Oy Vey!

All I can say is I am so grateful today that this place was within reasonable walking distance to our house. I woke up craving the hell out of French toast. Pretty sure I must be dehydrated or have officially gone crazy from being snowed in/home bound 4 days in a row because it is not like me to want so much sugar first thing in the morning. French toast at 11:30ish, makes sense. French toast at 8 am, not so much. However, like manna from Heaven, Goldberg's Delicatessen rained down it's challah goodness upon me.

I have eaten at Goldberg's numerous times and have had mixed experiences with the service. Today it was super slow service, but I have to take into account that they only had 2 servers and the place is fairly large so even though it was only half full (or was it half empty?) that is a lot of customers per server. Having family with extensive restaurant industry experience helps me be more aware and understanding when it comes to stuff like this, so I am going to let this one slide because the server was very polite the few times she was able to make it to our table. Today I ordered the Crispy French Toast, which consists of some super secret batter mixture and cornflake coating deep-fried (another thing I usually don't crave) with whipped cream, butter, syrup, and the token side of fruit so that you don't feel like such a schmuck for eating something so obviously unhealthy. My life partner opted for sweetness as well, also uncharacteristic of his preferences for breakfast, by choosing Sofia's Trio of Blintzes. Both were good choices and maintained the consistency I have come to expect with Goldberg's. I will say that the Crispy French Toast is a rather large dish so either plan on leftovers or find someone to share with. As I sit here grazing on the leftovers, the food passes my still good when eating cooled down and straight from the box test. It's killing my motivation to go to yoga class however as I slip further into my carbohydrate coma.

Aside from having good food, Goldberg's is conveniently located off the I-90 in Factoria, offers extensive menu options including traditional Jewish dishes, has plenty of seating, is family friendly, boasts a full bar, and also does take-out. All in all this is a place I will continue to go back to, and not just because I am a total Judaicaphile (I blame growing up in an area with no Jews and only 2 synagogues in the entire state). Whether you want breakfast (served all day!) or something more along the lines of Matzo Ball Soup (better than your mother made if she ever made such a thing), Goldberg's truly has something for everyone. I have tried items from all sections of the menu and have yet to be let down (FYI: the pastrami sandwich rocks). Oh, and I have yet to order dessert here as I am always way too full by the time that option presents itself, but word on the street is that it's pretty good.

http://www.goldbergsdeli.com/

My All-Time Favorite Place in Seattle

And this isn't cheating because I have in fact eaten here since I have been back. Twice actually. For whatever reason, I hold a special place in my heart for Capital Hill's B & O Espresso. A friend introduced me to this place the first time I lived here and I have continued to patronize this place ever since. I am not sure what it is that makes it so special: the jovial owner making the rounds and ensuring customers are enjoying his food, the servers remembering what I typically order (even when I would come back to the area on vacation and had gone months between visits, which is cool yet eerie), the extensive and fantastic dessert menu (seriously, I have tried multiple desserts here and have thoroughly enjoyed each one, especially the chocolate pot), the atmosphere of being in an old building with antique decor, or the feeling of friendship and happy memories this place brings.

I have always been in love with this place, but not the parking. The parking situation is beyond a bitch. Sorry to swear, but there is really no other way to put it. If you live here and have ever tried to park in the Capital Hill area, then you understand what I mean. Even worse, my old go-to pay lot is now turned into some ridiculous community garden/park in an area that already has a parking shortage. I have had to pretend to be a customer at Half-Price Books at least twice now just to get my B & O Espresso fix. Just thought of the irony that it's my fave place and I heart coffee yet never order espresso drinks when there. Hmmm. . .

