Egg and I Farm Chimacum, WA for Fresh Eggs and Pork

Egg and I is a book that was published in 1945, and was written by Betty MacDonald.  This book then inspired the making of all the Ma and Pa Kettle movies.  Egg and I Road is near Chimacum, WA, and just happens to be around a 15 minute ish drive from where I live in Port Townsend, WA. 

Now you can go to Egg and I farm on Egg and I Road for awesome free range chicken eggs, and fresh pork made from Tamworth pigs (these pigs originated in the United Kingdom).  This farm allows the pigs to grow at their natural rate which lends to better tasting products.   Once you've turned onto Egg and I Road you will need to follow it for a bit, and the farm will be on the right side of the road. (I missed it the first time, and had to turn around).

Con't down the drive, and keep to the right when the drive forks.  Park by this building.  

Inside the building is a small refrigerator which is shown in this picture.

In the refrigerator you will find fresh eggs by the dozen, and in the little freezer will be various pork items.  The bulk pork sausage is amazing!!  Often the farmer, Doyle, is around, but if he isn't you actually put the money for all items into the butter storage door on the inside of the refrigerator door. One of the many things I love about living out here on the Olympic Peninsula is all the "pay on the honor system" type places that still exits. 

Look at these gorgeous eggs!  When you get one home, and crack it, you will see how gorgeous the egg yolks are.  Love these eggs!  As of now, they are $5 a dozen, and if you live in the area then bring the containers back each time and leave them on the table next to the fridge.  The chickens are often free range in the field, but a few are occasionally in a large cage for a short time since they are the ones that keep running away!  LOL!  

If farmer Doyle is available he will often show you around, and you might even catch a glimpse of the cute little baby pigs.  

Farmer Doyle has always been very kind, informative, welcoming, and generous with us each time we have visited.  He is definitely the type of person I want to give my business to.  Plus, it's really nice to know exactly where your food is coming from.  The drive to and from the farm is very scenic as well.  I hope you will take the time to check this farm out if you are ever in the area.

Victoria Cooksey

*And they also sell Fuchsias part of the year too.

Egg and I Farm:  https://www.facebook.com/eggandipork/

Check out my cooking, and chocolate review videos at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm-lp-lF_wB2oX_592jK9UQ

Chocolate lovers check out my fine chocolate review blog at:
http://darkmattersfinechocolatereviews.blogspot.com/

Homemade Doughnut and Coffee Stand Olympic Trading Post Port Hadlock, WA

Just a few minutes drive out of Port Townsend, WA towards Port Hadlock is a homemade doughnut, and coffee stand that I've passed, and finally stopped at the other day.  (I was needing a doughnut fix!). This stand has a one way drive through around it, so no need to even get out of your car. (There is a parking lot too).

Just look for this sign by the side of the road:

When I was there the doughnuts were all either vanilla, or blueberry, but each of those categories has different styles like old fashioned, topped with coconut, topped with nuts, etc. This pic is a blueberry doughnut believe it or not. 

This pic shows of the blueberry inside.  I liked that the doughnut had that initial crisp mouth feel that only a fresh doughnut provides.

If you are visiting, or a local, it's worth a short drive to get some doughnuts, and I rather enjoyed my latte from there as well.

Victoria Cooksey

Check out all my cooking, and chocolate review videos at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm-lp-lF_wB2oX_592jK9UQ

Chocolate lovers will enjoy my other blog:
http://darkmattersfinechocolatereviews.blogspot.com/

Graysmarsh Farm in Sequim, WA for berry picking

Each year I head over to Graysmarsh Farm over in Sequim, WA (about a 45 min drive from Port Townsend, WA) to pick fresh berries at great prices.  Last month I picked several pounds of strawberries (many of which now reside in my freezer for smoothie making).

The strawberries show up in June, and then blueberries, and lavender become available for picking in July.  Check their website out for the exact season, and other berries that are available as well.  This is an activity that both adults, and kids love to do.  And I must say that here in Washington State we have amazing berries!  I'm talking strawberries that actually taste like a strawberry, and are juicy, and sweet.  Yum!!!

I also like to grab a latte at: https://www.facebook.com/Rainshadow.Coffee.Roasting whenever I'm over in Sequim.  

Be sure to check out my other blog for fine chocolate bar reviews: http://darkmattersfinechocolatereviews.blogspot.com/

Happy picking!!!

Victoria Cooksey

Cacao Bean Tasting: Trying 4 Different Cocoa Beans

Just yesterday I completed an exercise in trying four different cocoa beans by taking off the shell, grinding the nibs (each style individually), and then focused on both the smells (in whole bean form, and then after I ground the nibs in my clean, coffee grinder), and tastes of each sample. Then I tried each sample with a touch of regular sugar.  (Please note that you wouldn't want to do this with beans that look moldy, or damaged).

