Seasonal Specials: Living in the Seasons

“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.” – Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854 

Buying locally has many great advantages, especially in a state with so much great produce. It also means we live in each season and stay flexible with our menu. April’s record-breaking cool delayed the start of Washington’s sublime asparagus season forcing us to alter our seasonal schedule. Fortunately, the cool, wet April was a boon to morels. Asparagus lovers: we’ll get you next month. Mushroom lovers: You’re in luck! 

The damp, verdant embrace of a chilly April in the Pacific Northwest caused more than a few grumbles among those of us yearning for sunshine — but to those who love morels, a culinary treasure that rivals truffles, the unpleasant weather provided the ideal conditions for the wild mushrooms to thrive.  

Fervent foragers hit the trail, eyes to the ground. Morels have an uncanny ability to elude detection, hiding amid the undergrowth like a botanical chameleon. They often grow in forested areas, especially in or near recently burned forests, as well as around dead or dying trees. Their honeycombed cap is a tapestry of earthy hues, a maze of irregular, protruding ridges. What makes them so sought after is their tender, almost meaty flesh and a flavor that is earthy, a little nutty, with a tinge of smokiness.  

Our Chicken Sausage & Morel pizza stars morels plucked from the forest floor by Foraged & Found Edibles. We combine them with Isernio’s all-natural chicken sausage, mushrooms, mozzarella and our seasoned tomato sauce. Enjoy this seasonal favorite while you can. 

Our second seasonal pie, the Meatball Primo, resulted from a customer contest for the best new pizza. Our contest judges fell hard for the combination, and it has since become a customer favorite. This primo pie features Isernio's Italian-style pork meatballs with pepperoncini, onions, sun-ripened tomatoes, asiago, and mozzarella over our seasoned tomato sauce. 

Our seasonal gelato is Gelatiamo's Strawberries and Cream. While tulips draw tens of thousands of tourists to the Skagit Valley, its fertile soil and moderate climate also make it one of the best places in the world to grow berries. Fresh Skagit strawberries are the key to the mouthwatering flavor of this gelato. Gelatiamo swirls ribbons of silky sweet cream with their strawberry sorbet and mixes in flecks of fresh Skagit strawberries. Order a pint or two with your next order and enjoy the taste of fruit in season.