"WashingtonState" news and stories

Breakfast Sausage in Washington State. From Flickr user ramparts54s Flickr.

I'm posting images of sausage counters the world over each weeknight (and occasionally weekend) witching hour until I run out. Please use the comments section to post links to your Flickr or personal site faves, and perhaps you'll see 'em posted here late some evening.

Previously-- Midnight Sausage: Minneapolis, MN

I never thought I'd see the day when I had something in common with President Bush, but here it is. Apparently we both love asparagus. Who knew?

On the German leg of his European tour last week, President Bush commented on how great the German asparagus was, saying how much he enjoys the vegetable. According to McClatchy online, the President now has a chance to sample ten pounds of Washington State asparagus, sent to the White House by two Washington State lawmakers.

Senator Patty Murray and representative Doc Hastings are naturally proud of the asparagus from their state, as Washington provides about 40% of the asparagus produced in the US. It's one of my very favorite vegetables. I'm not sure if President Bush feels as strongly about asparagus as I do, but at least he has some taste. How do you feel about asparagus?

If a ninth-grade class gets its way, the Washington state apple may soon have another denizen of the produce aisle join it as a state symbol: the Walla Walla sweet onion. Kirkland Junior High School teacher Toni Miller's class managed to get the state House to vote 95-1 in favor of making the Walla Walla the state vegetable. Next, it goes to the Senate.

Miller sowed the seed for the "onion bill" three years ago as a way to infuse some pungency into what's usually a bland civics lesson. Miller's students were glad to see that they could play a role in government, but not all of them line up behind the onion. "I thought it should be the coffee bean," one girl quipped. For more see The Seattle Times.

[photo: The Seattle Times]

Today was the first day that three new Viticultural areas, or wine regions, in Washington (Wahluke Slope), Texas (Texoma) and California, can be noted on wine labels. NPR has a nice piece on how this happened in Ramona Valley, near San Diego, Calif. In order to be designated as its own appellation, a region must prove that it has unique topography and climate; that there is some history of the area being called, in this case, "Ramona Valley"; and that wine grapes can, and are, being grown there.

Ramona Valley is distinct thanks to its position about 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean, and about 20 miles from the desert. It cools off quickly during the evening, but the days provide long hours of warmth and good ripening time. Grapes that do well in Ramona Valley, says a winemaker, include Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc.

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