Thai in the Hood: Pinkaew. Needed a change in cuisine and this place has gotten good reviews so, it was close by and, we needed some Thai. It didn’t disappoint…one...

Fast food: Chick-fil-A. Sometimes you just need some and we needed it this day. My choice is usually the spicy fried chicken sandwich. I have to say, it’s always good...

Takeaway: Tam Noodle Box. Recommended by a colleague and it was spot on. This place is all about wok prepared noodles…multiple choices to which you add a protein…chicken, pork, shrimp...

German food in Norway: Tizley’s Europub. What?…yep even though the town was founded by a Norwegian and has a Scandinavian theme this place has pretty authentic German cuisine. Perfect spot...

On the Eastside: Nasai Teriyaki. Not our usual go to for this Japanese staple but our local source was closed the day we needed a teriyaki fix so we gave...

Quick cup before the pass: Farmer Joe’s Espresso Stand. Very near Smallwood’s Harvest and Silvara Winery so it’s a very convenient stop before you start the drive back home. Very...

In the hood: Pleasant Beach Donuts. Seem to be sold out when we usually think of visiting but this day we arrived in the late afternoon and there was still...

An old favorite: Pagliacci. Needed a change so why not back to the future? A Seattle original with locations all around but it’s been a few years since we’ve experienced...

Coffee stop: Ristretto Coffee Lounge and Wine Bar. Nice relaxing spot for a cup of coffee or espresso on a wet, cold day. In addition to java they also have baked...

Small Plates on 55th: Ebb & Co. First noticed this new place a few months ago and finally got a chance to experience their offerings. I wish I hadn’t taken...

Mid ride: Sandy’s Espresso and Café. Stopped by this nice little spot with friendly staff and good espresso during a recent bike ride in the area. In addition to java,...

Chuckanut Brewery: South Nut. Quick stop after a bike ride in the Skagit Valley for a cider…or beer…they have all manner of choices. Very friendly staff so give them a...

Le Grand Tour: Skagit Valley Farm Stands. Not a recipe or a restaurant but without these places we have no food or flowers. This day we visited: Mossy Gate Flower...

Takeaway: New Orleans style Po Boy. Part of Ethan Stowell Restaurants this popup was all about New Orleans style Po Boys. You order online for a specific pickup time then...

Takeaway: Lobster Roll. Part of Ethan Stowell Restaurants this popup was all about lobster…whole or on a roll. You order online for a specific pickup time then show up just...

When you’re in the area check out this bakery: The North Bend Bakery (formerly Georgia’s and George’s). It’s been in the same location for 90 years so it’s a bit...

Takeaway: Grand Central Baking Co. This location, in the Wedgewood neighborhood, has been there for about a year but this was our first visit to this location. My sandwich choice...

Filipino takeaway: Archipelago. Before COVID-19 hit, I had snagged a very hard to come by reservation at this well regarded restaurant with terribly limited seating. Alas….the reservation was cancelled so...

Takeaway: Mean Sandwich. COVD pandemic continues making take away the best option.  This is a place that gets great reviews and has been on my list to visit. Very efficient...

Quarantine: Takeout or pickup. Here are links to previous reviews of places that have indicated, at the time of this post, that they are open during our stay at home...

Cider and beer in abundance: Sixknot Taphouse. Very nice spot for a beer or cider after skiing or hiking with over 40 choices on tap! They also offer a menu...

Sun Mountain Lodge: The Dining Room and Bar. Dining, gorgeous views and skiing all in one. Typical menu choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner with very good protein bowls, of...

Always need more chocolate: Recchiuti Confections. Having bumped into this place more than once while in the Ferry Building and being amazed by the unique selections and wanting to give...

Looking for some Q: Meaty Johnson’s. Described as Seattle BBQ…whatever that is, the meat is smoked in house…on the second floor no less! Three types of sauce are offered…mild, medium...

Bakery and a cup of Joe: Kringles Bakery. Happened to be in the neighborhood and having a kringle seemed like a great diversion before returning home. Nice selection of baked...

