Rocket Donuts
306 W Holly St (near Old Towne Cafe)
Website
Well my husband is officially in heaven because a donut shop finally opened up downtown. We often walk dowtown for breakfast in the summer, and he always complained that he had to eat silly things like chocolate croissants and breakfast bagels instead of some good 'ol donuts. He can't complain anymore and I can't even whine about missing Top Pot donuts in Seattle, Rocket Donuts is awesome enough for both of us.
They make the donuts fresh in the back and they are usually warm & crispy still at 9am. Everything is delicious, glazed old fashioned, maple bars, blueberry cake donuts....in october they even had a pumpkin creamcheese donut. I think the special this month is some sort of apple/pear donut.
One warning is that these donuts are incredibly rich. They cost more than a supermarket donut, but you only need one (me) or two (hubby) to fill you up. (The fact that our 20 month old son can eat one by himself scares me a little.)
The only trouble we've run into was an apple fritter that was soaked in oil. You could squeeze oil out of each bite, it was pretty gross. I have a feeling that they were still adjusting their recipe since they'd only been open a week. Then again, perhaps Apple Fritters are always this greasy, but usually the oil coagulates before you get around to eating it so you don't notice as much.
This place gets sort of busy, but we've never had a problem getting a table around 9am. The colorful rocket decor keeps little ones mildly entertained, although they don't seem to have any highchairs available so bring your own if you need one.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Giuseppes
Giuseppes Italian Restaurant
1414 Cornwall Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 714-9100
Website
We finally wandered into Giuseppes the other night to try one of the last few Italian places in Bellingham we hadn't been to yet.
Giuseppes is newly remodeled and I LOVED the atmosphere. It was cozy and warm feeling, even when the whole place was packed by 6pm. Around that time, they started the live piano music and I was in heaven.
The food at Giuseppes was fine, but once again I just wasn't that excited by it or blown away. It was nothing I couldn't make myself at home and the prices were once again in the $16-$20 range. I had the Shrimp pesto dish. (Linguini alla Bella) It was great pesto and succulent shrimp, but honestly it needed something to cut through all that richness. I added fresh tomatoes to my dish, which helped, but it needed something tangy like lemon or artichoke hearts. My husband had a gorgonzola cream sauce which suffered from the same problem. It needed something light and acidic to balance out the richness of the sauce.
The highlight of the meal was Tiramisu for dessert that I thought was absolutely perfect. My reccomendation if you are on a budget is to eat at home and then go to Giuseppes for wine & Tiramisu on a live piano night to soak up the romantic atmosphere. Otherwise, their pasta is quite good, but for me, not worth the hefty price tag.
1414 Cornwall Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 714-9100
Website
We finally wandered into Giuseppes the other night to try one of the last few Italian places in Bellingham we hadn't been to yet.
Giuseppes is newly remodeled and I LOVED the atmosphere. It was cozy and warm feeling, even when the whole place was packed by 6pm. Around that time, they started the live piano music and I was in heaven.
The food at Giuseppes was fine, but once again I just wasn't that excited by it or blown away. It was nothing I couldn't make myself at home and the prices were once again in the $16-$20 range. I had the Shrimp pesto dish. (Linguini alla Bella) It was great pesto and succulent shrimp, but honestly it needed something to cut through all that richness. I added fresh tomatoes to my dish, which helped, but it needed something tangy like lemon or artichoke hearts. My husband had a gorgonzola cream sauce which suffered from the same problem. It needed something light and acidic to balance out the richness of the sauce.
The highlight of the meal was Tiramisu for dessert that I thought was absolutely perfect. My reccomendation if you are on a budget is to eat at home and then go to Giuseppes for wine & Tiramisu on a live piano night to soak up the romantic atmosphere. Otherwise, their pasta is quite good, but for me, not worth the hefty price tag.
Jimmy's House of Orient
I have eaten at this Thai restaurant on Holly Street twice now. The first time the food seemed like decent thai food in a somewhat funky atmosphere. Honestly, I was so amused at the techno beats and tight shirts all the waiters were wearing that I barely noticed the food. It had the atmostphere of a hip gay hangout instead of an exotic thai house.
