Just 5 More Minutes » Just 5 More Minutes

{McCall, ID} Part 7: A Culinary Adventure in the Forest ♥

Idaho, McCall, McCall Dining, McCall Parks, snowshoeing 12 Responses »

Mar 192013

set 1

Just a little over one mile, deep in the wintry forest of Ponderosa State Park is where you will find the Blue Moon Yurt along Lake Payette. Here is where you will have an experience like no other as a four course culinary adventure awaits.

Only accessible via snowshoeing or nordic skiing, B and I strap on our snowshoes while hubby clips into his skis. Lisa, co-owner of Blue Moon Outfitters of McCall greets us at the trail head before we begin our journey.

“Take your time, enjoy yourselves and once everyone arrives at the yurt is when the party will get started,” she tells us.

Freshly covered with powdery snow, the winding trail introduced us to towering Pondersoa pines, wildlife and a feeling of pure contentment and excitement at the evening ahead of us.

As we arrive at the yurt, we remove our snowshoes and ski’s and slip into the comfortable slippers that we brought along with us in our packs. Stepping into the yurt we could hardly believe our eyes.

yurt

Persian rugs grace the floor of this yurt and the family style tables are decorated with beautiful glowing candles and fine linens. The warmth from the wood burning fireplace is immediately noticed and we are greeted by smiles from everyone in the yurt. With rosy cheeks and all, we make our way to the big pot of hot spiced mulled wine and help ourselves while B settles down with his hot cocoa.

“This is delicious mommy,” he tells me smiling from ear to ear.

set 2

set 8

We sit down at our table and introduce ourselves to our soon-to-be new friends. We are all very curious about one another and this is the magic behind the yurt experience. The friendships that come from here can last a lifetime. We learn that our friends are going to be going on a trip to Croatia in the coming summer. I become very excited because one of my best friends regularly visits Croatia so I am able to share a little bit of insight with them. We continue to laugh, tell stories about our day and before we know it, Lisa asks all of us (26 to be exact) for our attention.

“Welcome everyone to the Blue Moon Yurt! We are very happy to have you with us tonight!!”

Lisa introduces us to the evenings menu and we are all silent and listening carefully. We begin with crunchy starfish calamari with a sweet ginger sauce and then come the sesame asparagus spears that disappear within minutes. Luckily the plates keep coming and we all help ourselves endlessly. We do try to keep mindful about saving our appetites for the main course, but it is hard!

Then comes one of my most life changing moments. The SOUP. Oh my goodness, this soup. We are home from McCall now for a couple of weeks and not a day goes by that I do not think about this soup!

Lisa tells us the story behind the soup:

“Tonight you will be having “Somai’s Soup.”

We are all listening carefully and she continues . . .

“Not too long ago my friends and I took a trip to Anchorage Alaska and Somai was this beautiful tiny Thai woman cooking in a place called the Thai Market. I don’t know if it’s still there, but when you walked through the doors you headed to the back of the place and there were just a few tables and chairs for patrons. Somai was cooking off of two funky burners pumping out the most amazing food. When we first tasted the soup we thought we had all died and gone to Thai heaven. We were in Alaska for three weeks and we went every other day (if not every day) to have her soup. We were completely addicted! Somai did eventually share her recipe for this soup with one of my dear friends who in turn, shared it with me. I am happy to be able to cook this soup for you here, in the Blue Moon Yurt. Full of flavors from the galanga root (a cross between ginger and eucalyptus), lemongrass, chilies, kaffir lime leaves, coconut milk, chicken, straw mushrooms, topped with cilantro & green onions. It truly is a bowl of love. Enjoy!”

set 6

set 4

set 3

set 9

Our main course arrives and it is sesame grilled salmon with jade sauce that upon first bite was so juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Incredible. I’ve never had salmon so good. Ever. Alongside was a crunchy salad of shredded Napa cabbage with spicy peanut sauce and a sweet cooling cucumber salad with tri-colored peppers.

set 5

set 10

We finish off the evening with coffee and a desert of toasted coconut ice cream with a killer rum sauce. B is not a fan of coconut and I will tell you, he ate his and mine.

We said our goodbyes to everyone and headed outside. We strapped our snowshoes and skis on and began to head down to the trail that was lit with tiki torches helping guide us back.

I looked up at the night sky that peeked through the towering Ponderosa pines and noticed how bright the stars were tonight. And then a shooting star!

“Mommy! A shooting star! Quick, make a wish!” B commands

That was easy, I thought. We are coming back here and that will be a wish come true, for certain!

end

And as for that soup? Well, unfortunately it is under lock and key which is completely understandable. But I did try to get it for you, really :) You’ll just have to make your way to McCall to experience it because I can guarantee you that it will be well worth the trip, in and of itself!

xoxo ~ Monica

McCall Trip Roundup:

Part 1: Arriving ♥
Part 2: McCall Town Guide ♥
Part 3: Skiing Brundage Mountain and Apres-Ski at the Shore Lodge ♥
Part 4: A Snowmobile Adventure to the Burgdorf Hot Springs and Beyond ♥
Part 5: A Day at Tamarack Resort ♥
Part 6: Apres-Ski at Rupert’s in Historic Hotel McCall ♥
Part 7: A Culinary Adventure in the Forest ♥
Part 8: Brundage Cat Skiing Adventures & Apres-Ski at the Pancake House ♥

{McCall, ID} Part 6: Apres-Ski at Rupert’s in Historic Hotel McCall ♥

Idaho, McCall, McCall Accomodations, McCall Dining 8 Responses »

Mar 172013

chef gary congratulations

You know you are about to embark on an amazing dining experience when you catch wind from the locals that the beloved Chef of Rupert’s Restaurant , Chef Gary Kucy — has been selected as a semi-finalist as “Best Chef: Northwest” for the 2013 James Beard Foundation Awards.

I will not hesitate to tell you that upon hearing this news, I was not only thrilled to dine at Rupert’s and go straight to epicurean heaven, but I was very nervous as well. I had previously asked the owner of Hotel McCall, David Carey if he would mind if I had a few minutes of Chef Gary’s time prior to our dinner reseravations. I wanted to meet him so badly and get to know this person that everyone in McCall had spoke so highly of.

Chef Gary was busy in the kitchen prepping for the evening dinner menu and while he was finishing up, David Carey took some of his time to sit down and chat with us.