Going home: Sip Munch and More. Terminal B near the Alaska gates at Reagan and needed a glass…or 3. Visit website...

Chef’s choice: Nina May. What’s chef’s choice you ask? A fixed menu of 4 items, 2 from the regular menu and 2 from the chef’s imagination that day. But, that...

On the way: Roadhouse Restaurant and Inn. First built early in the last century it’s been renovated several times and still serves as an Inn. On the first floor is...

A bit of hygge in SLU: Café Hagen. Opened for just a few months and located very near REI this is a perfect spot for breakfast, brunch, lunch or early...

What…another coffee spot in Seattle: Armistice Coffee Roaster. Nice new place just off 65th with not only coffee, espresso, etc. but also a full bar and…they know how to steam...

Pizza in south Birmingham: Pizzeria GM. First off, they have a pizza oven…not wood fired but a nice oven and the service could not have been better or more pleasant....

Upscale chain: BrickTop’s. One of those places that has a bit of everything and it’s all good but nothing was particularly memorable because of that approach. There are over a...

Brunch Italian or Southern style: Trattoria ZaZa. Since pizza is on the menu I guess the best way to describe this place is Italian with a Southern touch. It’s small...

Stupendous seafood: Automatic Seafood & Oysters. Opened in April 2019 with up and coming star chef Adam Evans at the helm. It has been an early hit in the land...

They might not have it: Crú. Flight delayed for 3 hours and it was right across from my gate on Concourse B so…why not! Concept is similar to Vino Volo...

Peruvian food in the heart of cheesesteak country: Vista Peru. Last minutes decision….we were looking for a place that could accommodate at least 8 people on a Saturday night and...

Nice little spot for coffee: KáVé. Just barely out of town on the way to Manson and the parking lot is a bit tricky so when you see it start...

Jianbing: Me and Crêpe. Started in Richmond BC and more recently has moved into Shanghai…reverse migration. This location, in Bellevue Square, open in the spring of last year. There are...

The other half: Salish Lodge Dining Room. We usually visit the Attic but decided on the more formal Dining Room for brunch…and the Attic doesn’t serve breakfast on weekdays. It...

University Village Sushi: Bamboo Sushi. Located in the space formerly occupied by Blue C Sushi, they are a Portland chain that promotes sustainable seafood/sushi. The space is much nicer than...

Japanese sandos: Tres Sandwich House. Recommended by my daughter, who is a bit of all things Japanese nut, it’s a great find in south Bellevue…you have to want to go...

Afternoon cup of joe: Stone Way Cafe. Just happened across this popular spot and decided to give it a try. We weren’t disappointed. They know how to steam milk here…including...

Quick stop for lunch: Homegrown. One of about a dozen outlets in the metro area this visit was to the University Village location. They are all about sustainable local food...

A bit of Bainbridge Island: Café Hitchcock. Part of the growing Hitchcock group of restaurants, this one is downtown in the Exchange Building. Nice space for a quick bite for...

State Hotel: Ben Paris. The name may seem a bit odd but there was a Ben Paris, a well known Seattle sportsman who had a restaurant of similar name located...

Out shopping: Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya. This is chain from Tokyo that has a number of outlets in the Seattle metro area. Our visit was to the Bellevue Square location....

They know how to steam milk: Diva Espresso Kenmore. Located in The Hanger this is another of about a 1/2 dozen locations of this coffee roaster and purveyor of all...

Group dinner: La Cocina Oaxaqueña. Dinner for about a dozen but we ordered from the standard menu so I feel more confident in my impressions. It’s a relatively small place on...

Even on a cold day it’s good: Kpaw’s Iskreme. Small but usually busy place in this small island town. They have a nice selection of ice cream with handmade waffle...

Eurasian fusion: Cook Weaver. Reading about this place I was intrigued by the description of the food as well as the space. Apparently the building was built in 1930….wouldn’t know...

