Finding and Not Finding

In Bellingham, what I can't find so far:

1) Good Indian food but, particularly, no choices for South Indian cuisine, e.g. dosas and uthappams. I now know that I can find tremendous Indian food in Vancouver and suburbs. That's not so far for me, so voila if I'm willing to drive on a weekend or evening across an international border, which is now all beautiful because the Winter Olympics are coming.

2) Good pepper jelly. Okay, maybe it's a Southern thing, but it's a good thing. I can get two brands here, one of them Tabasco brand, and both of them lousy. It just ain't Atlanta on this score.

3) Restaurants serving grits. A no-brainer that it wouldn't be here, but maybe just one place. Grits have made it to other regions besides the south. I can't even find nouvelle grits which is having it's own popularity nationally, but not here. I make my own!




4) Dim Sum. Don't get me wrong, there's terrific dim sum in Richmond and Vancouver, oh so yummy. But not much in the way of dim sum with carts, which brings the fun of selecting things you don't know because you are looking at them. Thank goodness it's a fun Sunday thing, because here it's a travel thing.

I'll add to the finding and not finding list as I go.

Golfing Again

My adage was

I only play golf if someone else pays.

That worked when I was working in a corporation and I got to golf at Lake Arrowhead north of Atlanta, St. Simon's Island, GA, San Diego's Rancho Bernardo Inn, the signature Jack Nicklaus course at La Paloma in Tucson, the Shalishan Lodge in Gleneden Beach, OR, and more, all on the company's dime. Yes, we were doing company business surrounding these sojourns.

Now, thanks to the women at work and Shuksan Golf Club's Drinks and Divets Women's League, I'm out golfing again. This time on my dime, and I am enjoying it sooooo much. I love how women are so supportive of each other as we play. Nothing like it. And I think our games are getting better.

Finding Seafood So Far

I've had a few recommendations so far about where to find seafood to purchase and take home. Here's what I like so far:

1. Oysters - Greg M recommends Taylor Shellfish Farms, off of Chuckanaut Drive

2. Crab - Renee C recommends Finkbonner Shellfish (2301 Lummi View Dr, Bellingham, WA 98226-9277 * Phone 360 758-7030) They are in the wholesale business, but handle a few folks who come through for retail purchase. I've gotten dungeness there to cook at home and been a very happy consumer.

3. Wild Alaska Salmon - Jackie S suggests Desire Fish Company, right off the boat at Squalicum Harbor Gate 7 in Bellingham

Getting Started

I've been in this area for 22 months, and I'm learning about the area as I go. But before I become seasoned, I want to capture my finds, reactions, and learning. This blog is a space for me to do that, to record as I go.