Au Revoir to the Salish Sea, And Hello Gin! 😁

Day 33. July 3rd. Saturday.

Friday was our last day North of Seattle. We had a gorgeous breakfast with my cousin Beth and her husband Rick. Rick made his famous Dutch Baby (German pancake). If you have never had a Dutch Baby, you need to get that on your to-do list. Yummmmm!!! Its actually a simple concoction of milk, flour and eggs, with a bit of almond or vanilla extract thrown in for flavor, and a squeeze of lemon juice and some confectioners sugar on top. You can add any toppings you like, such as fruit, jam, or yogurt, or you can just drown it in maple syrup.

After breakfast, we went for a drive to see the humongous Boeing plant nearby. The hangar/building is actually the largest in the US...one MILLION square feet. Something to see.

Then we went down to the waterfront in Mukilteo to see the ferries and check out the new ferry terminal. The terminal was completed at the end of 2020, and features several tribal pieces carved by Tulalip master carvers. It has a very natural feel and fits beautifully into the landscape.

Later in the day, we met up with some of my friends from Budapest, who just happened to be in Seattle for a few days, and another friend who lives here. We had dinner and drinks at a great place in Ballard, called Joli (https://joliseattle.com), where the star of the show is none other than Gin!!

Let me say first, I love Gin. Gin and Tonic is probably my favorite go-to cocktail. And now, I have new goals...who knew there are so many things you can do with Gin. I'm excited to try some new recipes.

Highly recommend this place. The drinks are fabulous, and the food is, well, equally fantastic.

We ordered the Gin Chips and several other plates, including flatbread, deep-fried green beans, brussel sprouts, and cauliflower, all of which were delightful. Beau ordered the mushroom risotto, and it did not disappoint. Our friends ordered the Rockfish and the steak...both were done to perfection.

I've been searching for my next concoction. I think this is it....Boat House Punch!

Ingredients

• 4 lemons, peeled

• 1/2 cup superfine sugar

• 1 liter dry gin

• 750 mL Aperol

• 12 ounces St-Germain

• 12 ounces lemon juice, freshly squeezed

• 12 ounces orange juice, freshly squeezed

• 12 ounces grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed

• 750 mL sparkling rosé

• Garnish: orange wheels

Steps

1. Muddle the lemon peels (save lemons for juicing) with the sugar in a bowl until the sugar looks slightly moistened.
   

2. Cover and let sit for at least one hour, or overnight, so the sugar can absorb the lemon oils.
   

3. Add gin, Aperol, St-Germain, lemon juice, orange juice and grapefruit juice to a large pitcher or punch bowl. Add the lemon-sugar mixture, and let sit for 15 minutes.
   

4. Remove the lemon peels, drop in a large ice block, and add the sparkling rosé.
   

Enjoy!!!

And so, we say goodbye to Mukilteo and all things North of Seattle. Today, Saturday, we are moving the RV an hour south to a lovely RV park on the water in Gig Harbor, Washington.

So much to see, so little time...

😎