I did notice that no one I saw in the restaurant looked even faintly Thai. This was our first attempt at finding a thai place in bellingham since moving from Seattle, where all the great Thai places are obviously run by Thai people. So I overlooked the caucasian males in skin tight shirts, but wasn't thrilled enough to go back.
Fast forward to yesterday.... With a 2 inch coating of ice on the roads and a strong craving for thai food, I started calling around to see who was open. Jimmy's was the only one who answered the phones and I remembered reading that they had won "best takeout" in the one of those newspaper awards thingys.
We didn't have a menu, so I started by asking if they had "pad woonsen". WHAT? No, I don't think so" answered the guy on the phone. Ok, how about "Pad Prik King" (a thai staple) "Phad prik who?" he answered. Finally I just asked for something with meat and plenty of veggies. "Oh, you defnitely want the Holy Basil" he said. That sounded excellent to me since I love fresh basil. Yum.
My husband brought the food home and imagine my dismay when I opened up my Holy Basil and found absolutely no basil whatsoever. Oh no wait, are those little green flecks dried basil? Apparently so.
WHO THE HECK PUTS DRIED BASIL IN A DISH CALLED "HOLY BASIL"??????
Second of all, if they were out of basil, why on earth did he recommend that dish to me? The sauce tasted like chicken broth, soy sauce and red chili flakes. Boring Boring Boring.
Jimmy's, you get a huge, giant thumbsdown. (second only to Blue Fin Sushi)
I did notice that no one I saw in the restaurant looked even faintly Thai. This was our first attempt at finding a thai place in bellingham since moving from Seattle, where all the great Thai places are obviously run by Thai people. So I overlooked the caucasian males in skin tight shirts, but wasn't thrilled enough to go back.
Fast forward to yesterday.... With a 2 inch coating of ice on the roads and a strong craving for thai food, I started calling around to see who was open. Jimmy's was the only one who answered the phones and I remembered reading that they had won "best takeout" in the one of those newspaper awards thingys.
We didn't have a menu, so I started by asking if they had "pad woonsen". WHAT? No, I don't think so" answered the guy on the phone. Ok, how about "Pad Prik King" (a thai staple) "Phad prik who?" he answered. Finally I just asked for something with meat and plenty of veggies. "Oh, you defnitely want the Holy Basil" he said. That sounded excellent to me since I love fresh basil. Yum.
My husband brought the food home and imagine my dismay when I opened up my Holy Basil and found absolutely no basil whatsoever. Oh no wait, are those little green flecks dried basil? Apparently so.
WHO THE HECK PUTS DRIED BASIL IN A DISH CALLED "HOLY BASIL"??????
Second of all, if they were out of basil, why on earth did he recommend that dish to me? The sauce tasted like chicken broth, soy sauce and red chili flakes. Boring Boring Boring.
Jimmy's, you get a huge, giant thumbsdown. (second only to Blue Fin Sushi)
Callaloo
Callaloo Carribean Kitchen
1212 N State St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-5375
We ate at the new Carribean restaurant downtown a few weeks ago with some friends. I was quite excited to try it since I generally love that sort of exotic thing, but we ended up being underwhelmed. I ordered the house soup special which contained Okra, coconut milk and some other green stuff. Somehow it sounded yummy and healthy on the menu, despite the okra, but in person it just tasted green, like cooked okra. No spices to liven it up and only the faint taste of the coconut milk. I could barely get it down, maybe it was authentic, but it definitely was not what I expected.
Everyone else ordered a pasta special that had prawns, andouille sausage and veggies in a cajun cream sauce. It was pricey, around $16 if I remember right. The taste was fine, the prawns were beautiful, but it was loaded with eggplant which is definitely an acquired taste. Nobody loved it, although it was "ok".
I could see going back to try some of the more standard fair like jerk chicken, but the dishes we had that night didn't do much to make us want to go back again.