Anyway, I am super sad because this place has been on the "tear this down and make another multi-story structure" list for quite some time, and now after 6 years of being rumored to get destroyed so the space can become over-priced condos in a sea of an already excessive amount of over-priced condos, it looks like B & O might truly be at risk for being no longer. I sincerely hope not because I know I am not the only one who considers this place special. There are many other regulars, many others who plug into the wall and spend endless hours on laptops while sipping tea, many others who meet there for brunch with good friends or enjoy adult beverages with dinner while catching up on the latest news. There is an undeniable camaraderie and magic that happens while dining at B & O. Try it while you can and no matter what time of day, do yourself a favor and order dessert.

http://b-oespresso.com/

All Hail the Dumpling Tsar of Fremont

This was another place stumbled upon by accident and another place that was so tasty I had an uncontrollable urge to go back right away. It almost killed me to wait the 3 days between visits. Pel'Meni Dumpling Tsar is tucked away in a building in an alley close to the Lenin statue in Fremont. It shares space with a tattoo shop and a hot yoga studio bizarrely enough. It's essentially a food stand when it boils down to it complete with an erasable menu.

There are only two food options: beef dumpling or potato dumpling. Really that is all you need when food is done so flavorfully. What makes the dumplings so delightful is the sprinkling of curry, dollop of sour cream, handful of freshly chopped cilantro, and the siracha rice vinegar sauce that goes on for extra punch. I read an online review the other day that said the potato dumplings were bland and that it would be best to avoid this place if you are a vegetarian as a result. As someone who is currently on day 19 of vegetarianism, I can say with all assurance that the person who wrote that is obviously a douche with no sense of taste because even something as simple as a potato wrapped in dumpling pastry made from scratch can have a superb amount of flavor if done right and I believe Pel'Meni is adequately named as the Dumpling Tsar. This food is great for soaking up beer (hence their extended post-bar closing hours) and makes a good lunch to take home from work right before the worst snowstorm Seattle has seen in decades (the dumplings were still warm when I got to Bellevue from Fremont, that's how awesome they are). The token slice of bread that comes with each order (because you didn't consume enough carbs already) make a great vessel for consuming the sauce left in the bottom of the biodegradable container when the dumplings have been successfully consumed. Have a bar of Theo Chocolate (a local fair-trade organic chocolate bar making company with unique flavor combos) and you are all set to get down with your Fremont-loving, hippie/grunge, Seattlite self. Наслаждайтесь!

http://www.pelmenirestaurant.com/

Why Did I Not Bring My Camera?

Part of my New Year's goal (not a resolution, dammit) is to feel healthier this year, whatever that means to my body so I decided to undertake a 30 day vegetarian challenge just to see if 1- I could do it and 2- feel a difference. All I can say is praise the culinary gods for Cafe Flora in Madison Park because normally I would not be able to trick Jacob into being excited about going to a vegetarian restaurant. He appeases my kooky endeavors though so when I got to choose our restaurant and he found out it was vegetarian, he very kindly went with it. Neither of us regretted that choice as Cafe Flora is a shining example of how awesome vegetarian food can be when done right.

This place has the most interesting menu of all the vegetarian restaurants I had Googled. I was beyond excited to try it. There was no way to mentally prepare for the euphoria that was about to take place the night we went there though. I tried the Portobello Wellington and Jacob tried a complicated polenta dish that looked like it came from Bon Appetite magazine. His dish was an indescribable extravaganza of flavors. My dish was classic cuisine at its vegetarian finest. We also shared a pretty tasty salad as an appetizer.

The highlight for me was the dessert. Everything looked so good, it was nearly impossible to decide. We ended up with the Oui Oui Cherie!, which was a chocolatey, caramely, mound of fantasticness that causes me to slip into a musical dream sequence and make up my own words. Even if you are not vegetarian or dining with someone who is, you have to add this place to the list of must-try restaurants in Seattle. We sat in their "garden" area and it was very relaxing in addition to being some of the best food I have ever eaten. It is by far the best vegetarian food I have ever

consumed and it made me think that if the food at Cafe Flora is indicative of what veg meals should be, then consider me converted. If I could eat there every day I would never eat meat again. For real, it's THAT good. So good, in fact, they have their own cookbook. Oh, and try some tea while you are there. Just trust me.

http://cafeflora.com/index.php

Jewel of India Indeed

Since my beloved works for Microsoft (who doesn't in this area, right?), we are able to get some pretty sweet deals at local businesses including restaurants. One night while craving naan and korma, we relied on the guidance of this massive corporation and discovered the joy which is the Jewel of India restaurant located in the University District. This is another place that I had concerns about because of location and appearance, but the food by far exceeded expectations.

