I also had the beet salad, and it was super good... thin tender slices of beets swimming in garlicy olive oil.
Downsides: a little bit expensive, and parking can indeed be difficult if you plan on arriving via car.
Showing posts with label Sandwich. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sandwich. Show all posts
Wednesday, 1 July 2015
Baguette Box
I enjoyed a really tasty variation on the typical vegetarian tofu vietnamese sandwich at the baguette box, the Braised Tofu sandwich. Like most tofu vietnamese sandwiches, it consisted of chunks of fried tofu, carrots, pickeled (?) radish, cilantro, onions, etc, but the high quality bread and the exceptionally delicious tofu made this sandwich stick out.
I also had the beet salad, and it was super good... thin tender slices of beets swimming in garlicy olive oil.
Downsides: a little bit expensive, and parking can indeed be difficult if you plan on arriving via car.
I also had the beet salad, and it was super good... thin tender slices of beets swimming in garlicy olive oil.
Downsides: a little bit expensive, and parking can indeed be difficult if you plan on arriving via car.
Homegrown
Homegrown is one of the delightful sandwich shops that makes an effort to have some interesting, unusual, delicious vegetarian options (no "lettuce, cucumber, sprouts" here!). I went to the Homegrown on Capital Hill one recent stormy night and was thrilled to see the following sandwich on the menu: roasted beets, pickled onions, wild greens and cheese (menu says goat cheese, but they substituted Beechers flagship cheddar at my request). It was a perfect mix of sweet and juicy beets, the sharp vinegary tang of the onions, spicy peppery freshness from the greens, and salty, savory cheese.
In addition to making an awesome sandwich, Homegrown is dedicated to doing things as sustainably as possible, and is happy to accommodate vegan and gluten free diners. Definitely worth a visit!
Monday, 29 June 2015
Saigon Deli
I have somehow managed to neglect a rather important food on this blog, the cheap and delicious Vietnamese sandwich the Banh Mi. They are easy to find, fantastically inexpensive (often around $2), and quite frequently come in a vegetarian tofu version.
I recently went to the Saigon Deli in the Little Saigon area of the 12th and Jackson to try their take on this staple, and had an overall pleasant experience. The deli is a work of art, full of tiny packages of brightly colored foods tightly wrapped in cellophane or steaming on a hot tray. I ordered a tofu sandwich, my meat lovin dining companion got a BBQ pork sandwich, and together we got a Styrofoam tray of tofu spring rolls and one of the many mysteriously wrapped packages that lined the shelves. I chose a tight foil wrapped log in blind hopes that it was full of some sort of sweet coconut rice.
I judge a Bahn Mi based upon a few things:
The tofu sandwich at Saigon Deli broke the mold a bit in that the tofu used had been simmering in a rich red tomato sauce as part of their hot deli items. The tomato sauce took the place of the mayo/sriracha combination. The bread was semi fresh (but was freshly toasted, which added bonus points), and the innards were plentiful. It felt hearty and was definitely tasty, and I enjoyed it very much even though it was a bit of a departure from the standard.
The silver log ended up being a disappointment, as it was packed full of some sort of homogenized light beige meat product. Oh well.
Not sweet coconut rice
The tofu Banh Mi was $2.00, and the pork was $2.50.
Saigon Deli
Seattle, WA 98144
I recently went to the Saigon Deli in the Little Saigon area of the 12th and Jackson to try their take on this staple, and had an overall pleasant experience. The deli is a work of art, full of tiny packages of brightly colored foods tightly wrapped in cellophane or steaming on a hot tray. I ordered a tofu sandwich, my meat lovin dining companion got a BBQ pork sandwich, and together we got a Styrofoam tray of tofu spring rolls and one of the many mysteriously wrapped packages that lined the shelves. I chose a tight foil wrapped log in blind hopes that it was full of some sort of sweet coconut rice.
I judge a Bahn Mi based upon a few things:- Is the bread fresh? The Bahn Mi is made on a full miniloaf of French bread, and when it is stale the sandwich becomes a hard to eat, boring beast that mercilessly nicks the insides of the mouth.
- Is the tofu fresh? The usual (less desirable) type of tofu used in these sandwiches tends to be dry and deep fried. I prefer it to be freshly cooked and soft instead of chewy and fried.
- Is there too much mayonnaise on the sandwich? A common sauce solution is mayonnaise and Sriracha , and I don't like it when there is too much mayonnaise.
- What temperature is the sandwich? They most definitely shine when they are warm, and are least interesting cold from a refrigerator.
- The rest of the fillings... these tend to include julienned carrots, fresh cilantro, spears of cucumber, sometimes thin rice noodles, pickled radish, thinly sliced onions, and fresh jalapeno. The lamer versions tend to come with a leaf or two of cilantro and a few wimpy strips of carrot and cucumber, whereas the stellar versions are packed with veggies, pickled and fresh, and a bush of fragrant cilantro.
The tofu sandwich at Saigon Deli broke the mold a bit in that the tofu used had been simmering in a rich red tomato sauce as part of their hot deli items. The tomato sauce took the place of the mayo/sriracha combination. The bread was semi fresh (but was freshly toasted, which added bonus points), and the innards were plentiful. It felt hearty and was definitely tasty, and I enjoyed it very much even though it was a bit of a departure from the standard.
The silver log ended up being a disappointment, as it was packed full of some sort of homogenized light beige meat product. Oh well.