I immediately congratulated David on Chef Gary’s James Beard Foundation nomination and semi-finalist placement.

“We are completely thrilled Monica,” David tells me as we settle down into our seats.

I then ask him how they found out about the big news.

“The phone started ringing off the hook and our email box was getting full. People were congratulating Chef Gary and we had no idea how (or who) nominated him. I mean, we even asked Gary’s mom if she nominated her son and her answer was no.” we all laughed at that . . .

Then Chef Gary comes out to say hello and I can hardly wait to shake his hand :)

I ask him if he could please share with me a bit of his history and how he came to McCall.

“I was working in Jackson, Wyoming and it was wonderful! But Stacey (his wife – Stacey Cakes!!) and I knew that we wanted to settle down somewhere else. Somewhere where it felt right and that was McCall. Stacey spent time here with family growing up and when she introduced me to McCall, I just knew this was the place for us.”

He tells me that at the time when they arrived in McCall, Tamarack Resort was just beginning to be and everyone was talking about it. He eventually helped open up the restaurant “Morels,” (as well as designing the kitchen) located in the Lodge as Osprey Meadows right in the heart of the Tamarack Resort. But before that– long before Morels — Gary was one of the first people to work at Tamarack 24/7 and witnessed the evolution of the resort.

Back then when Tamarack was in its infant stages, Gary tells me it was just him and a few other people.

“I was the kitchen Monica and Tamarack was in full marketing swing. Food was the center of everything and it brought everyone together. I would cook all day (from a kitchen trailer in the woods – it was all that there was in the beginning of Tamarack’s marketing – and the food was served in a cozy yurt to prospective buyers after a day of skiing the slopes and exploring the area) and it was fun to meet so many different people who were coming to the resort to check things out and explore opportunities. One year I even had the honor to cook for President Bush.”

“Wow, really!?”

“Yes and his plane made it’s landing right on the Tamarack Golf Course. It was pretty amazing.”

“How do you decide what to cook for the President?”

“I love to use local Idaho flavors! So that is always a hit when we have people from out of town.”

My conversation with Chef Gary was one that I will never soon forget. Not only is he one of the most down to earth people I have ever met, I felt a true connection with him through his inspiration of cooking. I asked him how he came up with his ideas for his menus and I learned that Chef Gary has been fortunate to travel the world experiencing flavors from afar, and with that, he brings to Rupert’s his culinary magic for the lucky patrons to enjoy.

Including us. Just have a look at what we had for dinner :)

I would love to take a quick moment here to thank David from the bottom of my heart for being so warm and welcoming to us and truly sharing his in depth knowledge of McCall and all that it has to offer not only to its fortunate residents, but for visitors like us. As he spoke, it was quite evident the love that he has for this town and that feeling rubbed off on us immensely. Our eyes were opened up by his stories of this sweet town and as I sit here in Bellevue, Washington writing this, I feel very emotional. I miss McCall, immensely.

“You know Monica, one of the overriding factors that sits for me, over everything that happens in the valley, is how modest the population is here. To me, it’s what makes it so wonderful here. There are literally over two million acres of forest land waiting for people to come and explore. Gary and I will go on a mountain bike ride and when you see another soul on the trail, you get excited and want to share how awesome the trails were!”

“And I come back with five pounds of Morel mushrooms,” Gary chimes in…

No joke here.

Kind of like your own private Idaho, I thought to myself.

Here is the inside of Rupert’s restaurant before it is open (and at night, wow, this place is busy as we learned!). Rupert’s is located in the historic Hotel McCall, along the shore of Payette Lake. You will have to take my word on this that the view of the lake is purely spectacular. Luckily for us and many others, it was dumping outside when I took these pictures which meant for yet another epic skiing experience the next day (Cat Skiing at Brundage Mountain was on our list!).

{ Main entrance / lobby to Hotel McCall }

David also tells me:

“Monica, everything is just right here in McCall. You can ride your bike from downtown into the mountains in the summer and have the ride of your life. In the winter, people head up to the mountains to ski on their lunch hour — it’s incredible! Plus you have a town that is a “BIG” little town. You’ve got your Rite Aid, you’ve got two great grocery stores, the schools are excellent. All of our kids were born here. You can walk to the hospital and everyone there knows you.”

“That’s right, our doctor who delivered our kids is also our neighbor,” mentions Chef Gary.

McCall has definitely won our hearts over. That is for sure.

It was my very first visit to Idaho and I am so happy that we chose McCall. From the sweet, kind and welcoming people to the many outdoor and culinary adventures one can find here. We are smitten with this town of just over 2,000 people and can hardly wait to come back :) ♥♥♥

A huge thank you to Chef Gary for sharing with me (and you) his recipe for his Sake Steamed Clams. They were so delicious!

Sake Steamed Clams with Ginger-Soy Butter

Print recipe

Sake Steamed Clams with Ginger-Soy Butter

Thank you to Chef Gary Kucy of Rupert's restaurant in downtown McCall for sharing this recipe with us! This will serve two - double the recipe to serve 4, etc. You can find the rice paper sheets at your local asian market.

Ingredients

1lb Fresh Manilla clams
1 tablespoon Green Onions (minced)
2 tablespoons Ginger (minced)
2 tablespoons Garlic (minced)
2 tablespoons Soy Sauce or Tamari
3 tablespoons Butter (softened)
1/2 cup Sake
3/4 cups Mixed Julienne Red Peppers and Carrots
2 tablespoons Cilantro Leaves (picked)
1 Rice Paper Sheet (crispy fried (1 each per person))

Directions

Step 1
Pre soak clams in cold water for at least one hour to clean, rinse well and set aside.
Step 2
To make butter; saute green onion, garlic and ginger in a small amount of oil until fragrant. Deglaze with soy sauce and cool. Cream soy ginger mixture into butter and set aside.
Step 3
Heat a large (6-8 qt) sauce pot over medium high heat, add clams and a small amount of oil. Allow clams and pot to heat, add sake and cover to steam.
Step 4
After being covered and cooking for approximately 4-5 minutes, check and see if clams are starting to open. Once they begin to open up, add vegetables and ginger-soy butter and cover for another minute. Remove cover and mix in fresh cilantro leaves just before serving. Garnish with crispy fried rice paper.

