This evening we joined our friends and neighbors and hit the town for dinner, kicking off the opening night Corvallis Culinary Week.  Our choice was Zia, a small family owned restaurant that specializes in New Mexican cuisine.  I’ve been enjoying Zia’s scrumptious burritos at the Saturday Market for years, and visit the restaurant for lunch every now and then.   Tonight’s visit was my first dinner experience at Zia and the Sami’s first Zia meal of any type.    From her first bite, she was hooked.   Ah…  a new convert! 

Our ten dollar chef’s ’sampler plate’ featured Calabacita Enchilada (A new fave!), Coq au Vin a la Nuevo Mexico (OMG, SOOOO GOOD!) , Carne Adovada, Posole (Yummo!), and Green Chile Beef Stew (Actually, I think they substituted the chile relleno- whatever it was, it was DIVINE!).  They finished our meal with a sopaipilla (and local honey).  All I can say is “Yummo!”.  It was a real treat to get to try out several different dishes all on one plate- especially since I tend to find one dish that I adore and then never order anything but that one item.  (For Zia, by the way- it’s always been the Zia burrito.)   I now have several new favorites.  Sami does, too.  It’s going to be hard to choose the next time we’re there

For you Corvallis locals- if you haven’t checked out the Corvallis Culinary Week website, do yourself a favor and go.  Now.   Then, grab your friends and family and head out for a night on the town.  See what our little town has to offer.  You’ll be back for seconds.   I guarantee it.

Just a glimpse of our (now annual) mini-road trip to the Olympic National Park.

Such a beautiful place, but soooo wet! They don’t call it a “rainforest” for nothin’!

Just a peek at what’s been going on around here…

Hope you all are having a Purrfect holiday season!