I am so excited for Nick Coffey to open Ursa Minor on Lopez Island in April. Nick has been a Seattle-based chef for the past decade. Most notably, he was the head chef at Sitka and Spruce, Cafe Barjot and Ciudad. On his website there is this wonderful description about what type of restaurant Ursa Minor is going to be: "We work closely with the farmers, fisherman and foragers in the San Juan archipelago to bring a cuisine that defines this unique landscape. While we enjoy the diversity that our climate affords, this choice limits our palate of ingredients. It forces us to think creatively, to explore new flavors and better understand the ingredients of our region. Outside the kitchen we pick berries, forage mushrooms, and tend gardens to preserve and ferment the best of each season. We distill all this into a simple menu of small plates that can be experienced in a multi-course chef's menu or from our ala carte menu."

Also, there are four days left for his Kickstarter if you would like to contribute and walk away with some amazing gifts, like taking part in the two tickets to the Pre-Party, Tasting Menu for two or touring Lopez Island with Nick.

If you have never attended a farm to table dinner might I suggest adding an Outstanding in the Field dinner to your Summer plans. They will be stopping by the PNW July 6th-16th and I can hardly wait. Tickets go on sale March 20th and many events sell out that very same day! Sauvie Island, Orcas Island and Salt Spring Island are just a few of the spectacular locations where they will be teaming up with local chefs and farms to put on AMAZING dinners.

I had the opportunity to photograph and attend two events last year, one at Hama Hama Oysters and the other at North Arm Farm. Both of these dinners were highlights of my Summer.

For each collection, Zara offers a "Special Prices" section where a few select items are for sale at a great deal. I have found everything from a rain jacket to trousers for Jasper and I have been consistently pleased with both the quality and offerings. I bought this rain jacket a little big for our trip to Iceland and May last year. I have more than gotten my $15 out of it as Jasper has been wearing it a few times a week ever since.