Destination Inspiration – Page 3

Posted on December 4, 2012June 15, 2013 by Sarah & Daytona — Leave a comment

Destination Inspiration: Crux Fermentation Project

When it comes to picking a place to go to write, coffee shops are the typical choice. But sometimes it’s nice to get off the beaten path and get a change of scenery. Sometimes the new setting can also help give you a fresh perspective on what you’re writing.

On our recent trip to Bend, one of the highlights was Crux Fermentation Project. Having opened in June, Crux is one of the newest craft breweries in the area.

Food and Drink

While the babies napped, we sat down with our husbands to talk with Crux co-owner Larry Sidor, who is former brewmaster of Deschutes Brewery. Our husbands are home-brewers, so they were starstruck getting to talk and share beers with Sidor. Sidor shared with us a sampling of the beers before showing us the facilities.

They have food too but we had just come from lunch at 10 Barrel.

Location and Atmosphere

Crux earned it’s namesake for being literally at the crux of Bend, OR. From this point you are about equidistant from anywhere in Bend. Â Spacious new facilities, big and open, are accented with large shiny brewing equipment. You can look up from your pub fare and see Larry himself checking on the next batch.

One of our favorite parts of the facility is the patio. Hops growing up tall lattices and tables shaded by umbrellas and trees make a nice retreat with good friends and a cold beer.

Writeability and Purchased Presence

If it’s a sunny day, then order a beer and a snack and head out to the patio with your writing buddy and work on your screenplay plot.

Parking

You’ll have no trouble finding a spot in the parking lot that’s just as spacious as the building itself.

Writer’s Tip

If you’re lucky enough to be there as one of the local beer tours shows up, use this as an opportunity to eavesdrop on snippets of buzzed conversation for dialogue practice.

Find It

Crux Fermentation Project
50 SW Division Street
Bend, OR 97702
Website

Posted on November 27, 2012June 15, 2013 by Sarah & Daytona — 1 Comment

Destination Inspiration: 10 Barrel Brewing Company Pub

We hope you enjoyed our recent Walla Walla-based Destination Inspiration series. For the next several weeks, we’re going to be highlighting some of our favorite spots in Bend, Oregon, where we recently visited for a beer-tasting tour.

Upon arriving at Sunriver Resort about 20 minutes south of Bend on a Thursday evening, we were definitely ready to stretch our legs and unwind. Six hours is a long time to spend in the car, after all. But with two babies and an impending bedtime, we couldn’t exactly hit the town. So our husbands set out to find some of the local beers to bring back to the resort. That’s when we got our first taste of what 10 Barrel Brewing is up to. We sipped their Apocolypse IPA (and some red wine of course) while watching the sun set and the wildlife roam outside our rooms. It was a great introduction to 10 Barrel’s beer, and we were excited to visit their pub the next day.

Food and Drink

Having tasted just one of 10 Barrel’s brews the night before, we were ready on Friday morning to head straight from our resort to the company pub for lunch. First things first, of course, we ordered a round of beverages. Sarah opted for a pilsner while Daytona ordered the sampler, which included a taste of 10 beers, including their award-winning S1NIST0R Black Ale and Apocalypse IPA.

As for the food, we were pleased with our orders ranging from fish and chips to caprese salad and steak nachos. Any time a restaurant has a caprese salad on the menu, it catches our eyes. However, this classic salad can range from bland and watery to nothing short of spectacular. The caprese at 10 Barrel fell somewhere in the middle, with too much emphasis placed on a mediocre dressing, and no ingredient really standing out as superb. The steak nachos, however, were amazing. The fish and chips were good too. And so was the beer. With the family-friendly approach to dining (all ages are welcomed until 11pm), we’d come back frequently if we were locals.

Location and Atmosphere

If you’re lucky enough to be visiting Bend when the sun is shining, don’t miss the patio here. The patio has the feeling of a really nice backyard party, with happy, laughing people and great food all centered around a big enclosed fire pit. The atmosphere is light and uplifting. This place is family friendly, with kids being welcome until 11 pm.

Writeability and Purchased Presence

This is the sort of place you visit with your writing group or a writing partner. Bring a pad of paper, leave the laptop at home. Be jovial. Have fun.

Price

The pricing is about average for this quality of pub fare with appetizers starting around $8 and main entrees running between $10 – $15. Their fresh made pizza pies run between $11 – $24. And of course you can’t miss trying out some of their beer!

Parking

Plenty of parking is available in the lot.

