Discover Yakima Valley http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com An insiders’ guide to events, destinations and things to do in the heart of Central Washington’s wine country. Thu, 03 May 2012 16:55:15 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Don’s Donuts and Julie’s Java http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/05/dons-donuts-and-julies-java/ http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/05/dons-donuts-and-julies-java/#comments Thu, 03 May 2012 16:55:15 +0000 smayes http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/?p=2690
The name doesn’t give it away, but tasty sandwiches are available at Don’s Donuts and Julie Java. Here, the Yumtanum waits to be eaten for lunch. Photo by Mark Morey

The name doesn’t give it away, but tasty sandwiches are available at Don’s Donuts and Julie Java. Here, the Yumtanum waits to be eaten for lunch. Photo by Mark Morey

The doughnut shop sitting at the corner of West Nob Hill Boulevard and 11th Avenue doesn’t scream “lunch” as hundreds of cars stream by.

But the little place known more for its coffee and doughnuts serves up a wider range of sandwiches than passers-by might expect.

Don’s Donuts and Julie’s Java (as an aside, we wonder what sort of joint they would have ended up with were they named Bob and Sylvia) opens bright and early seven days a week. And they will serve you a sandwich anytime they’re open.

I picked the Yumtanum — turkey, Swiss cheese, avocado and Yumtanum sauce, a mayonnaise-based house blend. The menu gives a choice of a bagel or multi-grain bread.

I went with the garlic bagel, which was strong enough to add flavor to the meal without overwhelming my taste buds. The Yumtanum sauce was light enough that I couldn’t say it stood out, but overall the little sandwich made for a sufficient lunch.

The best part was the price: $4.69 — the same for others on the sandwich lineup, including the breakfast version.

Other sandwich options include the Packwood Pesto (turkey, swiss, pesto, sprouts), the White Pass (turkey, pepper jack cheese) and the Veggie Delight (hummus, cucumber, avocado, tomato and sprouts). You can also build your own.

Bagels on their own start at 99 cents.

For those looking for something sweeter, doughnuts run from 70 cents to $1.40. They have everything from a basic doughnut to cream-filled delicacies. I went with the apple fritter, and it was a finely flavored fritter indeed.

Bagels and doughnuts are available by the dozen.

Now I just have to remember where I left my gym.

— Mark Morey

 

Don’s Donuts and Julie’s Java

Location: 1024 W. Nob Hill Blvd.

Hours: 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.

Phone: 509-453-6688

]]> http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/05/dons-donuts-and-julies-java/feed/ 2 Plan your weekend: Cinco de Mayo, Military Days on tap http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/plan-your-weekend-cinco-de-mayo-military-days-on-tap/ http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/plan-your-weekend-cinco-de-mayo-military-days-on-tap/#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:44:58 +0000 smayes http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/?p=2687 Members of Los Bailadores del Sol perform an Azteca dance during the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration in Yakima on May 7, 2011. Photo by Andy Sawyer

Members of Los Bailadores del Sol perform an Azteca dance during the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration in Yakima on May 7, 2011. Photo by Andy Sawyer

• Fort Simcoe State Park Military Days are Friday through Sunday, starting at 10 a.m. each day. Event includes military displays from various periods of U.S. history. Parking: $10 per vehicle. For more information, call 509-575-2774.

• Sunnyside’s Cinco de Mayo celebration runs Friday through Sunday, beginning at 10 a.m. each day, in the downtown area. Mexican food, street vendors, live entertainment, carnival rides, and the Miss Cinco de Mayo Pageant. For more information, call 509-837-5939 or visit www.sunnysidechamber.com.

• The 2012 Washington Fly Fishing Fair is Friday and Saturday at the Kittitas County Event Center, 512 N. Poplar St., in Ellensburg. It starts at 11 a.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday. For more information, call 509-962-7639 or 425-308-6161 or visit http://fair.washingtoncouncilfff.org.

• The La Salle Foundation 5th Annual Golf Tournament begins Friday at noon at The Apple Tree Golf Course and Resort, 8804 Occidental Ave., in Yakima. The tournament begins with check in and a barbecue lunch, followed by a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start. Cost: $125 per person/$500 per 4-person team. Includes beverages, appetizers, and an awards reception/raffle following the tournament. For more information, call 509-945-3123 or visit www.lasalleyakima.com.

