Tag Archives: Food and Drink

Pike Place Market contains hundreds of hidden “pockets”

Posted in Arts Events, Charities & Benefits, Food & Drink, Miscellaneous Awesome by

SeattleTravel.com asked me to write an article about Pike Place Market, to share some local insights with potential tourists.  Without an abundance of words to work with, it was hard to choose what businesses to highlight.  I dare say, I could write this post five times over and still have businesses to talk about. Did your favorite Pike Place Market business make the cut? Let me know!  If not, chime in on the comments or on Facebook or Twitter!

An excerpt:

…Staying at a location that has a kitchenette? There’s nothing more satisfying than a fresh meal right from the market. Sosio’s Produce has been handed down through generations and their friendly staff are always at the ready with a sample to try, news of what’s in season, and are a great resource for produce questions. Prefer to have others do the cooking? You can’t walk far without stumbling over many incredible restaurants.  If you’re craving a Parisian experience– Maximilien, Cafe Campagne, Marche and Le Pichet (oh, the pastries!) are local favorites.  The Crumpet Shop is a delight for the senses, with unique savory and sweet rotating menu options.  If you’re a sucker for freshly made pasta, you can’t go go wrong with Il Corvo, down the steps from the market on Western Avenue.  Want to show off to your friends by treating them an incredible meal at an  off-the-beaten path gem of a restaurant? Step up the stairs to the 3rd floor of the Corner Market Building to Matt’s in the Market, where you can dine on deliciously locally sourced dishes with a grand view of the market clock, Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains. Full article, here.

Sosio’s Produce. Photo by Mark Hinderliter

100 Things To Do in Seattle Before You Die

Posted in Arts Events, Charities & Benefits, Food & Drink, Free Events, Miscellaneous Awesome by

I live in an amazing city – rich with unique parks, fabulous entertainment options, memorable restaurants and so much more.  When 7×7 contacted me to write a list of  “100 things to do in Seattle before you die,” I jumped at the chance, tapping into my personal experiences and asking Seattleites around me their advice of what makes our city truly special. We started a bit north and worked our way south. Here’s #1 – 20:

1. Support young writers by shopping at the Space Travel Supply Company. (Greenwood)
2.    Fly a kite at Gasworks Park. (Wallingford)
3.    Giggle at the kitsch at Archie McPhee’s. (Wallingford)
4.    Have a laugh at quirky Bizzarro Italian Cafe. (Wallingford)
5.    Find your favorite sweet treat: try a Trophy Cupcake. (Wallingford)
6.    Then head to Cupcake Royale to cast your vote in the great cupcake debate. (Ballard)
7.    Toss on those bike shorts and hit the Burke-Gilman Trail. (Ballard)
8.    Sample from the 64 beers on tap at Brouwer’s. (Ballard)
9.    Savor Eastern Mediterranean flavors at Golden Beetle. (Ballard)
10.    Dance to a rockabilly or bluegrass band at Tractor Tavern. (Ballard)
11.    Knock back an adult beverage at Cafe Mox over a board game from Card Kingdom. (Ballard)
12.    Start a bonfire during sunset at Golden Gardens. (Ballard)
13.    Take a free guided tour at the Arboretum. (U District)
14.    Kayak past houseboats in Portage Bay or paddle out to see the Seattle Skyline at Agua Verde Paddle Club. (U District)
15.    Get a uniquely flavored brain freeze at Full Tilt Ice Cream. (U District)
16.    Catch a show at a movie theatre built in the ’20s. (U District)
17.    Critique contemporary works at Henry Art Museum. (U District)
18.    Climb on the Fremont Troll under the Aurora Bridge.  (Fremont)
19.    Hunt for treasures at the Sunday Fremont Market. (Fremont)
20.    Unearth  vintage threads at Deluxe Junk. (Fremont)

