Sleepless in Seattle

My parents were getting ready to leave for Seattle to visit my brother and his new wife and on a whim, I asked if I could come along.  I figured it would be better than spending the weekend at home with my 19-year-old brother and his partying friends.  They booked me a ticket Thursday night, and on Friday night, I departed to Seattle.

As soon as I touched down, the family swooped me up in the rental Impala and we went to one of the finest sushi restaurants in Seattle, Nishino.  I knew I was in for a treat and as soon as I laid my eyes on the menu, my mouth began to water.  Before we ate any food, however, we were given hot, wet wash cloth–an Oshibori–and it felt wonderful having just gotten off the airplane.  I began my meal with miso and hot clams, a deep red soup with a mild ocean flavor and a seaweed salad that tasted like it had been in a ginger ponzu marinade.  We had oyster tempera that was so fresh it felt like a wave misting the taste buds and a unique foie gras an shitake mushroom appetizer that was served in a thick, rich soy red wine reduction sauce.  The blackened cod in a light miso sauce was better than candy–flaky and succesulent and the fish peeled away like I’ve never seen fish do before.  We had soft-shell crab with ponzu and sashimi wrapped around fresh arugala.  The banana tempura desert with lychee and chocolate mochi was the perfect finish to an exceptional meal. 

5 Stars!!!!!

http://www.nishinorestaurant.com/

After that meal, we went back to my brother’s 2-bedroom condo, and I slept on the floor all weekend–hence the title. 

Saturday we went up the Olympic Peninsula.  We spent many hours in the car, but once we got there, we climbed trees and hiked around the beach.

David and Laura on the ferry.

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I am a primate.

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Here my mom helped my dad over a difficult section and they were SO CUTE!

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So beautiful!

It was a great, short weekend trip despite getting little-to-no sleep.