Earthly Treasures: Morels and Walla Walla Onions 

These seasonals are available June 16, 2022- July 12, 2022

Washington is a leading grower of many vegetables. Choosing one as our state vegetable pitted industry groups against each other as they competed for the honorary title. The vast majority of hops come from Washington. We’re the nation’s top producer of asparagus. And Washington is second only to Idaho in potato production and closing the gap. In the end, though, Walla Walla onions triumphed.  

Walla Walla sweets are only available in season, from mid-June through August. The mild onions are thought to have been brought from Corsica to Eastern Washington a century ago. Delicate and thin-skinned like tender grapes, which also grow in abundance in Walla Walla, the onions are harvested by hand. Their mild, sweet flavor comes from the low quantities of sulfur in Walla Walla’s fertile soil. And like a fine wine, to be called a Walla Walla sweet, they must be grown in a legally defined area.  

We celebrate Walla Walla sweets with our Crostata seasonal pie. We caramelize the Walla Walla onions to a rich buttery sweetness, generously layer them over an olive oil base, and top the pie with a blend of gorgonzola, mozzarella, and fontina cheese. 

Our second seasonal features another earthly treasure—marvelous morels. This fleeting culinary delight rises from the forest duff as early as late April and flourishes in May and June. Fanatic foragers comb forests, especially where burns have created favorable conditions. Chefs tailor menus around the mushroom due to its highly-prized flavor. We get our morels from Foraged & Found Edibles for our Morel and Chicken Sausage Primo. The all-natural chicken sausage comes from local favorite, Isernio’s Sausage. Crimini mushrooms, mozzarella, and our seasoned tomato sauce make up the rest of this mushroom lover’s delight. 

If you’re looking for a bit of joy, we deliver it by the pint! Our seasonal gelato, Funfetti, was created to put a smile on your face. This playful gelato starts with a freshly baked, multi-hued cake broken into morsels and blended with a mascarpone base. The creamy, sweet Italian cheese gives the gelato a tang that harmonizes with the bits of flavorful cake.