Taste Washington Field Trips to Taylor Shellfish, Willie Greens, Vashon Island

Taste Washington rolls into the CenturyLink Field Event Center on March 28 and 29, but dungaree-donning farm adventurers can get a head start the day before. For the first year, "Taste Washington on the Farm" shepherds wine lovers to one of three day-long experiences for a unique tour, bite, and educational moment.

The inaugural set includes three pretty rad times. A trek around Vashon Island with Kurtwood Farms owner Kurt Timmermeister, plus coffee roaster Robin Pollard, Dragon’s Head Cider owner Laura Cherry, and Andrew Will Winery’s Chris Camarda is already sold out. But still available are sojourns to Snohomish Valley and Samish Bay.

The Samish Bay trip is hosted by Marcelle Taylor of Taylor Shellfish, and involves a "deep dive" into learning about the oyster growing process, plus plenty of fresh-shucked oysters on the halfshell and other delightful foods prepared by their knowledgeable oyster bar staff. Winemaker Kevin Cedergreen (Cedergreen Cellars) will be pouring wines, and Britt’s PIckles owner Trap Landry will talk about fermentation.

In Snohomish, Willie Greens Organic owner Jeff Miller shows oenophiles around the farm, then LloydMartin Chef Sam Crannell will serve up lunch. The menu includes four courses:

• Grilled Macrina baguette, Beecher's aged cheddar & NW Peaks bar cheese, Willie Greens radish
• Washington russet potato leek cappuccino with Fonte coffee espuma
• Pork and I grilled "ham", Willie Greens arugula salad
• Apple tart

Dan Albert of Farmbox Greens will discuss microgreens and Robert Ramsay Cellars will provide the wine. Tickets are $165 and include transportation, food, and wine.