• The 13th Annual “Fiesta” Yakima-Morelia Sister City Association begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Le Chateau, 15 N. Naches Ave., in Yakima. The event includes a silent auction and music by the YVCC Festival Faculty and jazz saxophonist Juan Alzate and guitarist Joaquin Pantoja, both from Morelia. Margaritas, wine, and beer will also be available for purchase. Cost: $55. For more information, call 509-949-5450 or 509-575-6841 or visit www.yakimamorelia.org.

• The Prosser’s Farmers Market opens for the season at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Prosser City Park. Every Saturday, through Oct. 27, there will be local bedding and garden plants, fruits, vegetables, baked goods, fresh-cut flowers, coffees, and artisan crafts. For more information, visit www.prosserfarmersmarket.com.

• The USA Dance-Yakima Cinco de Mayo Potluck & Dance begins at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Lower Naches Grange on Old Naches Highway. There will be a potluck dinner followed by a Salsa lesson at 7 and dancing “to all kinds of music” beginning at 7:30. Cost: $8 for USA Dance members and $10 for non-members. For more information, call 509-388-7433.

• Racing gets under way at 6 p.m. Saturday at Yakima Speedway, 1600 Pacific Ave. Gates open at 4 p.m. Ticket prices vary. For more information, call 509-248-0647 or visit www.yakimaspeedway.us.

• The first Saturday in May is World Labyrinth Day. Come out to Yakima’s Gilbert Park, 5000 W. Lincoln Ave., at 1 p.m. as people are invited to “walk as one.” Free admission. For more information, call 509-575-5551.

• The YVCC Latin Music Celebration begins at 7 p.m. Saturday at The Seasons, 101 N. Naches Ave., in Yakima. Performance by local students, and visiting artists including recent Latin Grammy recipient, Carlos Cascante. Cost: $10 and half-off for students with an ID. For more information, call 509-574-4835 or visit www.theseasonsyakima.com.

• Yakima’s Cinco de Mayo — Fiesta Grande is Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 10 a.m. each day, in the downtown area. There will be diverse entertainment, food, beer and a wine garden. On Sunday, there will be a parade at 1 p.m., led by Charros on dancing horses, mariachis, ballet folklorico groups, a car show and a talent show for all ages. For more information, call 509-453-2050.

• “A Night in Little Italy Dinner, Auction and Music” begins at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Yakima Valley Museum, 2105 Tieton Drive, in Yakima. The silent auction is up first. Dinner and music will follow at 6:45. For more information, call 509-248-0747.

• Connecting Communities, a fundraiser for La Casa Hogar, begins at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Mighty Tieton, 608 Wisconsin Ave. Event includes dinner and live music. Cost: $50. For more information, call 509-457-5058 or visit www.lacasahogar.org.

• Tecn N9ne performs Sunday at 7 p.m. at The Capitol Theatre, 19 S. Third St., in Yakima.  Fore more information, call 509-853-8000 or visit www.capitoltheatre.org.

]]> http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/plan-your-weekend-cinco-de-mayo-military-days-on-tap/feed/ 12 The weekend in pictures: April 27-29 http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/the-weekend-in-pictures-april-27-29/ http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/the-weekend-in-pictures-april-27-29/#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:25:26 +0000 smayes http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/?p=2667 It was a great weekend to get out and explore the Yakima Valley. Here are some pics from the Northwest Nitro Nationals Pro Hill Climb, West Valley Farm Day, Spring Barrel Tasting, the Yakima Kids Fish-In, the See Spot Run 5K and the Granger Cherry Festival.