Writer’s Tip

Practice your beer tasting descriptions. Being the foodies that we are, our focus is often on the food. But for this trip we switched gears to center our writing energy on the beer. With a writing partner or group, order a sampler and try your hand at beer tasting. Without looking at the bottle or drink menu, try writing your own description and see how close it matches up.

Find It

1135 NW Galveston Building A
Bend, OR 97701
Website

*This meal was provided to us courtesy of Central Oregon Visitors Association.

Posted on November 20, 2012November 18, 2012 by Sarah & Daytona — Leave a comment

Destination Inspiration: Monteillet Fromagerie

One of the highlights of our recent trip to the Walla Walla Valley was an afternoon at Monteillet Fromagerie just outside of Dayton, Washington. When you have just a few nights in Walla Walla, it can be hard to decide whether to dedicate your time to visiting as many wineries as possible or to break it up and check out some of the region’s other specialties as well. However, we highly suggest seeing if you can work the fromagerie into your schedule.

Pierre-Louis and Joan Monteillet are the couple behind the fromagerie. They lovingly tend French Alpine goats and Friesian and Lacaune sheep on their 32-acre farmstead that seems worlds away from the city life that we’re so used to and that even a smallish town like Walla Walla provides.

Food

Just visiting the fromagerie is a treat in and of itself, but then you get to taste the cheese. If you choose to do a sampling, you can order a plate of their current cheeses to enjoy at the small counter inside or outside in the garden. If it’s a hot day, a glass of chilledÂ rosÃ© is a welcome pairing.

Location and Atmosphere

If you’re checking out the foodie scene in Waitsburg during your stay in the Walla Walla Valley, a trip to the fromagerie is well worth your time. It’s just eight miles past Waitsburg, and if you get your timing right, you can enjoy a relaxing afternoon at the fromagerie before dinner at the Whoopemup Hollow Cafe. The question is, will you ever want to leave?

That’s right, the Monteillets have created an oasis of sorts in their little corner of Eastern Washington. The world seems to slow down there, and just sitting in their lovely garden has the ability to melt away any tension you may have brought with you.

Writeability and Purchased Presence

Bring a notepad–the same one you use for wine tastings, perhaps–and make notes on the cheeses you taste. Sit back, relax. Observe, brainstorm, dream. Take notes just to help you remember. Otherwise, just enjoy. If the Monteillets have a moment to chat, take the opportunity. You’ll be in for a treat.

The Monteillets also have a gite, or French holiday home, which would make an excellent place for a writer spending a little time away from the busyness of life.

Price

Tasting runs about $10 and a glass of wine is about $5. We also recommend bringing a cooler in case you want to take some cheese home.

Parking

Parking is abundant here. Drive down the long gravel road until you come upon the tasting room and you’ll be sure to find a place out in front.

Writer’s Tip

Lose yourself in the remote countryside atmosphere. Taste the variety of cheeses and write about your experience. Consider it cheese tasting practice. And, as we always advise, notice the people around you and take notes for future character development. Above all, relax and enjoy yourself!

Find It

Monteillet Fromagerie
109 Ward Rd.
Dayton, WA 99328
Website

Posted on November 13, 2012November 12, 2012 by Sarah & Daytona — Leave a comment

Destination Inspiration: Whitehouse-Crawford

When you’re hard at work as a writer–an often-solitary profession–it’s important to get out sometimes and treat yourself to a good meal with friends. So on our recent trip to Walla Walla, we made sure to have some good, serious foodie fun amidst all the work we were over there doing.

For a historic taste of Walla Walla we had to visit Whitehouse-Crawford. Located in a restored 1904 saw mill, this restaurant is like fine dining in a museum. They showcase locally sourced produce, seasonal dishes with rich flavor and great menu variety, all wrapped up in a charming historic building. Our visit here truly was a treat.

Food

From the selection of cheeses with homemade crackers and chutney to the salad with fresh, seasonal produce, we knew we were in for a treat from the moment the first dishes arrived. Sarah ordered the roasted Copper River salmon with miso garlic chive butter, sticky rice, and ginger-sesame savoy and mustard greens, while Daytona opted for the grilled pork chop served with a polenta cake and chimichurri.

The cocktails are worth noting, with the bartenders putting together a menu of artisinal creations such as the Earl Grey Collins, with Earl Grey-infused vodka with lemon, honey, and soda. The restaurant also boasts an impressive wine list full of local wine selections, including some hard-to-find Cayuse wines.

Location and Atmosphere

The atmosphere in the Whitehouse-Crawford is classy and relaxing. Exposed historic brick, stark white linens and blue seats in addition to top notch food make this a truly fine dining experience. Â The restaurant is located in the downtown area right by the Marcus Whitman Hotel and Seven Hills Winery.

