Teenager's a natural as chauffeur

Complain about teenage drivers all you want - just don't do it around Monica Elenbaas of Kirkland.

She would rather brag about her teenager.

Foot surgery last month kept Elenbaas out of the driver's seat.

Hunter Elenbaas, her 16-year-old son, became the family chauffeur. He shuttled his mother to doctor's appointments and to work in Seattle (she's the director of communications for the YMCA of Greater Seattle), and even drove his sister to and from work. He also ran errands - for movies and to the grocery store.

Monica said he ran every errand without complaint, even when family needs interfered with his plans.

"He's a great driver, too," she said.

The only downside: She had to listen to comments about which adult drivers have forgotten the rules of the road.

Good fan: Chateau Ste. Michelle culinary director John Sarich was recently stopped at a red light.

The Lexus driver in the next lane signaled Sarich to roll down his window. The driver yelled, "Hey, buddy, where have you been?"

Turns out he missed Sarich's televised cooking show. This fan has a long memory: That show aired five years ago.

Sarich, who lives in Redmond, had just the recipe for the man.

His new lifestyle and cooking show, "Best of Taste," debuted on KONG-TV Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

In the box: Jack Prano of Redmond left the high-tech world for a company with a real product.

He owns Alaska Smokehouse of Woodinville.

Alaska Smokehouse packages smoked salmon and other gourmet goodies in handmade wooden boxes and gift baskets for retail markets.

Prano jokes about his work and describes it in one sentence.

"I package dead fish in wooden coffins," he said.

Art part: Ellensburg residents are falling in love with Mei Wu's artwork.

The Kirkland artist has an installation at Gallery One. The show runs through Oct. 21.

Her art is interactive.

One piece is a 97-foot-long fabric tunnel that you walk through.

"We have a 94-year-old woman walking through it right now," said Gallery One Director Mary Frances yesterday. "People are loving the show and telling their friends."

Another piece is called "Snow in Ellensburg." Patrons walk through white powder spread on the floor and leave "snowy" footprints. They're stopping and writing and drawing in the snow, which is refreshed each day, too.

Only four of 100 artists who applied to show at the nonprofit gallery and arts group were accepted for this fall.

"Mei was at the top of the list when we saw her work," Frances said.

The arts take priority in Wu's family.

Her husband is Fusao Kajima, director of the Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra.

One last grin: The gray Passport - Honda's version of a suburban assault vehicle - wore an uplifting license plate.

It read, LIFSGR8.

Sherry Grindeland's column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays in The Seattle Times Eastside edition. Reach her by phone at 206-515-5633 or 425-453-2130, e-mail at sgrindeland@seattletimes.com, fax at 425-453-0449, or mail at Seattle Times Eastside bureau, 10777 Main St., Bellevue, WA 98004.