1212 N State St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-5375
We ate at the new Carribean restaurant downtown a few weeks ago with some friends. I was quite excited to try it since I generally love that sort of exotic thing, but we ended up being underwhelmed. I ordered the house soup special which contained Okra, coconut milk and some other green stuff. Somehow it sounded yummy and healthy on the menu, despite the okra, but in person it just tasted green, like cooked okra. No spices to liven it up and only the faint taste of the coconut milk. I could barely get it down, maybe it was authentic, but it definitely was not what I expected.
Everyone else ordered a pasta special that had prawns, andouille sausage and veggies in a cajun cream sauce. It was pricey, around $16 if I remember right. The taste was fine, the prawns were beautiful, but it was loaded with eggplant which is definitely an acquired taste. Nobody loved it, although it was "ok".
I could see going back to try some of the more standard fair like jerk chicken, but the dishes we had that night didn't do much to make us want to go back again.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Bad Bad Blue Fin Sushi
Update: March 2008 - Apparently Blue Fin has had new owners since January 2007, so please disregard the review below.
Blue Fin Sushi
102 S Samish Way # 105
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 752-2583
I just had the worst restaurant experience ever. Please, if you live in Bellingham, don't ever go to Blue Fin Sushi on Samish way.
1. I order Ebi & seared tuna on the $1 happy hour special to go with my tempura roll, my friend is having a hard time deciding, so asks the waitress to come back.
2. Waitress never comes back to take my friend's order, my friend has to go find her in the back somewhere to place her order.
3. Waitress gives me raw tuna instead of seared, but I eat it anyways because it took so long I didn't want to wait any longer
4. Waitress forgets our miso soup
5. My friend's food arrives 25 minutes after my food, 35 minutes she chased down the waitress to actually get it ordered. In a restaurant that has five tables of couples which apparently completely overwhelmed the staff.
5. I get the bill and instead of ordering me the $1 sushi special, she put in two orders for each one. I tell her I only wanted one $1 piece and she gets all huffy and tells me I shouldn't have eaten it. Except there was no possible way for me to know that the $1 special came with just one piece of sushi! I just said "I'll take the $1 special for the ebi & tuna". How does that then cost me $2 each???
6. As she walks away I say "this is ridiculous, I am never coming back here again"
7. The waitress comes back and tells ME that I am being rude and disrespectful. If I don't want to eat there, that is my decision, but no need to tell her that.
8. I then point out how long our food took and she says "well you're the one who brought your kids and that's why we give you salad & miso."
9. We leave and for the first time in my life I leave no tip.
Blue Fin Sushi
102 S Samish Way # 105
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 752-2583
I just had the worst restaurant experience ever. Please, if you live in Bellingham, don't ever go to Blue Fin Sushi on Samish way.
1. I order Ebi & seared tuna on the $1 happy hour special to go with my tempura roll, my friend is having a hard time deciding, so asks the waitress to come back.
2. Waitress never comes back to take my friend's order, my friend has to go find her in the back somewhere to place her order.
3. Waitress gives me raw tuna instead of seared, but I eat it anyways because it took so long I didn't want to wait any longer
4. Waitress forgets our miso soup
5. My friend's food arrives 25 minutes after my food, 35 minutes she chased down the waitress to actually get it ordered. In a restaurant that has five tables of couples which apparently completely overwhelmed the staff.
5. I get the bill and instead of ordering me the $1 sushi special, she put in two orders for each one. I tell her I only wanted one $1 piece and she gets all huffy and tells me I shouldn't have eaten it. Except there was no possible way for me to know that the $1 special came with just one piece of sushi! I just said "I'll take the $1 special for the ebi & tuna". How does that then cost me $2 each???
6. As she walks away I say "this is ridiculous, I am never coming back here again"
7. The waitress comes back and tells ME that I am being rude and disrespectful. If I don't want to eat there, that is my decision, but no need to tell her that.
8. I then point out how long our food took and she says "well you're the one who brought your kids and that's why we give you salad & miso."
