Greetings from Gig Harbor, WA

pkgigharbor · #1 04-04-2008, 10:47 AM

Hello New Friends,
What a wonderful site! I can't wait to learn more about you and from you! I'm a home cook that loves to entertain family and friends. Our home is the hub of all family holiday celebrations, weekend get togethers, and casual dinners. We live on Puget Sound and fresh seafood is a predominate ingredient. My husband and I love to travel and in fact just returned (last night) from a trip to China.

I am especially interested in learning about wine pairings to go with seafood. At the end of the month I'm hosting a Cioppino dinner and would love to hear your recommendations for wine pairing. I would also love to hear your suggestions for appetizers for this dinner.

Warm regards,
PK

Mezzaluna · #2 04-04-2008, 11:29 AM

Hello PK and welcome to Chef Talk! Yes, you'll learn a lot here, but don't forget to share your experience and knowledge with us, too. For instance, one of our members recently started to expand his knowledge of seafood; I'm sure you can add to that discussion. Here's a link to the discussion: Expanding my pallet (seafood)....my New Years resolution

The search tool can help you find threads on topics you're looking for. But don't miss the cooking articles, cookbook reviews, recipes, blogs and the photo gallery! Best of all, you'll be connecting with professional chefs and home cooks who, like you, are passionate about food and cooking.

We hope you visit often and contribute to the vibrancy of this community.
Welcome!
Mezzaluna

tessa · #3 04-04-2008, 01:44 PM

welcome from sunny New Zealand
China how cool is that , We are going to be going there at some stage
not sure when but we will get there.
From what i have heard about Puget sound its just beautiful , its been compared to milford sound down here in NZ
This is a great place to learn so much and have interesting conversations

pkgigharbor · #4 04-04-2008, 03:22 PM

Tessa,
China was never on my top 10 places to visit but the opportunity (along with a good price) presented itself so I HAD to go. When talking with the other folks in my tour group, we all decided that New Zealand was in the top 2 places we all wanted to visit next. I have cousins all over NZ and hope to one day visit them. They came up for a family reunion about 6 years ago so I really need to get down there to repay the visit. We're all decendents of the McClure clan from a small town in northern Donegal Ireland. Interestingly, Ballynashana is just north of Milford, so there's your Milford connection. We also have cousins in Australia that I hope to visit.

We are located in the southern end of Puget Sound on Henderson Bay just west of Tacoma. Bald eagles, osprey, seals, and otters are regular visitors to our beach. It's our own little corner of paradise.

I look forward to chatting with you more about regional cuisines and sharing recipes.

Warmly,
PK

tessa · #5 04-04-2008, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pkgigharbor

Tessa,
China was never on my top 10 places to visit but the opportunity (along with a good price) presented itself so I HAD to go. When talking with the other folks in my tour group, we all decided that New Zealand was in the top 2 places we all wanted to visit next. I have cousins all over NZ and hope to one day visit them. They came up for a family reunion about 6 years ago so I really need to get down there to repay the visit. We're all decendents of the McClure clan from a small town in northern Donegal Ireland. Interestingly, Ballynashana is just north of Milford, so there's your Milford connection. We also have cousins in Australia that I hope to visit.

We are located in the southern end of Puget Sound on Henderson Bay just west of Tacoma. Bald eagles, osprey, seals, and otters are regular visitors to our beach. It's our own little corner of paradise.

I look forward to chatting with you more about regional cuisines and sharing recipes.

Warmly,
PK

so where else do you have relatives in NZ im from Auckland up in the north Island , the largest city in NZ
I have never been to Milford sound yet but it is incredibly beautiful its a very popular tourist spot in the south island

OregonYeti · #6 04-04-2008, 06:47 PM

Welcome PK, I'm sure you will find this a great site!

There are a lot of accomplished chefs here. I consider it a privilege to be a member. Just don't invade the pro forums as I did at first. They have their space, but are also very personable and helpful in the more casual forums.

I think you will love this site

Here's where I said how much I like it . .

Great site here. This is why I think so . .

pkgigharbor · #7 04-04-2008, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tessa

so where else do you have relatives in NZ im from Auckland up in the north Island , the largest city in NZ
I have never been to Milford sound yet but it is incredibly beautiful its a very popular tourist spot in the south island

Gisborne & Wellington that I know for certain. Loads of extended family all over the place. The cousins I met were quite elderly, but I've since met the daughter of one them. I don't have my address book handy and can't quite remember where she was from.

pkgigharbor · #8 04-04-2008, 08:14 PM

Thanks for the welcome and the user friendly advise. It's always appreciated to have help from those in the know. Where in Oregon are you from?

shipscook · #9 04-05-2008, 12:14 AM

Hey pk, good to see you in this neighborhood!!! Welcome, nice folks here, some you know, KY, joey, myself.
Looking forward to hearing more about your China trip, it was on my list, got bumped up a bit in '04. An older friend had always wanted to go and doesn't travel alone, so we went and had a great time. Details later in a pm.
Again, Welcome,
Nan

Home Grown Chef · #10 04-05-2008, 12:22 AM

Hello all! My name is Jimmy McCarthy and I am currently a cook at the Single Pebble in Burlington, Vermont. I am also attending the University of Vermont in hopes of getting a degree in Nutrition and Food Science. I am very curious about food and the science behind it. I'm hoping to be able to get answers to the dozens of questions that I keep coming up with. Nice to meet you all!
~Jimmy

OregonYeti · #11 04-05-2008, 12:38 AM

Welcome, Jimmy

You will like this site!

Mezzaluna · #12 04-05-2008, 07:58 AM

Quote:

We are located in the southern end of Puget Sound on Henderson Bay just west of Tacoma. Bald eagles, osprey, seals, and otters are regular visitors to our beach. It's our own little corner of paradise.

pkgigharbor, your area is on the list for my husband and me to visit. We had a Pacific Northwest trip planned but a family event made us change our plans a few years ago. My cousin and her partner visited the area last year and can't wait to go back!

pkgigharbor · #13 07-13-2008, 11:12 AM

You definitely need to reschedule a visit out this way and plan spending lots of time! From the Olympic Penninsula to the San Juan Islands, from the Yakima and Walla Walla Valleys to the Columbia River Gorge AND everything inbetween there is so much to see, do, taste and experience. My day job is administrating a local chamber of commerce and visitor information center. If you give me an idea of what your interests are, time availability, and time of year, I'd be happy to offer some suggestions and send out some brochures, guides, maps, etc.

In my own little corner of paradise it is supposed to get up to the high 70's. The tide is just on it's way back in. The beach crows and seaguls are squabbling over something on the beach and creating quite a ruckus. I haven't seen the eagles yet, but then I was a lazy-bones and slept in. The only think on my docket today is to make room in the freezer for the 8 batches of strawberry freezer jam I made yesterday. Life is good.

PK


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