyness followed by a citrusy palate)
    5. Special Surprise Randallized Cider

August Food Events

August Food Events
  • Savor South Sound
    August 1-August 3, a three-day event. The Savor South Sound beverage tasting event will feature five cideries on Thursday, August 1, eight breweries on Friday, August 2 and five wineries on Saturday, August 3. Tastings will run from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. each day in the Heritage Hall Annex at the Thurston County Fair. Patrons must be 21 or over to enter the Savor South Sound event.
  • Table For Olympia
    August 3, 4 p.m.-8p.m. Community picnic in the heart of the Olympia, on Fifth Avenue in front of the Capital Theater, presented by the Thurston Food Systems Council. Join them at Olympia’s largest table and bring a picnic, plus plates and silverware to share with your friends and neighbors.
  • Primo Grill Cooking Classes
    August 3, 2 p.m.-4 p.m. The savory cuisine of Morocco. $65/person, includes recipes and instruction, lunch with a glass of wine, tax and gratuity. Call Jacqueline at 383.7000 to purchase tickets.
    August 24, 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Summertime grilling: fish; meats and vegetables, $65/person, includes recipes and instruction, lunch with a glass of wine, tax and gratuity. Call Jacqueline at 383.7000 to purchase tickets.
  • Pierce County Gleaning Project Film
    August 4, 8 p.m. Showing of food justice themed film, The Real Dirt on Farmer John. It’s a bike-in movie, so bring your finest human-powered vehicle and enjoy the movie and discussion surrounded by the garden in full bloom. Hilltop Pop Shop will be there with their awesome bike-powered popsicle shop, selling locally made popsicles. Free.
  • C.I. Shenanigan’s Bulliet Bourbon Dinner
    August 6, 6 p.m. Four course dinner paired with Bulleit Bourbon cocktails and prizes. $45/person, includes tax. Call 253-752-8899 to reserve.
  • Bayview School of Cooking Classes
    For each class, call 360-754-1448 to reserve.
    August 6, 6-8:30 p.m. Dinner on the Grill. $50/person.
    August 8, 6-8:30 p.m. All Fed Up Food Truck, $45/person.
    August 15, 6-8:30 p.m. Grilling with Barry Martin, $45/person.
    August 20, 6-8:30 p.m. A Posh Picnic, $45/person.
    August 24, 6-8:30 p.m. Hands on Grilled Italian Skewers, $50/person
    August 27, 6-8:30 p.m. Kabobs, $45/person.
  • Fermented Vegetable Class
    August 11, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Taught by Summer Bock of OlyKraut. Learn how to make raw sauerkraut and sample sauerkraut. Leave with recipes and instructional handouts. Register online.
  • A World of White Wine Benefit Dinner
    August 24, 5 p.m. A four-course dinner, plus passed appetizers, paired with white wines. Proceeds benefit Clover Park Technical College’s Culinary Arts Programs. Tickets are $95/person and must be purchased ahead of time. Purchase tickets online.
  • Harvest Potluck Event
    August 24, noon to 4 p.m. Food, music, games for kids at the Gallucci Learning Garden Plaza. Free.
  • Tacoma Food Coop 2nd Anniversary Party
    August 25, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Greet local farmers and connect with local businesses. Sample beer, wine and other fantastic treats. Take a self-guided tour of the store, learn what’s new in the co-op. Free.
  • Broadway Sizzle
    August 31, 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Picture 150 people dining at a jovial communal table under an elegantly appointed tent on Broadway. Chef Dustin Joseph will create a “Scratch American” upscale picnic to showcase local ingredients picked at the peak of the season. Broadway Sizzle will “Razzle Dazzle” you with lively entertainment, farm-fresh produce, craft brews, artisan cheeses, award-winning wines, and gourmet products of all kinds. Then, move into the gorgeous Pantages Theater for “All That Jazz”—the glorious national touring musical Chicago. Tickets for the dinner only are $75, or tickets to dinner and a B-tier seat to Chicago are $150. Get tickets online.