9. We leave and for the first time in my life I leave no tip.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Nimbus Update
We've been to Nimbus twice in the last two months. The first time we had an awful experience with a group of noisy folks from the bar squeezing into the tiny table next to us (in a nearly empty restaurant) so that they could watch the sunset. It pretty much blew the romantic part of the evening, and one guy was so annoying, he even stood for a while between our two tables, just talking loudly & blocking my view of the sunset. So I wrote a letter to Nimbus explaining that I would expect waitstaff to not let a noisy group like that crowd in next to a romantic couple who've ordered wine & a nice dinner, and they actually apologized and sent us a gift certificate.
The first visit, we had filet mignon and spot prawns. Both dishes were great, although the cumin in the spot prawn dish was a little overpowering. I do have to note that as a commenter pointed out, Nimbus has pretty small portions. This rarely bothers me at a nice restaurant, I would rather have a small delectable portion any day over a huge less tasty one. But I know many many people who disagree with me on that point. So you are warned.
The last time we went, the food was spectacular and nasty, depending on the dish. My ribeye steak was great. It came with an odd cauliflower "hash" which was basically cauliflower with a creamy sauce on top. Not bad, and I thought I hated cauliflower. I thought it was a rather generous sized steak as well, definitely filled me up.
My husband opted for a sampler of starters. The "corn essence" soup was phenomenal. It was a bowl with fresh corn kernels, popcorn, kosher salt and a pile of roasted pepper mousse in the center. Then the waitress poured a sweet creamed corn soup over the top of it. Yum! The play of salty & sweet was amazing.
The disappointment of the evening was his "crab sliders". For $12, we were expecting some pretty tasty crab cakes, even if they were supposed to look like burgers of some sort. Instead, they were teeny tiny little 1 1/2 inch diameter rounds of what seemed like mostly bread with a few little bits of crab in them. They were super dense patties, not light flaky crab cakes. They were very dry, and there was just a tiny bit of sauce spread on a burnt bun of sorts. Practically inedible and we sent them back.
We decided to have dessert and I ordered a dense chocolate cake thingy, which my waitress informed me was like chocolate decadence in a coconut cream sauce. Kyle ordered the chevre cheesecake after the waitress assured him that you wouldn't even know it had goat cheese if you didn't already know.
First of all, my chocolate cake was SPICY. Apparently it had cayenne pepper. Which is fine, but for goodness sakes, that needs to be clear on the menu! Or my waitress should have told me. What if I hated spice?? The coconut sauce was awful. I don't know what was in it, or if it had gone bad, but it was tangy and made my tongue tingle, almost like buttermilk. Not at all what I expected.
We both agreed Kyle's cheesecake was nasty. The waitress still swears she loves it, but the texture was super grainy, like a floury paste and the taste.... like lukewarm milk sitting out a couple hours with a goaty aftertaste. Not tangy or sweet. Luckily it had a peach sauce & Kyle choked it down since we'd already returned one dish that evening.
So I officially have to NOT reccomend Nimbus. Some things are great & innovative, but their consistency has to be top notch if you are paying top notch prices. I would only go for drinks & maybe an appetizer or two to enjoy the view. I still love the view. Just be sure to send dishes back if you don't like them. And watch out for the noisy bar, if you are trying to be romantic ask to sit away from the bar.
The first visit, we had filet mignon and spot prawns. Both dishes were great, although the cumin in the spot prawn dish was a little overpowering. I do have to note that as a commenter pointed out, Nimbus has pretty small portions. This rarely bothers me at a nice restaurant, I would rather have a small delectable portion any day over a huge less tasty one. But I know many many people who disagree with me on that point. So you are warned.
The last time we went, the food was spectacular and nasty, depending on the dish. My ribeye steak was great. It came with an odd cauliflower "hash" which was basically cauliflower with a creamy sauce on top. Not bad, and I thought I hated cauliflower. I thought it was a rather generous sized steak as well, definitely filled me up.
