Panhandle Gap (Photo by Kim Hull)

For many tourists, a trip to the Pacific Northwest means a trip to Mount Rainier National Park, where you might have a chance to see wildlife such as mountain goats, marmots and even black bears — not to mention awesome views of the region’s most majestic peak.

Savvy locals and hikers familiar with the park, of course, know they can see all that on the Summerland and Panhandle Gap trail — provided, of course, they can find a parking spot anywhere close to the trailhead.

Such is the attraction of the hike voted No. 4 on the Cascadian Trekkers’ “Big Five.”

Summerland is a place of idyllic tarns and meadows, streams of glacial meltoff and a backcountry campground popular with hikers circumnavigating the park on the 90-mile Wonderland Trail.

For most day-hikers, though, Summerland is only a pleasant stopping point on their way to Panhandle Gap, the highest point on the Wonderland Trail and itself a veritable wonderland of wildlife and eye-widening views.

You’ve got to be in decent shape to make the hike, since it’s a 12-mile round-tripper and you’ll gain 3,000 feet of elevation over those first six miles. And, as with almost any high-country hike in the Cascades, the Summerland trail has its share of switchbacks.

But once through them, says Cascadians day-hike chairman Phil Bird, “You come into some views where you’re looking right at Rainier, and this huge cirque. You climb to the top of that cirque at Panhandle Gap, and then you look for miles.

“On this route you’re almost certain to see mountain goats. You’ll see marmots. And bears.”

“We were within 25 feet of a bear the last time I went,” adds Cascadians president Kim Hull.

But the animal kingdom has even more to offer at Panhandle Gap than that.

“The last time we were up there we saw ravens gliding in the snow,” Cascadian member Sue Gunderson says. “They were obviously having fun. It was unbelievable. We had heard that goats do that, but these darn ravens, you saw them slide down and then either fly or walk back up and then slide again. It was crazy.”

If for some reason you haven’t gotten your fill of wildlife-viewing by the time you get to Panhandle Gap and you still have some time and energy, hang a left at the gap and follow a little trail that goes downhill for a bit before completely disappearing, and bushwhack cross-country to these high chimneys. That’s Banshee Peak, where you’ll see mountain goats galore.

“It makes your hike a 15-miler,” says Cascadian Maurine Peck, “but it’s well worth it.”

– Scott Sandsberry

Jim Duke takes Harrah Elementary School students on a tour of Toppenish's historic murals May 24, 2012. Duke has been doing the tours since the first mural was painted in 1989. Photo by Gordon King

TOPPENISH — Jim Duke knows his local history.

For more than 20 years, his horse-drawn wagon has served as a time portal, taking visitors to the era when this rural Lower Yakima Valley town was settled.

Dubbed “Where the West Still Lives,” Toppenish has a downtown of historic buildings dressed with Western-style wood awnings and old street lamps.

Each spring, the 78-year-old begins his rounds through town, giving visitors from as far away as Europe tours of the 73 murals.

His wife, Joan, keeps the books on the business and schedules the tours, which usually start at 10 a.m. with the last tour at 1 p.m.

“When I leave in the morning, I take all the paperwork (from my wife) and away I go,” he said.

A pair of cream-colored Norwegian Fjords pull his red, 18-foot-long wagon and its passengers through town.

“We have people come from all over the world to see them murals,” he said. “I like it because you get to talk to people from all over the world.”

Schools often book tours for field trips.

Since the Great Recession, his business has seen a dip in tourists from abroad, but local traffic has increased, he said.

Duke saw the town transformed into a Western theme more than 23 years ago.

A sugar plant at the north end of town that was once an economic pillar folded in 1979 after prices plummeted when imports flooded the market.

“Toppenish was kind of on a downhill slope then for a while,” he recalled.

Business owners and community leaders formed a group and began meeting to find a solution. They visited a town in southwest Canada that used murals to lure tourists.

The group, which eventually became the Toppenish Mural Society, decided to mimic the mural program in Canada. The first mural was painted on the corner of Toppenish and Washington avenues on June 30, 1989.

After townspeople showed up to watch artists paint the mural, the town formed the Mural-In-A-Day event.

But one mural wasn’t enough to bolster tourism. So, eight murals were painted each year the following four years for a total of 33.