21. Cash in your golden ticket and take the Theo Chocolate factory tour. (Fremont)

22. Add to your vinyl collection at Jive Time Records. (Fremont)
23. Dress up for a swanky event at Fremont Studios. (Fremont)
24. Run in the International Fountain in the shadow of the Space Needle. (Seattle Center)
25. See a show at Seattle Repertory Theater and stay for a talk-back. (Seattle Center)
26. Enjoy an Erik Carlson menu and aerial performances at Teatro Zinzanni. (Seattle Center)
27. Rock out like Hendrix at EMP Museum. (Seattle Center)
28. Witness a book go from page to stage at Book-it. (Seattle Center)
29. Walk up the stairs from lower Queen Anne to snap a postcard worthy photo from the view at Kerry Park. (Queen Anne)
30. Make date night delicious with a visit to an Ethan Stowell restaurant. (Queen Anne)
31. Spoil your sweet tooth at Top Pot Doughnuts. (Queen Anne)
32. Nosh on rotating Americana themed food at  5 Spot. (Queen Anne)
33. Nurse your hangover at Peso’s. (Queen Anne)
34. Splash land in a seaplane. (South Lake Union)
35. Steam, soak and sauna at co-ed urban spa, Banya 5. (South Lake Union)
36. Climb the pinnacle at the flagship REI store. (South Lake Union)
37. Go back for seconds at Portage Bay’s Cafe‘s brunch toppings bar. (South Lake Union)
38. Snag a slice of gourmet pizza at Serious Pie. (South Lake Union)
39. Shock your taste buds with a crazy burger from Lunchbox Laboratory. (South Lake Union)
40. Dress retro and dance to soul music at The Lo-Fi. (South Lake Union)
41. Eat an enchilada in the Elvis Room at Seattle’s oldest Mexican restaurant, Mama‘s. (Belltown)
42. Have a cocktail & bucket of popcorn delivered mid-movie at The Big Picture. (Belltown)
43. Grab a beer and dog while you drop a couple quarters in the pinball machines atShorty’s. (Belltown)
44. Get your sushi happy hour on at Umi. (Belltown)
45. Delight in goat cheese stuffed bacon wrapped dates at Pintxo. (Belltown)
46. Find a speakeasy around the corner. (Belltown)
47. Eat after the bars close at The Lucky Diner. (Belltown)
48. Marvel at the mummies, shrunken heads and other curios at Ye Old Curiosity Shop. (Waterfront)
49. Wander through the art along the Puget Sound at Olympic Sculpture Park. (Waterfront)
50. Ride a ferry to Bainbridge Island. (Waterfront)
51. Hop on the Water Taxi and dine at Salty’s. (Waterfront/West Seattle)
52. Stand under an arch of jellyfish at Seattle Aquarium. (Waterfront)
53. Dodge seagulls while snacking on fish & chips at Ivar’s. (Waterfront)
54. Find your way to a well crafted cocktail at Zig Zag. (Waterfront)
55. Munch on a salmon sandwich at Three Girls Bakery. (Pike Place Market)
56. Add a piece to the Market Theater Gum Wall on your way to an improv show. (Pike Place Market)
57. Listen to buskers perform outside the original Starbucks. (Pike Place Market)
58. Enjoy tea and crumpets. (Pike Place Market)
59. Sip some absinthe at a cabaret show at The Can Can. (Pike Place Market)
60. Catch a fish from a fishmonger. (Pike Place Market)
61. Romance a lover over Italian food and live jazz at The Pink Door. (Pike Place Market)
62. Ride up neon green escalators inside the Seattle Public Library, designed by Rem Koolhaas & Joshua Prince-Ramus. (Downtown)
63. Parkour up walls and over waterfalls at Freeway Park. (Downtown).
64. See a show from a half-moon booth at The Triple Door. (Downtown)
65. Smile when a tourist expects a second stop on the Monorail. (Downtown/Seattle Center)
66. Shop the half-yearly sales at the flagship Nordstrom. (Downtown)
67. Order an international wine flight and sweet potato fries at Purple. (Downtown)
68. Explore local shops (Rain City Meats, Calf & Kid, Taylor Shellfish) at Melrose Market. (Capitol Hill)
69. Cozy up in a curtained booth at Bleu Grotto over clever cocktails and Wasabi Grilled Cheese. (Capitol Hill)
70. “Spin The Bottle” – see some good, bad and great late night theater at Annex. (Capitol Hill)
71. Indulge in a souffle-like Chocolate Pot at B&O Espresso. (Capitol Hill)
72. Attend a literary event at  Richard Hugo House. (Capitol Hill)
73. Show your sporty side at Cal Anderson Park. (Capitol Hill)
74. Hang out with hipsters at Unicorn. (Capitol Hill)
75. Spin a partner around the dance floor at Century Ballroom. (Capitol Hill)
76. Take an adult class at the original Babeland store. (Capitol Hill)
77. Meditate on a Sunday evening with Compline Choir at St. Mark’s Cathedral. (Capitol Hill)
78. Buy an ingredient you’ve never seen before at Uwajimaya. (International District)
79. Fill up on Dim Sum at Harbor City. (International District)
80. Share hot pot with friends at Seven Stars Pepper. (International District)
81. Give a shout out to the ’90s and karaoke a grunge song. (International District)
82. Flash back to the 80s and pick up some retro video games at Pink Gorilla. (International District)
83. Get inspired at the First Thursday art walk. (Pioneer Square)
84. Witness the view from The Chinese Room in Smith Tower, Seattle’s first skyscraper. (Pioneer Square)
85. Delight you inner child at Magic Mouse Toys. (Pioneer Square)
86. Enjoy chilled tastings at Saké Nomi. (Pioneer Square)
87. Get a taste of Seattle’s debaucherous past with the underground Underworld Tour. (Pioneer Square)
88. Watch the visiting team beat the Mariners at Safeco Field. (SODO)
89. Rock out to a favorite band at Showbox SODO. (SODO)
90. Show off your scarf and spirit at a Sounders game. (SODO)
91. Geek out on comics at Fantagraphics. (Georgetown)
92. Fly through the air with the greatest of ease at SANCA. (Georgetown)
93. Raise a glass of Washington wine at Laurelhurst Cellars. (Georgetown)
94. Take the pilot’s seat in a WWII flight simulator at Museum of Flight. (South Seattle)
95. Share a quiet picnic at Kubota Gardens. (South Seattle)
96. Spot an eagle at Seward Park. (South Seattle)
97. Sit on the patio at Cactus and watch the sunset over the water. (West Seattle)
98. Get healthy with some vegan fare at Chaco Canyon. (West Seattle)
99. See the “Statue of Liberty” and breathtaking views at Alki Beach. (West Seattle)
100. What should #100 be? Tell me in the comments below!