Not sweet coconut riceThe tofu Banh Mi was $2.00, and the pork was $2.50.
Saigon Deli
(206) 322-3700
1237 S Jackson StSeattle, WA 98144
Tuesday, 23 June 2015
Essential Baking Company
I had lunch recently at the Georgetown Essential Baking company, where I was treated to the lamest Caprese sandwich I have ever had. It is hard to knock the place because the staff was so friendly, but really this was ridiculous.
The small sandwich cost around seven dollars, which isn't exactly peanuts. The bread was fresh, as it should have been in a bakery, but the laughable innards of the sandwich consisted of one extra thin slice of coldcut style mozzarella, a piece of mealy tomato, and a couple of soggy basil leaves. One side of the bread had a faint drizzle of balsamic vinegar, the other was dry. WTF.
I know it isn't exactly summertime, so it is unrealistic to hope for garden fresh tomatoes. But this doesn't excuse the fact that they couldn't muster a couple of slices of thick fresh mozzarella or some additional sauce (more vinegar? olive oil? a nice pesto?) for the bread. Plus, for the price, the danged plate could have used some chips.
The small sandwich cost around seven dollars, which isn't exactly peanuts. The bread was fresh, as it should have been in a bakery, but the laughable innards of the sandwich consisted of one extra thin slice of coldcut style mozzarella, a piece of mealy tomato, and a couple of soggy basil leaves. One side of the bread had a faint drizzle of balsamic vinegar, the other was dry. WTF.
I know it isn't exactly summertime, so it is unrealistic to hope for garden fresh tomatoes. But this doesn't excuse the fact that they couldn't muster a couple of slices of thick fresh mozzarella or some additional sauce (more vinegar? olive oil? a nice pesto?) for the bread. Plus, for the price, the danged plate could have used some chips.
Sunday, 21 June 2015
Red Mill Burgers
I am a Seattle native and hadn't been to the much loved Red Mill Burgers before today. I think this is not only because I have been a vegetarian since I was a little girl and burger joints tend to fall off my radar, but also because I've primarily lived in the southern parts our lovely city and haven't experienced much neighborly proprietary feelings towards the place (located on Phinney Ridge and in Magnolia).
Anyhow, a friend recently told me that Red Mill has a Veggie Burger section of menu, and today gave it a go. I was pleased, off the bat, to see the veggie burger section of the menu had multiple options: a standard veggie burger with basil mayo, a veggie burger with caramelized onions, and the one I chose, the Verde Veggie Burger with jack cheese, house sauce (slightly smoky mayo-type sauce) and a big fire roasted Anaheim chili.
The bun (kaiser roll, actually), was soft, the fixings were real (as in, green lettuce, fresh juicy tomato), and the big slimy slightly spicy green pepper was no joke. It was a good veggie burger for sure.
I was pleased, as always, to see a satisfying vegetarian option at a burger joint. Thank you Red Mill.
Anyhow, a friend recently told me that Red Mill has a Veggie Burger section of menu, and today gave it a go. I was pleased, off the bat, to see the veggie burger section of the menu had multiple options: a standard veggie burger with basil mayo, a veggie burger with caramelized onions, and the one I chose, the Verde Veggie Burger with jack cheese, house sauce (slightly smoky mayo-type sauce) and a big fire roasted Anaheim chili.
The bun (kaiser roll, actually), was soft, the fixings were real (as in, green lettuce, fresh juicy tomato), and the big slimy slightly spicy green pepper was no joke. It was a good veggie burger for sure.
I was pleased, as always, to see a satisfying vegetarian option at a burger joint. Thank you Red Mill.
Friday, 19 June 2015
Fremont Coffee
I end up spending a lot of time at coffee shops, and a day at the Fremont Coffeehouse is always a pleasure. To begin with, I love the layout of the place. It resides in an old house with a maze of little rooms and tables tucked into nooks everywhere.
They have a nice selection of beverages, including my current favorite tea, "Black Velvet," which is black tea with licorice and ginseng. They also have, in addition to all of the regular coffee drinks, unusual sodas from nearby Real Soda, and reasonably priced alcohol (tallboy PBR = $1.50. Wines and fancier beers = a little bit more).
The food is a pleasure too, and is vegetarian for the most part. They have quiches (vegetarian and not) and baked goods and mac and cheese and a list of a half-dozen or so sandwiches including many vegetarian options: caprese, grilled cheese with tomatoes and garlic, and one with mushroom field roast. I recently ordered the field roast sandwich, and was pleasantly surprised.
For starters, it was thin. The bread was thin, the innards were sliced thin, and when all grilled up, the proportions were perfect for my tastes. Inside was field roast, tomatoes, mozzarella, and some kind of creamy pesto. It came with a big pile of thick cut potato chips and a couple of dill pickle spears.
I appreciate a little variety in my coffee shop food, and especially appreciate a sandwich with more than just cheese inside.
Fremont Coffee Company
Seattle, WA 98103
They have a nice selection of beverages, including my current favorite tea, "Black Velvet," which is black tea with licorice and ginseng. They also have, in addition to all of the regular coffee drinks, unusual sodas from nearby Real Soda, and reasonably priced alcohol (tallboy PBR = $1.50. Wines and fancier beers = a little bit more).
The food is a pleasure too, and is vegetarian for the most part. They have quiches (vegetarian and not) and baked goods and mac and cheese and a list of a half-dozen or so sandwiches including many vegetarian options: caprese, grilled cheese with tomatoes and garlic, and one with mushroom field roast. I recently ordered the field roast sandwich, and was pleasantly surprised.