“We thought we painted everything that wasn’t moving, but we went on,” he said.

And Duke, who was raised on his father’s Toppenish ranch, already had the idea of giving tours of the murals in a horse-drawn wagon.

“I’d already been around the United States, been around horses,” he said.

His business started in 1990, but it took two years to get into full swing.

The murals depict early settlements and culture: “All the murals have to do with Toppenish and surrounding areas before the 1920s,” he said.

Some exceptions were allowed later, he said, such as the mural on Second Street depicting World War II.

At that time, the area became reliant on farm labor from Mexico because local men were fighting in the war, he said.

Duke can tell you the history behind each mural.

“Well, I watched them as they went up,” he said. “I was at every mural celebration. You learn about them, read about them before they go up.”

His roots in Toppenish have historical footprints of their own.

He was raised in a small house on Beech Street that was moved to Bolin Drive.

“It used to look really big, but I was small,” he said. “I was born in that house.”

He said his grandfather, Alfred James Slaton, owned one of the first automobiles in Toppenish and in 1917 he opened the town’s first filling station at the corner of First Avenue and Alder Street.

His father, Claud Duke, ran a ranch off of Fort Road.

While Duke gave tours in the spring and summer, his wife managed their furniture upholstery shop in Selah.

In 2000, the couple sold the upholstery shop.

“Without her, (the tour business) would have never happened,” he said.

– Phil Ferolito

May
Weseltail Pow Wow — May 24-26, White Swan Pavilion, Signal Peak and Mission Road, Toppenish. Dancers, vendors and drummers.
Races at Renegade Raceway — May 24-26, Wapato. Info: 509-877-4621, www.renegaderaceway.com
8th Annual Dash Race — May 26, Prosser Wine and Food Park, Prosser. Bike Race at 8:30 a.m., Walk/Run at 9 a.m.
Roslyn Riders Poker Ride — May 26, playfield off Highway 903, Roslyn. Info: Joe Adams, 509-674-5775 or roslynriders.com
Textile Tieton at Mighty Tieton Warehouse Gallery — noon to 3 p.m., Fridays through Sundays through July 11, 608 Wisconsin Ave., Tieton. Featuring art quilts curated from the Contemporary Quilt Art Association. Free event. Info: 509-847-3034.
Memorial Day Service — May 27, Cle Elum Veterans Cemetery. Info: Cle Elum City Hall, 509-674-2262
Storyfest — 6 p.m. May 28, Yakima Valley Museum, 2105 Tieton Drive, Yakima. Performance of Greek Mythology: Stories of Gods and heroism from ancient civilization by the sea. Geared for children in grades K-8. Free. Info: 509-248-0747.
yakima valley visitor information center open house — 5:30-7:30 p.m. May 30, 10 N. Eighth St., Yakima. Celebrate the visitor’s center 10th anniversary with wine tasting, appetizers and door prizes. Info: 509-573-3388 or visityakima.com
Grand Spring Opening at Bella Terra Gardens — 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., May 30-June 1, 660 Bella Terra Road, Zillah. Info: 509-985-6664
2013 American Truck Historic Show — 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 30-June 1, Central Washington State Fairgrounds, 1301 S. Fair Ave., Yakima. Admission: TBA. Info: www.yakimasundome.com or stayinthegap.com
friday night supper club — 6 p.m., May 31, Desert Wind Winery, 2258 Wine Country Road, Prosser. Summer’s Comin’ dinner features wines by Cowan Vineyards and coffees by Father MIchael’s Coffee Roastery. Pre-dinner social begins at 6 p.m. for this communal seating, three-course, family-style dinner. $55 per person, $45 for Desert Wind wine club members and club members of featured winery. Reservations required. Info: 509-786-7277 or tourprosser.com

