Morels, Walla Walla Sweets, Pesto Salad, Molly Moon’s and Two Beers!

This round of seasonals runs from June 12 – July 8.

The competition for Washington’s official state vegetable was fierce. Hops fought hard — after all, 75% of the nation’s hops come from Washington. The potato lobby pressed its case. Our famous asparagus was also a leading candidate. But the Walla Walla sweet prevailed. In 2007, Governor Chris Gregoire sealed the deal, naming it our official state vegetable after it out-charmed every rival on the field.

Grown in a legally defined patch of loamy, low-sulfur earth, these onions are harvested by hand from June to August. Their lineage runs back a century to seed brought from Corsica — and their thin skin and mellow bite make them a delicacy.

Our ode to the Walla Walla sweet is our Crostata. We caramelize the onions, layer them over a roasted garlic oil base, and blanket the pie with a blend of Gorgonzola, mozzarella, and fontina.

Our second seasonal is the Chicken Sausage & Morel Primo. Morels are the biggest prize coveted by mushroom hunters in the moss-draped PNW forests. Their scarcity and prized flavor draw top dollar. The experts at Foraged & Found Edibles fill our baskets. This primo pie features Isernio’s all-natural chicken sausage, a blend of rosemary-roasted morel and crimini mushrooms, mozzarella, and our seasoned tomato sauce.

Molly Moon’s Cookies & Cream is back by popular demand for another four weeks. Homemade double-stuffed chocolate sandwich cookies are the raison d’être of this irresistible ice cream. Molly Moon’s swirls hefty chunks and fine speckles of those cookies through a velvety, rich base.

And Pesto Salad, with its cult following, is also getting an encore. The Seattle Times described our Pesto Salad as a “deeply satisfying combination…perfect for a quick lunch or supper, particularly in hot weather.” It features penne, sweet peas, Parmesan, tomatoes, and a creamy pesto dressing.

Patio and deck season calls for two seasonal beers at once! First up, we have the Georgetown Dalton IPA. Dalton is Bodhizafa’s close cousin, but with a softer roundhouse kick of peach, orange zest, mixed berry, and sweet pine notes…and it is very nice. Reuben’s Up The Bridges, named for the Ballard FC battle cry, is a crisp, clean, and hoppy American Pale Ale brewed in collaboration with the soccer club. Amber-gold with a sturdy malt spine, it layers multiple hops for a subtle lift of citrus and herbs, finishing brisk and dry.