For starters, it was thin. The bread was thin, the innards were sliced thin, and when all grilled up, the proportions were perfect for my tastes. Inside was field roast, tomatoes, mozzarella, and some kind of creamy pesto. It came with a big pile of thick cut potato chips and a couple of dill pickle spears.
I appreciate a little variety in my coffee shop food, and especially appreciate a sandwich with more than just cheese inside.Fremont Coffee Company
(206) 632-3633
459 N 36th StSeattle, WA 98103
Buttery
In Santa Cruz now...
There were a few things that drew me to Buttery right off the bat: First off, the name sounds delectable. Second, rumors about the horrible service were all over the internet, and I am always interested in seeing what it's truly like in a place where people claim they turn around and leave because the couldn't get anybodies attention to take their orders.
I went at lunch time, and the amazing smelling cafe/bakery was bustling. That said, I had no problem at all standing in line and ordering my sandwich in the normal way. I got an avocado and jack sandwich on whole wheat bread.
The sandwich was tasty... it felt like something I'd make myself at home. I liked the little cornichons on the plate.
Sitting in the cafe smelling the bakery was a fantastic sort of torture, and after finishing the savory part of lunch I made a beeline for the pastry case. There was another option for the ordering process to go south... Buttery has a spool of numbered tickets in a wall dispenser and attempt to conduct business based on ticket number. That said, the minute I got close to the baked goods, just scoping out my options before I even had a ticket, an employee noticed me and asked if she could get me anything. There was nothing unfriendly or difficult about the process at all.
And the macaroon that I got (and unfortunately didn't take a picture of) was, hands down, the best macaroon I have ever eaten. It was perfectly moist and chewy with beautifully caramelized outer ridges. It was a real work of art!
There were a few things that drew me to Buttery right off the bat: First off, the name sounds delectable. Second, rumors about the horrible service were all over the internet, and I am always interested in seeing what it's truly like in a place where people claim they turn around and leave because the couldn't get anybodies attention to take their orders.
I went at lunch time, and the amazing smelling cafe/bakery was bustling. That said, I had no problem at all standing in line and ordering my sandwich in the normal way. I got an avocado and jack sandwich on whole wheat bread.
The sandwich was tasty... it felt like something I'd make myself at home. I liked the little cornichons on the plate.Sitting in the cafe smelling the bakery was a fantastic sort of torture, and after finishing the savory part of lunch I made a beeline for the pastry case. There was another option for the ordering process to go south... Buttery has a spool of numbered tickets in a wall dispenser and attempt to conduct business based on ticket number. That said, the minute I got close to the baked goods, just scoping out my options before I even had a ticket, an employee noticed me and asked if she could get me anything. There was nothing unfriendly or difficult about the process at all.
And the macaroon that I got (and unfortunately didn't take a picture of) was, hands down, the best macaroon I have ever eaten. It was perfectly moist and chewy with beautifully caramelized outer ridges. It was a real work of art!
Wednesday, 17 June 2015
Honey Hole
The honey hole isn't an entirely vegetarian restaurant... in fact most of the menu consists of meat sandwiches. But the vegetarian options are so good they deserve special note (coming from a vegetarian tired of the usual sprout/tomato/creamcheese vegi sandwich.)
The grilled sandwiches are fantastic, and all come with a choice of fries or potato salad. (good fries.)
The beers come in unusually large glasses and are the perfect beverage for a leisirely afternoon people watching at this trendy local.
I love this place for thinking beyond the typical vegetarian sandwiches and offering us spicy mayo, grilled cheeses, all the gooodies we usually have to envy from afar.
The grilled sandwiches are fantastic, and all come with a choice of fries or potato salad. (good fries.)
The beers come in unusually large glasses and are the perfect beverage for a leisirely afternoon people watching at this trendy local.
I love this place for thinking beyond the typical vegetarian sandwiches and offering us spicy mayo, grilled cheeses, all the gooodies we usually have to envy from afar.
Monday, 15 June 2015
Park Chow
For our last night in San Francisco we followed a friend's recommendation to Park Chow, a popular sister of the other Chow restaurants located in other parts of the city.
It was busy, and we waited with a crowd under outside heaters for our table. Inside, the waitstaff was friendly and hip, and the vibe was very much slightly-upscale, well loved neighborhood bistro.
We started with a beet salad ,which came with roasted beets, endive, greens, hazelnuts, oranges, feta (substituted for the usual goat cheese) and olives.
The menu isn't specifically vegetarian oriented, but there were plenty of vegetarian choices (baked eggplant, pastas, pizzas, garden burgers, etc). I ordered the wood fired spinach lasagna. It wasn't bad, but wasn't the most interesting thing I've ever eaten. Maybe it could have used something to vary up the texture a little?
D ordered the daily sandwich, which was some sort of fancy fish, and it came with exquisite french fries. The presence of these on the table possibly had something to do with my lack of appreciation of my lasagna.
Overall a quality dinner and a fun evening. Thanks N for the recommendation! (And now, back to Seattle!)
Park Chow
(415) 665-9912 Sunset
1240 9th Ave
San Francisco, CA 94122
It was busy, and we waited with a crowd under outside heaters for our table. Inside, the waitstaff was friendly and hip, and the vibe was very much slightly-upscale, well loved neighborhood bistro.
