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One Weekend - Two Delicious Culinary Festivals

Don't miss these two great Olympic Peninsula Culinary festivals October 7-9

Sip and Savor the bounty of the Olympic Peninsula the whole weekend of October 7 - 9.

Consider base camping and $avings at Old Alcohol Plant and 7 Cedars so you can experience both Apple and Cider Fest AND Dungeness Seafood & Crab Festivals.

Apple and Cider include tastings at: Finnriver, Alpenfire, Eaglemount and more.

  • 3-cider presses
  • Harvest Party at Eaglemount
  • Orchard Brunch at Alpenfire
  • Mini Golf in the orchard
  • Finnriver Apple Day
  • Epic live music - and more.

There will be a 21 and over "Fire party" afterparty at Propolis with Captain Peacock, Hook! and others!

Don't miss Finnriver's hosting Apple Day full of festivities for all ages - Family-Friendly!

Full Details

CrabFest features:

CrabFest is held outside and is spread out on 3 open acres of Port Angeles waterfront including the city pier. We have several areas under cover but open, with lots of “natural” airflow.

It’s not just about the food! There’s plenty of other fun to be had during the festival. The Grab-a-Crab Derby is fun for kids of all ages — even if you’re only spectating! You’ll find great music at the First Fed Crab Central Pavilion. Over 75 craft, merchant, sponsor, nonprofit and food booths on City Pier, and more.

First Fed Bank Crab Central Pavilion is where you’ll find our old-fashioned crab dinner complete with large kettles of crab – fresh caught in local waters, brought live to the festival and served with fresh corn and coleslaw.

Check out the 7 Cedars Crab & Cider Fest Hotel package!

This year the hotel is offering a Special Crab Festival and Lodging Package Deal. The 7 Cedars Hotel offers plush rooms with expansive views and a customer experience that is unmatched on the Olympic Peninsula. Click Here For More Info

Four ways to include seafood in your self-care

 

What is seafood as self care? Good nutrition is incredibly important to feeling your best self, but as we keep reading about the rise in depression and anxiety, we also need to think of living our ideal lifestyle. Think about what puts you at ease. Sitting down and enjoying a good meal? Getting in the kitchen and turning up the tunes? With help from the Seafood Nutrition Partnership, here are four ways delicious and sustainable seafood can be part of being our best selves.

1. Comfort Foods: As you seek comfort  — and comfort foods — while cooped up inside on colder days, it is a perfect opportunity to enjoy delicious, heart-warming flavors. Check out some comfort, sustainable seafood recipes in our seafood toolkit with Seafood Nutrition Partnership.  (and don't forget our own Official Olympic Coast Seafood Chowder) YUM!

2. “Spa” Pairings: We fully support spa days at home, and spa water with slices of citrus, cucumbers or berries is an everyday refreshment that helps make hydrating feel just a bit more special. While cutting those slices, put some to the side for dinner as they pair perfectly with seafood, such as this recipe for Slow Roasted Salmon with Minted Cucumbers by Chef Barton Seaver. And, here are 6 of our favorite seafood and citrus pairings.  

3. Back to Nature: Release stress with a walk, getting both exercise and fresh air. Bring along some salmon, trout, pollock or rockfish jerky.

4. Mindfulness: For us, a large part of mindfulness means living sustainably. Eating seafood and the health of the environment are inextricably linked. If the saying “You are what you eat” is true, then eating sustainable seafood means you care about your health, the health of the planet, and enjoying truly good food.

TIP: Enter "seafood" into the SEARCH THE LOOP! tool and drool your way to the dozens of Eat Local First - Olympic Peninsula fresh offerings found around the LOOP! 

Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival

If it takes more than the festival name to grab you, you're not a true Northwesterner! Who can resist sweet Dungeness crab? Or a 9,000 foot tent called Kitsap Bank Crab Central? Especially when it houses an old-fashioned crab feed with whole crabs, fresh corn and cole slaw. Add 15 local and regional restaurants serving crab cakes to Northwest paella to seafood gumbo, along with vegetarian and non-seafood items for real NW folks who don't like seafood. More? Northwest beer and wine, live music, chef demo stage, chowder cook-off, and family-friendly activities. Did we mention admission is free? Go!

The Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival's 13th annual event takes place over three days-Friday-Sunday October 10-12. Hours are Friday 12:30-10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-10 p.m.,Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. It all takes place at the Port Angeles City Pier right on the downtown waterfront.www.crabfestival.org

 

Dungeness Crab Cakes - Recipe from Westport Winery

Kim Roberts of Westport Winery shares this seasonal recipe from the coast.  Adding this tip:

"Best paired with Willapa White — Pinot Gris -- or Riesling while listening to 'Wanted: Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi' "

 

Crab Cakes 

Finely dice

1 c celery

1 c onion

1 c carrot

1⁄2 c garlic

Saute in garlic butter and cool.

 

In a bowl, mix together:

7 eggs

1 lemon zest and juice

2 T Worcestershire sauce

1-1/2 T parsley, chopped

7 green onion, chopped

2 T salt

2 T Old Bay

 

Combine with the sautéed ingredients and add:

3 lb fresh Dungeness crabmeat, picked over for shells and cartilage

4 cups Panko

Let sit 1⁄2 hour.