Northwest Nitro Nationals Pro Hill Climb off Highway 24 east of Moxee, on April 27, 2012. Photo by Andy Sawyer Leah Meiser hands off a stringer of trout caught by her son Joshua and daughter Samantha to the youngsters to have them cleaned at the Yakima Kids Fish-In on April 28, 2012. Photo by Gordon King The annual West Valley FFA Farm Day, held at the West Valley Fire Station on April 27, 2012. Photo by Sara Gettys Spring barrel tasting at Barrel Springs winery in Prosser on April 28, 2012. Photo by Andy Sawyer Ellen McLaughlin and her dog, Julio, relax in the sun before the start of the 10th Annual See Spoit Run 5K at Sherman Park in Yakima on April 29, 2012. Photo by Andy Sawyer The Granger Cherry Festival on April 29, 2012. Photo by Andy Sawyer Northwest Nitro Nationals Pro Hill Climb off Highway 24 east of Moxee, on April 27, 2012. Photo by Andy Sawyer Annette Alfson, right. pours a bottle of Barrel Springs Winery's chardonnay to patrons visiting the Prosser winery during Spring Barrel Tasting on April 28, 2012. Photo by Andy Sawyer Runners both human and canine take off at the start of the 10th Annual See Spot Run 5K at Sherman Park in Yakima on April 29, 2012. Photo by Andy Sawyer Spring barrel tasting at Barrel Springs winery in Prosser on April 28, 2012. Photo by Andy Sawyer Youngsters fish for trout at the annual Yakima Kids' Fish-in April 28, 2012. Photo by Gordon King The Granger Cherry Festival on April 29, 2012. Photo by Andy Sawyer Northwest Nitro Nationals Pro Hill Climb off Highway 24 east of Moxee, on April 27, 2012. Photo by Andy Sawyer Kids play on and in the straw bale maze at the annual West Valley FFA Farm Day, held at the West Valley Fire Station on April 27, 2012. Photo by Sara Gettys Jareth Nunez, left, and Stephanie Avalos, 5, dance to the music of El Mariachi Continental de Mexico during the Granger Cherry Festival on April 29, 2012. Photo by Andy Sawyer Gabby Montelongo, 6, holds a baby goat at the petting zoo at the annual West Valley FFA Farm Day, held at the West Valley Fire Station on April 27, 2012. Photo by Sara Gettys Nicanor Romero helps Avaih Webster, 5, reel in a fish at the Yakima Kids Fish-In on April 28, 2012. Photo by Gordon King Erica McElrea and her dog, Chloe, run to the finish of the 10th Annual See Spot Run 5K at Sherman Park in Yakima on Sunday April 29, 2012. Photo by Andy Sawyer ]]> http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/the-weekend-in-pictures-april-27-29/feed/ 1 Major’s Burgers http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/majors-burgers/ http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/majors-burgers/#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:37:40 +0000 smayes http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/?p=2664  

The cod basket with regular fries and the cheeseburger combo from Major's in Yakima. Photo by Savannah Tranchell

The cod basket with regular fries and the cheeseburger combo from Major's in Yakima. Photo by Savannah Tranchell

It’s always a pleasant surprise when ordering at a burger place and the cashier asks, “Do you want regular fries with that?”

Because what she’s really saying is, “We have something more awesome than regular fries that you can have.”

At Major’s restaurants in Yakima, that means you can upgrade your potatoes to beer-battered, or forgo them all together for onion rings or sweet potato fries for 99 cents more.

Upgrading those fries is saying something, because Major’s regular fries are already pretty good — crispy outsides, warm insides and perfectly seasoned.

As good as the regular fries are, the beer-battered variety are what every potato aspires to. Covered in flavorful batter and deep-fried to perfection, the fries are a meal in themselves.

If you’re up for it, you can also get seasonal asparagus, beer-battered and fried.

Since I love them so much, I actually stuck with the regular fries during a recent trip to Major’s on Lincoln Avenue. The locally owned burger joint also has a location on South Third Avenue.

It’s a typical burger place with a baseball theme and clean, ’50s diner-style seating. The menu may not look that much different than any of the chain shops, but the quality surpasses them. The burgers are enormous and smothered with grilled onions. I recently had a cod basket, and the three fish filets were well-seasoned and perfectly grilled. The fear of ordering fish baskets is that you often get ones with fish pieces that are still uncooked in the middle, but Major’s managed to cook each piece through without burning the breading.

And if you’re looking for sweets, they have hard and soft-serve ice cream and milkshakes, including huckleberry ice cream, my absolute die-hard favorite.

Of course, that’s all assuming you don’t just gorge yourself on the fries.

– Savannah Tranchell

 

Major’s Burgers

Locations: 1705 W. Lincoln Ave. in Yakima; 1902 S. Third Ave. in Union Gap.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays. (Yes, breakfast is served.)

Phone: 509-225-6444 or 509-225-1475.