We started with a beet salad ,which came with roasted beets, endive, greens, hazelnuts, oranges, feta (substituted for the usual goat cheese) and olives.
The menu isn't specifically vegetarian oriented, but there were plenty of vegetarian choices (baked eggplant, pastas, pizzas, garden burgers, etc). I ordered the wood fired spinach lasagna. It wasn't bad, but wasn't the most interesting thing I've ever eaten. Maybe it could have used something to vary up the texture a little?
D ordered the daily sandwich, which was some sort of fancy fish, and it came with exquisite french fries. The presence of these on the table possibly had something to do with my lack of appreciation of my lasagna.
Overall a quality dinner and a fun evening. Thanks N for the recommendation! (And now, back to Seattle!)Park Chow
(415) 665-9912
1240 9th Ave
San Francisco, CA 94122
Saturday, 13 June 2015
Chelsea Deli
The Chelsea Deli is the relatively new deli in Columbia City, and I am sheepish to admit that the first time I visited I left without ordering anything because I thought the two obviously vegetarian options looked unappealing to me. I WAS VERY MUCH MISTAKEN, and missing some critical info: Field Roast can be subbed for meat on just about any of the otherwise enticing sandwiches. YES!
There is some personnel connection between the Chelsea Deli and the Other Coast sandwich shop up in Ballard, and the sandwich I ordered is very similar to the Ragin' Cajun I've had in Ballard: toasted whole wheat baguette, field roast slices, tomatoes, red onion, chipotle aioli, broiled pepper jack cheese. Greasy, flavorful, filling and delicious!
In an interesting take, the Chelsea Deli also sells jumbo sized baked goods, including this rice crispie treat (I munched on it for days), and brownies that seem to be about quarter pan size. Nice.
Another nice vegetarian-friendly food option in Columbia City!
There is some personnel connection between the Chelsea Deli and the Other Coast sandwich shop up in Ballard, and the sandwich I ordered is very similar to the Ragin' Cajun I've had in Ballard: toasted whole wheat baguette, field roast slices, tomatoes, red onion, chipotle aioli, broiled pepper jack cheese. Greasy, flavorful, filling and delicious!
In an interesting take, the Chelsea Deli also sells jumbo sized baked goods, including this rice crispie treat (I munched on it for days), and brownies that seem to be about quarter pan size. Nice.
Another nice vegetarian-friendly food option in Columbia City!
Paseo
I've written favorably about Paseo in Fremont before, but there is a second location that has opened near Golden Gardens Park in the last few years and I recently stopped by for what I can pretty confidently say is just about best sandwich in the city.
First I should mention that the new location is simple, but gets the job done and is great for summertime: You order your food from a bright pink shack, then eat it outside at some covered picnic tables.
What I love about Paseo is that they have an awesome vegetarian sandwich that absolutely lacks in no hedonistic way. It comes on a toasty hot baguette and is filled with marinated grilled tofu, amazing (somewhat pickled?) grilled onions, lettuce, and my favorite part: grilled jalapeno slices that have had some sort of magic infused in them that make them addictingly fantastic. All of this is slathered in some kind of deliciously flavored buttery mayonnaise-y sauce (I try not to think too hard about this part), and some lettuce and the result is 100% pleasure.
First I should mention that the new location is simple, but gets the job done and is great for summertime: You order your food from a bright pink shack, then eat it outside at some covered picnic tables.
What I love about Paseo is that they have an awesome vegetarian sandwich that absolutely lacks in no hedonistic way. It comes on a toasty hot baguette and is filled with marinated grilled tofu, amazing (somewhat pickled?) grilled onions, lettuce, and my favorite part: grilled jalapeno slices that have had some sort of magic infused in them that make them addictingly fantastic. All of this is slathered in some kind of deliciously flavored buttery mayonnaise-y sauce (I try not to think too hard about this part), and some lettuce and the result is 100% pleasure.
Friday, 12 June 2015
Paseo
The meat is clearly the specialty here, but this smart little restaurant has done something fantastic for the vegetarians: they've created a tofu version of their messy, saucy, delicious sandwich that doesn't hold back on all of the other elements... plenty of grilled peppers, onions, cilantro, spices and greasy (in a delicious way) sauce and slices of tasty tofu on a fresh warm baguette type bread.
It is probably my favorite tofu sandwich in the city, but one that I eat somewhat rarely because it drips so freely in flavorful fats that I tend to leave Paseo 95% satisfied, 5% preoccupied with finding myself some spinach.
The restaurant is small, and popular which lends to long waiting times and difficulty snagging one of the greasy plastic tables. It's not really the sort of place that you'd go to with the intent of spending the evening at your table and lingering over a slow dinner because it is so small and chaotic feeling inside.
But the food is delicious, and supplies exactly the sort of vegetarian indulgence that I dream of stumbling upon in a restaurant known for it's amazing meat.
UPDATE 2/10/08
Went to Paseo the other evening within an hour of closing time, and found that they were sold out of sandwiches (as their hand lettered sign applogized, "yes, really.") So instead I ended up with a rather delicious dinner out of two remarkable sides:
1. The House Salad. I love this salad... it begins with a base of fresh green romain lettuce, then is genorously piled with thin, crisp shreds of purple cabbage, marinated beets sticks, cilantro and a tangy lime vinegrette.
