Huell Howser's Road Trip: Ferndale

A short time ago Huell Howser, of "California Gold" fame, stayed with us while filming a new show called "Huell Howser's Road Trip: Ferndale". It will air here on KEET-TV on May 6 at 7:30 PM. We'll have a party and watch it in the Tavern at the VI Restaurant. You're invited.

Now, if you have friends or family in the following areas, why not contact them and get them to watch "Huell Hower's Road Trip: Ferndale" when it airs there? Here's the dates:

Sacramento KVIE April 8 at 8:00 PM

Fresno KVPT April 8 at 8:00 PM

San Bernardino April 8 at 8:00 PM

Los Angeles KCET April 11 and April 17 at 7:00 PM And of course, again, here on KEET May 6, 7:30 PM

Wow! Another Proposal at the VI!

What a tear jerker for the romantics around here!

Last night a dinner guest had pre-arranged to have us create one of our specialty drinks from the VI Restaurant & Tavern, a $10,000 Martini (simply put, a Cosmopolitan with a twist of lemon and a slice of lime, skewered and supporting a fabulous Diamond Engagement Ring).

He and his Lady, Shelby, had come in for a Valentine's dinner and as we served her the coctail, John got down on one knee, right in the dining room, and proposed to her. She cried, then laughed, then cried some more...and at some point SHE SAID YES! We left them alone to enjoy their moment as long as we could stand it, but finally had to go in and get the photo.

The entire staff of the Victorian Inn and the VI Restaurant & Tavern wish all the joy and happiness possible to John & Shelby. We will not forget them, and I'll bet they don't forget us, either.

.......................................................................$10,000 Martini

Memories happen at the VI...

Crab Cakes $9; Iron Skillet Steak for two $34; Proposal of Marriage ... PRICELESS!

The Vi Restaurant and Victorian Inn congratulates Garren Renner & Kate Duncan on their engagement and thanks Garren for popping the question on our front steps. He actually got down on one knee!

Yippee! The VI Resaurant and Tavern is off an running. The photo shows a very happy group of guests on opening night, which was December 2, 2009.

The remodeling included an all new kitchen and face lifts to the Tavern and Dining room, and the food is now receiving rave reviews...virtually from every diner.

We are open 7 days a week, from 8:00 AM until 9:00 PM, serving Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Here's a partial list of some of our Menu items (but there's a lot more):

SOUPS:
CLASSIC FRENCH ONION CROCK 7
GARDEN VEGETABLE TOMATO Bowl 8 Cup 6
NEW ENGLAND CLAM CHOWDER Bowl 8 Cup 6

SALADS:
VI HOUSE GARDEN SALAD full 8 half 5
Butter lettuce, romaine, carrots, beets, cucumber, and tomato

VI CHOPPED SALAD full 9 half 7
Iceberg lettuce, corn, black beans, cucumber, tomato, egg, green beans, bacon, and crumbled blue cheese

DRESSINGS: ranch, blue cheese, thousand island,
green apple vinaigrette, and Italian balsamic

UN-CLASSIC “SESAR” (named for our executive chef, Jeff Sesar) full 9 half 6
Romaine lettuce, radicchio, zesty Caesar dressing, croutons, and shaved Manchego cheese

BABY SPINACH SALAD full 9 half 7
Baby spinach, walnuts, red onion, bacon, figs, goat cheese, and pomegranate vinaigrette

Add Grilled Chicken 4 Add Grilled Shrimp 6

APPETIZERS:

NORTH PACIFIC OYSTER TRIO 8
Rockefeller style, gazpacho shooter, green apple vinaigrette
Additional oysters 2

SWEET POTATO CRAB CAKES 12
Chili Citronet sauce

BAKED STUFFED PRAWNS 12
Scallop mousse, tomato vodka cream

GRILLED VEGETABLE TART 8
Roasted red and yellow pepper puree

ROASTED VEGETABLE TOWER 8
Apricot curry glaze and couscous

AHI TUNA MARTINI 12
Seaweed salad, ginger ice, crisp wontons, and cucumber wasabi dressing

SMOKED CHICKEN AND WILD MUSHROOM TERRINE 10
Dried fruit chutney, red onion jam, and whole grain mustard


SPECIALTIES:

PAELLA PORTUGUESE 24
A savory delight with sausage, chicken, clams, mussels, scallops, shrimp, and saffron rice

ROASTED PUMPKIN GNOCCHI 21
Duck confit, pancetta, brown butter, and sage

SMOKED SALMON & GOAT CHEESE RAVIOLI 20
Black trumpet mushroom scallion broth

BROKEN ARROW RANCH ANTELOPE SHORT RIBS 24
“Osso Buco” Style with pappardelle pasta

CHERRY MARSALA GLAZED HALF CHICKEN 24
Wild mushroom risotto and butternut squash puree

