Choo Choo with the blues… it was no ordinary ride on the scenic steam train and I missed it. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge train pulled out of the rail yard last Saturday as the “Durango Blues Train” for an evening of Blues on the Rails. The Telluride Blues and Brews Festival transformed the scenic train ride into a live blues venue for 7 bands and acts. My friends Jim and Daryl who are regulars for live blues performances in downtown Durango happily took my place and enjoyed telling me the fun I missed. They roamed/danced between the vintage cars, enjoying local microbrews, food and awesome music. Both raved about the quantity and quality of artists they were able to enjoy in a short span of time. When I the heard the late night train whistle echo through the valley on its return trip, I thought it added an extra note. Their “thanks for a fantastic evening” text also reminded me to buy tickets (and be on board) for next year’s Blues Train and also for the Blues & Brews Festival.
Seasons Tapas Secret
I grew up in Minnesota, tapas weren’t part of our culinary “hotdish” vocabulary. Being a curious foodie, I have sampled tapas on various menus, however this evening I experienced tapas. Invited to Seasons Rotisserie and Grille with my favorite dinner companions (my children and their grandma) I was properly introduced to something that soothed my culinary passion: Tapas. Before rushing out the door, I logged on the internet for a brief introduction to tapas and was intrigued by the delightful promise of this small-portioned cuisine that also claimed to encourage conversation (I am a mother of teenagers, need I say more about conversation?). Seated at the intimate kitchen bar reserved for single seating tapas menu, our server Chloe enticed us with her description of fresh local radishes, harvested less than an hour ago, paired with smoked sea salt and anchovy butter. For a moment our budding conversation ceased as we sampled the crunchy, salty, buttery first course. I eavesdropped as the chefs chatted over the bar about the local lamb cuts and tempted us with a flat of plump ripe figs perched out of reach behind the glass. Next item was house pancetta wrapped fresh figs served with a slice of blue cheese and walnuts. Again silence as we savored each bite and pondered how to eat a whole sun-ripened fig that threatens to burst with juice at first bite? The chefs chopped, sliced, and seared on their side of the kitchen bar and kept us entertained with their precise technique and casual conversation as if they were unaware of the bustling restaurant.. Local Foxfire lamb tartare, topped with Foxfire egg yolk and served house-made poppyseed crackers. I was in love with tapas and intrigued with the sensual descriptions as we received each course. Fried baby artichokes with spicy dipping sauce; James Ranch Andala and Belford cheese with Mondo Vecchio porcini salami and sopresata. Our senses feasted on each dish and we laughed and chatted about things from grades to politics to lost loves. More than a sampling of hand-sized cuisine, my first true tapas experience at Seasons was a satisfying culinary pageant of exquisitely prepared, fresh local cuisine, filling as a meal and at the heart of good conversation. At the moment it’s a bit of a secret, however now that you are in-the-know you can make a reservation to enjoy Season’s tapas.
Return to “Normal”
I recently returned home to Durango from 8 days in a “Big City” visiting family. What a relief! I sat in stagnant traffic often and observed a lot of what I interpreted as anxiety and frustration among the masses. With no disrespect to our nation’s “Big Cities”, our quality of life and pace of living here in Southwest Colorado is, I feel, so much healthier. Since moving here over a year ago, I have come to find I get just as much done as I did before but enjoy the process more. That means taking more time stopping to taste the coffee, smell the roses and really, really take in the beauty that surrounds us. Here at Sorrel Sky Gallery it is such a treat to watch our guests move slowly thru the gallery. I believe the environment of an art gallery promotes a slower approach to enjoying the surroundings but I also believe that Durango itself sets the pace for the people who live here and those who visit. After 8 days away and an exhausting flight I couldn’t help but feel so lucky to be back to Sorrel Sky Gallery and to call Durango home!
Kay Ford
Marketing Director
Sorrel Sky Gallery