2. Tofu with Rojo Sauce. I was really surprised at what I recieved here... given the price (under $4), and the designation as a "side", I was expecting a small pile of something, but instead received a full dinner sized plate with a nice mound of basmati rice (it always tastes really good here... butter?) with a great pile of their delicious tofu strips in a rich and spicy red sauce. I was having a hard time figureing out the flavours in the sauce... I think I could pick out a red pepper/tomato base/onion base, but the details of the rest were elusive. It sure was good though.
It is probably my favorite tofu sandwich in the city, but one that I eat somewhat rarely because it drips so freely in flavorful fats that I tend to leave Paseo 95% satisfied, 5% preoccupied with finding myself some spinach.
The restaurant is small, and popular which lends to long waiting times and difficulty snagging one of the greasy plastic tables. It's not really the sort of place that you'd go to with the intent of spending the evening at your table and lingering over a slow dinner because it is so small and chaotic feeling inside.
But the food is delicious, and supplies exactly the sort of vegetarian indulgence that I dream of stumbling upon in a restaurant known for it's amazing meat.
UPDATE 2/10/08
Went to Paseo the other evening within an hour of closing time, and found that they were sold out of sandwiches (as their hand lettered sign applogized, "yes, really.") So instead I ended up with a rather delicious dinner out of two remarkable sides:
1. The House Salad. I love this salad... it begins with a base of fresh green romain lettuce, then is genorously piled with thin, crisp shreds of purple cabbage, marinated beets sticks, cilantro and a tangy lime vinegrette.
2. Tofu with Rojo Sauce. I was really surprised at what I recieved here... given the price (under $4), and the designation as a "side", I was expecting a small pile of something, but instead received a full dinner sized plate with a nice mound of basmati rice (it always tastes really good here... butter?) with a great pile of their delicious tofu strips in a rich and spicy red sauce. I was having a hard time figureing out the flavours in the sauce... I think I could pick out a red pepper/tomato base/onion base, but the details of the rest were elusive. It sure was good though.
Thursday, 11 June 2015
Q Bakery
The Q Bakery is located in the same complex as Viet Wah on MLK and Graham down in my neck of the woods in South Seattle. It's not hard to find a good banh mi in Seattle, but a good vegetarian banh mi a stone's throw from my house is cause for celebration!
To start with , the Q Bakery is indeed a real bakery and it pumps out baguettes and rolls at regular intervals all day. If you choose to eat in the small shop, you'll know the bread is almost out of the oven because the population temporarily swells with people eager to load up their baskets and bags with hot bread. So this means that the backbone of the banh mi, the baguette, is oh so fresh and tasty. Off to a good start!
I'm not sure if they actually remove some of the center of the baguette, but somehow the ratio of fillings to bread is way better than usual, and the sandwich feels packed with innards and not just a bread baby.
Another reason I especially love Q Bakery is the sauce on the table. I recently discovered that one of the little plastic jars of red seedy sauce is NOT the typical vinegary chili garlic, but chili garlic lemongrass. I loaded up my sandwich and was in heaven.
The prices are similar to banh mi elsewhere: amazingly low. And in addition to sandwiches, Q bakery has a wide and interesting selection of other foods and snacks that are largely mysterious to me. Definitely worth a stop in if you're in the area!
To start with , the Q Bakery is indeed a real bakery and it pumps out baguettes and rolls at regular intervals all day. If you choose to eat in the small shop, you'll know the bread is almost out of the oven because the population temporarily swells with people eager to load up their baskets and bags with hot bread. So this means that the backbone of the banh mi, the baguette, is oh so fresh and tasty. Off to a good start!
I'm not sure if they actually remove some of the center of the baguette, but somehow the ratio of fillings to bread is way better than usual, and the sandwich feels packed with innards and not just a bread baby.
Another reason I especially love Q Bakery is the sauce on the table. I recently discovered that one of the little plastic jars of red seedy sauce is NOT the typical vinegary chili garlic, but chili garlic lemongrass. I loaded up my sandwich and was in heaven.The prices are similar to banh mi elsewhere: amazingly low. And in addition to sandwiches, Q bakery has a wide and interesting selection of other foods and snacks that are largely mysterious to me. Definitely worth a stop in if you're in the area!
Tuesday, 9 June 2015
Specialty's Bakery
Specialty's Bakery is a chain bakery/cafe located in U-Village. The good smells come wafting out the door and it is hard not to stop. I've recently come to like this place as an alternate to my other U-Village standby, the enticing devil Zao.
I've never had their sandwiches, but they have a nice selection of vegetarian options, all of which seem to come piled high on homemade bread.
What I've ordered is the Southwest Salad, and I was reasonably impressed considering the source. It was large, and covered in bean salad, corn salsa, cheddar, avocado and a bunch of other veggies. It came with a creamy southwest style dressing on the side, and a chunk of fresh bread.
Picture from the Specialty's Website. The real salad is pretty close to this, but served on a big plate and not quite so tidy.
They also make a good looking vegan salad that I haven't had, but appreciated on the menu.
I really appreciate when a chain manages to prepare reasonably priced, minimally processed, regular healthy type food, and this place manages that quite nicely.
Specialty's Cafe and Bakery
2690 NE University Vlg
Seattle, WA 98105
www.specialtys.com
I've never had their sandwiches, but they have a nice selection of vegetarian options, all of which seem to come piled high on homemade bread.
What I've ordered is the Southwest Salad, and I was reasonably impressed considering the source. It was large, and covered in bean salad, corn salsa, cheddar, avocado and a bunch of other veggies. It came with a creamy southwest style dressing on the side, and a chunk of fresh bread.
