"pacific northwest" news and stories

Seattle is giving Portland, Ore., a run for its money when it comes to being the most eco-forward city in the Pacific Northwest.

With a ban on Styrofoam in restaurants and grocery stores going into effect on July 1, the city's Metropolitan Market chain and other businesses have come up with a clever packaging solution -- compostable meat trays made of corn, KPLU reported.

Made by Illinois-based Pactiv, the tan trays can be used for meat, fish and poultry and then tossed into the compost pile along with other food waste, the radio station reported.

Pactiv also makes Hefty products. The company launched its EarthChoice brand of nearly 80 sustainable packaging products including cups, hinged-lid containers, plates, and straws in May.

Owner Beth Scribner's atmospheric little shop is quickly and quietly carving out a niche in the Seattle corporate-dominated coffee culture. Barely two years-old, her Aster Coffee Lounge is using a house blend of quality and quirkiness to set itself apart from the other area indie darlings as well as that ubiquitous green monster.

More from Aster Coffee Lounge owner, Beth Scribner, after the jump.

Sometime during my college years, a teahouse called the Tao of Tea opened in Portland, OR. I often went there with friends during my holiday breaks and summer vacations. It was there that I was first introduced to the world of loose leaf tea (we were strictly a Lipton and Celestial Seasonings household during my childhood) and learned that there was more to tea than just black and herbal.

Recently, Matthew Amster-Burton rounded up eight of the best teahouses across the Pacific Northwest for Gourmet.com, and included my beloved Tao of Tea in his piece. He's put together a wonderful selection of spots between Portland, OR and Vancouver, B.C. If you're a tea lover who's planning a trip to that area of the country, this list is a must-read.

Source

As you can see I've changed this week's "Midweek Meals" to "Weekend Meals." This recipe, while delicious, takes up a goodly amount of time and so after a long day, this isn't the quick meal to prepare for yourself. After acquiring "The Paley's Place Coobook," I was instantly drawn to this recipe and had to make it immediately. So that's what I did Sunday afternoon - all of Sunday afternoon.

After a hard week at work, I like to reward myself with a meal exactly like this one, hearty and unique. This recipe has become an absolute must - the pork shoulder is divine and the robust blend of cinnamon, ground fennel, allspice and ginger made this dish unlike anything I've ever tasted before. If fall could taste like something, it would taste like this dish.

Adapted from the cookbook: The Paley's Place Cookbook by Vitaly Paley and Kimberly Paley with Robert Reynolds

With the Fourth Annual Seattle Cheese Festival taking place this weekend, the focus is, naturally, on cheese. Eighteen year old Kelsey Kozak takes cheese-making seriously. The Times offers up some accompanying recipes: Caprese Chopped Salad, Fondue with Beecher's Flagship Cheeses, and Five-Cheese Macaroni.

Nancy Leson lists places to get a true roasting chicken.

As people prepare for outdoor entertaining, wine expert Paul Gregutt makes Washington wine selections that can be mixed and matched. Also in wine, an answer to the question of whether the disappointment in $20-50 merlots is real.