As you may know, Dear Readers, I love Seattle. It’s one of my favorite cities. My son and his family live there and I was just back in that neck of the Pacific North Woods to pay an early Mother’s Day visit to my eight month old grandson, Hendrix.
(Since I have been enjoined by my son from putting up any of Hendrix’s photographs, I thought you might as well enjoy an historic glimpse of the guy who inspired his name.)
And since I can’t show how adorable Hendrix was (his doctor says he has an unusual number of teeth!) I thought I’d share another highlight of my journey.
The food.
OMG.
This town is a foodie’s delight.
So loosen your belts and get ready to pull up a chair to the dining table.
Let’s start with my traditional first stop-
This place is a veritable Aladdin’s cave disguised as a supermarket.
They have EVERYTHING a gourmand’s heart could desire. And it’s open 24/7.
They have gourmet cheese and charcuterie, olive and pickle bars, a fabulous wine shop, poke bars, soup bars, noodle bars, an unbelievable assortment of prepared hot foods, cold salads, candy and pastries to tempt the most discerning of sweet teeth.
The choices are limitless and the quality of the comestibles superb. My gang and I hit it up for lunch practically every day we were in Seattle.
We had:
- Chicken salad
- Cold Peanut Noodles
- Soba noodles
- Thai Chicken Wrap
- Nasi Goreng
- Cold snap Pea vinaigrette salad
- Sushi
- Assorted peppadew peppers, cornichons and olives
- Parmesan Cheese Toast
- Chocolate-covered caramel and chocolate-covered almonds
Lunch was easy. There never had to be a consensus. Everybody wanted something different and they made for their choices like homing pigeons. We would then convene on the outside deck and enjoy our picnic under azure blue Seattle skies.
Bliss.
You notice I left out the baked goods.
That’s because we’d have our just desserts at two places.
Let’s start with the fabulous- and famous- Bakery Nouveau.
Their sweets are delish…
But their savories are too die for!
They make a ham and cheese croissant that’s unbelieavble. Ditto their quiches.
And take it from this Chicago girl.
Let ’em eat pizza!
But we play fair and alternate our precious dessert time with Pike Place Bakery at Pike Place Market.
If you want apple fritters and caramel rolls and cinnamon rolls stuffed with cream cheese and chocolate chips and cookie of every description and all the size of your head- brother, this is your place.
Spoiler Alert: I just gained three pounds merely inserting these photos into this post. Proceed there the next time you’re in Seattle at your own diet’s peril.
But speaking of Pike Place Market, here’s a stand that I always try to hit up at least once during my Seattle sojourn.
I always get the fried prawns and fries.
FYI: Jack’s tartar sauce is the best I have ever eaten. I could dip the paper boat in it after I’ve finished the shrimp.
But Jack’s is not open for dinner.
Not to worry, Dear Readers. I’ve got a couple of dinner places up my sleeve.
The first is another soundalike- Jak’s Grill.
There are three locations but we go to the one in West Seattle. Located right on the main drag- California Avenue- Jak’s is always jumping.
They don’t take reservations, alas, but the thing that makes it so worth the (short) wait is the steak sandwich.
No, it’s not Gibson’s or Mastros’s or Steak 48, but it’s yummy and way easier on the wallet. And the au jus is au just right.
My final dinner must-stop is a real joint.
This is the dive bar to end all dive bars and kind of off the beaten path in an industrial-sort of neighborhood but the food is in the same league as Beinlich’s.
My companions and I devoured:
- Tavern Burger Single
- A Double Cheeseburger
- Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
- Fish and Chips
- Salmon Salad
- Loaded Baked Potato
- Fries
To die for.
Now you’ll have to excuse me. It’s time for me to get back on the treadmill. I’ve got one more fried prawn to work off before I head to Boston.
See you all here back on Sunday, May 27.
Now here’s some Seattle soft food porn to enjoy while I’m away.
Ciao- and chow!
Surely, you can get permission again to send me a picture of your darling “perfect” grandson via email. I’ll bet he really is cute. I’d love to see a picture of eight month old Hendrix.
Your post today made me really hungry for so many things not available in my farmer/trucker city of about 40,000.
Thanks, Susan. I would be delighted to oblige. And as for the relative slim pickings in your adoptive home town- let’s do some eating damage next time you come to Chicago. Or Seattle. 😊👍🍔
Thanks for travel/food advice. We are consider going to Seattle at the end of the summer and driving into Canada, so this increased the likely hood. Good food is a top priority.
Omg! Great food – and can I go with?
That would be nice but we wouldn’t want to make the boyfriend jealous.
Aw let him bring his own girl. 😊
We lived in Seattle for 14 years and I still dream of the Seafood Bisque from Pike Place Chowder.
My wife and I moved from Chicago to Seattle in 1989. Thought it would be a good place to raise the kids (it was) and we had a little family there. But if you ever think to move there beware. People are NOT friendly. they are just very polite. Finally, Seattle is a big town. But it is just a town. I prefer cities, that’s why we moved to L.A.
If you ever come to L.A. again let me know. We could meet for lunch.
Thanks, Barry. I’ve never been able to make it to Pike Place Chowder. The line is always too long.
And you’re right about “town” versus “city.” I’m a city mouse, myself.
You’re on. I ❤️ LA.