SEATTLE - July 2015
Paul and I have wanted to visit the Northwest for a long time. We made it our priority this summer and I loved all the food from beginning to end!
Flying from Memphis to Seattle with a stop in Chicago I had a delicious smoked turkey, brie, basil and red pepper sandwich with hummus and Dijon mustard Kettle chips as sides. I ran to Nuts on Clark quickly for a mixed bag of caramel and cheddar popcorn before I boarded my flight from Chicago to Seattle. I was glad I brought along so much food for the four-hour flight.
My flight got in earlier to Seattle than Paul's so I walked to Pike Street immediately. The Pike Place Market is
amazing! The food choices are astounding. I went in Tully's coffee for a strawberry smoothie and it was amazing. I went to Top Pot Doughnut Shop and had a cornmeal flour and marionberry doughnut. Yummy and filling. For dinner Paul and I went to the Palace Restaurant on 5th Street where we had the most amazing appetizers. We had small cheese biscuits stuffed with whole kalamata olives and
cream cheese. We had lavender goat cheese fondue with the freshest blueberries,
strawberries, cherries and apricots. Paul ate a giant Idaho beef burger with
long crunchy French fries. I would love to revisit this restaurant.
Saturday
Paul and I walked to the Pike Place Market to explore. We found Holy Cow
records, a map shop, a vintage poster shop and one million places to eat. We
walked toward the aquarium and decided on a sourdough joint that sold sandwiches
and clam chowder. I had a veggie omelette and a bowl of chowder that was so
full of flavor. Paul had a very crunchy sourdough Reuben panini. We walked to
2nd Ave for another record shop and took an ice cream break in Bluebird Ice Cream for
marionberry ice cream. Then we hopped in the car and found Ballard where Paul
visited Bebop Records while I ran to and from Cupcake Royale gluten-free cupcakes, Ballard
Coffee and the Secret Garden Bookstore. We drove all over the university
district and then drove slowly down Ballard Street where we discovered the most
delicious sushi restaurant, Shiku.
Sunday Paul and I woke up early to go to the Space Needle. The tickets were booked up to 6:00PM so we toured the Chihuly
Museum while we were there and then walked to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch.
I hadn't had the shepherd's pie in a long time so I ordered that with the Asian
lettuce wraps. Then Paul and I jumped in the car again and discovered West
Seattle's Easy Street record store. There was a large farmer's market happening
when we arrived so we explored it and I bought some Rainier cherries that are
delicious. We took a break at the hotel and then drove back to Ballard for
Veraci's pizza which was stone oven baked delicious. Then we went back to the
cute shops and record stores on Market Street nearby and talked for a while to
the owner of Bebop Records. We ended the evening walking to the Starbuck's next
to the Original Starbuck's to get a New York Times and a snack. I watched the
Kardashians until I fell asleep.
Monday was our day to drive out of the city
and get out in nature. We drove to Ape Cave at the foot of Mt Saint Helen's
three hours away. It was nice to see the gigantic evergreens along the highway
and when we stopped for a quick lunch at Subway I discovered they have
gluten-free bread. I had a delicious BLT with jalapeño peppers and a bag of
Doritoes on our drive up the volcano. Paul loved the cave and since we were
only 45 minutes from Portland, I asked if we could drive over and find some food
trucks like the ones I've seen on food shows about Portland. We went to
Hawthorne Street and found a small rodeo of Egyptian food, French crepes, pizza,
Mexican food and a potato mash specialties truck. I inhaled a huge plate of
Middle Eastern goodness and Paul had a lamb sandwich. We ordered two crepes
that were heavenly!! We had one with Nutella, strawberries and bananas and
another with goat cheese, cran jelly and plantains. I liked both but Paul went
insane for the Nutella one! We were only in Portland for an hour but I know I
want to return. I want to know all the food secrets the hipsters know. We
drove back to Seattle and found a delicious Mexican restaurant close to our
hotel: Cantina Lena. Pronounced Leenya. We ordered a trio of cheddar cheese
dip, cotija cheese dip and guacamole and to be healthy, an order of maple
chipotle carrots and garlic kale with tomatoes. This food was insanely good and
we washed it down with a shared pineapple jalapeño margarita. We passed out
when we got back to the room.