I’d love to hear your feedback! How many have you done? Anything I missed? Which of your favorite things made the list? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

You can also check out my pal Rob Lightner’s list of 100 things to eat in Seattle before you die.

Win Tickets to 20Something Wine (Contest has ended)

Posted in Food & Drink, Giveaways & Special Offers by

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My favorite wine event of the YEAR is back on November 19th: 20something Wine at Fremont Studios!

Tickets are on sale now, and here’s a chance for you to win one! ($50 value).

As you can see from the vast wine list of Washington wines that will be poured, this wine event is all about approachable wines (most are around $20, some in the $10-$15 range).  What I love about this is we taste wines all night that we later will realistically purchase after the event. These wines are perfect for a cosy night in or to bring to a house party or dinner gathering.

Some wines I’m especially excited to sip: 14 Hands, Castillo de Feliciana, Dusted Valley, Finnriver Farm & Cidery, L’Ecole No. 41, and OS Winery.  The joy of this event is every year I’m introduced to new wines I normally wouldn’t have known about.

Instead of booth after booth, 20something invites wine makers to walk around the party and share their vino with mingling guests. You get to connect directly with wine makers and sommeliers while sharing the experience with friends, rather than waiting in line to taste and then move on to the next booth. 

While the DJ spins, you also get a chance to try some amazing bites from trendy restaurants. The venue itself is beautiful as well!

Check out the 2010 20something Flickr page here. 

UPDATE: This contest has ended.
CONTEST!  I’ll pick two winners to win 1 ticket each to 20something.
You can enter both ways:

1) Post a comment on this blog (be sure to include your email address or way to contact you if you win)

2) Follow @keridwyn & @20somethingwine on twitter & tweet “I want to win the #20winecontest @keridwyn @20somethingwine http://bit.ly/vIhZId “

Entries must be posted by 11:59pm Pacific Time Monday October 31.

Taste The Season at Wing Luke Asian Museum

Posted in Arts Events, Food & Drink by

11+ of Seattle’s Trendiest & Tastiest restaurants will all come together for one evening to serve their favorite Comfort Food Picks!  This is going to be a fun night of cocktails, wine, sweet treats and indulgent bites from some of Seattle’s best restaurants.
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 I’m most excited to check out Staple & Fancy’s gnocchi, Bastille’s mussels with hard cider and ginger (sounds like a fantastic combo for fall!), Foodz Catering’s Brie & Truffle Mac n Cheese. Thanks to all the restaurants involved! 

Not only is this going to be a delicious event, there’s also art involved: BONUS! Taste The Season is held at Wing Luke Asian Museum, so we’ll be able to check out their exhibits during the event. Their newest exhibit, From Fields to Family: Asian Pacific Americans and Food will compliment this event nicely, as it investigates the cultural traditions and cooking techniques that have changed with time and generations.  It’s been years since I’ve visited this museum, so I’m so glad to have such a wonderful excuse to go back.

