Thursday, May 26, 2011

Today was blustery again with frequent storm showers, but it is Oregon and May storms are not unusual. We know how to deal with it. The rain did stop long enough this afternoon for a walk on the beach. I took the opportunity to explore the tidal pools that are on the beach just outside the condo. I had been there before, but did not really know what I was looking for and felt disappointed. As luck would have it, I met a young family from New Mexico that was vacationing here. The husband was raised in Pacific City and knew his tidal pools! He was kind enough to show me the various types of life in the pools, and it was quite thrilling to see ochre starfish, blue mussels, barnacles, and anemones. I did not take my camera due to the weather conditions. Next time, I will bring both my pocket digital camera as well as the SLR digital!

After returning to the condo from the tidal pool lesson, I wanted to learn more. I drove into town and stopped by the Village Merchant, a rather eclectic store that carries everything from clothing to books, lotions, soaps, and many decorative items. I always like to visit at least once while here to see what is new. I was not disappointed and found a National Audubon Society Field Guide to Seashore Creatures. Now I'm equipped for my next visit in August.

The big foodie event of the week was the introduction of the Pelican Pub & Brewery's summer ales - Winema Wit, Surfer's Summer Ale, and Ankle-Buster Ale. I absolutely was not going to miss that event! The Wit is fermented with Belgian yeast and seasoned with orange peel, coriander and cardamom. The flavors mix well for a snappy, refreshing and fruity-spicy character. It pairs well with seafood as I discovered. Surfer's is a much lighter beer but still full bodied with a rounded malt aspect finishing smooth and clean. It is a wise choice for a light summer lunch or soup and salad dinner. Ankle-Buster is the darkest of the three with color much like an IPA. With an herbal hop character and Belgian yeast aromas, and a toasty and caramel-like flavor yet a clean dry finish it is an excellent choice for a burger or steak.

The meal specials change every Thursday. I started with a side Caesar salad. I was drawn to the Mediterranean style grilled tuna. The yellowfin was grilled medium rare and served over a bed of Winema Wit couscous and sauteed spinach, topped with Mediterranean style salsa with tomato, cucumber, kalamata olives, fresh oregano, lemon juice, and garlic. I chose a 20 ounce Wit to accompany the meal. The kalamata olives added a rich, oily, salty flavor to the tuna, and the whole meal was a delight to the palate.

Hopefully, the summer ales will still be available if you decide to have your own adventure in Pacific City!