Calderas Restaurant has a website

After much waiting, one of our favorite Joseph restaurants has finally launched their website. We regularly send guests to Calderas for dinner because we know they'll get a great meal in beautiful surroundings. Occasionally we have the chance to slip down there for dinner ourselves. We vascillate on what to order--the ribeye is a good steak, but I usually opt for a fish special if there's one available.

The winelist is comprehensive, service is prompt, and the atmosphere steps right out of a Parisian Art Nouveau style bistro.

Congratulations, Calderas!

Decadent Fudge Macaroons

Wow! Just finished baking the first batch of Fudge Macaroons. Anne Shelly of Fireworks Pottery Studio outside of Joseph gave me this recipe and I'd love to share it. We first tasted Anne's macaroons when she brought a platter of them to a Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts organizational meeting. Anne and Jim create such beautiful ceramic work at their studio. It's nice to know that she's such a wonderful gourmet cook too. This afternoon we're receiving some guests from the U.K. I'm sure they'll appreciate such delicate treats and the pungent odor of chocolate wafting throughout the entire bed & breakfast!

Fudge Macaroons (about 3 dozen)

Melt: 3 oz. bitter chocolate (I used Baker's) and 9 oz. semisweet chocolate chips (better yet, use a fine bittersweet chocolate such as Guittard or Scharffenberger) (I often melt chocolate on very low power in the microwave--just be careful and don't overdo it)

Whip to soft peaks: 3/4 cup egg whites and a pinch of salt

Add slowly: 1 1/2 cups white sugar

Beat until stiff then add: 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Mix in the melted chocolate (it may be warm but not hot). Stir in 20 oz. flaked coconut. Form the mixture into rough balls a little bigger than a walnut and place 12 to a pan on parchment lined cookie sheets.

Bake at 375 degrees F. about 15 minutes or until just firm enough to pick up without falling apart. Be sure not to bake too long or the coconut will start to blacken on the tips!

The RimRock Inn is reopening for the season!

Spring has arrived and summer's around the corner--we know because one of our favorite restaurants is reopening for the season. The RimRock Inn is located about a 40 minute drive north of Joseph , but it's well worth the scenic drive to get there, and on the way for guests travelling south from Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington.

The view over Joseph Canyon is spectacular and the food & wine selections are just great. I'm waiting to see what's on the menu for this year.

Opening on May 22nd, with hours essentially from 8 am to 8 pm except closed on Wednesdays. Sunday brunch only 11 am - 3 pm. Bill & I are looking forward to an occasional Sunday afternoon escape (guest check-ins permitting) and the thought of a trip north through Wallowa County with a great meal awaiting us at the RimRock on a Sunday afternoon is wonderful--it wasn't open on Sundays last year.

You know we'll be making reservations for our Bronze Antler Bed & Breakfast guests for the summer (and a few for ourselves)!

Evening Frogs

There's something totally decadent about listening to frogs chirp in the early evening. Birds are still singing occasional songs as evening takes hold, but the frogs are definitely winning out. An occasional truck along Main Street, falling darkness, and a good game of cribbage.

Life is good for innkeepers on a Monday night!

Hiking to the Snake River

Every now and then innkeepers get the chance to goof off and Saturday was one of those. Bill & I drove to the Cow Creek Trailhead along the Imnaha River in Northeastern Oregon to attempt a 4.2 mile hike to the confluence of the Imnaha and Snake Rivers. Nothing too strenuous (it's pretty flat), but a milestone for us. We've attempted this hike twice in years past and never succeeded (ran out of daylight being the biggest problem).

What a glorious day! The hike itself was beautiful. Upon reaching the Snake River we feasted on a small lunch, including a screw-cap 25 cl bottle of French table wine we'd brought home nearly 10 years ago (and still drinkable).

A quick nap under the shade of a tree closest to the river and we were off again on the return trip, only to be greeted by light raindrops along the way. Near the end of the hike we encountered a rather large bull with his cows and calves. It did take us a minute or so to size up the situation and continue. That the bull was pawing the ground was a little unnerving, although we finally decided that he was giving himself a dustbath (!).

Hi-ho, back to the Tahoe we go! Hips a little sore for the wear, but two tired and happy innkeepers returning to Joseph to prepare for the next day's arriving guests.