I ordered a vegetable korma, spice level 5 stars, and let me tell you they are not messing around with the heat. Holy Hindu Cow, that korma was hot! And I loved every sweaty minute of it. I don't know about my other Caucasian Asians out there, but it has been my experience in that past that as one who is very fairly complected that sometimes my spice requests are not taken seriously in restaurants. "Stupid white girl. She has no idea," I imagine the servers thinking as I boldly order the hottest hot sauces available. There have only been 2 other times where the food was exceedingly hot thus meeting my expectations, both of which occurred in the past year and both of which were in Phoenix. One was a Nigerian restaurant and the other was a place that served "ridiculously hot" hot wings, which is funny since when my friend asked me how hot I wanted my wings I told her "ridiculously hot" not knowing anything about the menu. But I digress. . .

Jewel of India is a gem of a place in the midst of college students, hipsters, and passers through. The husband and wife team that own it are fantastic, the food is homemade, and I swear they have the best garlic naan ever. Better yet, if you live close they deliver. We don't so those dreams of Indian food appearing at our doorstep were shattered. However, we determined they were worth the drive even if we didn't have our magic discount card. Plus, I love supporting local places with genuinely nice proprietors. Two korma covered thumbs up on this one and pass me some water!

http://www.jewelofindiaseattle.com/

You Don't Have to go to Malaysia to Enjoy Their Street Food

I used to work in Wallingford in a previous life. I was surrounded by all sorts of exotic foods that for whatever reason I was skittish to try at the time. Fast forward from 2007 to 2011 and seeing a Malaysian restaurant on 45th drew me in as opposed to turning me away. There are some things in Wallingford that never change. Many of the businesses there have been in the area for a substantial period of time, so when something new moves in it is hard not to notice no matter how long it has been since your last drive through. Plus, this place is right where a store called High Maintenance Bitch (a luxury boutique store for spoiled dogs) used to be and that sign stood out and made its presence known, so when it disappears one takes notice.

Satay has an interesting story behind its inception. Basically, two college buddies went to Malaysia for study abroad and came back wanting to bring the Malaysian street food phenomena to the States. Somehow, they ended up in Seattle from California. One of the owners has a Malaysian aunt who spent over 6 months teaching the two young men how to properly cook her beloved Malaysian food. The result is a simple menu done amazingly well with complex flavors and delicious ingredients. No fooling around, Seattle is so lucky these guys bailed on Cali and opened Satay here because the food is addictive and action packed with spice.

I opted to try the vegetarian dish, Mee Goreng, as I am currently going through my post-college, pre-midlife crisis experimental phase. Normally the texture of tofu is a total turn off for me in dishes and I will pick it out. This tofu, however, was fried and surrounded by delectable spices and noodles. It was a veritable festival in a bowl. Word is from my meat-eating love that the Laksa was also quite tasty. The true test is if the food still tastes good after I have taken the leftovers home and decide to eat it straight from the container. This particular place has eats that exceed my challenge's expectations.

To help with cost, you do end up bussing your own tables and getting your own napkins/silverware/water/et cetera but the food is so reasonably priced and generously portioned that I assure you won't mind. Not only that, but the business is environmentally conscious with its composting and recycling bins, which is expected in Wallingford if you are familiar with that neighborhood's residents. They are a very particular sort of green on that side of the I-5. If you are in the area and are tired of always going to the same places, or you just want to try Malaysian food for the fun of it, go to Satay and tell Peter and Patrick "selamat petang".

http://satayseattle.com/

However You Pronounce It, The Translation Is "Excellent"

Once upon an evening in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle, while trying to find a completely different restaurant, our heroine of this story chose to settle for a little place called Szmania's rather than circle the block a second time. If settling were consistently this successful, I would recommend we women do it more often. Since that is not the case, I do think rather than settling on Szmania's a concerted effort should be made to cross the Magnolia Bridge and explore the artistry of ingredients that comes together on the plates here. I know that the area is a bit out of the way for those of us not dwelling in the vicinity, but I assure you this place is worth it. No, really. It was so good that we ended up eating there two weekends in a row, which is not at all how we roll as a couple who pride ourselves in trying new places and new foods.