June
Art About Ellensburg — June 1, Ellensburg. Self-guided tour of artists’ homes and art studios in the Kittitas Valley. Participants will receive a map guiding them to each home where they can meet the artists, see where they live and work and mingle with other art enthusiasts. Info: Gallery One, 509-925-2670 or www.ci.ellensburg.wa.us
Summer Workshop Series — June 1 through July 31 at the Larson Gallery, S. 16th Avenue and Nob Hill Boulevard, Yakima. Professional artists will present a variety of workshops. For cost, schedule and to register, call 509-574-4875 or go to www.larsongallery.org.
Mural in a day — June 1, Toppenish. Watch as about a dozen artists complete a mural in seven hours. Free public event with family friendly events. Info: 509-865-3262.
Gap2Gap Relay — 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 1 at Sarg Hubbard Park on the Yakima Greenway, 111 S. 18th St., Yakima. A multi-leg relay race for kids and adults. Adult Elite Course includes a 2-mile field run, 12-mile mountain bike, 8-mile kayak, 20-mile road bike and 10K run. Adult Sport course includes a 2-mile field run, 8-mile mountain bike, 5K skate leg, 20-mile road bike and 5K run. The junior course offers a run, bike, skate, kayak and obstacle course. Info and registration: yakimagreenway.org/g2g
ROCK THE GAP — June 1, Sarg Hubbard Park, Yakima. Live music, salmon dinner, silent and dessert auction. Social hour with local wines and beer begins at 5:30 p.m.; dinner and auctions at 6:30 p.m.; Redwood Son will perform at 7:30 p.m. Concert by Ben Union begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $55 in advance, $60 at the door or $20 for concert only. Info: rockthegap.com or 509-453-8280.
Races at Yakima Speedway — June 1, 1600 Pacific Ave., Yakima. Late model sportsman, hobby stocks, pure stocks, mini stocks, hornets and bump to pass. Info: www.yakimaspeedway.us
14th Annual Cruisin’ for Hospice Car Show — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 1, downtown Ellensburg. Includes: Music, raffle, food and entertainment. Proceeds benefit Hospice Friends. Pre-registration: $25 or $30 day of the event. 509-962-7379
Cooking class with mojave at desert wind — 6 p.m. June 5, Desert Wind Winery, 2258 Wine Country Road, Prosser. Interactive evening of culinary education features instruction, dinner, wine and recipes. $55 per person, $45 for wine club members. Reservations required. Info: 509-786-7277
LGG Members’ Arts & Crafts Show — June 7 through July 5 at the Larson Gallery, South 16th Avenue and Nob Hill Boulevard, Yakima. Opening reception will be from 5-7 p.m. June 15. Annual non-juried exhibit with works from LGG members. Gallery hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 1-5 p.m. Saturday. Info: 509-574-4875 or www.larsongallery.org
Lunchtime Live — 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. June 7, free concert series at Performance Park, corner of Second and A streets, Yakima.
Yakima valley swamp meet and car show — 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. State Fair Park, 1301 S. Fair Ave., Yakima. Buy, sell and trade car parts, antiques and collectibles. $5, children younger than 12 free with adult. Info: 509-453-2119 or 509-248-3605
toughest monster truck tour — 7:30 p.m. June 7-8, State Fair Park, 1301 S. Fair Ave., Yakima. General admission advance tickets start at $20 for adults, $10 for children. Info: yakimasundome.com or 509-248-7160
158th Annual Yakama Nation Treaty Day, Commemoration Pow Wow — June 7-9, White Swan Pavilion, Signal Peak and Mission Road, Toppenish.
Races at Renegade Raceway — June 7-9, Wapato. Info: 509-877-4621, www.renegaderaceway.com
Sportsfest — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 8-9, downtown Prosser. 3-on-3 hoops tournament includes divisions for both youth and adults. Doubles tennis in both men’s and women’s divisions. Matches will be played at Prosser High School tennis courts and at the courts at E.J. Miller Park.
Ultimate Wine Experience — 4:30 p.m. June 8, State Fair Park, 1301 South Fair Ave., Yakima. Taste more than 300 Washington wines, plus appetizers and an auction. $20 or $200 for a table of eight, which includes four bottles of wine to take home. Info: 509-248-8093
Races at Yakima Speedway — June 8, 1600 Pacific Ave., Yakima. Late model sportsman, hobby stocks, pure stocks, mini stocks, hornets and bump to pass. Info: www.yakimaspeedway.us
Youth Music Show & Community Dance — 1-3 p.m. June 8, Fruitvale Grange, 2908 Castlevale Road, Yakima. Admission is free, donations accepted. Info: 509-949-2100 or www.gonefiddlingagain.com.
Annual Tractor Run to Toppenish — 7 a.m.-5 p.m. June 8-9, Union Gap. Tractors will leave the Central Washington Agricultural Museum, 4508 Main St., and travel to Toppenish. Tractors need to travel 8-10 miles an hour, have at least one American flag and a slow moving vehicle triangle. Participants need to be ready to leave from the museum at 8 a.m. Info: 509-833-4811 or stayinthegap.com
Downtown Summer Nights — 5-9 p.m. June 13, 4th Street Theatre, 14 S. Fourth St., Yakima. Music by Too Slim and the Taildraggers. Includes: food, drink, vendors and kids area. Free. Info: 509-972-3461 or downtownsummernights.com
UKC Rotary Golf Tournament & Dinner Auction — Begins at 12:45 p.m. June 14, Suncadia Resort, Cle Elum. Info: Nathan, 509-674-9450 or ukcrotarygolf.golfreg.com
Lunchtime Live — 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. June 14, free concert series at Performance Park, corner of Second and A streets, Yakima.
Tieton Flag Day Ceremony — June 14, Naches. Info: www.nachesvalleychamber.com
Union Gap Old Town Days — June 14-15, downtown Union Gap. Parade, carnival and other family activites on Main Street in Union Gap. Info: stayinthegap.com
Nearly Naked Alpaca Day — 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 15, Sage Bluff Alpacas, 8401 Steele Road, Prosser. Open house at Sage Bluff Alpacas to celebrate annual spring shearing. View the alpacas, talk with breeders and enjoy refreshments and retail. Info: 509-786-4507
Dachshunds on Parade — June 15, downtown Ellensburg. There will be a “short” parade, Dachshund races, pet tricks, costume contest and Breakfast with the Dogs pancake feed, sponsored by the Rodeo City Kiwanis club. Info: 888-925-2204 or www.dachshundsonparade.com
scottish fest and highland games — 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 15, Port of Benton Wine and Food Park, Prosser. Dance competition, heavy athletic games, traditional food and entertainment and an anvil launch. $8 general admission, $5 children ages 5-12 and seniors 65 and older. Children younger than 4 are free. Info: 509-786-3177 or prosserscottishfest.org