Needs a little prep: Rain Shadow Meats. Grab some charcuterie…..gotta try the chicken liver paté…. and a steak for later and you’re all set. Friendly service with reasonable prices. Visit...

Java and pastries: Broadcast Coffee. This is the location of their roastery. They also have a couple more locations around the city. The pastries were outstanding, in particular the Queen...

Maybe the best biscuit in Seattle: Marmite. Hard to get a great biscuit in Seattle but this has to be one of the best. Made all the better by the...

Right on Main Street: Looking Glass Coffee. Nice little spot with good espresso and inhouse made donuts! The espresso is on the dark and moody side with serious pulls so...

An old standby: Dahlia Bakery. It’s all about the triple coconut cream pie….for which they are famous but, they have a number of other great choices as well. This time...

New spot, old name: Uncle Lee’s Kitchen. It used to be located about a mile away but recently moved and reopened a few weeks ago at this site. Same food...

Artisan fast food pizza: MOD Pizza. All made to order….from any of 30 toppings and in a pizza oven no less! It’s Seattle based but they have over 300 locations...

Food truck popup: Random Acts of Food. Everyone was going crazy for the deep fried Brussel sprouts with sea salt and lime so I had to give them a try....

Airport food: Cat Cora’s Kitchen. Located in terminal 2 at SFO near the Alaska Airline gates. The seafood paella needed some salt but considering it was airport food; not bad....

Classic waterfront spot: Scoma’s. There’s been a building on this site since the late 1800s and this second site of the San Francisco restaurant by the same name has been...

Beautiful spot: Farley Bar. Nice option versus the more formal restaurant across the hall….and much less “stuffy”. Started with the oysters…..made by the shallot mignonette; followed by the burrata with...

It’s about the view: The View. Typical bar food which was quite good but, it’s all about the view….not to be missed on your next visit to SFO! Located at...

A view to die for: Hog Island Oyster Co. This is the original location and it’s right on SFO Bay so, eat outside if you can. Oysters are the thing...

It’s all about the bread: Tartine Manufactory. A well known bakery in SFO with several locations, we visited the original in the Mission District which also has an associated restaurant...

Unique experience: Sheba Piano Lounge. Think Ethiopian, lounge, piano and jazz and you should have a clear picture of this place. No you say. Read on. Visiting the city for...

A favorite spot: Tartine Bakery. Gotta look for this place….between the Mission District and The Castro. It’s a small place so be prepared to wait…to order and find a seat…but...

Nice breakfast spot: Feed Café. Nice space it what appears to have been a barn in times past. Very solid food described as artisan comfort…with large portions…..and with a few...

Popular spot for breakfast: Little Star Diner. It’s fairly small and the wait can be long….45 minutes the morning we visited…but it is well worth the wait. This is another...

Beer after the slopes: Beehive Basin Brewery. A small microbrewery near the base at Big Sky offering some unique brews. The Mother’s Milk Stout on nitro was very good and...

It’s downtown: Lola’s. I wanted an experience off the strip and this is not only off the strip but offers an off the strip food experience as well….think NOLA in...

Hard to come up for air: Deep Dive. For sure the most unique bar in Seattle. It’s located below the Amazon Spheres and has the feel of a dark undersea...

Blueberries any way you want: Bow Hill Blueberries. Stop by for a tasting….including pickled….or just go to pick your fill. This place has blueberries done in ways you may haven’t...

Another spot for cheese: Samish Bay Cheese. Very nice spot to do a cheese tasting on your way to pick blueberries in the Skagit Valley. It’s all organic and made...

No bike this time: Duvall Tavern. We were visiting this small town just east of the metro area and stopped in to checkout this “world famous since 1934” establishment in...

Sushi on the Ave: KU. Started the afternoon at The Mountaineering Club and caped off the day with a bit of sushi……more precisely….rolls (maki). This is a small place just...

Wine anyone? Slough Food. Nice little spot to pick up some wine, cheese and charcuterie for later…or enjoy it in their courtyard. They also offer soups, salads and sandwiches. This...