Pretty much everything on the dinner menu sounded good the first time we were there so it was really hard to narrow it down. Jacob (yes, he has a name in this posting) ordered the Grilled Fallow Deer (seasonal

offering) and I had the Gulf Prawns. Both dishes were food coma inducing. The Sineann Pinot Noir we ordered was so good, we ended up ordering a second 1/2 bottle and taking some home. The dessert we chose was some sort of triple nut tart of awesomeness. This was the best place we had eaten at since moving to Seattle in October. Now, we have eaten at a lot of fantastic restaurants both here and back in Phoenix, so to say that this was comparable to our absolute favorite place in Phoenix (Vogue Bistro in case you are curious-seriously the best place in the Phoenix metro) is a huge deal because that means the food was a step above excellent. Plus the menu has some really interesting and unique offerings, which is what we enjoyed about our previous restaurant crush.

Upon our return the next week, we opted to order off the Happy Hour menu since it was in fact Happy Hour. Go figure. Side note: why is it "happy hour" when it usually lasts for more than 60 minutes and the name implies singular? Anyway, Jacob ordered some sort of crazy gourmet hot dog packed with toppings galore and I had the ground steak and Gorgonzola sliders. We shared the curry dusted oysters, which exceeded our taste expectations. I joked about moving to Magnolia just so we can go to Szmania's regularly but then visions of what my commute would look like quickly squelched that desire.

It is no wonder this place has successfully stayed in business for 22 years, a rare feat in the ever-changing landscape of the restaurant industry. This place is absolutely inspired and I would recommend it to the masses time and time again. Plus, the price point is outstanding considering the ingredients. I managed to get a coworker to go try this place with his wife within a week of our last visit and he agreed that Szmania's is a great dining experience. Don't miss out on taking advantage of their current special: Happy Hour 3 course meal for $20.12 that rotates weekly.

Enjoy and you're welcome!

http://szmanias.com/index.htm

Odd Name, Great Happy Hour

Looking for a place to have a drink and a snack in the middle of a Sunday afternoon? Want that place to be located at "the crown of Queen Anne"? If so, then I have a fabulous place for you to try and it's called Emmer & Rye. See? It's so delicious I felt the need to rhyme about it. Good food will make you crazy like that.

Emmer & Rye is charmingly located inside a restored Victorian house. This is yet another place where you feel like you are hanging out in some one's house to share a meal, only in this case it would be more like you have been invited over for a very special dinner party. The menu is seasonal and the ingredients are sourced locally. Considering the location and atmosphere, I would say the price point is very reasonable, especially for Happy Hour.

We did have to inquire about the definition of some of the terminology on the menu. It is obvious by the descriptions that the chef is classically trained because instead of saying "raw cured salmon" or "ground pork paste" the menus says "gravlax" and "rilette". Makes you feel extra classy when ordering with your $5 glass of wine or beer though. Normally, I would shy away from such foods, especially the pork. However, my gravlax bruschetta with mushrooms and white cheese and my partner's pork rilette with pepper jelly was outstanding. Both appetizers were like mini parties of flavor in my mouth.

Our experience here was so good that were the location not inconvenient for us, we would likely become regulars here. Highly, highly recommended and I definitely plan to go back when the weather warms up so we can dine outside for even more ambiance.

I'd Like to Tap That!

It was a cold, dark evening. We had been walking for hours. We stepped off the monorail hungry with no clear craving. After a couple blocks of trying to find a restaurant that sounded like a good choice that wasn't completely packed on a Saturday night right before the holidays, I saw the Tap House Grill across the street calling to us to walk down its long staircase and try one of the 160 beers on tap. Always listen to the brew.