McCall Trip Roundup:

{McCall, ID} Part 5: A Day at Tamarack Resort ♥

Idaho, McCall, McCall Accomodations, Skiing 6 Responses »

Mar 152013

set 1

{ Written by Jeff & Monica }

By Jeff

You cannot visit McCall without snowboarding/skiing at Tamarack Resort. Located near Donnelly, Idaho and about 30 minutes from McCall we arrive and are excited for our day ahead.

Tamarack enjoys a 2,800 vertical drop that is filled with open bowls, glades, challenging back country and high speed corduroy groomers and the views are nothing short of spectacular.

Monica, B and I arrived at Tamarack Resort early Thursday morning. The Sports Dome was bustling with guests signing up for lessons, a modest line for rental equipment and a great espresso bar that served us up some of the best coffee, ever.

Outside the temperature was a perfect 19 degrees F, no wind, crystal clear skies and four inches of new snow.

Monica signed B up for a private ski class while I joined ski legend Wolfe Ashcroft for a guided tour through the trails and trees of Tamarack. Wolfe led me in a game of cat and mouse through the variable mountain terrain. I was no match for this world class skier. Short hikes from the summit rewarded us with uncountable turns in untracked powder.

From the base, two high-speed quads whisked us back up to the top in minutes. Lift lines are nonexistent and the snow sports staff and locals treated us as close friends.

Tamarack’s terrain, quality of snow and breathtaking views are a recipe for success.

It was an epic day and B is still asking

“When can we go back to ski Tamarack daddy?”

Shots from the top (click to enlarge)

By Monica

What hubby forgot to mention was that on this morning, when we stepped out of the Airstream and climbed into the truck it was – 7 degrees outside! We had no inkling it was that cold outside seeing how warm and toasty we were inside the Airstream. I cooked a breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes while hubby showered and B got dressed.

Time and time again we are so thankful to have our Airstream. Even in these extreme temperatures we are able to enjoy ourselves glamping!

When we arrived at Tamarack Resort I was completely taken with the beauty here. The mountains and the clear blue skies just took my breath away. I signed B up for private lessons while hubby took off to ski the mountain and check things out.

I took a walk down around the base of the mountain and through the village to take some photographs to share with you :)

If you thought Tamarack Resort was part of skiing history, think again. The resort is open along with lift upgrades, snow making machines and groomers to ensure corduroy runs for all to enjoy. I was thoroughly impressed with the shopping experience in the sports dome to the many dining options from Morels in the Lodge as Osprey Meadows to the Canoe Grill, Seven Devils Pub and Hot Shots Espresso that served us an amazing coffee.

{ B with his private ski instructor }

Inside the Sports Dome things were busy with gear fitting, rentals, lift ticket purchases, etc.

It was definitely very, very cold outside and I had Oliver with me, in my pack and well, he was getting cold too. We decided to head over to the Lodge as Osprey Meadows and check things out over there.

The Lodge at Osprey Meadows is elegantly perched above Osprey Meadows golf course and Lake Cascade. Wood beams, native stone, hardwoods, and hand-wrought iron complement the lodge’s interior furnishings. The Lodge Hotel Rooms, Studios and Condominiums feature the latest in design and look out on to magnificent views of the outdoors so this would be a great place to stay if you wanted to ski Tamarack exclusively, if of course, you didn’t have your mobile ski lodge :)

View from the deck of the lodge. Beautiful wouldn’t you say?

As we drove back to the Airstream at the end of the day we couldn’t help but reflect back on how beautiful our experience at Tamarack truly was. People who live here, truly love living here. They tell me they wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world.

And do you know what? I am beginning to feel the same. This piece of the world is truly such an amazingly beautiful place.

We arrived back at the Airstream to freshen up before heading to our Apres-Ski dinner reservations at Rupert’s.

That post, coming next :)

McCall Trip Roundup:

{McCall, ID} Part 4: A Snowmobile Adventure to the Burgdorf Hot Springs and Beyond ♥

Idaho, McCall, snowmobiling 2 Responses »

Mar 122013

8:00 am sharp we were at the office of “Cheap Thrills” snowmobiling rental company. This was a BIG day for us. We have NEVER been smowmobiling before and I will admit, for the few days leading up to this morning, I was nervous. What if I tipped the snowmobile over? Then what? Ugh. So many thoughts running through my head.

On top of those early worries, I was also not sure what to do with Oliver. We could not keep him in his kennel in the Airstream all day while were gone. That was for sure. And what was more cetain is that he could not come on this trip with us. *sigh* Fortunately, thanks to the local vet in McCall (Dr. Parks), he referred me to a wonderful couple, Barbara and Buzz Smole who run the Happy Dog Inn.

“You will love Barbara and Buzz! I bring my dogs there and some other doctors in the area also bring their dogs to them when they need a sitter. They are the best!” Dr. Parks tells me over the phone and relief sets in.

So the night before we were going to go snowmobiling, we packed up Oliver’s things and headed 15 minutes from McCall into the town of New Meadows to the Happy Dog Inn. The truck was very quiet during that 15 minutes except for some long pauses between questions from B.

“Will there be other dogs there mommy?”

“Possibly.”

“Can I see them?”

“We can ask Mrs. Barbara”

“What about crumbs on the floor? Will they have crumbs on the floor?”

B has a serious phobia of Oliver eating something off the floor like a miniscule piece of chocolate that will send the puppy into a medical catastrophe. He loves his dog, very, very much and really worries after him.

“I’m sure they keep their floors very clean.”

So we arrive and B goes first and rings the bell. Barbara comes out and invites us in. Her home is cozy, warm and Barbara is just a doll. Totally easy to talk to and makes you feel like part of the family. I explain how to prepare Oliver’s food, how he likes to sleep, how he will cry because he does not like to be alone — I went on and on and she smiled and listened patiently.

B asks to see the other dogs and she lets them out. Two Cairn Terriers and one sweet Dachshund. Bradley seemed satisfied as we petted the sweet dogs and then made our way back to the truck to head back to the Airstream.

Oh boy, the truck was quiet and when I turned around to peek at B he looked very sad looking out of the window :(

“Just one day honey,” I tell him. “Just one day”

“I know mommy…24 hours”

So we head on into Cheap Thrills and are ready to go. Then I see the wall of gear. Okay the walls of gear. Wow — suits, helmets, boots, gloves, you name it — they’ve got it. I came thinking I was fully prepared with all of my ski layers and coat and ski helmet.

Nope. Not even close.

