My Gyro Heroes

As a foodie, exploring different foods and restaurants is in my nature, searching for a new experience or untried taste.  However, I am stuck in the most blissful rut at the Plunkin' Shack in Port Angeles, WA. They are my gyro heroes!! Melissa, Mackenzie and their whole friendly team make every customer feel welcome and there is no doubt,we are definitely well fed!

The amazing ladies with my son Alan

I know they have amazing soups, salads, other sandwiches. My friends swear to it, I see other customers eating their other selections, but their gyro is my go-to and exclusive choice!

They use the thicker pita which is soft, dense (sort of like a thin foccacia) and pliable. This is the vessel which contains the Tzatziki sauce (a creamy yogurt, garlic, parsley, cucumber based sauce), black olives, shaved onions, feta cheese, lettuce, fresh tomatoes and gyro meat. This glorious creation is wrapped in paper, yet still requires several napkins and two hands to fully embrace the experience.

We went in early July, just Alan and I. He had often heard me waxing on about their incredible gyro sandwiches and was anxious to stop in for his first time. The appeal was immediate when we drove up; the hanging baskets and planter boxes on the outside and the cozy decor inside. The Christmas trees are part of the year round decor and decorated according to the current holiday or season, always cheerful!

The ladies know my "usual" order; a lage, freshly brewed iced tea with a wedge of lemon and...

the gyro sandwich! My only deviation is what side salad to accompany...today it was their home-made coleslaw. Alan had the side of Pasta Salad with Ranch dressing with his gyro. I finished my plate and part of Alan's pasta salad side (oink, oink)!

Our gyros were more devoured than savoured, so Alan ordered another one for the road trip out to Forks. Another Plunkin' Shack devotee was converted that day. Good golly, I'm going to need to get another paper route to feed this kid.


Bravo to the ladies at the Plunkin' Shack, our gyro heroes! No doubt to return another day for more gyros. 

~Here's to you finding your little slice of heaven and relishing it each time you visit...bye for now my friends!

A treasure hidden in plain sight

I have to admit, Sunny Farms is deceiving to those who haven't been in for a visit. It's not a flashy, glitzy urban store and it doesn't pretend to be. It's an honest to goodness farm store, focusing on fresh produce, fresh fish and meats, a busy deli and garden center, a thriving dried goods isle. It's a modest store, which doesn't reveal itself immediately...you have to slowly explore it's bounty to know why it's a true destination for Sequim shoppers!

Sometimes I need something specific or sometimes I come to be inspired by their produce or meat depts. I'm always preaching about using the best, local, organic if possible ingredients and this is why Sunny Farms is on my list of "go to" places.

 Currently featuring local strawberries!

Their meat dept is my personal magnet. The staff is knowledgeable and helpful. The products are super to uber-fresh and often naturally raised. Not sure of which cut is best for your recipe...they are happy to steer you (get it?! Steer is also a neutered male cow...sorry) towards some of your best choices of cuts. I'm a personal fan of the meats from their farms in Othello, WA. They're super fresh, naturally raised and mainly grass fed to my understanding.

How much do these beautiful Smoked Ham Hocks cry out to jump in your cart?! Think split pea soup, refried beans, savory rices, omlettes and SOOO much more. Love me some Ham Hocks, I do!

Their seafood signage is specific as to wild or farmed, previously frozen or fresh, often with a place of origin so that you can make an informed choice as a consumer...how refreshing!

Their dried goods section is also a very popular isle. The origins are often listed as is whether they're organic also. This is where I shop for the granola my family enjoys, various rices and beans.

Then there's my beloved CB's Nuts Organic Peanut Butter dispenser so that I can grind my own fresh! These guys ROCK at roasting nuts and the quality of their product is unparalleled in my opinion!
(Good golly I'm such a food geek!)

We have many other reasons for shopping at Sunny Farms...my son and I often stop for a cone of frozen yogurt in their deli, to help his patience level while I shop. They also carry several local bakeries' goods as well which is convenience when time is short. Their garden center and canning departments are both well stocked.

So give this humble lady a visit next time you're shopping in Sequim or passing by on Highway 101...she's not blingy but she's full of character and substance!

Happy shopping mon amis!

4th of July in Forks, WA on the family farm

There is something so quieting about our family farm. Possibly the lush vegetation, the time with family or the sound of the river...maybe it's all of the above! The younger generation of my son and nieces are able to see the livestock, play in the river and find lots of frogs.

The barn was a magical place to explore to me as a child and to my wiener dogs as well!!

My cousin and husband who live on the farm brought a few "friends" to visit and train with her. The dogs decided to introduce themselves from a healthy distance.

This truck (with logo) is part of the transportation fleet for my cousin's horses and her client's horses to various shows across North America.

One of my nieces found a photo in a magazine and decided to decorate our lasagna to commemorate the holiday! We actually enjoyed the sour cream topping and freshly sliced tomatoes. The black beans didn't add or detract from the flavor but got style points as the "stars" on the flag.

After dinner, we went down to the fire pit the kids made out of river rock and Papa started the fire for his grand kids...time for s'mores!

Grandma prepared a tray of all the s'more ingredients...check out the size of these marshmallows!

Niece Kasey likes to char her marshmallow, eat the crust off and repeat.

I remembered to shoot a picture of mine after a few deliciously gooey bites. These camp fires and s'mores are always a quintessential sign of Summer for my family.

Niece Tessa displaying her colossal roasted marshmallow, she likes a heavy toasting but not burnt.




A contented niece!

The dogs have wondered off to try to chase river birds...don't worry, they're not fleet of foot in the water (or on the rocks either).

My son is searching the collection of river rocks to find stones to skip after his s'mores.

My Dad, son Alan and nieces Tessa and Kasey join in, trying their hand at skipping rocks.

My Mom made buttermilk pancakes for breakfast the next day. I enjoyed mine with CB's Organic Peanut butter and Raspberry jam for breakfast! I brought a quart for the long weekend as my Dad is a HUGE fan of CB's Nuts Organic Peanut Butter.

My son and one of his cousins were in the Kid's Parade on the 4th and they got 3rd prize!

The 4th of July Parade is always a family affair for us with lots of sunscreen, water and candy thrown to the kids from the passing floats.

What a fantastically relaxing weekend with my family, I'm looking forward to next year already!

Here's to creating some lasting memories this summer...bye for now friends!