Picture from the Specialty's Website. The real salad is pretty close to this, but served on a big plate and not quite so tidy.
I really appreciate when a chain manages to prepare reasonably priced, minimally processed, regular healthy type food, and this place manages that quite nicely.Specialty's Cafe and Bakery
2690 NE University Vlg
Seattle, WA 98105
www.specialtys.com
Sunday, 7 June 2015
Hangar Cafe
Had a good sandwich the other day at the Hangar Cafe at the foot of the airport in Georgetown. The place is small, and has the lightly rustic feel of an artsy cabin. The waitress was so friendly that I forgot that she wasn't already my friend, and then when I remembered, I really wished she was.
I got the "Goddess" sandwich, which came with red onion, avocado, spinach, tomatoes, almond pesto, and cream cheese on some good toasted grainy sunflower seed bread. I was impressed with the idea of almond pesto because I love basil and the other pesto ingredients, but don't care much for pine nuts.
The sandwich was particularly good, hefty and well lubricated and especially delicious with the tomatoes and onions pressed into the thick cream cheese on the warm bread. The size of the plate was a bit puzzling though- much too large for a sandwich sized on normal bread and it made me feel like I was eating doll food. The psychology of the plate took over the reality of the food and I was still hungry even after I ate the reasonable but tiny looking salad that accompanied the sandwich.
Another psychological situation came at the end of the meal, but I responded to this one positively. The check came wedged in a little cup full of jolly ranchers. I knew they weren't all for me, but it made me feel really pleased to know that I could have as many as I wanted.
I enjoyed eating here, and it was no problem eating vegetarian. We got lucky and came during a lull, but I've heard that it can be particularly crowded, especially for their homemade crepes and waffles at breakfast time. My friend experienced one slight letdown, and it was the absence of pilots. He thought perhaps we would find ourselves eating amid the raucous airmen, and unfortunately that didn't seem to be the reality.
The Hangar Cafe
6261 13th Ave S
Seattle, WA 98108
(206) 762-0204
www.thehangarcafe.com
I got the "Goddess" sandwich, which came with red onion, avocado, spinach, tomatoes, almond pesto, and cream cheese on some good toasted grainy sunflower seed bread. I was impressed with the idea of almond pesto because I love basil and the other pesto ingredients, but don't care much for pine nuts.
The sandwich was particularly good, hefty and well lubricated and especially delicious with the tomatoes and onions pressed into the thick cream cheese on the warm bread. The size of the plate was a bit puzzling though- much too large for a sandwich sized on normal bread and it made me feel like I was eating doll food. The psychology of the plate took over the reality of the food and I was still hungry even after I ate the reasonable but tiny looking salad that accompanied the sandwich.Another psychological situation came at the end of the meal, but I responded to this one positively. The check came wedged in a little cup full of jolly ranchers. I knew they weren't all for me, but it made me feel really pleased to know that I could have as many as I wanted.
I enjoyed eating here, and it was no problem eating vegetarian. We got lucky and came during a lull, but I've heard that it can be particularly crowded, especially for their homemade crepes and waffles at breakfast time. My friend experienced one slight letdown, and it was the absence of pilots. He thought perhaps we would find ourselves eating amid the raucous airmen, and unfortunately that didn't seem to be the reality.The Hangar Cafe
6261 13th Ave S
Seattle, WA 98108
(206) 762-0204
www.thehangarcafe.com
Outerlands
(In San Francisco) I love a good neo-hippy cafe. I think the defining factors for me are:
1. The people who own it (or their friends or their family) also work at it
2. There is something artsy and homemade about the decor
3. There is an emphasis on local/organic/in season ingredients
4. There are healthy but delicious menu choices with a strong vegetarian/vegan presence
5. The staff and regulars are friendly and kind
Outerlands in the Sunset area of San Francisco provided all of these beautifully.
Nice work with the driftwood
The restaurant is owned by a young surfer couple who took over the space after the previous resident (the vegan restaurant Feel Real) disappeared and left a hole in the neighborhood.
There were many cool things about this place, including homemade bread and some fancy driftwood mosaics, but the detail that impressed me most was the extremely limited (and daily changing) lunch menu (they have a more "normal" dinner menu with many choices). Sometimes, I am a huge fan of the limited menu (assuming I like the general theme of a place) because it focuses efforts and reduces waste. When I visited, the lunch menu consisted of:
* Vegan cream of celery soup
* Grilled cheese sandwich
* A big green salad
* A broiled open faced sandwich with pears and some sort of meat and cheese
I had the soup and grilled cheese, and the sandwich really stole the show due to the huge thick slices of fresh, soft homemade bread that had been buttered and grilled to perfection. Yum.
It is hard to tell from this picture how thickly sliced that delicious homemade bread was. Look at the notebook and pen for scale.
All in all, a very pleasant lunch at a good feelings place.
1. The people who own it (or their friends or their family) also work at it
2. There is something artsy and homemade about the decor
3. There is an emphasis on local/organic/in season ingredients
4. There are healthy but delicious menu choices with a strong vegetarian/vegan presence
5. The staff and regulars are friendly and kind
Outerlands in the Sunset area of San Francisco provided all of these beautifully.
Nice work with the driftwoodThe restaurant is owned by a young surfer couple who took over the space after the previous resident (the vegan restaurant Feel Real) disappeared and left a hole in the neighborhood.