A quilt panel is hung at the Kittitas County Fairgrounds on Friday, April 26, 2013. The quilts are part of the Kittitas County Barn Quilt Trail. (SARA GETTYS / Yakima Herald-Republic)

Barns, beauty and history are three things Kittitas County has in abundance, and some residents are tying them together with a barn quilt trail to draw tourists.

Click to Watch Attached Video →

The not-exactly-linear Kittitas County Barn Quilt Trail, which officially opened this weekend, consists of clusters of historic barns on which large, brightly painted wood panels resembling quilts are hung. It already has more than 35 panels up, and organizers plan to put up about 100 in the next few years.

The first barn quilt trail was created in southern Ohio in 2001, and since then, they have spread to about 30 states, mostly in the Eastern United States.

The Kittitas County trail is the first of its kind in Washington, and backers hope it will draw tourists from across the Pacific Northwest, especially from around Puget Sound, said Jacky Fausset, one of the trail’s organizers.

“I think everyone loves taking rides in the country, everyone loves old barns, and everyone loves quilts. It checks all the boxes,” Fausset said.

Quilting groups from outside Central Washington have already asked about organizing trips to the trail, she said.

Organizers and the Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce are promoting it with some advertising and at flower and garden shows, and owners of local historic barns have lined up to participate.

The 8-foot square panels are painted to look like quilt blocks. Barn owners pick the design, and a group of about 20 volunteers paints the wood panels, which takes about three days.

The bright, geometric design painted on the panel at Sunny Heights Farm just east of Ellensburg has special meaning for Doris Schwarz, who owns the farm with her husband, Paul. It is patterned after one made by Schwarz’s great-aunt in 1860, which came west with the family over the Oregon Trail.

“It’s got so much history to it,” said Schwarz, 82.

A sense of history prompted Karen and Keith Eslinger, who have a farm a few miles to the southeast, to get involved.

Karen Eslinger said she wanted to honor and preserve the legacy of her family, which has farmed in the Kittitas Valley since the late 1800s.