Peggy and her husband Chuck run Cheap Thrills and this morning Peggy was there to help us get outfitted.

“Oh, I think I’m ready to go as I am Peggy” I tell her not wanting to put on another outfit.

“Are you sure? When you are skiing Monica, your body is warm but when you are snowmobiling, your body is not warm and the wind chill is very cold”

I hesitated and then agreed.

“Okay, suit me up”

Peggy worked her magic whisking suit after suit off the racks for all three of us. Then came the boots and the helmet and lets not forget the most amazing warm gloves I have ever tried on.

I felt like a true Michelin Man but did not care because I knew I would be warm.

We proceed to the counter where Peggy shows us the map of the terrain we would be covering and we decide that we should first head straight to the town of Warren (which sounded interesting from the gold mining history Peggy mentioned to us) and then head to Burgdorf Hot Springs where we could spend a few hours before heading back.

Good plan!

And here is Chuck with Hubby and B :)

Chuck is absolutely WONDERFUL. This man will take his time explaining to you everything there is to know about snowmobiling from how to start, stop, navigate get the snowmobile unstuck to changing the belt which he made us feel confident we will NEVER need to do, as long as we stayed on the path. I memorized Chuck’s every word as if I were going to take a major exam. I mean, I was afraid of snowmobiling but now, after listening to Chuck and having him explain how to go about it – I felt very at ease and RELIEVED. I was ready and excited!

“Let’s go! Do you mind if I lead?” I shouted through my helmet (which I later learned is pointless – no one can hear you)

And we were off!

Our first stop? The town of Warren :)

Elevation: 5,906 ft (1,800 m) | Population: 16

30+ miles later and we arrive in Warren. We park our snowmobiles and have a look around and imagine what it would be like to live here and what it could have been like “Back Then.”

set 7

Take a walking tour of Warren here

We decide it’s time to head over to the hot springs and continue back the way we came. B is having the time of his life and is riding on the back of hubby’s snowmobile. I was fine with that since I take more confidence in Hubby’s snowmobiling skills than mine at this point.

Thanks to Fred Burgdorf who saw the ($$) potential in these natural hot springs he turned Burgdorf into one of Idaho’s first resort towns opening in 1870.

Here for $6.00 you can soak for as long as you like in either the large swimming pool or in one of the smaller pools but be warned. The smaller pools are where the natural hot spring inlets are and they average a temperature of 113 degrees farenheit. For that simple fact, it is not recommended for a soak longer than two minutes (hubby came out after three and from his neck down he resembled the color of a beet, lol – it is that hot!).

One cool fact we learned was that these hot springs are infused with lithium (that’s right) and it’s true to say that after our soak, we definitely felt relaxed :)

set 16

In addition to the hot springs, there are cabins that can be rented to camp in, making for a great weekend. On our way out we were told that we may pass a group of snowmobiler’s coming in. They were from a ski gear company that had rented out all the cabins to do a photo shoot covering their new products/gear.

What a cool setting for a shoot like that!

We climb out of the hot springs and are refreshed by the cool air against our skins. Before we get too freezing we enter the cozy dressing rooms and slip back into our warm snowmobile clothing that has been kept warm by the wood burning stove.

We take one look back at Burgdorf to bid farewell and start up the snowmobiles to head back to the trail head where Chuck would be waiting for us.

What a beautiful day it was.

Absolutely. Beautiful.

“We’re going to eat at Steamer’s tonight” I tell Chuck excitedly back at the snowmobile parking lot.

“Oh wow, really! Let me tell you what you should order!”

I ♥ Chuck. He insisted that his wife Peggy is a Halibut connoisseur and has had the best Alaskan Halibut in none other than Alaska on one of their last visits. But the other night at Steamer’s Chuck tells me, Peggy ordered a Halibut with a Lobster Bisque/Sauce and he told me she said it was the best she has ever had.

I mean, he went on and on.

I was SOLD! And lucky for me, it was the special of the night at Steamers :) Hubby ordered the lemon trout with lamb and both were a huge hit. B ordered the kid’s pizza and you know, what kid doesn’t love a pizza and this one was no exception. We were a bunch of happy glampers that evening at Steamers.

Not to mention the cozy ambiance of the restaurant and the service which was impeccable. Friendly staff and all smiles always checking up on us. The tables were awesome too, nice and big so you had plenty of room and your dishes were not all cramped together. They also had some great picture books covering McCall that I very much enjoyed spreading open on the table and having a look.

Speaking of big tables, I was actually able to set up my tripod ontop of the table, on the lowest level to snap some pictures of our food when unfortunately my battery died :( I was heartbroken. Even my backup batteries were dead (something I have learned on this trip is that batteries do not last long in cold weather). I was relieved to have my iPad with me so I shot some pictures with that, but still — wish my camera would have been up and running. Lesson learned.

“So what did you think about today?” I ask B over dinner. “Did you have fun?”

“Oh yes mommy, it was epic! I’m happy that I could ride back on the snowmobile with you and I think the hot springs were awesome. Do you think there is really gold in the river in Warren?”

“Oh yes, I really do think there is still good there. Would you like to go gold mining someday?”

“Oh yes! But first mommy, can we go and pick up Oliver? It has been exactly 24 hours” he tells me, eyes wide with anticipation.

“Yes! Let’s go get Ollie!”

We could hardly wait :)

♥♥♥

Our day spent with Cheap Thrills snowmobiling through the backcountry to the sweet town of Warren and then to Burgdorf was something that we never even imagined existed. To be able to snowmobile to hot springs and soak the day away was an incredible adventure we will never soon forget.

Dining at Steamers and the excellent food and service the we encountered gave our wonderful, adventure filled day a wonderful ending.

What an amazing town you are McCall and all the people here that we have met so far, thank you for your warm hospitality and warm welcomes! ♥

McCall Trip Roundup:

{McCall, ID} Part 3: Skiing Brundage Mountain and Apres-Ski at the Shore Lodge ♥

Great Restaurants, Idaho, McCall, McCall Dining, Skiing 4 Responses »

Mar 092013

{ Written by Jeff & Monica }

By Jeff:

It is day two and we are cozily settled into our campsite at McCall RV Resort & Northfork Lodge. While my better half explores downtown McCall village with our pup Oliver, Bradley (“B”) and I eagerly set our next way point to Brundage Mountain Ski Resort. We are filled with excitement as our truck winds up the mountain road to the base area that sits at 5,800 feet elevation. It is a blue bird day. Freshly groomed corduroy awaits us on piste while the glades yield endless powder stache treasures.