July Food Events

July Food Events
  • South Sound BBQ Festival
    July 6, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free event held at Huntamer Park in Lacey.
  • Metro Parks Tacoma Cooking Classes
    July 8, 6-7:30 p.m. Fresh and Healthy Summer Desserts. Enjoy delicious desserts with ripe summer berries sure to please any crowd.  And the best part, they taste good and fit into your healthy diet! SP $22; R $25; N/R $27. Call 253-404-3939 to register.
    July 15, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Summer Grilling. Take advantage of the great weather and learn different techniques and ways to grill veggies, seafood, and meats on the barbeque.  Even better, you’ll be able to sample the different dishes and take home the leftovers.
    SP $20; R $24: N/R $26. Call 253-404-3939 to register.
    July 31, 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Fresh Berry Canning. Learn through hands-on work how to prepare strawberries and raspberries and take home your own jam!
    SP $26; R $32; N/R $36. Call 253-404-3939 to register.
  • Morso Wine Bar Wine Dinner
    July 11, 6:30 p.m. Seven course dinner paired with Loire Valley wines. $69/person, excluding tax and gratuity. Call 253-530-3463 to reserve.
  • Art on the Ave Grub Crawl
    July 14, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Participating 6th Avenue restaurants will have appetizer-sized dishes for $6 during the Art on the Ave event. In 2012, Asado offered house-made chorizo sausage and marinated beef skewers with Argentine flair, O’Malley’s had sliders, Dirty Oscar’s had a Turkey drumstick big enough for a caveman, and Six Olives had chicken Caesar lettuce wraps. At 2:30 p.m., come to the Community Stage for a competition of the dishes, and a winner will be crowned. Free event.
  • Primo Grill Cooking Class
    July 20, 2 p.m.-4 p.m. The Bounty of Local Farm. The $65 fee includes recipes and instruction, lunch with a glass of wine, tax and gratuity. Call Jacqueline at 383.7000 to purchase tickets.
  • Pacific Northwest Mushroom Festival
    July 27 and 28, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. held at the Regional Athletic Complex at Steilacoom & Marvin Road in Lacey. Festival admission is $5. Kids 12 and under are free. Cooking demos (schedule), Ostrom Farm Tour, Food and Wine Event, kids activities, food and more.
  • The Moveable Feast
    July 28, noon-5 p.m. at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma. Second annual food truck festival. VIP tickets available, which grants you access to the event early for $10. Last year’s event was really great, and very popular. This is one not to miss.
  • Olympia Meat Collective Classes 
    July 13, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Basic pig butchery class. This class will teach students how to split sides of pork into primals, and how to cut those primals into familiar cuts like ribs, pork chops, tenderloins, ham roasts, picnic roasts, and coppas. More information on their website. $235 per person. Reserve online.
    July 27, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Sausage making class. Come learn the art of preparing French, German, Spanish, and Italian-style links, among many other varieties, with Camas Davis, founder of the Portland Meat Collective. Students will learn how to select the right meat and trimmings from the appropriate muscle groups, and how to grind, flavor and stuff their sausage of choice. At the end of this hands-on class, students will go home with more than enough links for their frying pans and freezers, plus recipes for further adventure. $145 per person. Reserve online.
  • Bayview School of Cooking Classes
    For each class, call 360-754-1448 to reserve.
    July 8, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Nineveh Assyrian Food Truck. Learn to make baba ganoush, fattoush, tabbouleh, dolma and more. $45/person.
    July 15, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. The Art House Cafe. Pastry Chef Marie teaches how to make brioche bites, molasses spice cake and more. $55/person.
    July 16, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. The Beautiful Pig. Versatility of cured meats. $45/person.
    July 22, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. The Perfect Grilled Steak. Learn to make the Classic “El Gaucho” flank steak directly on the coals and more. $45/person.
    July 25, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Home Canning. Lean to can dilly beans and jams and jellies. $45/person.
    July 26, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Benson Vineyards Dinner. Six course dinner paired with wines.$65/person.
    July 29, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Summer European Salads. German potato salad, Dutch cheese salad and more. $45/person.
  • Bella Kitchen Cooking Classes
    July 26, 6 p.m. Hard Cheese Making. Learn to make cheddar and gouda. $75/person. Reserve online.
    July 30, 6 p.m. Summer Sushi. Learn to make seven sushi items with Chef Toby Kim. $75/person. Reserve online.