Hashtag: #TasteTheSeason – On twitter and going? Tweet me at @keridwyn and let’s say hi!

MENU 

Food 

Bastille 
Mussels with RockridgeHard Cider, Young Ginger and Fennel Pollen

Poquitos 
Pork Cheek  Pibil with Crispy Potatoes and Pickled Fresno Chiles

Staple & Fancy 
Potato Gnocchi with Lamb Ragu, Mint and Oregano
Coterie Room Rabbit Terrine

Artusi 
Eggplant and Stone Fruit Caponata with Cherry Tomatoes and Toasted Pine Nuts

Revel 
Corned Lamb Rueben with Sauerkraut and Green Curry Aioli 

RN74 
Lamb Cassoulet 

Foodz Catering 
Brie-and-Truffle Mac and Cheese Bites and Peppadew Peppers with Feta and Pistachios

Spur 
Whole Milk Ice Cream with Nitro Frozen Cereal

Rover’s 
Pork Rib with Wild Mushroom, Harissa Jam and Foie Gras Nage

Dianne’s Delights 
Pumpkin Cake Ball with Pumpkin Pound Cake
Vanilla Bean Cake Ball
Chocolate Cake Ball

Mistral Kitchen

Beverages 

Golden Beetle cocktails featuring
Hendrick’s Gin
Milagro Tequila

Tavern Law cocktails featuring
The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch
Hudson Four Grain Bourbon Whiskey

Waterbrook Sauvignon Blanc
Waterbrook Melange Noir

Chocolate Shop dessert wine

 

Pinto delivers great Thai food

Posted in Food & Drink, Staying in by

A quick shout out to one of my favorite delivery restaurants in Seattle: Pinto Bistro! Their menu is full of great Thai and Sushi options. My personal favorite dish is their Pineapple Fried Rice with Chicken – love their curry as well!  Their portions are impressive and we’re often left with food to enjoy the next day.

It’s hard to find delivery for anything other than pizza and this restaurant serves up a wide selection of menu options. They also have a nice selection of sushi on their menu – I’ve only tried their rolls, not their nigiri and it was good but not spectacular. With their thai items, we find that when we order no meat and no tofu, they make a point to add extra veggies to the dishes. Delightful!

Full menu: http://www.pintobistro.com/

 

What restaurants do you love that deliver?

Seattle’s Best Wine Event is Back!

Posted in Food & Drink by

120some

20something – The New Vintage is back November 19th! 

As many of you know, this is one of my favorite yearly Seattle events and is certainly my most favorite Washington Wine event.  Join me and 50+ Washington winemakers & as well as local restaurant chefs for this fun event. Tickets here: http://thenewvintage.org for $50 (two tickets for $90). 

120some

 Every year, I find new wineries and reconnect with forgotten favorites. Last year, I had the pleasure of meeting the fellas from Laurelhurst Wine – their Merlot is fantastic! Fremont Studios is a perfect venue for this event. There’s something special about local winemakers coming up to you throughout the event and asking if they can offer you a taste.

I can’t wait to see what wines and wineries will be pouring this year.

For the 20something Facebook Event Page, click here. 

Japonessa Sushi Anniversary! Happy Hour day & night

Posted in Food & Drink, Giveaways & Special Offers by

Japonessa, one of my favorite places in Seattle for sushi & happy hour, is having an anniversary celebration next week!

From August 1 – 7, they will have happy hour day and night throughout the restaurant. Even better, they are still taking reservations.

My favorite dishes there include the Seattle Crunch Roll, fried brie, and the yellowtail usu. Ask what their special is – they come up with some really great rolls.

Interesting fact: Japonessa is “a sushi cocina…a Japanese restaurant featuring hints of Latino flair” and is pronounced “Hha-pon-essa” 

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Facebook Page here.

Robin Hood Drinking Game

Posted in Staying in by

Once in a blue moon, I like to gather with friends and watch movies from our youth.* On such occasions, we find it fun to throw in fun, festive accents like party favors, costume elements, related games…and sometimes, a drinking game.  I came across the drinking game rules that Erin typed up for a special viewing of Robin Hood (Disney’s cartoon version) that she and Paul hosted at their house a while back. Here they are, in case you want to use them. Drink Responsibly**. You can pick from these rules, if you wish – you don’t need to follow them all!

Robin Hood Drinking Game

DRINK!

