I grew up in the Midwest, so a lot of my national holiday experiences were of such classic Americana that they veered dangerously close to Norman Rockwell idealism. When Labor Day rolled around in my Ohio town, hotdogs, hamburgers, ruffled potato chips and six-packs from the nearby Budweiser factory were basically compulsory. Aside from that last item, I don't have a problem with standard American grill fare, but sometimes a heart (and a stomach) wants something a little different. That's why I've decided to compile this Labor Day menu inspired by the best modern staples of my new home in the Pacific Northwest.
Salmon Pattie Sandwich with Sweet Chutney
Don't get me wrong, there's nothing quite like a classic hamburger. Unfortunately, it's a bit harder to find high-quality, reasonably priced beef in this corner of the country. I grew up enjoying that hearty grain-fed variety that came from just a few miles from my house. But one thing we get in the Northwest that you couldn't find in Ohio for any amount of money is good fish. That's why I suggest replacing that classic Labor Day hamburger with a fresh salmon pattie served on a whole wheat bun with a good, sweet chutney. I like mango chutney, but given that the central medium here is fish you can't go wrong with a citrus chutney. It's not terribly difficult to make at home, but any international market should have perfectly good chutney in stock.
Homemade Fruit Salad
The Pacific Northwest has a lovely selection of beautiful produce, especially in this mild transitional period between summer and autumn. Washington State is famous for its apples, and rightly so. Our honeycrisp crop are some of the sweetest, most refreshing apples I've ever tasted. Chop a few of those together with some of our plentiful, local blackberries, a few strawberries and a mild pear or two, squirt on some lemon juice to fend off discoloration and you've got a mighty fine fruit salad. It's simple to make, big on flavor and an impressive tour of the region's best produce.
Microbrew Selection
Name-brand pilsner is fairly ubiquitous east of the Cascades, which is a crying shame considering the tasty microbrews produced in Michigan and eastern Canada, especially Montreal and Quebec. As for what's west of the mountains, we have our pick of excellent hand-crafted beers. The Elysian Brewing Company in Seattle has a nice selection as does the slightly more southern Pyramid Alehouse. Some of best local beers come from the tiny but creative brewers at the Six Arms pub on Capitol Hill in Seattle. Their IPA is stellar and fans of the thick and heavy stuff can't do better than the Terminator Stout. Why drink watered-down Bud when lovingly crafted brews are just down the street?
Happy Labor Day, Northwesterners. Remember to enjoy the best of what your region has to offer. Even if you're from a different part of the nation, or not even local to the United States, there's no finer meal than the simple fare produced in one's own backyard. Fresh and perfected by years of careful experimentation, these dishes are what make a home more than just a spot on the map.