My husband opted for a sampler of starters. The "corn essence" soup was phenomenal. It was a bowl with fresh corn kernels, popcorn, kosher salt and a pile of roasted pepper mousse in the center. Then the waitress poured a sweet creamed corn soup over the top of it. Yum! The play of salty & sweet was amazing.
The disappointment of the evening was his "crab sliders". For $12, we were expecting some pretty tasty crab cakes, even if they were supposed to look like burgers of some sort. Instead, they were teeny tiny little 1 1/2 inch diameter rounds of what seemed like mostly bread with a few little bits of crab in them. They were super dense patties, not light flaky crab cakes. They were very dry, and there was just a tiny bit of sauce spread on a burnt bun of sorts. Practically inedible and we sent them back.
We decided to have dessert and I ordered a dense chocolate cake thingy, which my waitress informed me was like chocolate decadence in a coconut cream sauce. Kyle ordered the chevre cheesecake after the waitress assured him that you wouldn't even know it had goat cheese if you didn't already know.
First of all, my chocolate cake was SPICY. Apparently it had cayenne pepper. Which is fine, but for goodness sakes, that needs to be clear on the menu! Or my waitress should have told me. What if I hated spice?? The coconut sauce was awful. I don't know what was in it, or if it had gone bad, but it was tangy and made my tongue tingle, almost like buttermilk. Not at all what I expected.
We both agreed Kyle's cheesecake was nasty. The waitress still swears she loves it, but the texture was super grainy, like a floury paste and the taste.... like lukewarm milk sitting out a couple hours with a goaty aftertaste. Not tangy or sweet. Luckily it had a peach sauce & Kyle choked it down since we'd already returned one dish that evening.
So I officially have to NOT reccomend Nimbus. Some things are great & innovative, but their consistency has to be top notch if you are paying top notch prices. I would only go for drinks & maybe an appetizer or two to enjoy the view. I still love the view. Just be sure to send dishes back if you don't like them. And watch out for the noisy bar, if you are trying to be romantic ask to sit away from the bar.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Old Town Cafe
Location: 316 W Holly St
(360) 671-4431
Summary: A child friendly place for breakfast with local food & plenty of organic & vegetarian options.
What's not to love about the Old Town Cafe? It's like a local Denny's, but with all the comforts of the hipster dufus world. To translate: A plethora of breakfast options with all the little details like organic eggs, local produce, buckwheat in your pancakes & tofu scrambles that launch the hippy sophistacates into heaven. Not sure if that made it clearer or not. For us parents, the kids play area is a huge draw. You can see it from most of the tables, so when your little demon child starts screaming in the middle of the meal, you just send him off to play & savor your coffee in silence. Why on earth don't more restaurants have this? This place gets quite busy on weekend mornings, but they turn tables quickly and also have wonderful "community tables" where the put 3-4 couples/small groups on one big table. Conversing with your neighbors is optional. The french toast I had here is the best I ever remember having. Everyone else we've eaten here with seems to have enjoyed their food as well.
(360) 671-4431
Summary: A child friendly place for breakfast with local food & plenty of organic & vegetarian options.
What's not to love about the Old Town Cafe? It's like a local Denny's, but with all the comforts of the hipster dufus world. To translate: A plethora of breakfast options with all the little details like organic eggs, local produce, buckwheat in your pancakes & tofu scrambles that launch the hippy sophistacates into heaven. Not sure if that made it clearer or not. For us parents, the kids play area is a huge draw. You can see it from most of the tables, so when your little demon child starts screaming in the middle of the meal, you just send him off to play & savor your coffee in silence. Why on earth don't more restaurants have this? This place gets quite busy on weekend mornings, but they turn tables quickly and also have wonderful "community tables" where the put 3-4 couples/small groups on one big table. Conversing with your neighbors is optional. The french toast I had here is the best I ever remember having. Everyone else we've eaten here with seems to have enjoyed their food as well.
Coppa Mediterranian Bistro
Update 2008: This restaurant is now closed
Location: 1224 Harris Ave
(360) 312-5050
Website
Summary: Try Coppa if you're looking for a medium priced option that serves tasty, unique food in a nice atmosphere.
