Yet Another Thrill at Blueberry Hills!

We are back home after a glorious week of vacation!  Like last year, there are entirely too many exciting experiences to share in one post.  And the one that shines well above all others, for me, is the one I need to start with.  It needs its own post.  It really needs its own blog, but I'll keep it controlled.

My berry, berry, absolute favorite place to eat breakfast...actually I do believe it is just simply my berry favorite place to eat, is Blueberry Hills in Manson, just outside of Chelan.  I first ate there in June of 2004.  I fell deeply in love with a waffle like I had never known.  It's perfection.  The setting is so beautifully relaxing.  It's a place that makes you want to linger, not rush.  The food is all scratch cooking...makes me feel like my grandma is back there "puttin' something together" for me.  So.  Good.  We loved it so much, and intended to go back soon.  Our plan was to make a trip in the summer of 2006, and then that summer took on a life of its own with Beth, and waffles were not on our mind.  So FINALLY we made it back there last year.  FIVE YEARS after I fell in love, I had to wait FIVE YEARS!, to get myself back there.  And it did not disappoint.  It was so worth the wait.  I tell everyone about this place.  I have given myself the role of the Blueberry Hills Ambassador in Olympia.  I do think everyone I know, and many I don't, have heard all about Blueberry Hills.  Yeah, it's true, you'll find your th-rill.  You can go check out their website to get the whole story of the place... Leanne's Waffle Obsession. (Link name, not yet the website name.)

 

And this year?  Well, it not only did not disappoint, but it blue me away.  Yes, I meant to say blue instead of blew.  There's a theme being woven through here.  I truly had a happy moment there that shot straight to the core of my heart.  I said above that I'd keep it controlled.  Silly me.  I know myself better than that.

Here's my perfect waffle order:  hold on.  (I literally am salivating just preparing to describe it to you.)  They make Danish Yeast Waffles.  Not just your regular waffle, a Danish Yeast Waffle.  This waffle is the perfection of slightly crispy outside and fluffy inside.  Just the slightest hint of yeast-yness comes through, hinting of a fresh-from-the-oven warm yeast bread.  And the smell?  Oh, the smell!  All I can say is that if you were so blessed to grow up with grandparents that lived on a farm and a grandma that really knew how to cook, then you know the smell.  It smells like home.  Yep, that's it.  Like a warm, safe, cozy home.  A place where you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are loved and welcome.  That, my friends, is Blueberry Hills.  And the taste?  It completely matches all that you would hope it to be.  Anyway, back to my order:

I get the Coconut Creme Waffles.  Listen to this:

"Two Danish Yeast Waffles topped with our homemade creamy coconut syrup, shredded coconut, real whipped cream & slivered almonds."

Sounds great, right?  But wait, there's more.  Another menu option describes the Barn Waffles, which is two waffles topped with warm pie filling, either blueberry or peach.  Okay, peach pie is a food that speaks to my heart.  I just couldn't let either option go.  So I ordered the coconut creme waffles with a topping of warm peach pie filling.  I know, right?!  When I ordered this in 2009, the gal asked, "Are you sure about that?".  I enthusiastically assured her that I was quite sure about that.  Really, the level of assurance was matched by the level I had on my wedding day.  Not a waiver of doubt in my mind.  And both have turned out to be well-deserving of my certainty.

hello, my lovelies

I scrape my whipped cream off and divide it among the kids, because really now:  I want nothing to interfere with the perfect taste of the peaches and coconut and waffles.  And I learned a secret this trip, which is ridiculously obvious to me once in was pointed out, and that is there is a hint of almond extract in the peach pie filling.  So of course it meshes beautifully with the coconut/almond topping.  It was meant to be, all this time.

So this year, once again, I was telling the waitress how great that combination is, and that it really should be tried.  She said she'd pass that along to "Kari" (!!!!).  I said, "Oh, please tell her how much we love this place!"  And SHE said....."Well, would you like to meet her?"

Be. Still. My. Heart.

Uh, yeah, I'd like to meet her!  I'm not kidding when I say that my adoration for this place is right up there with Paula Deen, Trophy Cupcakes, Bobby Flay, and The Pioneer Woman, to name a few.

And she is as sweet as her food is divine!  It was honestly such a thrill on Blueberry Hills.  I can't even say enough about what a happy, bright spot that was for me!  To finally be able to tell someone that what they do brings you such joy...it was...a joy.  Our family has now made such great memories there, and I am so grateful for the chance to be able to meet the gal who is responsible for setting that stage.  And I know it was a crazy, chaotic day for her, and she still took the time to chat with us...warmed my heart.

isn't she the cutest?!

And then it gets even better!!!  (Now my heart is all a-flutter at the memory.  And I'm still salivating.  What a wreck.)

Brad went back in with Brenda after we had gone out to our cars to ask about local wineries.  I said to him, "Hey, have her sign a menu for me!"  Ha!  Well, she just went above and beyond with that, too!  She signed a menu, alright...but look what she printed up just for me:

check out the 4th menu option!!

I am having it framed (the signed version) to hang in my kitchen.  And every time I see it, I will be reminded of another great family vacation, a heart-warming place to eat, and a gal who is sweeter than the coconut creme waffle with warm peach pie filling!!  Thank you for your sweetness, Kari!!!

Many more vacation stories to come, but I had to give this one the place of honor...now you see why this deserved its very own post, huh?!

And, I can't leave out the biscuits and gravy...crazy good.

I promise there are some biscuits under that mound of gravy!

good friends to share it with??  even better!

my sweet family to share it with?  as good as it gets!