Writeability and Purchased Presence

The fact that this restaurant is housed in an amazing historic building makes it ripe for writing. However, this is also a fine dining establishment where reservations are highly encouraged, especially during special wine-release weekends when hotels and restaurants fill up weeks if not months in advance. We don’t recommend setting up camp as you might in a coffee shop. This is a great place to treat yourself to a lovely meal or drinks with friends after a hard day of writing. Take in your surroundings as you walk in and are seated, then take a moment to jot down some ideas while you wait for your food to arrive.

Price: $$$

Starters–ranging from a cheese plate to Vietnamese-style deep-fried calamari–and salads generally run around $12, while entrees range from $16 for the Whitehouse-Crawford burger to $39 for the steak, with most other entrees running around $25.

Parking

Parking is a breeze, which is exactly what you want for a non-stress night out. Pull up in one of the spots out front if you’re there early enough, or find nearby street parking or a parking lot. Or better yet, if you’re staying at the Marcus Whitman Hotel located in the same block, all you have to do is walk, eliminating the need for a designated driver!

Writer’s Tip

Sit back and relax, and reward yourself for all the hard work you’ve been doing. Don’t think too hard about writing here–you deserve a break! But if you’re like us and find ideas popping up all the time, pack along a discreet pocked-sized notebook, or use Daytona’s trick and slip a 3-by-5 note card and a purse-sized pen in your clutch to jot down reminders of ideas as they come. There’s nothing worse, after all, than not being able to enjoy the moment because you’re stressing out about whether you’ll remember something that came to mind.

Find It

55 West Cherry Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362
Website

This meal was complimentary, courtesy of Tourism Walla Walla.

Posted on November 6, 2012November 4, 2012 by Sarah & Daytona — Leave a comment

Destination Inspiration: Waitsburg’s Whoopemup Hollow Cafe

While we were visiting Walla Walla, we had to make a trip out to Waitsburg, a small town gaining a fast reputation for having some of the best food around. Whoopemup Hollow Cafe uses local ingredients to deliver Southern comfort. The Whoopemup Hollow Cafe is down to earth, comfortable and just what you’d expect, Southern hospitality in the great Northwest.

Food

The food served at Whoopemup comes dressed to impress. Bright colors accompany bright flavors. When we saw the Monteillet Fromagerie Fresh Goat Cheese Ravioli on the menu, we couldn’t resist seeing what the chef would do with the cheese made by local cheesemakers Pierre-Louis and Joan Monteillet. It was delicious, as was Bry’s Famous Jambalaya, the Fried Catfish, and the watermelon Gazpacho. For dessert, we enjoyed Jimgermanchocolatecake–named after Jim German of the Jimgermanbar across the street–and Classic Coca Cola Cake.

Location and Atmosphere

While the setting was casual, the food presentation was fancy. Set on a backdrop of brightly colored table clothes, the dishes brought out to us seemed dressed for a fineÂ LouisianaÂ party. We dined outside on the patio, which had a lovely breezy feel just right for a warm Eastern Washington summer evening.

Writeability and Purchased Presence

This is a good place to gather and brainstorm with fellow writers. All you need is a notebook and pen, no laptop necessary. We’d suggest sharing a meal or dessert and drinks with a writing partner or critique group and settling in for some quality fellowship. The restaurant is a decent size so it’s easy to find a corner to tuck yourself away and write for a spell or work on edits. Just keep in mind your writing budget when considering how long to stay.

Price: $$

Prices range from $17-27 for a dinner entree and $7-13 for lunch. Drinks are on the higher end as well running an average of $3.25 for non-alcoholic beverages and up to $7.50 for beer or glass of wine.

Parking

Given that Waitsburg is a small, sleepy town, we had no problem finding parking. There were plenty of spaces on the street right in front of the restaurant.

Writer’s Tip

Utilize the atmosphere of the Whoopemup to get a Southern feel without the price of a plane ticket. Try this writing exercise: Focus on the cuisine and imagine the hands that may have prepared a certain dish in their home kitchen. For fiction writers – work this meal into a scene that describes your character. For non-fiction writers – put your food critic skills to use and write up a review focusing on a detailed description of your entree.