Located in Fairhaven at the top of the hill, this cute bistro serves delicious mediterranian food in a cozy colorful atmosphere. If you're looking for something a little different, this is the place to go. They have everything from hummus to pasta, featuring unique food from all over the mediterranian region. On our visit, I had kebabs of spiced ground lamb that were tasty & flavorful. The only let down for us was that the prices had gone up recently, the menu we looked at outside the restaurant was significantly cheaper than the one we ordered from. If the old prices had been in effect still, this place would have landed on my "favorite restaurant" list. Entrees ranged from about $12 to $20, making it just a bit too expensive for our everyday eating out. My kebabs were about $14 and although it wasn't a huge meal, it fit my appetite perfectly. Coppa also features a wine list that has 10 bottles in three price categories - $13.50, $16.00 & $19.50. This seems like a great deal, but the $16 bottle the waitress recommended is one I recognized from the grocery store that sells for $4-$5. So the markup isn't any less, the wine is just cheaper & our bottle wasn't that great. The service was very friendly & good here, the hostess washed our sons highchair for us & helped keep him entertained throughout the meal.
Location: 1224 Harris Ave
(360) 312-5050
Website
Summary: Try Coppa if you're looking for a medium priced option that serves tasty, unique food in a nice atmosphere.
Located in Fairhaven at the top of the hill, this cute bistro serves delicious mediterranian food in a cozy colorful atmosphere. If you're looking for something a little different, this is the place to go. They have everything from hummus to pasta, featuring unique food from all over the mediterranian region. On our visit, I had kebabs of spiced ground lamb that were tasty & flavorful. The only let down for us was that the prices had gone up recently, the menu we looked at outside the restaurant was significantly cheaper than the one we ordered from. If the old prices had been in effect still, this place would have landed on my "favorite restaurant" list. Entrees ranged from about $12 to $20, making it just a bit too expensive for our everyday eating out. My kebabs were about $14 and although it wasn't a huge meal, it fit my appetite perfectly. Coppa also features a wine list that has 10 bottles in three price categories - $13.50, $16.00 & $19.50. This seems like a great deal, but the $16 bottle the waitress recommended is one I recognized from the grocery store that sells for $4-$5. So the markup isn't any less, the wine is just cheaper & our bottle wasn't that great. The service was very friendly & good here, the hostess washed our sons highchair for us & helped keep him entertained throughout the meal.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Bellingham Trader Joes, part 2
This just in:
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060710/BUSINESS08/607100317/1005/BUSINESS
Ok, it doesn't really confirm anything, but it is interesting that it comes up again right after that guy at the store told me it was happening.
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060710/BUSINESS08/607100317/1005/BUSINESS
Ok, it doesn't really confirm anything, but it is interesting that it comes up again right after that guy at the store told me it was happening.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Black Drop
Location: 300 W Champion St
(360) 738-3767
Website
Summary: For serious coffee that's an art form
I was in The Black Drop the other day and learned about their free espresso Fridays. Black Drop is one of those few coffee places that actually takes their coffee making quite seriously. Serious enough to even impress these guys. Maybe I should say obsessive. Anyways, so they have great coffee and the best micro foam I've had in a long time outside of my old favorite Uptown Espresso.
Back to the point, Free Espresso Fridays, you can go into the store all day Friday and get a free double shot of espresso. I love the rules... You can add sugar & cream, but no doctoring it at the condiment bar to make it a latte or americano. You have to drink the thing strong. I think this is fabulous, a great way to promote the finer points of espresso vs. milk drinks. Don't get me wrong, I love milk drinks. But I also understand that espresso shots are an art unto themselves and appreciating them is like wine tasting. But ordering one at a coffee bar seems like such a waste. So now I can go taste the real deal for free every friday. I love it.
