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....

Classic brew pub: Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro. Visit on a Monday night if you can….it’s Irish and Folk night….live music in the park next door. Nothing like a beer...

Quick stop for a cup of Joe: Terre Coffee & Bakery. As most of you know, I’m partial to chocolate….but not the white kind. Is it even chocolate? I think...

Delightful little spot: Farm to Market Bakery. A bit off the beaten path but worth a short drive off I5 or as another route to Bellingham since it’s just south...

Szechuan on Capitol Hill: Chuan on Capitol. I had heard a bit about this place and it’s only a short walk from the light rail station so it seemed like...

Happy but a bit sad: Bistro Shirlee. Recently acquired by Renee Erickson, Saint Helens has been remade into Bistro Shirlee. While I’m sad to see the loss of Saint Helens,...

Afternoon snack: Pane d’Amore. Heading back to Seattle from the Peninsula and no need to get on the ferry hungry. This place is a bit off the beaten tourist track...

Brunch: NetShed No. 9. We were visiting Gig Harbor…for the first time despite living here for almost 20 years! This place sounded interesting…..and the space and views can’t be beat....

After brunch drinks: Heritage Distilling Co. They have several tasting room locations and this is their waterfront location in the downtown area. We visited during the Maritime Gig Festival so...

Recommended by a friend: Le’s Deli & Bakery. Looking for a great Bánh Mi and this place came highly recommended so I had to give it a try for lunch....

Dinner for 50: Bardot Brasserie. As I’ve mentioned, I don’t usually review a restaurant in detail unless I have the experience alone or with only a few people. The reason...

Needed some Joe: Coffee Shack Co. Located just off exit 221 near Mount Vernon, it was a good place to stop…for gas…and some coffee on our way to Vancouver BC...

On the list: Stack 571. I was in the general area to have this year’s rosé analyzed and decided to stop by to see what this place had to offer....

Pike Place Market: Three Girls Bakery. Quick “breakfast” while visiting the Market. Not the best bakery in Seattle but it is very conveniently located if you are shopping at the...

Impossible Burger: Meet the Moon. We had been looking…all over for the Impossible Burger….and didn’t even know they had it on the menu. Not only was it listed, they actually...

Not a restaurant: DeLaurenti’s. This is one of those places you must visit…if you like Italian food..and even if you don’t…just to see the place. They have aisles and aisles...

Needed some Q: 3 Pigs. This is one of our go to places in Seattle for BBQ. Story is that it was started by 2 brothers from Atlanta….not a hotbed...

Cycling pitstop: C.C. Espresso and Ice Creamery. Needed a quick protein and carb load so what could be better than ice cream! Nice little shop in “downtown” Duvall. They have...

Breakfast: Bacon & Eggs. This place is very popular. On weekends expect to wait in line so arrive early…or wait. Classic breakfast fare delivered country style….huge portions! The short stack...

Google search: Public House Yakima. We needed a quick lunch on our way back to Seattle and this place looked interesting…and hopefully quick. Our problem began with Google Maps. Not...

Our daughter’s choice: Whitehouse-Crawford. We ate here about 10 years ago and she still remembers the experience. So, we had to have an update. The space is in an old...

Seriously good French cuisine: Brasserie Four. This place really has it all….nice bar, French bistrot food and a great selection of wines. We started with the chicken liver pâté to...

Wine tasting: Browne. Another option for tasting…..there are many, many to try. Very nice alfresco area which made the tasting (bottle) all the more delightful. Visit website...

Ordered too much food: Public House 124. In Walla Walla to do some riding and needed fuel for the next day….but not this much! Started with the kraut kruga….they brought...

Recommended by a friend: Yellow Church Cafe. Brief stop, for lunch, on the way to Walla Walla. We had the seared tuna salad and the smoked chicken club which were both good...

Trivia night: Northlake Tavern. A group of us stopped by after a meeting and it just happened to be trivia night. It’s been a few years since I’ve been here…but...

Finger licking good & it’s not the Colonel: Bonchon. They have multiple restaurants in the US and about 300 worldwide but this is the first for Seattle….and, as typical the...

Quick lunch: Delicatus @ The Hall. Small deli just above the University Street Light Rail station at Benaroya Hall.  It’s very convenient if you’re headed downtown and are looking for...

Mediterranean on Beacon Hill: Homer. I’d heard a lot about this relatively new place so I waited awhile to visit, hoping the crowds would die down a bit. Finally visited...

After brunch stop: Mount Bakery. We visited the downtown location….the original is in the Fairhaven section of town. The plan was to have a coffee and a bit of dessert...

Mixed Plate: Buddha Bruddah. A bit of Hawaii in Mount Baker/Kenmore. Reminds me of Tinroof on Maui but it’s 3 times larger inside which makes dining here much more pleasant…even...