Find It

120 Main Street
Waitsburg, WA 99361
Website

Posted on October 30, 2012October 30, 2012 by Sarah & Daytona — Leave a comment

Destination Inspiration: Walla Faces Wine Tasting Room

It’s been a few months since our wine weekend in Walla Walla, and we’re just itching to go back. As many excellent places that Seattle has for writers, Walla Walla on the far corner of the state is brimming with them too. So far we’ve told you about Brasserie Four (perfect for brainstorming with your writing partner over a salade NiÃ§oise), the Green Spoon (where you can enjoy fresh and healthy lunch while getting in some good people-watching), and the Colville Street Patisserie (just right for lingering with a laptop and a salty-sweet kouign amann). Now it’s time to share with you a wine tasting room that’s perfect for jumpstarting your creativity: Walla Faces.

Walla Faces is a multi-faceted brand in Walla Walla, offering wine, lodging at both its vineyard and downtown inn, as well as hosting live music, book clubs, and other events. For the purpose of this article, we’re focusing on the tasting room experience.

Food and Drink

Stop in the downtown tasting room and get ready to meet some new friends: Rick & Debbie, Caroline, Frank, and Winnie, or whoever they’re pouring that day. That’s right, these wines are named after people. And each has a label designed by Walla Walla-based artist Candice Johnson.

Location and Atmosphere

Located in an historic building, the ceiling is just as much a work of art as the colorful paintings and photography hanging on the walls. Depending on the time of day that you stop in, you can experience either a hub of activity and music, or a quiet place to stroll and view all the artful surroundings while tasting the wine selections of the day.

Writeability and Purchased Presence

One of the reasons we’ve selected Walla Faces for a Destination Inspiration feature is the variety of art forms celebrated here. From Candice Johnson’s paintings that grace the wine labels and much of the tasting room’s interior to the book club and live music hosted here, there is plenty of opportunity to get some cross-media inspiration at Walla Faces. If you’re down the street at a coffee shop and feeling stuck with a case of writer’s block, simply pack up and walk down to Walla Faces and take in the surroundings. Perhaps taking a little break and being inspired by other artists will help get you back on track.

Price

The price for tasting is not much more than a latte at a local coffee shop.

Parking

The tasting room is located downtown, but at one of the further ends, so street parking should be easy to come by.

Writer’s Tip

It’s de rigour to bring a notebook and pen along while wine tasting so you can take notes on the wine. So bring along your writing notebook and take a little time to exercise your descriptive skills as you jot down notes on what you’re experiencing, both in the tasting and in your surroundings.

Find It

Walla Faces Wine Tasting Room & Art Gallery
216 E Main St
Walla Walla, WA 99362
Website

Full disclosure: Walla Faces provided our lodging and tasting during our July visit to Walla Walla.

Posted on October 23, 2012October 22, 2012 by Sarah & Daytona — Leave a comment

Destination Inspiration: Colville Street Patisserie

When it comes to doing some serious writing, sometimes a coffee shop is the best place. They’re usually friendly to writers who want to linger for hours, and it’s the norm to see people with a latte and a laptop. What makes a coffee shop go from good to great in our opinion, however, is the quality of the pastries. For that, Walla Walla’s Colville Street Patisserie is perfect. It is, after all, not just a place for coffee, but a true pastry shop.

Food

We can thank a local winemaker and his wife for telling us about this great place. They raved about the kouign amann (pronounced queen ah-mahn), the salty-sweet, flaky-sticky Breton cake that’s reminiscent of a croissant with its flaky layers, but much more decadent. Other treats worth trying include the apricot danish and the potato, pea, and curry turnover. Any of these would go well with an espresso or cappuccino. Also check out the range of gelato flavors while you’re there, as well as the case of fine desserts perfect for a special event.

Location and Atmosphere

Situated in Downtown Walla Walla, just a block off of Main Street, Colville Street Patisserie is easy to get to, yet boasts a slightly slower pace than a location on the main drag would give it. Though the stream of customers is steady, it’s perfectly acceptable to hunker down at a table with your laptop for a morning writing session.

Writeability and Purchased Presence

Colville Street Patisserie offers exactly what you’d expect from a coffee shop, but with the benefit of excellent pastries. There’s ample seating, and the steady energy of people streaming in and out is perfect for writers looking for a little people-watching and character inspiration. As we mentioned above, it’s a great place to linger. As always, however, be mindful of the Nooks & Cranberries code of conduct: Be considerate to crowds struggling to find a place to sit, and support the local business and order an additional beverage or pastry if you’re going to linger a while (we call this “Purchased Presence”).

Price

Come in with a $10 bill and you’ll likely have plenty of money for a coffee, pastry, and a tip. In that regard, the pricing is typical for coffee shops, only you get a remarkable pastry, and not just a dry, bland, and lusterless one found at many other venues.