The outstanding feature about Tap House other than its extensive beer collection (did I mention there is 160 on tap?) is that the menu is super diverse. You can choose from sushi, a steak, seafood, Thai inspired, Mexican fusion. . . You name the major international cuisine influence and chances are good that you can find something on the menu that will satisfy whatever your flavor profile desire that day. There are so many options to choose from that I had a hard time deciding and as a result I have momentary amnesia when it comes to trying to recall what I ordered when we were there. What I do remember is it was good whatever it was.

By the way, the Tap House happens to boast 160 beers on tap. Just in case you happened to miss that tidbit the first couple of times.

http://www.taphousegrill.com/index.html

Serious Pie=Seriously Different Pizza

The first time I walked past the sign to this place I was not thinking pizza. I was thinking dessert pie. So imagine my surprise upon gazing in the windows and seeing the customers enjoying salad, appetizers, and what appeared to be a pizza like food. I proceeded to Google Serious Pie when I got home and my eyes lit up at their menu. Neapolitan thin crust pizza combined with unique toppings that I had never imagined atop one of my favorite foods of all time. I couldn't wait to try this place!

Let me just say that when your in-laws are in town from a small town in Idaho and they mention they would like pizza for dinner, this is probably not the place to go. It's not that we had a bad experience, it's just that for people that have Hawaiian Pizza from Pizza Hut in mind, this may be a bit too progressive. Also, it is a bit pricey considering each pie is considered an individual portion which we didn't know so each couple shared one and as a result I was making leftover turkey sandwiches a few hours later.

The restaurant was hopping with activity, we got on the list to be seated, and when the time came we were seated at a long table where there were already people sitting. That's right, folks. In Serious Pie downtown you eat with strangers so they can fit in more pizza lovers. Right off the bat I knew we were in trouble. The menu was deeply scrutinized as we poured over limited options to choose the best ones. The in-laws opted for whatever the featured pie was that night (something with a Spanish theme and pork as I recall) and we chose the clam with pancetta and lemon thyme pie. It was truly a different pizza eating experience. I enjoyed it, but as I nervously gazed at the rest of our group, I could tell that this was not a recommendation that would garner me favor.

Of course being the sugar fiend I am, I wanted to try dessert. We shared the chocolate budino with sea salt and biscotti and tried a bite of the coconut cream pie. Both were very good! That being said, the overall experience and price point were such that this is not on my list of places I absolutely have to go back to any time soon and certainly not when it's my parents who are visiting.

http://tomdouglas.com/index.php?page=serious-pie

Indian and Tibetan and Nepali-Oh, My!

Walking up from Pike's Place Market a variety of smells will cross your path, some good and some not so good. That being said, the scent pouring out into the sidewalk from Kastoori Grill was one so good that even if you just ate breakfast you couldn't help but think you were hungry walking past there. Luckily, we hadn't just eaten breakfast as the exotic spices beckoned to us.

My partner has an taste for adventure and aspires to be the Bizarre Foods guy. The friend we were with is cautious in trying new foods. I am somewhere in between. This place was ideal as a result. I tried the Momo, a Tibetan street food classic. It was spicy (not hot spicy, flavorful spicy) goodness encased in homemade dumpling pastry. My friend tried the buffet, which featured a variety of familiar Indian foods. My man opted for the Nepali combo meal so he could try a variety. Being the people that we are, we of course exchanged bites. Everything was so good! Our "server" is one of the owners and she took a moment to talk to us about the restaurant and the food. It's family owned and operated, everything is made fresh and from scratch, and everyone one there seemed really nice. Apparently pleasantness runs in the family. It's the type of place you choose to go back to just because you like the owners so much in addition to the food.

So if you are tired of piroshkies and mini donuts at the market, which I can't imagine because they are a staple to the Pike's experience, head up the incline on Stewart towards 1st Avenue and give the Kastoori Grill a try.

http://www.kastoorigrill.com/index.html

Row Your Way On Over To. . .