Don’t worry, it’s not on the menu: How to Cook a Wolf. I’ve been intrigued by the name and finally decided to give it a try. I was also up...

All about the shakes: Shake Shack. I’ve tried a couple of their burgers including the SmokeShack and the ShackBurger which were good for fast food burgers but not the best...

Booze for 50: The Blind Tiger. Rang in the New Year with the group from work. This is an interesting venue downtown that’s located in the back of the Do...

After skiing late lunch: Roslyn Cafe. This is the cafe of Northern Exposure fame….as is almost everything in the town of Roslyn! Very busy place on weekends so expect a...

At the Amazon Spheres: Willmott’s Ghost. I’ve wanted to visit this new, Italian themed, restaurant by Renee Erickson since it opened in late October. The space is very unique……inside the...

All things German: Hans’ Sausage and Deli. Need stocking stuffers? Looking for real German Haribo and not those from Turkey? Need a German sausage fix? German pickles? Blaukraut? Then this...

Happy Hour: Cafe Pettirosso. We were out doing some shopping on Capitol Hill and our first choice was closed for a private party. We weren’t that hungry and this place...

Jazzy food: Jazz Alley. This is a great venue for music so that’s the main draw of this place. That said, the food is good as well. Expect a varied...

Recommended by a colleague: Pomegranate Bistro. Located in an industrial looking building in “downtown” Redmond, it’s a bit hard to find from the street and the parking lot fills quickly...

Southern food downtown: The Hart and the Hunter. I felt compelled to visit this place….advertised as the second location of the original in LA and they both serve Southern inspired...

On the road again: Chico Saloon. Stopped in for a light snack and a swim. A swim you say, at a saloon? Yep. This is probably the only example of...

On the way to North Yellowstone: Gil’s Goods Quick stop for coffee and a few snacks at this local spot. In addition to baked goods, they have a full breakfast...

On my list for some time: Revel. Had wanted to visit the original but it is closed until 2019 for renovation so, since I was in the area, I decided...

What a view: Copper Horse Headed home and needed a quick bite…and this is the only real option at the airport past security. That said, the food was solid and...

Wine, food and art gallery: Amelia Wynn tasting room This is a nice go to place when you have a bit of time waiting to take the next ferry back...

Chocolate anyone? Boehms Chocolates of Poulsbo Never miss a chance for more chocolate and this place is right on Main Street so you can’t miss it. The original location, and...

Always time for a latte: Poulsbohemian Coffeehouse. Visit this place if for no other reason than to experience the drop dead views of Liberty Bay from the adjoining alfresco area....

Ever what you need: Sluys Poulsbo Bakery Interesting story behind this place. It’s been around since the early 1900s and has changed hands and names, a few times over the...

Chocolate nirvana: Theo Chocolate Store. This place needs to be on the short list of all chocoholics and while their chocolates are widely available, the store/factory has choices you will...

Very unique space in Ballard: Sawyer. Open since August, the story is that the original space was a sawmill…..looks non descript from the outside. Inside, it is open and modern...

Northern Exposure Fame: The Brick. Decided to stop in after a hike in the area. The history of this area of Washington is interesting and this place was originally a...

Finally got a chance to try: Twisted Cuban. I’ve passed this place numerous times riding my bike but hadn’t had a chance to try it despite recommendations from others. This...

Unique venue: Hilltop 1892. I was drawn to the space….a hilltop home built in 1892 but one that has been a restaurant for several decades. When I arrive things were...

Carbo load: La Toscana. Getting ready for a bike ride and pasta is always a good pre ride choice.  The restaurant is quite “local”…..Google Maps will have you turn the wrong way...

Needed breakfast: Toast. Getting ready for a long bike ride so looking for calories and protein before the ride. Nice space located in a small outdoor mall which made access...

Breakfast in the Gaslamp Quarter: Cafe 222. It’s been a few years since my last visit to this small, unique place near the convention center. They have the usual staples...

Tocos: Lola 55. Looking for a new place and this fit the bill…..open for about a month. The space is on the ground floor of a multi use building which...

New American Fusion: Kettner Exchange. It’s a bit hard to find…in a nondescript building on a corner, it’s easy to miss. Walk down the outside hallway and you enter a very interesting...

Italian with a twist: Herb & Wood. Located in the Little Italy area of San Diego, don’t be fooled by the Uber drop off at Herb & Eatery….the entry to...

Beer by the Lake: Magnuson Cafe & Brewery. A nice spot for a bite in Magnuson Park if you’re in the neighborhood. It can be busy, especially on a nice...

Funky little sandwich shop: HoneyHole. Busy spot on Cap Hill with a great space and sandwiches. The sandwich selection is extensive and burgers are available as well. Vegetarian, vegan and...

Get your ice cream fix: Snow Goose Produce. Simply said….I’ve never seen a portion size of ice cream like this. They have about 50 flavors and a dozen or so...