Continuing our tour of northwest Washington: Breadfarm. Nice little artisan bakery in the heart of a nice, interesting little village in the Skagit Valley. While we didn’t have their bread,...

Who knew: Boxx Berry Farm Market. Happened upon this place driving the backroads of northwestern Washington and stopped in just to see what they had to offer. This is a...

Dessert: Lynden Dutch Bakery. Had lunch at JoFish and saved room for a Dutch treat…or 2! Our choice wasn’t so Dutch but more local….the caramel apple pie, made from local...

Seafood in cow country: JoFish Seafood & Grill. Beautiful small town near the Canadian border originally populated by people of Dutch ancestry. The downtown area is full of Dutch architecture,...

Go to place near Mt Baker: The North Fork Brewery. Neapolitan style pizza with a few other choices such as salads and lasagna. And then there is the beer. Nice...

On the bike again: Snohomish Bakery. Weather was awful so we stopped to dry out and refuel. Nice spot with reasonable espresso and a good selection of pastries. Visit website...

Waiting for the ferry: Port Townsend Vineyards Wine Plaza. Nice spot with drop dead views of the Sound…and the wines aren’t bad either. Fruit is locally sourced so expect cold weather...

Carb loading: Bella Italia. Classic Italian restaurant located downtown near the waterfront. Had a ride up Hurricane Ridge the next morning and this seemed like a good option. Started with...

Pizza on the Peninsula: Hillbottom Pie. On my way to ride to the top of Hurricane Ridge and I needed some carbo loading. Nice little spot in the historic district...

Brewpub in B’ham: Aslan Brewing Co. For my Alabama followers, no this isn’t in Birmingham…..Bellingham instead….which my PNW followers will immediately recognize. I’ve been here a couple of times and...

Popular Brewery: Populuxe Brewing. The Tide faithful gathered here to kick off the football season and there’s nothing like beer and biscuits to get you in the mood…..especially if the...

Unbelievable food: ChoLon. This is a place you must try next time you are in Denver. I’m occasionally asked what my favorite cuisine is and I usually struggle to answer...

Beer anyone: Denver Microbrew Tour. Visited 4 different places on our tour with Matt….he was and excellent guide. We sampled 2 to 3 beers at each stop and my favorite was...

Excellent dinner for 20: Rioja. Described as Mediterranean it leans Spanish and there is a broad selection offered which should please everyone in your crowd. While this was a large...

Open for 23 years: Potager. Picked this place based on the menu, which seemed interesting, and the fact that it had been in business in a residential area of Denver...

Went to see the glass beach: North Coast Brewing Co. The beer is great and the food…..bar food….with huge portions. No way to eat the whole jumbo shrimp platter. All the...

Nice spot for breakfast and some Joe: Black Oak Coffee Roasters. They roast their own beans onsite and have a nice choice of breakfast items including bagels and burritos. Extensive...

Interesting place: The Golden Pig. Just south of Ukiah and yes, the name is correctly spelled and…..yes, the town’s claim to fame was hops. But, no longer…production was halted in...

It never disappoints: Westward. The space is outstanding and one of the best places in Seattle for dining outside. Right on the north shore of Lake Union with great views of...

Passing through: Bird and The Bottle. We were on the way to a wedding and needed something before our road trip north. Nice space with a deck overlooking a busy...

You gotta go for the views: Mountaineering Club. There has been a real stir recently about this bar on the rooftop of the Graduate Hotel in the U District and...

Another bike stop: Proper Joe. About the midpoint of our ride north and it seemed like a good place to try….there are a number in this small town just north...

Soft opening: Dough Zone. There are about a 1/2 dozen locations of this local chain in the Seattle metro area and I recently visited the newest addition…downtown….for their soft opening....

Dandan Noodles: 7 Stars Pepper. My first experience with these noodles was in China a few years back and I’d been looking to find them in the US ever since....