The Row House Cafe! Located in South Lake Union, this place is a pleasant surprise tucked away in a neighborhood that we found by chance. The Row House is in fact an actual house that was converted into restaurant space so it feels like you are going over to a good friend's house for a meal and drinks. The menu is done well and has an appropriate amount of offerings in conjunction with the size of the restaurant. The service was slow the day I went, but again you are hanging out at your good friend's house so just relax and enjoy your beverage.

If I had to choose their specialty, it would be their variety of grilled cheese sandwiches, the ultimate comfort food. But this isn't your mom's Velveeta or Kraft American Cheese Product, kids. This is a classier variety of cheeses grilled up to perfection between two fresh slices of artisan bread. Mmm, mmm good! Speaking of which, they do have tomato basil soup on the menu for those of you who enjoy dipping your grilled cheese like a 6 year old (which I totally still do and will until I am too old to lift the sandwich from the soup bowl to my mouth and then I will have someone assist me by dipping it for me because that's how awesome it is).

Anyway, they do have adult beverages available but their salted caramel latte picture looked so good I opted to give their liquid caffeine fix a whirl instead. I would say it was average, but that could be from the distraction created with having 7 different types of grilled cheese to choose from. At any rate, there's definitely better coffee drinks to be had in Seattle, but I doubt they can match the homey comfortable feeling of Row House Cafe. Add this to the list of places to try if you can find it.

http://rowhousecafe.com/menu/

Icon of the Seattle Culinary Scene

The Icon Grill on 5th Avenue in Seattle accurately describes their menu as "aroused Americana cooking". I have been to this establishment several times and it was only this last time there that I have ever been disappointed. To be fair, my disappointment had nothing to do with my food or service, it was the result of us arriving an hour too late for the lunch menu and an hour too early for the dinner menu so we were stuck ordering off the very limited bar menu after being tantalized with the full menu posted at the door.

The interior of this establishment is eclectic, with glass baubles dispersed throughout and hanging from the ceiling accompanied by some very interesting artwork. Old black and white video clips depicting the attitudes of 1950s America typically play in the restroom (drink a lot while there so you don't miss out on the opportunity to use one of the coolest public restrooms ever). Despite its seemingly casual menu, the restaurant does boast an air of fine dining so going there for dinner wearing jeans may not be the most comfortable feeling ever. I recommend wearing something with a bit of stretch in the waistband though as the portions sizes are beyond generous and the dessert is a must. Go with people who enjoy dessert so you can share if you find yourself too full to eat one on your own. Also, plan to ask for a to go box for at least half your meal depending on what you order.

Items I have tried there and can therefore endorse include: Icon Chicken Fried Steak, Ultimate Macaroni and Cheese, Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes, Chicken Fingers, Smoked Turkey and Havarti Sandwich, Texas Funeral Fudge Cake, and the Creme Brulee. There are healthier menu options, I just haven't tried them. When you view the menu, you'll understand why.

The Icon Grill is a great place to take family members from out of town who don't like to step outside their comfort zones. The food is a modern spin on classic, familiar, comfort food dishes. This is also a fantastic place to go with your romantic interest, as demonstrated by the couple sitting behind us in the lounge inappropriately groping one another at 4 in the afternoon. All around, this is just a great place to try if only to see the inside. Come hungry! Reservations for dinner highly recommended or you may not get in.

http://www.icongrill.com/index.htm

C'est Francaise, Oui?

J'adore Le Pichet! I used to live across the street from here and this place is where I lost my escargot virginity. Recently, I had a chance to revisit this charming yet very cozy cafe. As you walk in the door, the smell of deliciousness hits you. This place always seems to be busy and the table situation is very close so if you don't like sitting right next to strangers, you may want to forgo this place, but then you would be missing out.