Bakery, espresso and charcuterie: C Squared. Interestingly, this and the companion Third Street Cafe are part of the Skagit Valley Food Co-op. They are located in the same building. It’s...

Food truck and wine: Taqueria los Chilangos. Wine pick up and tasting at Darby Wines which included food. Good tacos and service. Of course the wine was first rate…as expected....

Looking for very local: Tinroof. The chef has won the Top Chef fan favorite award twice and is set to open a new restaurant called Lineage on Maui this fall....

Quick bite on our way north: Buzz Inn. One of 12 locations in Washington, this one is at the Harvey Airport in Snohomish. We were riding our bicycles from Seattle...

It’s a tree…It’s a restaurant: Monkeypod Kitchen. One of 3 locations, this is the newest one on Maui. Located in Whalers Village it’s central to the hotels and condominiums in...

Raw fish: Japengo. Another restaurant in the Hyatt Regency; this one is focused on seafood. The sushi is surprisingly good…..even for raw fish served up in a hotel restaurant. It’s...

Old favorite: Duke’s. One of several restaurants by this name and others throughout the Islands and California by the same restaurant group. It’s a bit touristy but you need to...

Just what I needed: Braddah Chic’s Off the beaten path….way off. Discovered this place while doing the West Maui loop on my bike and since I badly needed something cold...

Hyatt Hotel: ‘Ūmalu. Fairly typical hotel food but give the spicy ahi bowl a try…..ahi, lettuce, mango, edamame, avocado, tomato and pecans with wasabi aioli and ginger vinaigrette……very tasty! Service...

Hawaiian Shave Ice: Ululani’s. It gets 5 stars from almost all who rate and they don’t disappoint. The ice is like light snow and the flavor choices are multiple and outstanding....

What a view: Kimo’s. We’ve been here before and returned because the food is solid and the views just can’t be beat. This time we had a table on the...

Not just any breakfast: Jam! Bright, busy and open space. We were initially told it would be about a 30 to 40 minute wait but following a correction of a...

Road side stop south of Lahaina: Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop Doesn’t look like much but you can tell by the number of cars in the parking lot that this...

Sushi anyone? Dave’s Sushi. We visited a few years ago so expect an update in the future but this is the best known place for raw fish in the city....

Looking for sushi? Seven. Located in the Cannery District along with Lot 5 this is one of the 2 main places to get your fill of raw fish…nigiri or sashimi. They...

More ice cream: Sweet Peaks. One of several locations in Montana this one is a bit away from the downtown core but work a visit. Very similar to Genuine Ice...

Ice cream in an Airstream: Genuine Ice Cream Co. Located right next to the hotel Lark so give them a try if you are in the area. While you are...

In the Cannery District: Lot G. Serves breakfast and lunch all day and we experienced breakfast this visit. The space is in and updated old warehouse in the north part...

Cider anyone? Lockhorn Hard Cider. Located just off Main Street in the eastern part of town we had visited before but stopped by one afternoon for a quick repeat sampling....

Interesting spot for coffee: Treeline Coffee Roasters. Upscale coffee house right on Main Street. This place is mostly about coffee but they also have tea and a limited selection of...

Excellent bakery: Wild Crumb. Come here after that great cup of joe at Treeline. This is one of those places with an endless line up of breads and pastries so...

Another place for drinks: Bozeman Spirits Distillery. Get ready for too many choices and if you can’t decide on which vodka, rum, or whiskey cocktail suits your fancy just amble...

Brew pub: Montana Ale Works. First visited in 2016. Nice brew pub…liked it better than the Bridger Brewery. Good wagyu burger and mocha pot de creme. On another, more recent visit,...

French in SoCal: Parc Bistro. In the Banker’s Hill area of the city….basically just east of the airport. Thought we should go in a French direction rather than Italian……..although this...

Dinner for 20: Top of the Market. Back in SD for a meeting and this was the choice for the group. I always hesitate a bit in reviewing spots where...

Animals anyone: The Lion’s Share. One of those places that would be off most people’s radar unless you are a local. I’ve walked by in the past without realizing exactly...

Former Biker Bar: Hollywood Tavern. Started out as a service station in 1922 then became a roadside tavern in the 1940s. Completely renovated a few years ago and has now...

Top 10 tasting room: Mt Hood Winery. The wines are acceptable but the views……outrageous! Very large tasting room with vaulted ceilings and floor to ceiling windows but the place to...

BBQ in Oregon? Apple Valley BBQ. Unexpected but solid BBQ so, if you are doing the Fruit Loop, keep it in mind. They advertise themselves as NW style BBQ but...

Dinner with amazing views: Departure. Go here if for no other reason but the views from this restaurant located on the 15th floor of the Nines Hotel in downtown Portland....