For your viewing pleasure

First thing's first, Happy Father's Day to my number one fan, my dad.  I love you very much!  I hope the morels are plentiful today -- wish I were with you!

This week I have been on the river honing my server skills.  We had a menu tasting where I was asked to photograph the items for the website.  My skills do not warrant a place on a commercial website, but it sure was a treat to shoot properly plated food in a setting that blows my setup out of the water -- literally.  

The menu is one that I am really proud of (not that I can take any credit for designing it).  Our chef is committed to using locally raised and grown products. Hooray for eating locally!  I am thrilled to work for a restaurant that supports our local farmers and producers, plus, every chance I get I am gawking on the line, asking questions, watching our chefs work their magic.  This food really is magic, people.  Magic!

House-made spinach raviolis with ricotta cheese and spicy marina sauce; 

fried to perfection!

Beef carpaccio with Dijon sour cream.

Cheese plate with cheeses from Rollinstone Chevre in Boise and Ballard Farms in Gooding.  

Smoked Rainbow trout salad.

 

Prosciutto wrapped sturgeon with horseradish citrus cream sauce.

Escarole stuffed Rainbow trout.

Black Canyon elk chop with brandy demi glace.

Creme caramel and chocolate decadent cake.  Yes, please.  I'll have both.

In my free time I should have my nose in the books working on my master's thesis, but alas, I can't focus.    The river is still raging at 17,000 CSF and is too cloudy for any productive fishing.  Instead of my fly rod,  I am equipped with my camera.

Below is wildlife photography part deux for your viewing pleasure.  I am off to diligently attempt to read about pioneer women and their relationship to Indians. Diligently. Attempt. To read.  

 The South Fork corridor is the largest nesting ground for bald eagles in the contiguous US.

He could have easily snatched forty pound Tuli out of the boat.

Mama merganser.

Hey, wait up, ma.

Golden eagle.

Serendipitous shot.

Mallard hiding in the grass.

Didn't look or feel like June.

I am fairly certain I caught this exact expression on his face last summer.

Pelicans are not native to the South Fork.

Beaver fever.

Almost missed her!  Last second shot.

Nice place for a pit stop after a cold, drizzly float.  

I'll have the chocolate cake and a hot toddy please.