Every other Christmas we go to the Oregon Coast to visit with my boyfriend’s family. They travel from California and we meet them in Yachats. We always cook up a big seafood feast at some point during the stay — usually in our small motel kitchen. This year we had steamers, broiled prawns, hot clam dip, and cold Dungeness salad at Grace’s. Grace is my boyfriend’s, mom’s, husband’s…..never mind — let’s just say she’s my lovely in-law who’s lucky enough to live year-round on the coast.

Living up to her name, this year she loaded us up with cans of albacore before we ventured back to Portland. I’m not talking typical canned tuna. These portions of juicy, meaty albacore were hook and line caught by Luna Sea Products — one can is alder and hickory smoked, another is zesty garlic and jalapeno, and the other is low-salt white meat straight-up. We’ve tried them all and they’re delicious — definitely not something you want to throw with a can of mushroom soup and noodles and call good.

I made a salad today with butter lettuce, avocado, fresh lemon juice, herbed olive oil (thank you Alice), grated asiago, and topped it with a soft boiled egg and a portion of the smoked tuna. It’s the best salad I’ve had in a long while.

What does this have to do with Portland food and drink? you ask. The blog — as well as my book — will include plenty of flavors from surrounding areas as well because what would Portland food and drink be without Central and Eastern Oregon ranches, Mt. Hood area fruit, coastal vineyards, dairies, and fisheries…