Tuna Tartare

Food for thought Tuna Tartare

Elements Restaurant Sanctuary at Camelback Mountain, Paradise Valley, Arizona

4 Servings

INGREDIENTS

2 cups marinated cucumbers, peeled, julienned ½ cup kosher salt ½ cup Rice wine vinegar 2 cups Fresh Ahi Tuna, cleaned 1½ oz Pine nuts Salt and black pepper to taste 4 tsp Sesame seeds 4 oz Ginger vinaigrette 4 oz Wasabi oil 1 oz Sambal 4 Baked crostini Mixed greens for garnish

GINGER VINAIGRETTE ¼ tsp Saffron threads 2 tbsp White wine, warmed 2 tsp + ½ cup Olive oil ½ cup Onion, diced 1-½ tbsp Fresh Ginger, grated 1 tbsp Garlic, minced 3 tbsp Lemon juice Salt and black pepper to taste 1-½ tbsp Cilantro, chopped

WASABI OIL ¼ cup Spinach, blanched, heated 1 tbsp Wasabi, powder ¾ cup Olive oil, extra virgin

BAKED CROSTINI 4 slices Baguette 1 oz Olive oil Salt and black pepper to taste INSTRUCTIONS

Roll cucumber pieces in a bowl of kosher salt and let soak for 5 minutes. Rinse. Place cucumber in another bowl and pour rice wine vinegar over the top. Refrigerate for approx. 1 hour. Slice tuna into small square pieces. Place tuna in a medium mixing bowl. Add cucumber, pine nuts, sesame seeds and ginger vinaigrette into the bowl of tuna. Gently mix together. Press each portion of mixture into a 3” ring mold to shape.

GINGER VINAIGRETTE: Steep the saffron in the wine for about 15 minutes. Heat the 2 tsp. olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic and cook an additional 4-5 minutes. Stir in the saffron infusion and transfer to a blender. Add the lemon juice to the blender, and with the motor running, add the remaining ½ cup olive oil in a stream. Season to taste with salt and pepper and transfer to a bowl. Stir in the chopped cilantro.

WASABI OIL: Combine spinach and wasabi in a blender. Start blender motor and slowly add olive oil. Blend until incorporated.

BAKED CROSTINI: Drizzle each baguette with olive oil, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bake in 350 degree oven for approx. 6 minutes.

Discover SITKA

Discover SITKA

Sitka, Alaska is a coastal island town nestled between mountains and the sea. Sitka’s native Tlingit name is Sheet’ka, or “Shee,” which loosely translates to “the island behind the islands”. Sheltered from the open seas and high winds by hundreds of tree-studded islands, the calm, protected waters of Sitka Sound are perfect for kayaking.

Sitka is home to over twenty-four nationally recognized historic sites, fourteen designated hiking trails, and 1,600 square miles of rugged backcountry wilderness – so there’s plenty to experience on land. The moment you get out on the water, however, adventure feels truly limitless.

“The Sitka Sound area offers some of the nicest sea kayak paddling terrain anywhere in the world,” says John Dunlap. John is the general manager of Sitka Sound Ocean Adventures, a seasonal kayak guiding company that offers tours, outfitting services, and a treasure trove of local knowledge.

Discover SITKA

“There are all kinds of great places to go, depending on what the conditions are, and there’s almost always somewhere you can go where the conditions are within your abilities,” he adds. And in Sitka, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a first-time kayaker or a seasoned paddler. Regardless of your skill level, there’s something for everyone.

Sandy white beaches are just a short trip away, and so are the underground bunkers located at Fort Rousseau Causeway State Historical Park. A relic of Sitka’s WWII history, the park is only accessible by boat or kayak. Experienced adventurers often kayak to Kruzof Island, where they can camp in a remote U.S. Forest Service cabin or summit the snowy rim of Mt. Edgecumbe volcano. And in the winter, packing ski gear in a kayak is not unheard of.

You don’t need a destination to enjoy your adventure, either. Look in any

direction and you’ll see snowcapped peaks, islands the color of emeralds, and pristine ocean. In addition to the stunning surrounding scenery, kayaking is an opportunity to get up close and personal with Sitka’s abundant marine wildlife: humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, and otters.

The Mt. Edgecumbe trail is 6.8 miles of breathtaking views

Discover SITKA

Scan for the blow of a humpback whale and the splash of a sea lion

As a coastal fishing community in Southeast Alaska, the people of Sitka share a deep connection with the ocean and its ecosystems. Getting out on the water is the best way to experience Sitka like a local. Rain or shine, you can enjoy being in or on the water - jump into fishing, surfing, paddle boarding, and snorkeling. Here, seasons aren’t dictated by calendar months, but instead by natural cycles: the arrival of the herring, the return of non-resident humpback whales, the salmon runs. It’s no surprise that sea to table dining is the center of Sitka’s vibrant culinary scene. Your salmon fillet or steaming plate of Dungeness crab arrives just off the dock, wild-caught in Sitka’s waters. Each local restaurant has its own specialty, from savory salm-

Stinson Beach Loop

on chowder to fresh oysters on the half shell.