  • When any character says “King Richard”
  • When Prince John sucks his thumb
  • When a character says “Crimenently”
  • When you hear any alliteration (slimy slithery snake, bouncing bumbling bear, etc)

Additional Rules

  • When anyone says Oo-de-lally – SAY IT BACK – or drink!
  • If you spot a continuity error in the film, call it out – everyone ELSE drinks

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*Though the movies may be from our “youth and teenage years,” we do not condone underage drinking. Also, please, don’t drink and drive. 

**No, “Responsibly” isn’t a liquor name or a specialty cocktail, but I agree with Paul that it should be.

H2 Ahhh

Posted in Staying in by

Drinking as much water as I “should” is often a challenge for me. But I think I’ve found a way to solve this problem: Cucumber.

Cucumber_water

Kristi and I enjoyed happy hour at Nijo  earlier this week and while their yam fries were delicious, the thing we exclaimed the most about was their cucumber water. The waitress walked by with a water pitcher that had a whole, peeled cucumber in it to refill our glasses!  You can “make” your own cucumber water at home by either throwing a slice into a glass, or putting a pitcher of water in the fridge with slices of cucumber (or a chunk of it, if you prefer the way that looks, just be sure to peel it first). Create variations of cucumber water by adding mint, lime or lemon.

Added bonus: Cucumbers have a lot of nutrients. REAL “Vitamin” water without the sugar! 

One thing to note: don’t drink all the water you need per day all at once – it’s healthier to drink several glasses of water throughout the day.

 

A hundred pockets?

Posted in Arts Events, Charities & Benefits, Food & Drink, Free Events, Giveaways & Special Offers, Inside Pockets, Miscellaneous Awesome, Staying in by

There are some moments in life I find myself searching for quotations online. Sometimes I’ll visit a quote site, other times, I’ll search for quotes under famous authors or philosophers names.  

Quotes help me get motivated, connect with others who experience shared emotions, give me new perspectives, inspire me or sometimes simply entertain.

I’ve recently had the desire to start a new personal blog, but have had a tough time deciding on what the subject matter would be. Two requirements would have to be: a subject I’m interested/involved in or knowledgeable about and one that is interesting to readers.

I spend a lot of time thinking about what to focus on.  

Here were some of the ideas I came up with:

  • An “Auntie” blog to connect with the “Mommy Bloggers” out there? That sounded fun. But I don’t spend every day with my nieces (though of course I’d love to see them more), and I wanted to connect with readers who don’t have kids or friends/siblings with kids. That said, I do love sharing info about family fun events!
  • Reviews on movies/TV (mostly Netflix and Hulu+)? Sure I love watching streaming TV, but is a blog dedicated only to that something I could keep up with? And how interesting would it be to read one gal’s 1 to 10 scale reviews (even though you could feel safe in knowing my posts would be spoiler free)? But sometimes, I watch something that inspires me to write. 
  • Costume and Makeup ideas? It’s true, I go to a lot of themed costumed events throughout the year, but I don’t have the budget or time to spend putting together amazing creations. Though, I do love to share a good makeup/costume tip from time to time!
  • Seattle Events? The city I live in is rich with arts, theatre, DJ nights, live music and more. That said, I’d love a blog that would be interesting to read from thousands of miles away. But, there’s so many good things happening around town, I want to get the word out (and review the occasional event, restaurant, happy hour or venue).
  • Relationships, Living and Learning? I’m certainly not one to air my emotional “dirty laundry” out on a blog for others to read. That’s not what I mean by “Relationships.” More, I’d like the opportunity to write blog posts reflecting on relationships (romantic or platonic), interpersonal dynamics, tips on living a more happy and abundant existence and elements of interest that make me stop and reflect on the life I live.  Having 100% of my posts be along these lines seemed a bit daunting, but I really love the idea of exploring these themes on a public blog.
  • Having Fun & Saving Money? On the flip side of events, there’s a lot of fun to be had while saving money. I’m a huge fan of board games, puzzles, scavenger hunts, reading. And who doesn’t like a good deal? This almost won out as the focus of my blog. However…

I took a look at this list and realized, all these interests were just part of a whole that makes up me. I’d already decided to leave the Social Media news to my business blog and give myself a rest in this space, but which of these subjects should I choose.

Then I came across the quote, once again, from Nietzsche: “When one has much to put into them, a day has a hundred pockets.”  I realized: I didn’t need to pick just one pocket. I could share the contents of many and create a vibrant blog.

If you’re reading this in the future, I’d love to hear feedback on what type of posts are your favorites, what you’d like to hear more or less of or any other thoughts you have! If you’re reading this closer to my post date, please share with me what subjects interest you the most!