It’s difficult to say how much impact barn quilt trails have on tourism, because they are self-guided tours and visitors don’t have to buy a ticket or sign in with anyone, said Faye Jacques, who helped organize a similar trail in Tillamook County, Ore.

In the birthplace of barn quilts, Adams County, Ohio, visitors continue to come from across the country, and the attraction complements the area’s other big draws, such as its Amish community and the prehistoric Serpent Mound, according to Tom Cross, executive director of the county’s Travel and Visitors Bureau.

While “it definitely has an impact” on local tourism, he said, it is difficult to gauge the amount, which has diminished somewhat since the trail opened in 2001.

“I get the impression it’s not as popular as it used to be 10 years ago, which I think is due to the fact there are so many quilt trails criss-crossing the U.S. now, and it’s not unique anymore,” he said in an email to the Yakima Herald-Republic.

– Dan Catchpole

Photo courtesy of KIM HULL: Taken in early fall 2012, this is near the north end of the Kendall Katwalk on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Even if you’ve never been there, if you hike at all in the Pacific Northwest you’ve heard of the Kendall Katwalk.

The route voted fifth most popular on the Cascadian Trekkers’ 2013 heirarchy of “Big Five” hikes is named after that famous rock shelf, blasted out of a sheer granite wall four decades ago by dynamite crews suspended on ropes.

Yes, the commonly accepted spelling of “Katwalk” is a bit precious, it’s a bit of a drive to the trailhead and you have to do the requisite stretch of none-too-thrilling forest hiking before you get to the views.

But the Kendall Katwalk is on pretty much any hiker’s “must-do” list, and part of that is because of its well-deserved reputation as a photo op for the ages: Take a shot of your hiking partner on that rock shelf, the cliff rising up on one side and the precipitous drop-off falling away on the other, and it will end up framed on your friend’s wall.

But the Katwalk is only a tiny portion of the hike, spanning barely 100 yards. By the time you see it, you’ve gone through 31/2 miles of primarily uphill forest — much of it while still within earshot of the semis barreling by on the interstate — some beautiful wildflower-filled meadows and clearings, followed by a solid mile of awe-inspiring ridgeline views in both directions.

And it’s the scenery and views over that last couple of miles before the Katwalk, and what’s beyond it for the energetic set willing to continue on to Gravel and Ridge lakes, that draw most people to this route.

“That’s one of my favorites,” says one of the Cascadians’ more prolific hikers, Ted Gamlem. “There’s a uniqueness to it. It’s a hike that can be done for quite a bit of the year, from early spring through late fall. We’ve done it with snow and with no snow. The Katwalk itself is quite an impressive piece of work, cutting out this big piece of granite to create this shelf.

“And it makes a fair number of people a nice lunch spot.”

As for fears relating to the Katwalk itself, while it may not be appropriate for the truly acrophobic, it isn’t particularly dangerous for any focused and physically capable hiker.

“It appears in pictures a lot more threatening than it really is,” says Cascadians president Kim Hull. “It’s wide enough, and I wouldn’t say it’s dangerous unless you’re clumsy, or carrying too much weight, or distracted with a pet. But I will say it’s a long hike through the woods before you get the rewards of the pass that you hit first, and all of the color — especially in the fall — and the Katwalk.

“That one is pretty strenuous for what you have to go through to get to the ultimate prize.”

KENDALL KATWALK

How it ranks: No. 5 on the “Big Five.”

Where it is: On the Pacific Crest Trail northeast of Snoqualmie Pass.

When it’s best to go: July through October.

When the Trekkers are going: Saturday, July 27, and Tuesday, Oct. 8, in each case leaving at 7:30 p.m. from the 40th Avenue Bi-Mart.

How to get there: Take Interstate 82 north to Ellensburg and then follow I-90 west to Snoqualmie Pass. Take Exit 53, turn left on Yellowstone Trail Road and cross under the freeway to the Summit Road (SR 906), turn right and continue across the pass. After you pass under the freeway again, take the first right and park at the large parking lot for the Pacific Crest Trail (2000).

Driving distance from Yakima: 90 miles.

Green Trails map: 207 or 207S (Snoqualmie Pass).

Pass required: Northwest Forest Pass or other federal or interagency passes allowing National Forest trailhead access.