As one who takes great pleasure in details, I appreciate their slate topped tables that "Reserved" can be written in chalk on. I also enjoy the other little details that go into making this place feel like you are somewhere in France where people speak English very well and are polite, wherever that may be. I have tried a few things over the years here: escargot, dessert, wine,

some brunch dish involving eggs, ham, and gruyere cheese. All things tried have been yummy! Including this time where I went for the Demi-douzaine d’huîtres à la bordelaise, raw oysters with sauce and a piece of made on-site sausage. I was skeptical, yet pleasantly surprised. The food was still as good as I remembered, the wine was relaxing, and even the sip of pear brandy I took from my table partner was pleasant. Some advice: don't skip the bread! Everyone should experience traditional French bread slathered in butter and it would be a sin to not try it here considering how awesome it is.

Whether you are looking for a hip little downtown spot to catch up with old friends over a bottle of wine on a Sunday afternoon or a place with just enough romance to go to on a date to but not so much that it's cheesier than brie, Le Pichet fits the bill. Make reservations though and allow yourself plenty of time to park since it's one block away from Pike's Place Market. C'est magnifique!

http://lepichetseattle.com/home/

Luck of the Irish

Let me preface this by saying I am truly not a fan of "Irish Cuisine" so my review of Fado in Seattle is not really one that is going to hold much clout among my fellow foodies. I will tell you though that the Fado Irish Coffee is definitely worth trying even if you aren't freezing while wandering the city. It is a delectable blend of whiskey, brown sugar, coffee, and topped with whipped cream. Really, you can't go wrong with an alcoholic beverage that includes both coffee and whipped cream. My meal was tasty, but not traditional Irish fare. I ordered the Tomato Mozzarella Baguette. Don't judge me. I love caprese style food and that is what I happened to be craving that day. Before you totally give up on this post, my partner ordered the Corned Beef and Cabbage Boxty and assured me it was "better than expected for an Irish restaurant". I took his word for it as I despise both corned beef and cooked cabbage (my ancestors are disowning me at this point). The mustard sauce that came on it did smell tasty and the beer he ordered reminded us why we tolerate Irish food: because their beer is good!

Fado's atmosphere feels like you are hanging out in an old pub amongst friends and our server was absolutely delightful. They are also known for their live music scene, which I have yet to check out although I have heard this is a good venue for it. Every Seattlite should experience this place at least once as part of being/becoming a local.

http://www.fadoirishpub.com/seattle/

Pho Sure You've Got to Try This Place!

The day I walked around the International District I probably passed by this place a few times without even realizing it. Judging from the outside, it is not a place I would typically stop to grab lunch at, but the significant other was hungry when we finished our self-guided tour and I told him to follow his nose. The nearby pizza place with Asian inspired toppings smelled good right as I said this, but ultimately his sense of smell led us to the nondescript, no frills, almost scary looking Pho Bac.

Upon walking in the door I began to replay a conversation with a friend of mine about the authenticity of Vietnamese food in the International District of Seattle. Her advice at the time was to make sure you go with someone who can read the menu because you never know what might show up in your pho if you don't (her husband is Vietnamese so she has an instant safety net when dining out in that neighborhood). My liking of pho is a fairly recent discovery so I was a bit apprehensive as my palate is not as adventurous as my partner's. I thought for sure I was in trouble when I asked a question about which dish I should order to the proprietor and I was not sure what he responded with let alone what I had just ordered. Luckily, my ignorance was indeed bliss as a steaming plate of stir-fried noodles and beef was placed in front of me and I proceeded to enjoy a truly fantastic meal. The bite/slurp I had of pho was great as well, but my dish was a plate of siracha infused endorphins disguised as noodles.

Takeaway lesson: don't judge a book by its cover, or in this case, a restaurant by its humble presentation. Pho Bac in Seattle's International District is definitely a place I want to eat at again.

Beers Galore!