(360) 738-3767
Website
Summary: For serious coffee that's an art form
I was in The Black Drop the other day and learned about their free espresso Fridays. Black Drop is one of those few coffee places that actually takes their coffee making quite seriously. Serious enough to even impress these guys. Maybe I should say obsessive. Anyways, so they have great coffee and the best micro foam I've had in a long time outside of my old favorite Uptown Espresso.
Back to the point, Free Espresso Fridays, you can go into the store all day Friday and get a free double shot of espresso. I love the rules... You can add sugar & cream, but no doctoring it at the condiment bar to make it a latte or americano. You have to drink the thing strong. I think this is fabulous, a great way to promote the finer points of espresso vs. milk drinks. Don't get me wrong, I love milk drinks. But I also understand that espresso shots are an art unto themselves and appreciating them is like wine tasting. But ordering one at a coffee bar seems like such a waste. So now I can go taste the real deal for free every friday. I love it.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Nimbus
Location: 119 N Commercial St
(360) 676-1307
Website
Summary: Bring that special date to Nimbus to enjoy a fancy meal and grab a window table for the most romantic view in the city.
There is something remarkable I have to tell you about this restaurant: I don't remember what I ate the one time we went there. Not a single item. This should be one of the most shocking things you've heard all day. I ALWAYS remember what I eat, particularly when I've spent quite a bit of money on it. I can list off my top ten favorite meals ever quite easily. But I don't remember Nimbus food.
What I do remember is the view. The cozy, warm feeling I had sitting there peering out of rain dripped windows. The haze over the city that didn't obscure much except for the mountains. Finally seeing how all those darn diagonal downtown streets lined up with the waterfront. The friendly people we chatted with at the table next to us. Not having our dear screaming child with us, the beauty of eating alone, just the two of us. Being quite satisfied with my meal, even if I don't remember a single thing about it.
We went on a rainy Monday night for my husbands birthday and it was perfect. I think I would always go on an "off" night so that you are sure to get a table near a window. Other than that, just go & give it a try for a special romantic occaision and let me know how the food was.
(360) 676-1307
Website
Summary: Bring that special date to Nimbus to enjoy a fancy meal and grab a window table for the most romantic view in the city.
There is something remarkable I have to tell you about this restaurant: I don't remember what I ate the one time we went there. Not a single item. This should be one of the most shocking things you've heard all day. I ALWAYS remember what I eat, particularly when I've spent quite a bit of money on it. I can list off my top ten favorite meals ever quite easily. But I don't remember Nimbus food.
What I do remember is the view. The cozy, warm feeling I had sitting there peering out of rain dripped windows. The haze over the city that didn't obscure much except for the mountains. Finally seeing how all those darn diagonal downtown streets lined up with the waterfront. The friendly people we chatted with at the table next to us. Not having our dear screaming child with us, the beauty of eating alone, just the two of us. Being quite satisfied with my meal, even if I don't remember a single thing about it.
We went on a rainy Monday night for my husbands birthday and it was perfect. I think I would always go on an "off" night so that you are sure to get a table near a window. Other than that, just go & give it a try for a special romantic occaision and let me know how the food was.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Trader Joes!
I have received special top secret information from an anonymous insider that TRADER JOES will be opening a new store on James St. in the old Red Apple by next March. SERIOUS!!!!
Do you know how excited I am???? Do you really, truly have any idea? I am sooooooooo excited! Hurray!
Seriously, a worker at the everett store said it is a done deal. It was just announced officially a few weeks ago to the employees. Please please please be true.
Do you know how excited I am???? Do you really, truly have any idea? I am sooooooooo excited! Hurray!
Seriously, a worker at the everett store said it is a done deal. It was just announced officially a few weeks ago to the employees. Please please please be true.
The Italian Problem
One of the most frustrating searches in Bellingham has been for a decent Italian restaurant. I'm not looking for a fancy place that serves $20 plates of pasta like Giuiseppes, Bisteca or that highbrow place in Fairhaven. I want a cozy little trattoria that dishes out $10 -$15 plates of pasta, $4 caesars, & unlimited fresh crusty bread. We've tried 2 of the 3 that I know of that fit that description & haven't been too excited by either. We haven't been to Stinello's yet, Kyle doesn't remember it being very good, so we haven't even tried it. Here's the two we have tried.