Hiking mileage: 11.4 miles (2,700 feet of elevation gain) to the Katwalk and back, or you can stretch it into a 14.5-mile round trip by continuing on to Ridge and Gravel lakes before making your turnaround.

What you want to know: If you’re a little afraid of heights, well, the Katwalk isn’t really as daunting as it sometimes looks in photographs. That said, if you’re a LOT afraid of heights, you might find it hard to enjoy the views when your knees won’t stop shaking.

Why Cascadians like it: “It’s just gorgeous. Everything about it is gorgeous. It doesn’t seem to matter when you hike it, but I really like it when there’s a little bit of snow. Normally there isn’t that much on the Katwalk itself that it makes it a problem with the hiking; it just makes it prettier.” — Sue Gunderson

“Right at the end, just before the Gravel Lake, there’s a great big ledge that (work crews) dynamited out to make the trail, the Katwalk itself. It’s just spectacular, with a spectacular views of all those high mountains around there.” — Maurine Peck

Chow time: After you’ve worked up a good appetite on the hike, stop on the way back and chow down on lasagna or prime rib at MaMa Vallone’s Restaurant, (302 W. First Street, Cle Elum), provided you don’t arrive before the 4:30 p.m. opening time, or hit the Ellensburg Pasta Co. (600 N. Main St.) for some chicken-and-broccoli Gorgonzola pasta.

Previously on the “Big Five”: No. 2, Coyote Wall/Catherine Creek.

A pie from Mr. Pizza. Photo by Mark Morey

I’d had a pizza craving for the past few weeks when Mr. Pizza was brought to my attention.

I headed right there after work one day. About 14 minutes later, one 14-inch pizza covered in cheese, ham, pineapple and olives was mine. I ate two pieces right there in the parking lot while they were still oven-hot and devoured the rest through the next day.

I would say it was $13 well spent.

One of my assessment points for a pizza is whether the toppings actually cover the top of the pizza or are merely a symbolic gesture in the name of commerce. Most store-bought pizzas don’t make the grade, but Mr. Pizza knows how to decorate a pie. The olives, in particular, were plentiful.

The crust impressed me as being right on the border between thick and thin — enough to chew without making the pizza all about the dough.

Besides the aforementioned Hawaiian, Mr. Pizza offers standard combinations like meat lover’s and veggie lover’s and garlic chicken, plus a few less common options, such as sweet potato, a baked potato pizza with wedges and a Philly cheese steak. And there’s a caesar salad, smoothies, and both dessert and dinner breadsticks.

Pizza prices range from $5 to $10, with extra toppings at $1.59 apiece. If you’re looking for an economy dinner deal, Mr. Pizza offers a large cheese or pepperoni pizza for $4.99.

Don’t let the store’s placement stop you from trying it out. Squeezed in between a coin laundry and an insurance office in a small storefront, the business focuses its energy on its menu rather than flash and glamour. And there’s a couple of tables and two video games to play while waiting for your order, in case you forgot to call ahead as recommended.

Mr. Pizza

Location: 2019 Fruitvale Blvd.

Phone: 509-453-1987

Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

- Mark Morey

The corned beef is layered over the freshly cooked cabbage at McGuire’s Irish Restaurant and Pub. Photo by Mark Morey

Whenever I miss the distant shores of Ireland, I head for McGuire’s.

It’s about as close as I’ve ever been to the Emerald Isle, but it’s also the only place I know where I can acquire my annual dose of bubble and squeak, unless it’s March 17.

On my most recent visit to this longtime Yakima establishment, I went for another Irish classic: the corned beef and cabbage.

So often, corned beef is served as hash in the average American diner. Nothing wrong with that and some eggs, but I sometimes prefer the straightforward taste of thinly sliced corned beef off the roast.

The beef used at McGuire’s is just salty enough for that signature taste without being overwhelming. Together with the freshly boiled cabbage, they make a complementary combination.

I ordered the baked potato and was happy to see that it came with crumbled real bacon. The serving of broccoli and carrots was generous.

I came to dinner hungry and still had to leave food on the plate. Well, I also had to work in a slice of carrot cake. Both came to $15.