There were many cool things about this place, including homemade bread and some fancy driftwood mosaics, but the detail that impressed me most was the extremely limited (and daily changing) lunch menu (they have a more "normal" dinner menu with many choices). Sometimes, I am a huge fan of the limited menu (assuming I like the general theme of a place) because it focuses efforts and reduces waste. When I visited, the lunch menu consisted of:
* Vegan cream of celery soup
* Grilled cheese sandwich
* A big green salad
* A broiled open faced sandwich with pears and some sort of meat and cheese
I had the soup and grilled cheese, and the sandwich really stole the show due to the huge thick slices of fresh, soft homemade bread that had been buttered and grilled to perfection. Yum.
It is hard to tell from this picture how thickly sliced that delicious homemade bread was. Look at the notebook and pen for scale.All in all, a very pleasant lunch at a good feelings place.
Saturday, 6 June 2015
Lola's South City Bakery
If you live in South Seattle, you've likely zipped passed this discrete little restaurant and not even noticed it. It is located in Hillman City, just south from the heart of Columbia City, right across the street from the windowless extravagance of Maxim's Nightclub.
But it is worth a stop. Lola's is owned by really friendly and good intentioned people and has quality food. The restaurant is vegetarian (with numerous vegan options), but you wouldn't know it unless you surveyed the menu looking for meat because this detail isn't blaring. The values of the owner are clear: he makes high quality food and does his best to choose high quality, organic, local, seasonal, healthy ingredients.
My first visit landed on a Tuesday, a day that I soon learned is a slow start day for the restaurant, as it is transitioning from being fully closed on this day. We had come for pizzas, but the dough hadn't fully risen, so we got a couple of sandwiches instead.
The sandwiches were a bit light on the filling and heavy on the bread. I ordered the Vietnamese sandwich, and it contained a tofu mix, cilantro, pickled carrots and vegan mayonnaise.
We also had some homemade ice cream, which was made with local organic cream and no eggs. I appreciated the lack of eggs, but it did produce a lightly differently textured ice cream than one might be used to. They also make vegan sorbets. We ordered a bowl with two scoops of ice cream: one scoop of nectarine and one scoop of raspberry.
I also sampled an unusual cookie called the "Herb Garden." It was a short bread type cookie with gritty cornmeal, lemon, thyme and rosemary.
Fast forward to today... another rainy afternoon where the idea of hot pizza was overwhelming. We phoned Lola's with a pizza order to go (the pizzas are individual sized), and chose one cheese topped with Mamma Lil's Hot Peppers, and one cheese with Field Roast vegetarian sausage.
Even after the trip home, the pizzas were piping hot and full of integrity. The crust was really delicious. Not wafer thin, but thin still, and chewy and oily and gritty and crisp in all of the right places. The sauce was simple and good... not sweet at all, good tomato flavour. The cheese and toppings tasted great. I was thrilled.
They also have a fully vegan pizza made with caramelized onions and walnuts (with the option of adding blue cheese), but I'm not sure I'll ever get around to ordering that after tasting the pizza with cheese and spicy peppers.
Next time you're going out for pizza, give these guys a shot!!!
Lola's South City Bakery
Seattle, WA
But it is worth a stop. Lola's is owned by really friendly and good intentioned people and has quality food. The restaurant is vegetarian (with numerous vegan options), but you wouldn't know it unless you surveyed the menu looking for meat because this detail isn't blaring. The values of the owner are clear: he makes high quality food and does his best to choose high quality, organic, local, seasonal, healthy ingredients.
My first visit landed on a Tuesday, a day that I soon learned is a slow start day for the restaurant, as it is transitioning from being fully closed on this day. We had come for pizzas, but the dough hadn't fully risen, so we got a couple of sandwiches instead.
The sandwiches were a bit light on the filling and heavy on the bread. I ordered the Vietnamese sandwich, and it contained a tofu mix, cilantro, pickled carrots and vegan mayonnaise.
We also had some homemade ice cream, which was made with local organic cream and no eggs. I appreciated the lack of eggs, but it did produce a lightly differently textured ice cream than one might be used to. They also make vegan sorbets. We ordered a bowl with two scoops of ice cream: one scoop of nectarine and one scoop of raspberry.
I also sampled an unusual cookie called the "Herb Garden." It was a short bread type cookie with gritty cornmeal, lemon, thyme and rosemary.
Fast forward to today... another rainy afternoon where the idea of hot pizza was overwhelming. We phoned Lola's with a pizza order to go (the pizzas are individual sized), and chose one cheese topped with Mamma Lil's Hot Peppers, and one cheese with Field Roast vegetarian sausage.
Even after the trip home, the pizzas were piping hot and full of integrity. The crust was really delicious. Not wafer thin, but thin still, and chewy and oily and gritty and crisp in all of the right places. The sauce was simple and good... not sweet at all, good tomato flavour. The cheese and toppings tasted great. I was thrilled.
They also have a fully vegan pizza made with caramelized onions and walnuts (with the option of adding blue cheese), but I'm not sure I'll ever get around to ordering that after tasting the pizza with cheese and spicy peppers.Next time you're going out for pizza, give these guys a shot!!!
Lola's South City Bakery
(206) 725-0443
5607 Rainier Ave SSeattle, WA
Tuesday, 2 June 2015
Island Soul
I just came from lunch at Island Soul, the new Caribbean restaurant in Columbia City, and I think I have found my new Columbia City favorite.
