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...

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....

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...

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...

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...

Lunch on the water: Agua Verde. Under new ownership and with a new chef. Plus…….the Marina Cantina is also new and outback, on the water, pass the paddle club and...

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....

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...

More ice cream: Salt & Straw. Very popular place on Capitol Hill. They have a eclectic selection of flavors and pride themselves on local selections…for Seattle, flavors like Beecher’s Cheese...

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 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...

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...

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...