Besides the corned beef and the bubble and squeak — sausage and cabbage in a cream sauce — McGuire’s offers a few other specifically Irish dishes. There’s the shepherd’s pie in a rosemary sauce; the Dublin bay shrimp, cooked with a whiskey flambe in a cream sauce; and a steak glazed with a whiskey-based liqueur.

There’s also the Blarney Burger, Irish in name at least. It’s a giant burger, stacked with two third-pound patties, cheese, ham, a fried egg, bacon, lettuce, tomato and onion. I am reliably informed by a regular McGuire’s customer that this beast is enough food for two. It costs $11.50.

That’s about the middle of the price range for the entire menu.

For the breakfast crowd, a couple of eggs starts at about $6, a design-your-own omelette costs about $10, and steak and eggs goes for about $13.

I was there on a busy football Monday and the single waitress did a good job of taking the order as quickly as possible and checking on the tables.

McGuire’s is small enough to have that crowded pub feel up front around the bar, but the main dining area is separated from that by a small hallway, isolating it from the rest of the action.

McGuire’s Irish Restaurant and Pub

Location: 4807 Tieton Drive, Yakima

Phone: 509-966-7440

Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays-Tuesdays; 9 a.m.-2 a.m. Wednesdays-Sundays.

- Mark Morey

A Big Miner burger, fries and a chocolate shake served on Miner's outside park benches on Sept. 30, 2012, in Union Gap, Wash. Photo by TJ Mullinax

When we discovered last week that we had never profiled Miners in On The Menu, we were shocked.

How could we have forgotten this iconic Yakima restaurant? Before I moved to Yakima last year, Miners was the only landmark I recognized. This is the only place people from the West Side mention when they learn I live here. Every youth sports team that has ever come through this area stops at Miners to pig out after a big game.

And we’d forgotten it.

Most of you have probably gone to Miners at some point in your lives, but in case you’ve forgotten about it, too, let me remind you: Burgers the size of your face. Milkshakes so thick that you almost pop a blood vessel trying to suck the shake through the straw. Fry sauce that can’t be beat.

When I visited, I got the classics: a Big Miner burger packed with Walla Walla sweet onions, lettuce and tomato; a “small” order of fries, and a chocolate-peanut butter milkshake. At $14.49 total, it’s not exactly cheap, but then, it’s not your average burger.

Miners uses local beef from Ray’s Retail Meats and mostly local produce for its menu, which has diversified significantly as diners want healthier options.

The club sandwiches and massive shrimp Caesar salad, while never unseating the Big Miner burger for No. 1 choice, are very popular among customers, owner Gary Miner said. Prices are all in the $5-$8 range.

I’m not sure I’ll ever deviate from my burger, but it’s nice to know the option exists. Maybe a salad would help to avoid the so-full-I’m-going-to-die feeling I get nearly every time I eat at Miners.

I’m never giving up that milkshake, though.

Miners Drive-In
Restaurant

Address: 2415 S. First St., 
Yakima.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 3 a.m. weekends, 8 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. weekdays.

- Molly Rosbach

Mesquite chicken with beans and rice from Tom and Jerry’s Mesquite Chicken. Photo by Mark Morey

Grill some chicken, toss it on a plate, call it a meal.

Done right, this simple formula can work. At Tom and Jerry’s Mesquite Grill, the meat is well cooked, plus they add rice and beans or a salad to round out the offering.

This grilled-meat joint replaces the Arctic Circle that stood for so many years on the west side of North First Street in Yakima. The restaurant opened earlier this week and plans a grand opening this Saturday.

They were still smoothing out the details of operating a restaurant when I visited — the wall menu will be replaced by one with pictures, for example — but the food did not suffer.

The chicken had obvious flavoring from its time on the grill. And for those diners who eat chicken for its skin, this type of cooking makes the crispiness notable.

The meat was well cooked and certainly did not need a knife to split it from the bone.

If you’re not looking for chicken on the bone, enchiladas, tortas and other Mexican favorites also are available.

There’s a $1 menu for children, including such things as a quesadilla. The menu tops out at about $16 for the 10-piece chicken deal, but the average lunch here should run under $10 with drink.

Tom and Jerry’s Mesquite Chicken

Address: 808 N. First St.

Phone: 509-248-4327.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

- Mark Morey