Tuesday morning Paul went scuba diving in Puget
Sound. I started my morning with an orange scone and coffee from Top Pot
Doughnuts and then walked to Pike Place Market. I ordered an iced coffee from
Tully's and bought a bag of coffee beans. I went in every store that was open
in the market and along 1st Street. I watched the market vendors set up their
wares. I stopped in Anthropologie, Zara, Lush and several bookstores, a map
store and Sur la Table. At 11:00 I had delicious falafel and hummus at Egg and
Plant Vegetarian on 5th Ave. Then I stopped in Far Eats for Indian food that was
sadly very mediocre. Paul came back from scuba diving and we went to a truly
amazing restaurant, Local 360. I had a beet salad with sheep's milk cheese and
hazelnuts. I also tried the PBJ bon bons which were fried bread balls stuffed
with warm, oozing peanut butter nestled on small puddles of raspberry jelly with
a cold milk shooter on the side. I have to return someday. Paul and I then
visited the aquarium and truly enjoyed the otters and the puffins playing in the
water. We spent some more time at Pike Place Market and then took a break at
the hotel. For dinner we had a perfect final meal in Seattle. We went to
"Little France" on Pine Street and dined at Cafe Compagne. We started with the
cheese plate (instead of ending the meal with cheese the way the French do.) The
Roquefort, goat cheese, and Manchego came with a freshly made apricot confit. I
nearly died with every bite. The table baguette was crunchy and delicious. I
had the steak frites with bleu cheese butter. Then for dessert we shared a
cherry clafoutis topped with chantilly cream and a serving of cherry ice cream
with a sable breton cookie on top. This meal easily goes down as one of my top
50 ever. I can't wait to return.
Seattle was so much fun. I loved the laid back vibe and the friendliness of the locals. What a wonderful city.
Paul and I have wanted to visit the Northwest for a long time. We made it our priority this summer and I loved all the food from beginning to end!
Flying from Memphis to Seattle with a stop in Chicago I had a delicious smoked turkey, brie, basil and red pepper sandwich with hummus and Dijon mustard Kettle chips as sides. I ran to Nuts on Clark quickly for a mixed bag of caramel and cheddar popcorn before I boarded my flight from Chicago to Seattle. I was glad I brought along so much food for the four-hour flight.
My flight got in earlier to Seattle than Paul's so I walked to Pike Street immediately. The Pike Place Market is
amazing! The food choices are astounding. I went in Tully's coffee for a strawberry smoothie and it was amazing. I went to Top Pot Doughnut Shop and had a cornmeal flour and marionberry doughnut. Yummy and filling. For dinner Paul and I went to the Palace Restaurant on 5th Street where we had the most amazing appetizers. We had small cheese biscuits stuffed with whole kalamata olives and
cream cheese. We had lavender goat cheese fondue with the freshest blueberries,
strawberries, cherries and apricots. Paul ate a giant Idaho beef burger with
long crunchy French fries. I would love to revisit this restaurant.
Saturday
Paul and I walked to the Pike Place Market to explore. We found Holy Cow
records, a map shop, a vintage poster shop and one million places to eat. We
walked toward the aquarium and decided on a sourdough joint that sold sandwiches
and clam chowder. I had a veggie omelette and a bowl of chowder that was so
full of flavor. Paul had a very crunchy sourdough Reuben panini. We walked to
2nd Ave for another record shop and took an ice cream break in Bluebird Ice Cream for
marionberry ice cream. Then we hopped in the car and found Ballard where Paul
visited Bebop Records while I ran to and from Cupcake Royale gluten-free cupcakes, Ballard
Coffee and the Secret Garden Bookstore. We drove all over the university
district and then drove slowly down Ballard Street where we discovered the most
delicious sushi restaurant, Shiku.
Sunday Paul and I woke up early to go to the Space Needle. The tickets were booked up to 6:00PM so we toured the Chihuly
Museum while we were there and then walked to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch.