Prices: Typical for a burger joint. A fish basket is just under $10, cheeseburger combo with fries and a medium drink is $9.49.

]]> http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/majors-burgers/feed/ 1 Plan your weekend: Wine tasting, dancing and a whole lot more http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/plan-your-weekend-wine-tasting-dancing-and-a-whole-lot-more/ http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/plan-your-weekend-wine-tasting-dancing-and-a-whole-lot-more/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:39:12 +0000 smayes http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/?p=2660 • Yakima Graffiti Paint Out runs from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday. The event will begin at 1470 N. 16th Ave., in Yakima. The main corridors for the cleanup will be from Highway 12 along First Street, 16th Avenue and 40th Avenue until they meet Yakima Ave.

• “La Salle High School Follies” will be on stage at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at West Valley Junior High, 7505 Zier Rd., in Yakima. The show is an entertaining show with singing, dancing, and skits. Cost: $7. For more information, call 509-225-2900 or visit www.lasalleyakima.com.

• “Little Shop of Horrors” will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at A.C. Davis High School, 212 S. Sixth Ave., in Yakima. Cost: $10 adults and $5 for seniors and for students with ASB cards.

• The annual Spring Barrel Tasting event is Friday-Sunday at participating Yakima Valley wineries. It begins at 10 a.m. each day. Must have a glass to sample, which can be brought from home or purchased at a winery. Cost: $10 Passport is available through Rattlesnake Hills or a $40 VIP Premier Pass ($45 at the door) through Wine Yakima Valley. For more information, call 509-965-4521 or 509-965-5201.

• “The Valley Can Dance” begins at 7 p.m. Friday at the Sunnyside High School Auditorium, 1801 E. Edision Ave. The event will feature dancers from dance studios in Selah, Sunnyside, Prosser, and Zillah and students from the Sunnyside School District. Cost: $5. For more information, call 509-837-2601.

• The Washington Old Time Fiddler’s Association Performance begins at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Grandview Community Center, 812 Wallace Way. Cost: $5 adults and $3 seniors. Proceeds benefit Grandview Senior Citizen programs and activities. For more information, call 509-882-9219.

• The Zillah Spring Fling gets under way at noon on Saturday in Downtown Zillah. The day gets started with a Classic Car and Bike Show. Then, at 6:30 p.m., live entertainment, food and wine follow at the Zillah Warehouse Furniture Store, 703 Railroad Ave. Cost: $40. For more information, call Gary Clark, 509-949-0164.

• The Tieton Open House begins at noon Saturday at various businesses and spaces in Tieton, including the Tieton Lofts, Harvest Hall and the Mighty Tieton Warehouse. Activities include an art show and movie viewings at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. No cost to attend. For more information, call 509-847-3034 or 509-494-2009 or visit www.mightytieton.com.

• Yakima Speedway is open for business with races beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday at the racetrack, 1600 Pacific Ave. Gates open at 4 p.m. Ticket prices vary. For more information, call 509-248-0647 or visit www.yakimaspeedway.us.

• The Annual Roosevelt Dinner begins at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Yakima Convention Center, 10 N. Eighth St. Cost: $50. For more information, call 509-452-7197 or visit www.yakimademocrats.com.

• The Yakima Kids’ Fish-in gets started at 9 a.m. Saturday at Sarg Hubbard Park. Introduce your child to the sport of fishing guided by experts and volunteers. Each child gets a rod and reel to take home. Reflection Pond will be stocked with 5,000 rainbow trout. Bait is provided. Fish will be cleaned and bagged on ice, ready to go home with the kids. Limited to the first 1,000 kids, ages 5-14. Cost: $8. The deadline to register is Friday. For more information, call 509-453-8280 or visit www.yakimagreenway.org.

• The Old Steel Car Club Show begins at 10 a.m. Sunday at Fullbright Park, in Union Gap. No cost to attend. For more information, call 509-457-8735 or visit www.centralwaagmuseum.org.

• The See Spot Run — 5K and Doggy Dash starts at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Humane Society of Central Washington, 2405 W. Birchfield Rd., in Yakima. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Cost: $15-$35. For more information, call 509-457-6854 or visit www.yakimahumane.org.

• The YYSO & YES! Spring Concert is at 3 p.m. Sunday at The Capitol Theatre, 19 S. Third St., in Yakima. Cost: $5. For more information, call 509-248-1414 or visit www.yyso.org.