Sitka boasts a vibrant culinary scene, with passionate chefs that use local ingredients to create amazing delights for every taste. Visit the brewery to check out

Discover SITKA

their rotating list of beers, and pubs that offer house made signature cocktails like Salmonberry Mojitos and Bloody Mary’s topped with beach asparagus. Sitka has bakers, and chocolate makers, handmade donuts and local catch ceviche! Look for other local ingredients on your plate like seasonal berries, wild edibles, and handcrafted favorites like artisanal sea salt and crunchy kelp pickles. Whether you prefer grilled steak and hand-made pasta, or are craving a food adventure in a Mediterranean inspired “Wild Alaska” paella, Sitka’s restaurants are ready to safely serve you.

Explore the extraordinary in Sitka, Alaska. Plan your adventure and order your free guide at visitsitka.org.

Yakima

Ready for Delicious Northwest Adventures?

There aren’t many destinations where you can sip award-winning wines with wine country vineyard views, tour a hopping craft beer trail right in the largest hop producing region in the world, have fun on the farm, take home hand-picked produce and seek outdoor adventure, from mountain trails and lakes to the desert. That’s what makes Washington’s Yakima Valley such a special place. It’s the 300 days of sun that shine on the birthplace of Washington State’s wine industry. It’s the aroma of freshly harvested hops. It’s the farm-to-table connection that inspires a thriving dining scene. It’s where you can ride, bike, hike, run, climb, fish, float, paddle, golf and more, all followed by an afternoon sipping craft beverages.

Raise a Glass in the Home of the Hops

With 75% of our nation’s hops grown in the Yakima Valley, it’s where they say, “We grow your beer!” Yakima Valley hop growers keep the U.S beer industry brewing but it’s the Valley’s craft beer scene that’s hopping! Yakima Valley brewers and hop growers rub shoulders in the field and in the taproom, so innovation to produce experimental hops fuels creativity in the breweries. This is why Yakima craft breweries boast accolades and awards. You could spend days touring the breweries and tap houses from one end of the valley to the other.

Travel the Yakima Valley Wine Trail

Yakima Valley wine country is wine country unlike any other. This is where winemakers and vintners alike take their craft seriously but don’t take themselves too seriously. So, they’re ready to hang out, kick back and share their passion and pride for the exceptional wines that come out of their beautiful corner of the world. The Yakima Valley AVA encompasses five unique sub- AVAs, each with distinct character. From casual gathering places to grand estates, come taste award-winning, handcrafted wines under sunny skies with warm welcomes and vineyard views.

Enjoy the Flavors of the Farm

You won’t find agricultural diversity like this anywhere else in the Pacific Northwest. More than 3,000 farms call Yakima County home, including more organic farms than anywhere else in the region.. Choose from hand-picked bounty you take home to your own table or farm-fresh deliciousness gathered from harvest festivals and fruit stands and farmers markets that dot the Valley from one end to the other. Yakima Valley restaurant chefs take inspiration straight from the field. During growing season, what you find on the menu just might have been growing a few miles away that morning. That’s farm-fresh!

Festivals, Events and Celebrations Year Round

There’s a lot to celebrate here in the Yakima Valley – from wine, beer, food and music festivals to diverse cultural celebrations. Sip and savor at craft beer and food festivals. Tour the valley for annual wine country events. Enjoy a chef’s table experience in the vineyard, hop field or orchard. Take in live music drifting over the vineyards.

Get Outside Under Sunny Skies

The Yakima Valley’s central location means you’ll find outdoor adventure in every direction, from sub-alpine mountain trails, pristine mountain lakes and winding rivers, to the arid shrub-steppe landscape with towering basalt cliffs or nearby desert. Yakima is home to Washington’s only blue ribbon trout stream and the best white water in the state during the month of September. Plan your adventure with several outstanding outfitters who can get you all set up for floating the river or biking through wine country for tasting. You’ll also find exceptional guided fly fishing experiences and clinics and classes in trail running, mountain biking, hiking, snow shoeing, skiing and paddle boarding on rivers or mountain lakes.

Craft Beer Trail

Craft Beer Trail

Get Away to Hop Country

Did you know that most of the world’s hops are grown in a corner of the Pacific Northwest? Washington’s Yakima Valley is the home of the hops. It’s the place that grows your beer. So, of course it’s a great place for craft beer lovers to visit. What better place to raise a glass than minutes from where the hops in your glass were harvested?

Hop Country Craft Beer Trail

Being in the heart of hop country, deeply connected to the source, inspires the community of craft brewers in the Yakima Valley to innovate and craft exceptional brews. The valley is a unique place where you’re likely to find the brewer behind the tap room counter ready to share their passion.

In hop country, you’ll find diverse array of brews along the craft beer trail, earning accolades and awards both regionally and nationally. In addition to a trail of independent craft breweries, the valley is home to several hopping tap houses. And what’s better than the perfect beer and food pairing? All along the craft beer trail find house-made favorites and some of the valley’s favorite flavors from local food trucks.

Festival Frenzy

Craft beverages make for the perfect festival. Every single hop cone gets harvested and processed over the span of 30 crazy days in September. It all culminates with the Yakima Valley’s signature Fresh Hop Ale Festival, one of the “Top 10 Beer Festivals in The Nation.” You can also celebrate hop country at music and food festivals from spring through fall.

So, plan your trip to raise a glass in the home of the hops!