We join up with our host and guide April Russell, director of communications at 9 AM sharp at the aptly named Blue Bird express. This state of the art high speed quad rises 1556 vertical feet in seven minutes. Experiencing absolutely no lift lines I will let you do the math on the number of untracked laps of powder runs you can pack in a morning. This gives you plenty of time to relax on the peak and absorb the panoramic breath taking views.

April gives us a great tour of the mountain and B quickly catalogs his favorite runs on the “Front Side.”

B asks us excitedly - “What trails do you want to ski this time? Main Street? North? Alpine? 45th Parallel?”

Quite frankly it was even hard to make the choice myself.

Before we ran out of breath, Lakeview bowl and it’s adjoining backside runs were next on our list. Talk about well spaced trees and open bowls — Lakeview had it all. Along with the backside trails, B loved their names featured from logging lingo such as Kickback, Springboard, Hotshot and Dropline.

We had an incredible day and B could hardly wait to tell mommy all bout The Brundage adventure and his new favorite ski resort.

In the coming days, Brundage lived up to its reputation of not only the best snow in Idaho but some of the best snow in The Northwest.

If you are intrigued by Brundage Mountain’s inbounds snow sports experience, stay tuned for a ride on one of their cats into 19,000 acres of backcountry paradise.

Cheers,
Jeff

By Monica:

The day after Oliver and I explored downtown McCall we decided to head up to Brundage Mountain with Hubby and B on their second day of skiing to meet April Russell and do some exploring there. I’ve heard a lot about Brundage Mountain from fellow friends in the Seattle area as well as in the town of McCall the other day so I was pretty curious to check it out.

“Ah, you’ll love Brundage Monica. It’s so close that you’ll find people leaving work on their lunch hour to take a couple of runs. It is really awesome!” one of the locals in the Foglifter coffee shop tells me the day prior.

In the car on the way up B was excited to see April again and was hoping to ski with her one more time.

“Do you think we can ski with April again daddy?”

I could tell this kid adored April and upon meeting her, I knew exactly why. Not only super sweet, out-going and funny – she was an awesome host and tour guide and she knew this mountain like no other. When B found out he could ski with her again he was over the moon.

“Yay!” he shouted :)

I took Oliver on the chair lift with me (in his pack complete with warming blanket) to the top of the mountain and boy, did we get a lot of attention! I had my camera and I had a puppy strapped to the front of my body in a carrier. I am sure we were quite the sight to see as everyone who skied past us either smiled, gave us a thumbs up or just stopped in their tracks to say hello and pet Oliver.

“Excuse me? Could you take a picture of my group? asked a lady who was there with her family and friends.

“But of course!” I snapped their picture and gave her my card. The next day I received an email from “Charlotte” who was the lady who asked me to take the picture. She apologized because she thought I was a paid photographer who would take pictures of the skiers as they unloaded from the chair against the backdrop of the sweeping views of the mountains and lakes. Once she looked up J5MM online and read about who I am, and what I do – she realized that I was not a paid photographer as she thought. But it made sense that she did think that because at other ski resorts, you will find photographers at the top of the lift.

I am happy to report that Charlotte and I are now pen-pals :) I love everything about her spirit and her outlook on life. She tells me, “I wish I would have asked you to join us in the lodge for an apres-ski glass of wine. Life is an adventure!” We both agree to meet up in the future and go camping together as she and her family/friends love to travel with their trailers, just like us.

Walking around the top of Brundage Mountain was an exhilarating experience. The views from the top are breathtaking. I spent a good two hours just walking around and taking as many pictures as I could.

Hubby took this shot of B during one of their days skiing Brundage. He was so excited to tell me all about his day and how much he loved it here. He also declared that he loves skiing powder.

“It’s my favorite snow to ski” he tells me :)

A big thank you to April Rusell for showing us around the mountain and capturing the heart of our son B. He loved skiing with you so much!!

If you didn’t happen to fuel up at the The Bear’s Den (which is the perfect mid-mountain pit stop located at the top of the Bear Chair) where you can get a hot drink or a satisfying lunch you can head down to the Lodge for lunch, like we did.

On the third floor in the main lodge cafeteria is where we enjoyed the lunch I packed for us. If you don’t bring a lunch you can enjoy a locally grown RR Ranch burger served with a signature sauce on a stone-ground bun. Fresh made deli sandwiches and salads are the perfect compliment to a house-made soup that you can order in the cafeteria.

A second option for dining is located in the center of the third floor of the lodge, The SideStash serves the finest Dawson Taylor coffee and espresso drinks along with draft beer and wine. It’s also a convenient stop for a signature venison stew, hot soup of the day, sandwiches and salads. Quick snacks are available here; grab a breakfast burrito (they go FAST), some tasty Stacey Cakes baked goods (!!), chips, candy or soda.

Lastly there is Smoky’s, a full service restaurant. Enjoy their housemade jambalaya and venison stew that compliments featured entree items from street tacos, a slider sampler plate and a smoked trout club sandwich. The bar features nine different beers on tap and an upgraded wine list, so carve out some time to enjoy a tasty treat!

Brundage Mountain is capable of stealing any snow lover’s heart from its powder-stuffed glades to luxuriously wide groomed runs, it’s a given you’ll keep coming back for more. Whether you’re just getting started in your snow sports experience, or are a seasoned slider searching for “the best day ever,” Brundage Mountain has something unique to offer.

We fell in love with Brundage Mountain and we know that you will too. Brundage Mountain = Heaven on Earth!!

It was still light outside when we arrived at the Shore Lodge for an apres-ski dining experience we have been looking forward to. Shore Lodge has been a beloved lakeside resort in Idaho since 1948. As we entered the lodge we were greeted with a warm, inviting décor featuring huge pine logs, river rock, wood floors and polished marble accents that harken back to McCall’s history as a timber and mining town. Floor- to-ceiling windows in its public areas make the most of its setting by offering breathtaking views of Payette Lake and Payette National Forest.