COLORADO LAMB DUET 28
Pistachio-crusted rack chops and slow roasted leg with sundried tomato polenta and ratatouille

PORK LOIN BRACCIOLA 20
Tenderloin, aromatic vegetable stuffing. Capellini tossed with a pomodoro sauce

THAI STYLE BARBECUED DUCK BREAST 25
Coconut curry vegetable noodles and crispy spring rolls

STEAKS & SEAFOOD

FILET MIGNON 12 oz 32 / 8 oz 26

N.Y. SIRLOIN STRIP 14 oz 26

IRON SKILLET SIRLOIN 9 oz 17

BONE-IN RIB-EYE, COWBOY STYLE 16 oz 34

PACIFIC SEA BASS 10 oz 24

KING SALMON 10 oz 24

COLD WATER LOBSTER TAIL 8 oz 33


All Steak and Seafood are served with a green vegetable sauté, choice of side, and sauce

Sides: butter herb linguini, roasted bliss potatoes, rice pilaf, or twice-baked potato

Sauces: red wine demi glace, tomatillo sauce, porcini mushroom butter, or lemon caper sauce

OK! So now, come stay with us and enjoy the culinary delights of the VI Restaurant and Tavern.

A New Restaurant in the Inn!

After October 10th, 2009, Curley's Grill will no longer be the restaurant in the Victorian Inn. He intends to find another venue for his "friends of fine food", and we wish him the very best.

The Victorian Inn will be featuring its own restaurant, named The VI, after some renovations and up-grading to the premises. Curley's will definetely be a hard act to follow, but we intend to do our very best to meet the challenge, with the help of some great talent in the culinary world.

We'll keep you up-dated as we progress!

Coming Soon: Happy Birthday, America!

This photo reminded me of the patriotic nature of our city of Ferndale, Ca., and of the two bald eagle that have taken up residence here. (See our earlier Ferndale blog, below). Also, our recent annual observance of Memorial Day, with its great parade and the townspeople following it up to the cemetery to participate in our Memorial Service, has placed me in a mood of great appreciation for our American way of life.

This has prompted me to suggest that if you plan to be in this area in the next month or so, why not make it on July 4th, and get a taste of how small town America celebrates our national birthday? If you're nearby anyway, enjoying a California Redwoods vacation or simply reading a redwoods blog, treat yourself to a side trip and come on in to town...and get a patriotism fix! Here's the line up:

Rides - Parade - Picnic - Show - Fireworks!

Independence Day Fire Engine Rides. Ferndale Volunteer Firefighters celebrate with an old-fashioned treat for the kids: a free ride on a gleaming fire engine. 10 a.m. to noon.

Parade. Ferndale Repertory Theatre, assisted by Ferndale Kiwanis and the Chamber of Commerce, organize an artful Independence Day parade at noon.

Picnic. Ferndale Rotary Club cooks up an Independence Day picnic after the parade. Hot dogs or burgers (including veggie burger option), potato salad, beans and Humboldt Creamery ice cream with chocolate syrup. Hot dog meal, $4; burger meal, $6.

Patriotic Musical Revue, "Celebrate America." This very popular 4th of July show begins at the Ferndale Repertory Theatre at 3 p.m. and features the Scotia Band under the direction of Michael McClimon and Betty Diehl conducting the Chameleon Singers.

Fireworks! Bear River Casino organizes a fireworks display for the family to watch from the grandstands at the fairgrounds in Ferndale.

On second thought, don't just come for the day..,come and stay with us in The Victorian Inn or Redwood Suites for the whole weekend! You could sure do worse in celebrating the 4th of July! And if you're a visitor from another country, you are especially welcome. We would love to share this colorful and wonderful holiday with you.

Here comes the Kinetic Universe!

The Kinetic Universe! That's the new name for the folks behind our 40 year old Kinetic Sculpture Race, founded right here in the city of Ferndale, Ca, way back then. We thought we'd add the information to our Ferndale blog to give you a heads up. The Kinetic Racers will "roar" into town on the third and final day of the race (Monday, May 25th, Memorial Day Weekend). Even though we recently purchased the Hobart's Gallery building, it was formerly the home of the Glorious Founder of the race, Hobart Brown, and has been the traditional finish line for the race. And so it is again this year! If you're anywhere nearby, maybe on a California redwoods vacation or whatever, you should take a side trip into Ferndale and witness this over-the-top event.

Come into town a little earlier on the same day and you can join us in watching our Memorial Day Parade, following it up to the cemetery where the town holds its Memorial Day Service. Folks, this is small town America at its best!

This info isn't exactly our usual redwoods blog, but we hope you enjoy it. And we know you'll enjoy Ferndale if you're here on Memorial Day Weekend.