Parking

Street parking is easy to come by, or if you’re already downtown it’s within walking distance from virtually anywhere.

Writer’s Tip

Get to know the people working here, and strike up a conversation with the writer sitting next to you. Writing is often a solitary pursuit, and social hubs like this are great ways to get some social interaction. You never know when you’ll meet a new friend or come up with a great new storyline or article!

Find It

40 South Colville Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362
Website

Posted on October 16, 2012October 16, 2012 by Sarah & Daytona — Leave a comment

Destination Inspiration: Walla Walla’s Green Spoon

Have you ever been in a group where everyone wanted something different? Well, one of our favorite lunching places in Walla Walla solves that problem. With variety on the menu and fresh ingredients at hand, the Green Spoon offers something for everyone.

Food

Advertised as serving food that is fresh, healthy and delicious, we found the Green Spoon to be just that! The vegetables looked as though they had just been picked, crisp and ripe, from the garden and the sandwiches are hearty and well stuffed. The menu offers many styles of food from Greek, Thai and Mexican, all the way to a classic BLT or mac n’ cheese.

Location and Atmosphere

On Main street in downtown Walla Walla, the Green Spoon is located near several tasting rooms and shops, making it a convenient place to stop for a fresh lunch or hearty dinner after a long day of tasting and shopping. The atmosphere is light and modern, with art from local artists displayed on the walls.

Writeability and Purchased Presence

During non-peak hours, the Green Spoon is a great place to grab a bite and a drink and linger for a while with your notebook. The staff is veryÂ accommodatingÂ and often happy to answer questions about the menu, or even non-menu related questions. However, out of courtesy, keep an eye on the traffic flow and make sure you’re not taking up a table too long during rush hours unless you’ve ordered a full meal.

Price

Lunch prices can range from $9-12 and dinner entrees can get up to $22, which is reasonable for the quality of ingredients and portion size.

Parking

Free parking is on Main St. and side streets.

Writer’s Tip

To get your writing juices flowing, try this writing exercise. Once you’ve placed your order, as your server two quick questions. #1 What’s the most popular item on the menu, and #2 What is an item not frequently ordered. With this in mind, imagine your character sitting in the Green Spoon, would they order the most popular item, or something else? Jot down notes for a scene in which your character is sitting with someone who makes an unusual request from the menu, how does your character react?

Find It

The Green Spoon Walla Walla
13 E Main St
Walla Walla, WA
Website

This meal was complimentary, courtesy of Tourism Walla Walla.

Posted on October 9, 2012October 9, 2012 by Sarah & Daytona — Leave a comment

Destination Inspiration: Walla Walla’s Brasserie Four

There’s nothing like a little French inspiration to get us in the mood to write. We may not be able to time travel to Hemingway and Fitzgerald’s 1920s Paris, but Brasserie Four in Walla Walla comes close. So it seems like the perfect way to start our Walla Walla-based Destination Inspiration series.

Food

From an artfully composed salade niÃ§oise to macarons with just the right balance between chewy and light, this French bistro in Downtown Walla Walla is one of our favorite spots in Washington wine country. Owner Hannah MacDonald has come up with a menu that celebrates the best of classic French fare, while managing to keep it fresh, fun, and never too heavy.

Location and Atmosphere

Located on Main Street in Downtown Walla Walla, this is the perfect place to people watch, especially if you can get a seat on the patio or by a window. We lingered a while after our meal to enjoy our macarons and just take in the scenery and its people. We noticed business taking place one table over and a man seated behind us raved about the food and said he always stopped by when he was in town. Â The atmosphere and cuisine are such that people keep coming back and you can count us among them!

Writeability and Purchased Presence

Come with a notebook and a pen–and ideally a writing partner. This is a great place to brainstorm over a couple of bubbly wines. Keep the mood fun, and not too serious, and be mindful of the crowd when deciding how long to linger.

Price: $$

Expect to pay around $8 for a starter, or $10-20 for an entree. While pretty typical for a restaurant of this caliber, consider your writer’s budget before deciding in a moment of epicurean bliss that you’re going to come here every day for lunch.

Parking

Street parking is often available along Main Street. We’ve never had trouble finding a good spot more than a block or two away from our destination.

Writer’s Tip

One of the few restaurants around with a designated kids’ play area, this is the perfect place for a writing meeting when you have to bring the kids along. They also offer a kids’ size to virtually anything on the menu, and offer high chairs, which can be hard to come by among Walla Walla’s fine restaurants.

Find It

Brasserie Four
4 East Main Street
Walla Walla, Washington
Website