Just take a look at the view that we were greeted with upon entering the award-winning “The Narrows,” restaurant. Absolutely stunning wouldn’t you agree? Snow covered Lake Payette in all it’s glory . . . wow. I think we stood there for what seemed like eternity just gazing through the windows at the lake. So beautiful.

apres1

The Narrows menu was difficult to choose from as everything sounded divine. The mouth watering menu is accompanied by an extensive collection of wines, dessert wines, ports and artisan cheeses. A gourmet foodie’s dream come true no doubt. This evening we chose to begin with the Narrows signature salad of poached pears/candied hazelnuts/maytag blue cheese / champagne honey vinaigrette/port wine reduction followed by fried Puget Sound oysters (a little bit of home for us!). For our main entree was a dry aged filet mignon with lobster and oh my heavens, I will tell you this meal was one to remember. The filet was “melt in your mouth,” literally. Perfectly cooked and incredibly tender and the finish of smoked Fleur de sel on top was the magical finishing touch. Incredible. The lobster was surprisingly succulent and came with a clarified butter garlic dipping sauce that was so full of flavor it took the lobster even more over the top. On the side was something I have always dreamed of tasting but never had the opportunity until now. Duck fat roasted potatoes with crispy bacon and caramelized onions. As I type this I find myself beginning to crave this once more . . .

Main Entry at the Shore Lodge

Should you come to McCall and are seeking accommodations, the Shore Lodge offers guest rooms and suites ranging from cozy Garden View rooms to a variety of spacious suites with separate sitting areas or living rooms, and private balconies or patios offering views to Payette Lake. Specialty suites offer fireplaces, private dining rooms, and separate office space. For the ultimate in luxury, guests can enjoy the new Lake Cottage, which features three suites, a state-of-the-art kitchen, hot tub, private dock and approximately 150 feet of beachfront. All of Shore Lodge’s guest rooms and suites offer deluxe room amenities including spacious bathrooms with marble countertops, separate soaking tubs and glass showers, guest robes, flat-screen HD satellite TV, an in-room refrigerator, wireless Internet access.

Maybe next time we’ll leave the Airstream at home :)

Maybe :)

set 6

What a fun filled day from skiing and exploring the Brundage Mountain Ski Resort to dining at the inviting Shore Lodge for a mouth watering – memorable apres-ski dinner we will never forget.

As our mid winter vacation in McCall continues, we are completely taken with the areas wonderful outdoor winter activities and one of a kind dining experiences.

Thank you McCall!! We love you!

McCall Trip Roundup:

{McCall, ID} Part 2: McCall Town Guide ♥

Idaho, McCall, Town Guides 14 Responses »

Mar 072013

Glamping at McCall RV Resort & Northfork lodge has many benefits including it’s short proximity to the center of town.

Carrie at the front desk tells me: “You just walk to the top of the hill and you’ll see the Airport. Along the fence you will see the maintained pathway that will take you straight into town. Just 20 minutes and you are there!”

So that is exactly what Oliver and I did. We left McCall RV Resort, found that path and made our way to the downtown portion of McCall to explore.

The skies were clear, the sun was shining and even though the temperature was in the 20′s — it felt beautiful . . .

This town has so much to offer by ways of shopping, art galleries, coffee shops, restaurants, a bakery and candy store and so much more. In the summertime I am told the lake comes alive with boating, water skiing, jet skiing, paddle boarding, swimming, fishing and more.

While walking around downtown, I came to discover that the people who live here are not only incredibly proud of their town they are also extremely friendly and willing to help you find your way around should you get lost, which we did, a couple of times. We finally made our way to the McCall Chamber of Commerce which is conveniently located in the heart of downtown McCall. I picked up a map and some brochures covering outdoor activities that caught my eye.

As we continued on we spotted the local candy shop. Their specialty are their candy dipped apples. I exercised my willpower heavily this day but did buy B some chocolate covered seafoam (his favorite on trips like these).

We took a stroll past Rupert’s restaurant located right along Lake Payette in the Historic Hotel McCall. Rupert’s is amazing and I am really looking forward to sharing with you all about our dining experience that we had the pleasure to enjoy. In addition, I felt very honored to meet Chef Gary Kucy of Rupert’s who has been nominated for the 2013 James Beard Foundation Awards as “Best Chef in the Northwest.” We were very excited to enjoy Chef Gary’s delectable dinner that he prepared for us that evening at Rupert’s and it is a meal that hubby, B and I are still talking about today. Once again, another reason to come to McCall if only to enjoy the culinary magic that comes out of Rupert’s kitchen!

Making our way around town we end up at the sweet little knitting shop called “Keep me in Stitches.” This shop was full of ladies who were busily knitting away at the big table. I kindly introduced myself and asked if I could take some pictures of the shop (because the colors of the yarns stacked up from the floor to ceiling were so inviting) and they were more than happy to allow me to do that.

“Have you been next door to Stacey Cakes?” one of the ladies asks me as she peeks up through her glasses.

“Oh, I am actually on my way there. I have heard many wonderful things about it. “

{ This was the point when everyone around the table put down their knitting projects and proceeded to tell me about how wonderful it is next door. A couple of the ladies even stood up and walked closer to me. }

Taking of her glasses to get a better look at me, one the the ladies proudly declared, complete with hand waving in the air that “Stacey is a genius baker! You must try her gingersnaps — you have to get yourself a bag. I’m not a big fan of gingersnaps but her’s are something completely out of this world. You will not be able to stop eating them. Oh and you must try her salted caramel cheesecake – oh, my goodness, you won’t believe how good it is…” (she went on and on…..and I was listening very carefully!)

Another lady told me “She makes the most amazing savory tarts you will ever taste. You know, for us here in McCall, we are very lucky to have Stacey here because her treats are a true luxury for us. People come from all over Idaho and beyond to McCall just to visit her bakery…”

So that was our next stop Stacey Cakes. But unfortunately, on this day, she was closed :(

I stood there with my hand over my brow, peering through her bakery window, feeling really sad. **sigh** When she did open, I fell incredibly ill on our trip and could not make it. While laying in bed in the Airstream I felt pretty frustrated that I was under “quarantine” until I could feel better. It really is a huge bummer when you get sick on a trip that you have been looking forward to for months in advance.