Island Soul is in the building that used to house the (now gone) Wellington, and the new owners (who used to own Casuelita's Island Soul in the Central District) have done a nice job changing the feel of the place. Instead of the sultry, dingy darkness that used to be the Wellington, the new place is full of light, and has cheery, clean bright feel.
The menu was surprisingly vegetarian friendly (was I dreaming it up?) and in my order I modified a BBQ tofu sandwich to be Jerk Tofu sandwich. As we waited for our food, the owner's wife came out of the kitchen to check in with me because their Jerk sauce is made with meat. She offered some other ideas, and we decided upon giving the tofu a vegetarian spice rub. With my sandwich, I had a choice of salad or Caribbean slaw, and chose the latter.
The sandwich came and was tasty. The tofu was hot and soft, just how I like it, and had a slightly piquant spice rub. The sandwich also had some raw onions and chopped tomato and garlicky mayonnaise-y sauce. It is hard not to compare a Caribbean style sandwich to the messy saucy delight that comes from Paseo, and with that in mind, I could have probably enjoyed a few more ingredients in the sandwich (maybe something like grilled onions and jalapenos).
The Caribbean style coleslaw was my favorite type of slaw: plenty of vinegar and no mayonnaise. It was a nice mix of both green and purple cabbage, carrots, tomato, peppers, and bits of other finely chopped veggies.
We also ordered a side of their Collard greens, which are vegan (!). They were the best greens I've had in a restaurant anywhere. They had plenty of flavour, but weren't over salted. They were meltingly tender, but still seemed fresh and structurally intact. And, they had bits of chopped carrots and peppers mixed in, which made them quite visually appealing.
The owner, who is also one of the cooks, came out to check up on our meal when we were done. He is a really friendly guy (in fact, the entire staff was exceptionally warm), and he told me that he had been raised a vegetarian, and his mother was quite the vegetarian cook growing up. He said he's got a mind full of delicious things to do with tofu.
Some other vegetarian items straight from the menu:
* An appetizer called, "Little Islands" that consists of little breads filled with savory black beans, feta and avocado
* BBQ Tofu sandwich
* Coconut cornbread
* Tamal Azteca (layered dish with tortillas, roasted vegetable, cheeses, and chipotles tomato sauce)
* Curried Tofu
* A dish of tofu with onions and peppers
And plenty more. I am so excited about this place! It is a moderately priced restaurant (sandwich was $7.50, most sides are $1-4, many dishes are in the $12-15 range, and there are a couple ranging up to about $19), which is a little more than I usually go for, but seems reasonable still. It's off to an exceptional start in my book, I am really stoked to go and try some more dishes.
Seattle, WA 98118
Island Soul is in the building that used to house the (now gone) Wellington, and the new owners (who used to own Casuelita's Island Soul in the Central District) have done a nice job changing the feel of the place. Instead of the sultry, dingy darkness that used to be the Wellington, the new place is full of light, and has cheery, clean bright feel.
The menu was surprisingly vegetarian friendly (was I dreaming it up?) and in my order I modified a BBQ tofu sandwich to be Jerk Tofu sandwich. As we waited for our food, the owner's wife came out of the kitchen to check in with me because their Jerk sauce is made with meat. She offered some other ideas, and we decided upon giving the tofu a vegetarian spice rub. With my sandwich, I had a choice of salad or Caribbean slaw, and chose the latter.
The sandwich came and was tasty. The tofu was hot and soft, just how I like it, and had a slightly piquant spice rub. The sandwich also had some raw onions and chopped tomato and garlicky mayonnaise-y sauce. It is hard not to compare a Caribbean style sandwich to the messy saucy delight that comes from Paseo, and with that in mind, I could have probably enjoyed a few more ingredients in the sandwich (maybe something like grilled onions and jalapenos).
The Caribbean style coleslaw was my favorite type of slaw: plenty of vinegar and no mayonnaise. It was a nice mix of both green and purple cabbage, carrots, tomato, peppers, and bits of other finely chopped veggies.
We also ordered a side of their Collard greens, which are vegan (!). They were the best greens I've had in a restaurant anywhere. They had plenty of flavour, but weren't over salted. They were meltingly tender, but still seemed fresh and structurally intact. And, they had bits of chopped carrots and peppers mixed in, which made them quite visually appealing.
The owner, who is also one of the cooks, came out to check up on our meal when we were done. He is a really friendly guy (in fact, the entire staff was exceptionally warm), and he told me that he had been raised a vegetarian, and his mother was quite the vegetarian cook growing up. He said he's got a mind full of delicious things to do with tofu.Some other vegetarian items straight from the menu:
* An appetizer called, "Little Islands" that consists of little breads filled with savory black beans, feta and avocado
* BBQ Tofu sandwich
* Coconut cornbread
* Tamal Azteca (layered dish with tortillas, roasted vegetable, cheeses, and chipotles tomato sauce)
* Curried Tofu
* A dish of tofu with onions and peppers
And plenty more. I am so excited about this place! It is a moderately priced restaurant (sandwich was $7.50, most sides are $1-4, many dishes are in the $12-15 range, and there are a couple ranging up to about $19), which is a little more than I usually go for, but seems reasonable still. It's off to an exceptional start in my book, I am really stoked to go and try some more dishes.
Island Soul
(206) 329-1202
4869 Rainier Ave SSeattle, WA 98118
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