If you are ever wandering downtown Seattle and think to yourself, "I could really go for a locally brewed, high alcohol content beer right now" then might I recommend swaggering into The Pike Brewing Company. Conveniently located on 1st Avenue and part of the infamous Pike Place Market, this brew pub is a great way to wrap up a long day of showing the tourists how it's done here in the Emerald City. Their beer makes wading through the multitudes taking pictures at Rachel the Pig and clogging the doorways while hot guys throw fish more tolerable. Careful not to enjoy too much though because the stairs leading into Pike Brewing can be quite precarious after consuming The Pike Sampler, not that I know from experience (wink).

Speaking of sampler, they are not fooling around on the portion size. The "sampler" consists of six Pike beers in generous little glasses. I did not eat while here, but I highly recommend ordering some sort of snack to accompany your beer unless you plan on getting a ride home or can walk home from the pub. I have eaten there in the past and it is standard bar fare, meaning nothing super notable compared to the brews. My personal favorite was The Naughty Nellie, both for the name and the ale flavor. At any rate, you have plenty of different beer options to choose from (something for everyone, and that's coming from a non beer lover) so if you find yourself falling in love with one (or three), be sure to get a growler of it to enjoy at home.

http://www.pikebrewing.com/

Grand Central Awesomeness!

So nice, I've been there thrice. What is this haven of baked goods and beautiful coffee? Why, Grand Central Bakery, of course!

Located in the rectangle of Pioneer Square is this passageway to pastry heaven. Grand Central specializes in artisan breads and other assorted baked goods from scratch. They also have a cafe menu with some interesting sandwiches available. My experience with them was love at first sip. The atmosphere is also what keeps me going back and singing its praises to the multitudes. The music is loud, the baristas sing along, the customers laugh and have a good time, and the bakery smells give you a euphoric contact high.

Couple that with the cozy yet spacious dining area and it's way more fun than eating grocery store croissants at home while drinking from the coffee pot.

The lattes are like artwork with their milky designs on top, making me feel special as the one who is about to partake of it. "You made that leaf just for me?" And even though that's standard with their drinks, that's how the staff at Grand Central Bakery makes you feel. The pastries are so flaky you'll definitely need more than one napkin (so you can clean yourself up and the mess you make on the table). Biting into their confectionery delights is like hosting a holiday party on your tongue. It's that enjoyable. If you are going to venture to try lunch there (and I certainly hope you do), I recommend the Mediterranean Tosti. It is action packed with cheese and the kalamata olives give it a crave-able touch. Make sure you pick up a cookie or a pastry for dessert. It would be a tragedy if you passed up the opportunity to eat fresh, buttery sweetness to balance out the savory sandwich. If you decide you can't live without Grand Central baked goods in your home, they have loaves of happiness available for purchase so you can make your own fantastic sandwiches (that seriously will probably not be nearly as good as theirs so you might as well plan on going back again).

Make sure you pick up a punch card while there as well. You'll need it once you try this place.

http://www.grandcentralbakery.com/home

Salut and Bienvenido!

The concept of this blog was envisioned upon wandering around Seattle with my partner in culinary crime, Jacob. You see, two years ago, prior to either of us living anywhere near the Seattle metro area, I gifted Jacob a deck of very special cards. Upon each of these cards is a different walk around the area with various points of interest and there is always at least restaurant, cafe, or bar on the majority of the 50 different walks. Fast forward 2 years and 3 moves later and here I am, back in Seattle for the third (don't judge) time by way of Boise, Scottsdale, and Glendale, AZ. We have been consistently working our way through the walks and like the photography nerd I am, I have been documenting our adventures. Not only that, but we try to make it a point to try a new eating or drinking establishment in each area we visit. Even more fantastic, we also try to make it a point to try foods we typically wouldn't be eating at home. Since I enjoy cooking, eating, drinking, writing, and photography, I thought "Hey, I should blog about the places we try!" as though becoming a self-appointed food critic is a newfangled idea. So, here you go: a culmination of my opinions, pictures, and thoughts as I munch and caffeinate myself through this amazing culinary oasis. I have obviously read too much Anthony Bourdain recently so I apologize in advance as we are almost halfway through the deck and I am about to attempt to "catch up" on reviewing places I've been to thus far.