I was really looking forward to visiting this bakery because it came highly recommended by not only those sweet ladies in the knitting shop, but by virtually everyone we met in McCall. But remember when I wrote that the people of McCall are some of the friendliest around and very town proud? Well Stacey herself found out from a mutual friend how badly I wanted to try her gingersnaps (and why I couldn’t make it in) so she sent me a box out of the kindness of her heart with a special note wishing me well.

stacey cakes

I will tell you, it was like we were having a special celebration in the Airstream back at home when I unwrapped these beautiful gingersnaps. I took extra care opening the box, removing the bag, carefully opening the envelope — reading the note. All of it was such a special treat for me. B was patient with me while I took some pictures of these amazing morsels. This boy understands my funny ways.

And wouldn’t you know, everyone in McCall was right.

These. Were. To. Die. For.

{ Soft and chewy, the taste of fresh ginger is there with a slight crunch from the sugar coated exterior and then all of a sudden you find that the buttery, crunchy, chewy cookie melts in your mouth} Heavens, I have never had anything like this, ever, in my life.

I could probably move to McCall — just to be closer to this Bakery {This thought, at the moment of my first bite, did seriously cross my mind}

A little bit about Stacey:

Stacey is a trained, skilled pastry chef and it has been her profession and passion for over 20 years. She set up shop in McCall to provide her high quality, original baked goods that she is truly passionate about for the people in this small community.

You will find Stacey sourcing some of the finest ingredients such as apples from local farmers, rhubarb from a friends garden, flour, potatoes, huckleberries from regional growers and it is that, which makes her baked goods the finest they can be. Nearly everything you will find in Stacey Cakes is baked from scratch, that is, using raw products to create the treats they offer.

Just read for yourself what some online reviewers have said about Stacey Cakes:

“We visited Stacey Cakes over the July 4th holiday week and bought one bag of ginger snaps. These were so delicious that my wife and two kids and I nearly killed the entire bag on the drive to Oregon! If I had only tried them in the store first I would have bought all the bags they had…they are that good! I also had a peach turnover that was delicious as well…This was the best food (or treats) that we had in McCall! This is a must go if you are visiting this area.”

♥ ♥ ♥

“Some of the best pastries we ever had! We had the lemon torte and caramel cheesecake. I like the lemon on the slightly tart side, and I felt the torte was just the right blend of tart and sweet. My wife loved the cheesecake, didn’t want to finish it, but kept eating because it was just that good! We went back the next day to take some home. We would definitely go back when we return to Mccall.”

♥ ♥ ♥

“No mere bakery, this tiny tucked-away shop holds a pastry chef extraordinaire. The delicacy of crusts, the care taken with fillings….an absolute must-go when anywhere near McCall, Idaho. We live a couple of hours away and head there for weekends when we can. My 15 year old son just finished the last of the weekend take-home treats, and piteously asked, “Can Stacey Cakes ship to our home??”

Art galleries are plentiful here as well in the town of McCall. Just have a look at this interesting display that was on the outdoor entry at one of the galleries. This display changes often as I learned. When we first pulled into town, there was a huge display of pink and purple pom-pom’s of some sort that caught my eye.

While walking around McCall with Oliver on this day, I was approached THREE times with the same question.

“Excuse me? Were you at Steamers last night??”

“Um, no? I am sorry, it wasn’t me.”

“Wow! I could have sworn it was you!!”

Weird. I wonder what the person I supposedly resembled was doing that made people come up and ask if it was me? How funny!

So you can see below the restaurant they were referring to: “Steamers.” People have told me that it’s a popular place in town for dinner and that if I go (and if it’s available) I should order the Halibut with a Lobster Bisque sauce/topping. Sounded divine to me!

Well guess what? We did go and dine there and the food was really good (especially the Halibut). Talk about an unassuming restaurant with some great food! More to come on Steamers soon ! :)

Located in the heart of downtown McCall is where you will find the Manchester Ice and Event Centre. With its large indoor ice-skating rink and grandstand seating looking out towards beautiful Payette Lake and the surrounding snow-capped mountains, the Manchester Ice & Event Centre provides a stunning setting for a variety of skating activities and events. Offering activities from open skating, hockey camps, private parties, ice shows and the McCall Figure Skating Club it’s a joy to know that this venue centrally located in the heart of McCall allowing everyone to walk to nearby amenities after time spent at the Ice and Event Center. Town proud people have told me, “We could have built this way out of town, but we wanted it here, right in the heart of downtown McCall to bring everyone together.”

I could probably write a book covering McCall and everything this charming town has to offer. After spending our mid-winter break here, Hubby, B and I had fallen in love with it, the people and the general overall feeling that one gets when visiting here which I try to describe as warm and welcoming.

Needless to say, we have put a return trip to McCall on our summertime travel schedule and hope that you do too!

McCall Trip Roundup:

{ McCall, ID } Part 1: Arriving ♥

Great RV Resorts, Great RV Resorts (McCall), Idaho, McCall 10 Responses »

Mar 032013

It has been exactly one week to the day that we have returned home from our wonderful trip to McCall, Idaho. After hours of sorting photos and layout design I am happy to begin sharing our story with you!

itinerary

On the drive to McCall I had a lot of time to think (about nine hours!) about how I will present our trip to you here on J5MM. In the beginning I thought one post would be perfect as I usually do — but on the drive back I realized that my story covering McCall would need more than one post. We met some pretty incredible people on this trip and made forever friends, we dined at some fantastic restaurants and experienced outdoor adventures I never knew existed.

But first I would like to share with you some photography from our road trip to McCall and our final destination being at McCall RV Resort and Northfork lodge where our Airstream camp would be for the next seven days.

set 1

A beautiful scenic lookout in Lewiston, Idaho.

set 2

The views were nothing short of amazing here in Idaho. It was my first time visiting this beautiful state and I know for sure I want to come back and explore even more.

Another stop we took was to stretch our legs along the Salmon River. I will let the pictures speak the words here — just stunning! The banks along the Salmon river are cloaked in white sand. I have never seen a river with white sand — oceans yes — rivers? No. Absolutely incredible and beautiful!!

set 3

We finally hit some (melted) snow on the roads approaching McCall. Speaking of the roads here in Idaho, they are smooth as butter! We could hardly tell we had the Airstream behind us once we hit the border. That was very refreshing !

set 4

Nine hours and 470 miles later, we made it to our final destination. Hubby and I both agreed next time we would break the trip in two as traveling that many miles in one day is a lot of road to cover. But since I work in Corporate America and don’t have a lot of vacation time – time is always of the essence during our trips — for this trip, it was especially necessary. We had a lot planned — every day was filled with activities so it was absolutely necessary that we arrived Saturday evening as Sunday morning our vacation in McCall officially began.