I hadn't had the shepherd's pie in a long time so I ordered that with the Asian
lettuce wraps. Then Paul and I jumped in the car again and discovered West
Seattle's Easy Street record store. There was a large farmer's market happening
when we arrived so we explored it and I bought some Rainier cherries that are
delicious. We took a break at the hotel and then drove back to Ballard for
Veraci's pizza which was stone oven baked delicious. Then we went back to the
cute shops and record stores on Market Street nearby and talked for a while to
the owner of Bebop Records. We ended the evening walking to the Starbuck's next
to the Original Starbuck's to get a New York Times and a snack. I watched the
Kardashians until I fell asleep.
Monday was our day to drive out of the city
and get out in nature. We drove to Ape Cave at the foot of Mt Saint Helen's
three hours away. It was nice to see the gigantic evergreens along the highway
and when we stopped for a quick lunch at Subway I discovered they have
gluten-free bread. I had a delicious BLT with jalapeño peppers and a bag of
Doritoes on our drive up the volcano. Paul loved the cave and since we were
only 45 minutes from Portland, I asked if we could drive over and find some food
trucks like the ones I've seen on food shows about Portland. We went to
Hawthorne Street and found a small rodeo of Egyptian food, French crepes, pizza,
Mexican food and a potato mash specialties truck. I inhaled a huge plate of
Middle Eastern goodness and Paul had a lamb sandwich. We ordered two crepes
that were heavenly!! We had one with Nutella, strawberries and bananas and
another with goat cheese, cran jelly and plantains. I liked both but Paul went
insane for the Nutella one! We were only in Portland for an hour but I know I
want to return. I want to know all the food secrets the hipsters know. We
drove back to Seattle and found a delicious Mexican restaurant close to our
hotel: Cantina Lena. Pronounced Leenya. We ordered a trio of cheddar cheese
dip, cotija cheese dip and guacamole and to be healthy, an order of maple
chipotle carrots and garlic kale with tomatoes. This food was insanely good and
we washed it down with a shared pineapple jalapeño margarita. We passed out
when we got back to the room.
Tuesday morning Paul went scuba diving in Puget
Sound. I started my morning with an orange scone and coffee from Top Pot
Doughnuts and then walked to Pike Place Market. I ordered an iced coffee from
Tully's and bought a bag of coffee beans. I went in every store that was open
in the market and along 1st Street. I watched the market vendors set up their
wares. I stopped in Anthropologie, Zara, Lush and several bookstores, a map
store and Sur la Table. At 11:00 I had delicious falafel and hummus at Egg and
Plant Vegetarian on 5th Ave. Then I stopped in Far Eats for Indian food that was
sadly very mediocre. Paul came back from scuba diving and we went to a truly
amazing restaurant, Local 360. I had a beet salad with sheep's milk cheese and
hazelnuts. I also tried the PBJ bon bons which were fried bread balls stuffed
with warm, oozing peanut butter nestled on small puddles of raspberry jelly with
a cold milk shooter on the side. I have to return someday. Paul and I then
visited the aquarium and truly enjoyed the otters and the puffins playing in the
water. We spent some more time at Pike Place Market and then took a break at
the hotel. For dinner we had a perfect final meal in Seattle. We went to
"Little France" on Pine Street and dined at Cafe Compagne. We started with the
cheese plate (instead of ending the meal with cheese the way the French do.) The
Roquefort, goat cheese, and Manchego came with a freshly made apricot confit. I
nearly died with every bite. The table baguette was crunchy and delicious. I
had the steak frites with bleu cheese butter. Then for dessert we shared a
cherry clafoutis topped with chantilly cream and a serving of cherry ice cream
with a sable breton cookie on top. This meal easily goes down as one of my top
50 ever. I can't wait to return.
Seattle was so much fun. I loved the laid back vibe and the friendliness of the locals. What a wonderful city.
Ballard Street. I loved this whole neighborhood and the sushi at Shiku was amazing. These scallops in spoons were heavenly.
Cantina Lena on 5th Ave. This trio of appetizers with the spicy pineapple margarita - delicious!
Local 360 on 1st Ave
Clafoutis and cherry ice cream at Café Compagne on Pine Street.
Treats from local doughnut chain, Top Pot Doughnuts.
Marionberry ice cream at Bluebird Ice Cream with my hubby.
Pike Place Market - Holy Moly! I could live at this place and wander around the hidden corners of this market forever. What a great old market!
This trip to Seattle was amazing! Below are some other pictures I took in and around Seattle.