• “Twist and Shout,” the ultimare Beatles experience begins at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Seasons Performance Hall, 101 N. Naches Ave., in Yakima. Cost: $38. For more information, call 509-453-1888 or visit www.theseasonsyakima.com.

]]> http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/plan-your-weekend-wine-tasting-dancing-and-a-whole-lot-more/feed/ 0 Plan your weekend: Dierks Bentley, wine tasting and plenty of music http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/plan-your-weekend-dierks-bentley-wine-tasting-and-plenty-of-music/ http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/plan-your-weekend-dierks-bentley-wine-tasting-and-plenty-of-music/#comments Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:19:12 +0000 smayes http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/?p=2657 • In the past 10 years, he’s had eight No. 1 singles. He’s performed at Lollapalooza, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Bonnaroo and the CMA Music Festival, and now he’s coming to Yakima.
He’s Dierks Bentley, and he’s bringing his Country & Cold Cans Tour to the Yakima Valley SunDome at 8 p.m. Friday. The up-and-coming Eli Young Band opens.
For more information, call 509-248-7160 or visit www.yakimasundome.com.

• The Pre-Spring Barrel Tasting event, sponsored by the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail, begins at 10 a.m. Friday-Sunday at participating wineries. Participants must have a glass, which can be brought from home or purchased at a winery, to sample the wines. Buy a $10 Passport for discounts and reserve tastings. ID is required. For more information, call 509-965-4521 or visit www.rattlesnakehills.org.

• The Central Washington University Theatre Ensemble is presenting “Luna” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The play tells the story of Soledad, the daughter of migrant farm workers, who has trouble making friends as she moves from school to school.
Admission is $10 for general admission, $8 for students and seniors, $5 for CWU students with ID. The family-friendly event is at the university’s McConnell Auditorium, 400 E. University Way in Ellensburg. For more information, call 509-963-1774 or visit www.cwu.edu/theatre.

• The Partner with Youth Fundraiser, a ZUMBA party, begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Yakima YMCA, 5 N. Naches Ave. Cost: $12. For more information, call 509-972-5264 or visit www.yakimaymca.org.

• The Bel Canto of Yakima Spring Concert begins at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Holy Family Church Gathering Hall, 5313 Tieton Drive, in Yakima. Performance will include special guests from the Zillah Community Choir and this year’s scholarship winners. Cost: $10. For more information, call 509-575-5762.

• The Yakima Rock & Mineral Club’s 51st Parade of Gems begins at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Washington State National Guard — Yakima Armory, 2501 Airport Lane. Rock, fossil, and mineral displays. Lapidary art demonstrations and Gold Panning. There will also be a silent auction, door prizes and a raffle. Cost: Adults $3.50, Students $2. For more information, call 509-673-0085.

• The Burlesque Bake Sale begins at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at The Seasons Performance Hall, 101 N. Naches Ave., in Yakima. This will be an evening filled with glamour, comedy, dance, delights, and fun, featuring international burlesque starlet Shanghai Pearl. The event supports Art in Motion’s collaboration with National Dance Institute, bringing dance into the schools to grades 3-5. Cost: $50-$70. For more information, call 509-457-6791.

• A memorial concert in honor of Joyce Strosahl, Seasons co-founder, begins at 4 p.m. Sunday at The Seasons Performance Hall, 101 N. Naches Ave., in Yakima. There is no admission contest, but donations will be accepted. For more information, call 888-723-7660 or visit www.theseasonsyakima.com.

]]> http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/plan-your-weekend-dierks-bentley-wine-tasting-and-plenty-of-music/feed/ 3 Prosser http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/prosser/ http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/prosser/#comments Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:35:20 +0000 admin http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/?p=908 Youngsters take to the streets in the annual Fourth of July kiddie parade in Prosser, Wash.

Youngsters take to the streets in the annual Fourth of July kiddie parade in Prosser, Wash.

Mark your calendar — culinary treats captured in community events

PROSSER — In this town, wine is pretty much always on the menu.
Especially through summer.

The city of 5,700 boasts about 30 nearby wineries and tasting rooms and has dubbed itself as “The Birthplace of Washington Wine.”

One of Prosser’s wine highlights is the 30th annual Wine and Food Fair.

Billed as the largest outdoor wine tasting event in the state, the festival of local food and drink, will be Aug. 13 and held for the first time at the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center. Backers of the proposed educational facility on Wine Country Road in Prosser have completed the outdoor event portion of the grounds.

The event attracts nearly 2,500 visitors.

But there are plenty of non-wine related activities, too.

One of the mainstays is the Prosser Farmers Market, which runs 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday on Sommers Avenue between the library and City Park. It features local produce and artisans, as well as pancake breakfasts and sometimes, live music.

The Benton County Historical Museum in City Park along Seventh Street is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. It features displays on antique dresses, dolls, firearms and more than 200 cameras.

The Princess Theatre on Meade Avenue, an anchor of the historic downtown, hosts live music, community theater performances and monthly movies.

Sports Fest is a 3-on-3 basketball tournament June 11-12 held in the streets of downtown.

Scottish Fest and Highland Games pays homage to Celtic heritage with activities, music and dancing June 18 at the Prosser Wine and Food Park on Lee Road on the east side of town.

The city’s Fourth of July Celebration in City Park involves a children’s parade, car show, live performances and old-fashioned sack races, followed by a commercial fireworks display.

States Day, Prosser’s signature community festival, is Sept. 5. It features a parade and old-fashioned family picnic and carnival in Central Park.

The festival season wraps up Sept. 23-25 with the Great Prosser Balloon Rally and accompanying street painting festival

For more information, call the Prosser Chamber of Commerce at 509-786-3177 or visit www.tourprosser.com.

— Ross Courtney

]]> http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/prosser/feed/ 0 Wine O’Clock http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/wine-oclock/ http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/wine-oclock/#comments Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:34:03 +0000 smayes http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/?p=2649
The pear and bacon pizzetta, top, and the fried egg pizza at Wine O'Clock inside the Bunnell Family Cellar winery in Prosser. Photo by Ross Courtney

The pear and bacon pizzetta, top, and the fried egg pizza at Wine O'Clock inside the Bunnell Family Cellar winery in Prosser. Photo by Ross Courtney

If you order it before noon, you might call it a breakfast pizza.

Otherwise, you will have to settle for “artisan cured meat pizzetta” from Wine O’Clock, the restaurant located inside the Bunnell Family Cellar winery. Or, call it what I do — awesome.

The restaurant, which opened in 2009 downstairs from the tasting room in the center of Prosser’s Vintner’s Village, is a popular snack-shack for wine tasters with the munchies, as well as a classy lunch or dinner destination.

The establishment is known for its wood-burning oven that cooks, among other things, individual pizzas served on bamboo trays.

During a late lunch, I was skeptical about the idea of fried eggs on a pizza, but my curiosity was rewarded. It was delicious, though I found myself craving a glass of orange juice.

My wife, Amy, chose the pear and bacon pizzetta and said she liked it better, but she has no sense of adventure. She washed hers down with a red wine flight — a sample of three varieties served in half-glasses. The restaurant also is known for those.

The eatery exudes the feel of a family kitchen, with a mixer on the counter, cabinets on the wall and a shelf full of cookbooks.

Expect to be surprised by the choices. Restaurant owner Susan Bunnell changes the menu every week, but she always includes a meat and a fish. The chef cooks with vegetables and herbs grown just outside the front door in raised beds that include 10 different kinds of mint.

Most pizzettas from the lunch menu cost $9. Larger pizzas from the bistro menu, available on weekends, cost more. Overall, prices range from $3 appetizers to $32 entrees.

– Ross Courtney

 

Wine O’Clock

Location: 548 Cabernet Court, Prosser.

Phone: 509-786-2197.

Hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

]]> http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/wine-oclock/feed/ 0 Plan your weekend: auto racing, Yakima Symphony Orchestra and some dancing http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/plan-your-weekend-auto-racing-yakima-symphony-orchestra-and-some-dancing/ http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/plan-your-weekend-auto-racing-yakima-symphony-orchestra-and-some-dancing/#comments Mon, 09 Apr 2012 19:30:17 +0000 smayes http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/?p=2646 Pete Harding drives in the Apple Cup at the Yakima Speedway on April 9, 2011. Photo by Andy Sawyer

Pete Harding drives in the Apple Cup at the Yakima Speedway on April 9, 2011. Photo by Andy Sawyer

• Salsa Dance Boot Camp starts at 8:30 p.m. Friday at The Seasons, 101 N. Naches Ave., in Yakima. This week’s session is for progressive beginners. Salsa Friday will follow at 10:15 p.m. Cost: $15 per session. Sign-ups will be taken at the door. For more information, call 509-453-1888 or visit www.theseasonsyakima.com.

• The Roller City Rollergirls open the 2012 season at 6 p.m. Saturday against the Rainier City Rollergirls at Ellensburg High School, 1203 E. Capitol Ave. Cost: $5-$10. For more information, visit www.rodeocityrollergirls.com.

• The 2012 Arbor Festival “Go Green” begins at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Yakima Area Arboretum, 1401 Arboretum Drive. It’s a free family event that makes natural science fun for everyone. There will be activities for kids and music. For more information, call 509-248-7337 or visit www.ahtrees.org.

• Yakima Speedway’s “Apple Cup” is Saturday and Sunday at the speedway, 1600 Pacific Ave. Ticket prices vary. Gates open at 4 p.m.; races start at 6 p.m. For more information, call 509-248-0647 or visit www.yakimaspeedway.us.

• The Yakima Symphony Orchestra will play “Titanic Centennial Commemoration Pops Concert” beginning at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at The Capitol Theatre, 19 S. Third St., in Yakima. The concert will include music from the Academy Award-winning film and the Tony Award-winning musical. For more information, call 509-853-8000 or visit www.yakimasymphony.org.

• A Camp Prime Time Breakfast Fundraiser begins at 7:30 a.m. Sunday at the Holy Family Church Gathering Hall, 5313 Tieton Drive, in Yakima. Camp Prime Time provides a wilderness camp setting for children with serious or terminal illnesses or disabilities. For more information, call 509-248-2954.

• Second Sunday Series features the The Aspen String Quartet at 2 p.m. Sunday at Englewood Christian Church, 511 N. 44th Ave., in Yakima. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. For more information, call 509-877-6628 or visit www.secondsundayseriesecc.org.

]]> http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/plan-your-weekend-auto-racing-yakima-symphony-orchestra-and-some-dancing/feed/ 1 Kabob House http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/kabob-house-2/ http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/2012/04/kabob-house-2/#comments Thu, 05 Apr 2012 22:21:48 +0000 smayes http://www.discoveryakimavalley.com/?p=2641 A gyro with "Greek fries" at the Kabob House. Photo by Mike Faulk

A gyro with "Greek fries" at the Kabob House. Photo by Mike Faulk

To a guy from metro Detroit, the lack of Mediterranean and Greek food in Central Washington was a shock.

We’ve got that stuff in every strip mall. (And, brother, let me tell you, we’ve got a ton of strip malls.) So I rejoiced when Kabob House opened in 2009. To most people, it was a taste of the exotic; to me, it was a taste of home.

I would have been a regular even if the food was mediocre. Blessedly, it is not. It is excellent by any standard. The dishes are simple. There are gyros, lamb kabobs, chicken kabobs, hummus, baba ghanoush. All the staples. And the ingredients are always fresh and relatively light. Some of the greasier joints around Detroit could take a lesson.

When I went most recently, my friend and I split the appetizer for three, which includes pitas, hummus, taziki, dolmeh, falafel and baba ghanoush for $11.99. And I got a gyro with “Greek fries,” which are just fries with a little feta and herbs thrown on top. The sandwich is $5.99. It comes with fries, but Greeking them up costs an extra buck. Most of the entrees are less than $10, including a host of meal-size sandwiches for $5.99 apiece.

They were out of dolmeh that day, but they hit us with an extra serving of falafel to make up for it. Fine by me. The falafel was crisp and bursting with flavor. The hummus was smooth and cool. The baba ghanoush had just the right amount of garlic. And the gyro was as fine an example of the species as you’re likely to find. The Greek fries left me in need of about a dozen breath mints, but it was worth it.

The service was sharp and attentive. The dining room is simple and comfortable enough. But, really, the star at Kabob House is the food.

– Pat Muir

 

Kabob House

Location: 3609 W. Nob Hill Blvd.

Phone: 509-469-0504.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, noon to 7 p.m. Sundays.

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