When we checked into McCall RV Resort we were greeted with smiling faces from Carrie and Dwight who were at the front desk. They got us up to speed on the runnings of the resort and where to find what. Also Carrie was generous enough to offer up her big book of dining suggestions for us, full of tips on some of the best places to go and eat. I was happy to spot on that list the places we already had reservations for (it was at that moment I knew we would be eating well!).

When we were ready to head back to the Airstream to find our spot (G4, by the way) Dwight hopped into his golf cart and guided us to our spot helping us hook up! I would also like to say how WONDERFUL it was to have our propane tanks re-filled by the staff at McCall RV resort. That was such a nice perk since it really is a pain to take the tanks off, haul them to a gas station to get them refilled and then drive them back in the frigid cold weather to re-hook them up. So yes, what a nice surprise that was!!!

set 8

That evening after we settled in, I heated up some of the best mac and cheese we ever had that I brought along on our trip from the Seattle based: Skillet (story to come soon!) Skillet definitely made my life easier (and more delicious) whipping up dinner when we arrived as I was pretty drained from our trip. Hubby declared it was the best he ever had. I will admit. It was pretty amazing stuff. I added sliced cherry tomatoes to mine — the boys had theirs sans tomatoes.

set 6

set 7

set 18

The next morning we enjoyed some chocolate croissants, sugar bruleed grapefruit and some espresso topped with sweetened condensed milk (my latest obsession). A yummy (and easy) way to start our day! While the boys headed up to Brundage Mountain for some skiing, Oliver and I were very much looking forward to exploring our surroundings here at McCall RV Resort and Northfork Lodge. I understood there was an indoor pool, hot tub, workout facility and steam room too. I knew the laundry facilities would be a great help on our trip too (lots of ski clothes!).

set 9

set 19

Oliver did really well on our trip. I think he enjoys staying in the Airstream with us more than at home — something about the cozy close quarters makes him happy I sense (probably gives him comfort to be able to see his wolf-pack whereabouts at all times). I am also happy to report the peace of mind all of us had during this trip using the Tagg Pet Tracker GPS attachment that hooks onto Oliver’s collar. Should he had gotten lost (Heaven forbid!), using my android (or iphone) app, I would have been able to find him via gps tracking. I look forward to sharing with you in more detail the benefits of this device — ESPECIALLY when traveling since you may end up in uncharted territory with your furry family members. The peace of mind one receives while traveling using this device is priceless. I could not have imagined taking this trip without Oliver’s Tagg.

set 10

And so begins the exploration of McCall RV Resort and the STUNNING Northfork Lodge. When you enter the main lodge, you are greeted with this cozy view. Off to the right of this room is a reading lounge where you may borrow books, games and purchase some items for your RV should you need them. There is also a yummy ice cream cooler, fyi! Oh and if you need a bag of ice — McCall RV Resort has you covered there too.

set 11

The majestic grand room where events are held from weddings to business meetings and celebrations alike. This was where B worked on a project for school during our stay. Very comfortable for that!

set 13

Now comes the fun part — the POOL !! Every night it was here that we met so many locals from McCall who come here regularly to swim and enjoy the facilities. What a wonderful place to relax after a day on the slopes and let the kids play and enjoy each others company while making new friends. The showers here are free for guests and the restrooms are open 24/7. Everything here from the pool, hot tub and shower facilities are meticulously maintained which gave us a great feeling.

I took these pictures early morning as the sun was streaming in through the windows. My camera lens kind of fogged up from coming in from the cold (-8 this particular morning) and into the warm — but I am still pretty happy with the shots that I share with you.

set 14

set 15

set 16

Our seven day stay at McCall RV Resort is one we will never forget and hope to come back and experience in the summertime (everyone has been telling us to do this!). We hear there is amazing fishing in Idaho as well as other summertime activities that we do hope to explore.

Thank you McCall RV Resort for your wonderful hospitality! You have come highly recommended by many people in the community and it’s no wonder! From your spacious RV spots (some even along the river in summer), full hookups, generous amenities, friendly and ever so helpful staff made our stay at McCall RV Resort one of the best experiences ever. Thank you!!!

set 17

set 12

McCall Trip Roundup:

Non-Stop Outdoor Adventures and Culinary Cuisine in McCall, Idaho

art galleries, bakeries, Great Restaurants, Great RV Resorts, Hotels, Markets, McCall, Skiing, snowshoeing 10 Responses »

Feb 182013

We woke up early this past Saturday morning and hit the road with Airstream in tow with a b-line in mind to the town of McCall in stunning Idaho.

I have never been to Idaho. Hubby has been telling me for years how beautiful the state is and when we arrived, I was in complete awe. The scenery here is just something that if you have not had the opportunity to experience, should be added to your bucket list.

The mountains, the rivers, the wide open spaces and how they all come together is completely breathtaking.

We are staying at the McCall RV Resort and the amenities here are perfect! Full hookups and they refill your propane tanks for you! There is an indoor pool with hot tub and full work out facility right at our Airstream’s door steps. Nice and so convenient!

Since Saturday we have experienced skiing at Brundage Mountain Resort and have met some of the nicest people around. Everyone here in McCall is very proud of this town and they are happy to share their love for it with anyone who will listen.

I look forward to sharing with you more of our adventures in depth here on J5MM but in the meantime if you would like you can follow our updates on J5MM’s facebook page and click like if you too would like to experience what we have so far { http://www.facebook.com/J5MMAirstream }.

Tomorrow we are experiencing a snowmobiling adventure to hot springs! We had to take Oliver to the “Happy Dog Inn” where he is surely being pampered beyond belief by wonderful Auntie Barbara. I did try and figure out the logistics of bringing him along on the snowmobile but since I have never snowmobiled before and since it is FREEZING cold while you are underway I opted for Ollie to stay in a warm cozy home. Ugh, we miss him. Especially B.

We also have a lot of fine dining, brewery tours and art galleries along with other outdoor winter adventures to share with you that the town of McCall offers.

I also look forward to strolling the town and taking as many pictures as I can to help you get a sense of how it truly is here. Magical!

Thank you for following and I hope you like what we are up to because it is our mission to share with you what this wonderful town has to offer so if you do come to McCall, you’ll have a great sense of places to go and things to do!

McCall Trip Roundup: