A Wednesday Two Weeks Later...

Mid-week; chickens cackling in the backyard. The windows are open to the fresh air. I know why the caged bird sings...   {just using that quote that I do love} - Yet, I do know why they're singing...
IT IS GORGEOUSLY SUNNY!! Me, the chicks, my neighbors, every little creature - out and alive!

early morning shadows from my perch

Time spent ridding our home of excess isn't particularly the way I see myself whiling away the brief hours of sunshine. Yet, here I am. I've been enjoying this chore. Bags of clothing tossed aside for a trip to the resale. Furniture dusted and moved to new corners. Happy vignettes of never displayed goodies swapping spots with the old & tired. Rather pleasing. Surely have days and weeks more work to go. Maybe not during such lovely non-wintry daylight.

On a post-rainy day of recent, we did take a road trip through the redwoods, and out into the tiny town of Pescadero. A perfect afternoon with mustard fields, goats, cheese tasting and ocean.

Harley Farms sits in a field with a barn over there, and a couple of out-buildings here, and the milking parlour near to the goat paddock. We tasted cheese, but also some warm and succulent butternut squash & jalapeno soup. At the tippy-top of the barn is this room shown above ^. Here, the farm hosts a once per month field-to-table dinner. Along with the charming goats, lovely scenery and smiling face of the shop tendress, there is also a furniture maker. Sad to report, we were unable to meet this chap. His nickname is Three Finger Bob. Sounds like there must be a story to be told... don't ya think?


Bring on the warm California sun!

Our History in Pescadero

The San Francisco Chronicle had a well known columnist named Herb Caen. I believe that is where I first read an article he wrote about Duarte's in Pescadero. Duarte's is a small, wooden clad building on the tiny main street of Pescadero. This family owned and run restaurant has been in business since 1894.

 

The Duarte's Tavern sign has been around since the 1930s.

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  Emma Cardoza Duarte started the pie tradition at the tavern. This photo appears on Duarte's pie boxes.

Every morning, 78-year-old Ron Duarte walks down the steps from his home and directly into the restaurant he owns.

He is the third generation of the family to run Duarte's (pronounced DOO-arts) Tavern in Pescadero, Calif.,Ron's grandfather, Frank Duarte, a Portuguese immigrant, bought the tavern and the land around it for $12 in gold in 1894. In those days, Pescadero, near the Pacific, was a popular settlement for whalers, fishermen and farmers from Portugal.
To start off his business, Frank Duarte Sr. bought a barrel of whiskey from Santa Cruz. "Used to be 10 cents a shot or three shots for two bits," says Ron Duarte. "They'd set the barrel of whiskey here in the bar and people would bring their bottle in and fill it up."

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Hubby and I have been going to savor artichoke soup for thirty years or so. Our love for that creamy, luscious soup has never wavered! YYUUUUMMY!! here's the last bowl I had ~

Duarte's Artichoke Soup

A previous version of this recipe misstated the amount of corn starch in the thickening mix. The mix should consist of 1/3 cup corn starch and 1 cup warm water.

March 16, 2009

Serves 6

3 cups chicken broth

1/4 lb. butter

3/4 tsp. white pepper

3/4 tsp. kosher salt

3 tsp. chicken base

2 tbs. fresh garlic, chopped very fine

4 lbs. cooked artichoke hearts

2 cups heavy cream

Thickening: 1/3 cup corn starch and 1 cup warm water, mixed

Puree artichoke hearts (use water in blender). Add pureed artichokes to soup pot. Add chicken broth and other ingredients, except cream and thickening mix. Simmer for 1 hour. Slowly add thickening mix to boiling soup. Add cream

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We also lunched on fried smelt.... sounds horrid - but, oh so NOT!!

More than just a place we've come to dine for years, we also became engaged on the sands of the beach in Pescadero and then had this very same meal that evening to celebrate. We have history here.