This first pic is of the Porcelana beans in whole form.  

Venezuela Porcelana 2015 This bean had practically zero acidity, bitterness, or astringency.  The whole bean had a touch of vinegar on the nose, cocoa, minimal fruity, and minimal spicy notes. The nose once the nibs were ground up was lots of cocoa, caramel, buttery, sweet, earthy.   When I tried the grounds with the sugar it stayed cocoa powder, and earthy, but a little astringency came out.  This was easy to chew due to the flavors, and lack of unpleasant  tastes. Mild.

Tanzania Kokoa Kamili 2015

The raw beans had a high cocoa, and fruity smell, with a hint of spice.  The taste of the ground up nibs was fairly bitter, and some acidity noted.  The aroma of the ground nibs was high in cocoa, and very high in fresh fruit, mildly buttery, and a bit of sweetness.  When I tried this with the sugar the sugar masked the flavor a lot, it was less acidic, rather plan tasting. 

Mexican Chiapas  2015

The raw beans smelled lightly nutty, and fairly spicy.  The taste had a lot of bitterness, and some vegetal notes. There was also some umami, and some acidity/sour smells to the ground nibs.  When I tried it with the sugar there was more of a malty taste, and it was less bitter.  This one was the toughest one to chew due to the flavors, and bitterness to start.

Bolivia Criollo/Trinitario 2015

The raw beans smelled slightly of vinegar, and earth, a bit of cocoa.  The ground up nibs had mild acidity. and barely any bitterness, nor astringency.  The taste was high in cocoa powder, and a tiny bit of nut, spice, and earth.  When tried with the sugar I con't to get the cocoa notes, and overall the flavors stayed the same.   This, and the Porcelana were the two most pleasant to taste in ground up form. Mild.

I was surprised at how much trying a bit of sugar with the ground nib samples really changed the flavor.  On 3 of these 4 samples the sugar made a huge difference.

Hungry for more chocolate info?  Then check out my other blog:  

http://darkmattersfinechocolatereviews.blogspot.com/

To order a 4 pack sample of cocoa beans check out:

http://shop.chocolatealchemy.com/collections/cocoa-beans/products/cocoa-bean-sampler-pack

See you next time!!!

Victoria Cooksey

How to tell if tasting notes in fine chocolate are floral vs fruity

I received a great chocolate related question today: "How can I tell if what I'm tasting in chocolate is fruity, or floral?".

For floral tasting notes (for aromas too) think lavender, lemongrass, jasmine, and orange blossom.

For fruity notes (and aromas) think apple, grape, tropical fruits, stone fruits, berries, and even dried fruit, etc.  I get tasting notes of berries, and raisins a lot in chocolate.

This list is a starting point, there are hundreds of flavor notes to be found in chocolate, and several more tasting flavor categories.

What I've learned the most from fine chocolate tastings is that not all chocolate tastes like the traditional chocolate most of us grew up with because most of that was made from one to two bean varieties only, and there are so many available now.  Each type of bean, each country it's grown in, how it's fermented, dried, roasted, etc really brings out different flavor notes.  At first, it was hard to wrap my brain around the fact that not all chocolate taste like what my mind thought of as "chocolate", yet it's all chocolate.

Also, I was asked if these tasting notes come from the ingredient being added.  Nope, it's just the flavors that come through.  It's a lot like how there are so many wine grapes out there, and each wine tastes so different from the next, but nothing other then the grapes are in there.

I've also noticed that I get a changing experience each time I try a certain chocolate bar, so I try to taste it 3 times over the course of a week to get my full impression.  Sometimes I don't like a bar on the first go, but I often do by the 3rd time.

Hope this helps!  Keep sending questions my way!

Victoria Cooksey

Lullaby Winery Tasting Room in Port Townsend, WA

I recently had the chance to visit, and take some lovely sips, at the Lullaby Winery tasting room here in Port Townsend, WA.  Located at 274 Otto St this tasting room is open Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 5 pm. 

The lovely, and charming owner, Virginie Bourgue, greets you with a nice selection of her artisan wines.  Tastings are $10 a person, which includes four different wine samples.  Stay indoors, or take your time by taking your glass outside for awhile. 

My personal favorite wine from this tasting was Morning Light.  In this 100% viognier wine I got tasting notes of walnut, and olive.  It pairs well with some lightly salted, roasted almonds.  The grapes are grown at Dwelley Vineyard located in the Walla Walla AVA, and this wine is aged in neutral French oak barrels.

Next time you spend the weekend in Port Townsend, WA be sure to check out Lullaby!

http://lullabywinery.com/

https://www.facebook.com/lullabywinery/

Be sure to follow me on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/victoria.cooksey/?hl=en

Victoria Cooksey