D'annas
I'm going out on a limb here because I know this is a favorite of many locals. But.... The food was only OK (mediocre is being generous) and the price seemed astronomical for what it was. I don't like paying more than $13 for a plate of pasta unless it is loaded with seafood or something equally great. Ravioli with chicken for $16 doesn't cut it. I did not like the foccacia at all, it literally tasted like barf. And lastly, if I'm going to pay $14 or more for Ravioli, please make the interior reflect that I am at a nice restaurant. The whole atmosphere seemed very shabby and reminded me more of a cheap order at the counter place than a nice Italian restaurant. There, I said it, let me know if you disagree.
Mambo Italiano
This had the most promise of the ones we've been to. It didn't blow my mind, and the dish I had was tasty but struck me as a bit too rich & oily. The second time we went, the pizza was pretty good & I want to give it another try before I pass a final judgment on this one.
Ok, I admit that I used to wait tables at Pasta Bella in Seattle, which I still think is one of the most amazing Italian places I've ever been to. (As long as the cooks weren't high & screwing the dishes up) So my standards are pretty high. But it always amazes me how hard it is to find a good solid menu with a wide variety of pasta options. Let me know your comments, recommendations, or if you feel differently.
D'annas
I'm going out on a limb here because I know this is a favorite of many locals. But.... The food was only OK (mediocre is being generous) and the price seemed astronomical for what it was. I don't like paying more than $13 for a plate of pasta unless it is loaded with seafood or something equally great. Ravioli with chicken for $16 doesn't cut it. I did not like the foccacia at all, it literally tasted like barf. And lastly, if I'm going to pay $14 or more for Ravioli, please make the interior reflect that I am at a nice restaurant. The whole atmosphere seemed very shabby and reminded me more of a cheap order at the counter place than a nice Italian restaurant. There, I said it, let me know if you disagree.
Mambo Italiano
This had the most promise of the ones we've been to. It didn't blow my mind, and the dish I had was tasty but struck me as a bit too rich & oily. The second time we went, the pizza was pretty good & I want to give it another try before I pass a final judgment on this one.
Ok, I admit that I used to wait tables at Pasta Bella in Seattle, which I still think is one of the most amazing Italian places I've ever been to. (As long as the cooks weren't high & screwing the dishes up) So my standards are pretty high. But it always amazes me how hard it is to find a good solid menu with a wide variety of pasta options. Let me know your comments, recommendations, or if you feel differently.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Kari's Restaurant Awards
Best Overall:
Pepper Sisters.
Unique, exciting & flavorful food, Rogue Hazelnut Brown Ale on tap, my weird passion for posole and free, warm, soft sopaipillas for dessert. If it weren't for the warm temp inside the restaurant & the sometimes long waits, it would be heaven.
Best Splurge:
Flats Tapas Bar. Ok, so I know that if you do the math, the cost of this place can equal out to $1 or more per bite of food. But that bite is so flavorful, rich and marvelous that you feel like you've had five. It has a fancier name, but the sausage on bread sandwich thingy is our favorite. And the scallops, and the fritatta with truffle oil. mmmmmm... Did I mention that one night the hostess carried our son around the restaurant for 30 minutes while we ate our dinner? Now THAT is service.
Best Breakfast Pastries:
Avenue Bread
My husband will hate me for this one since his idea of breakfast pastries are Chuck's Donuts in Renton. But I prefer the delicate flaky crust & faintly orangey taste of a sweet cheese danish at Avenue Bread. Even if it costs 10 times as much as a Chuck's donut.
Best Mexican:
Taco Lobo
1) Al Pastor, a juicy sweet slow cooked pork taco filling
2) Amazing fresh corn tortillas
3) the best refried beans I've ever tasted
Best Nursery:
Bear Creek
Quiet, secluded... sure the plants aren't steals, but they're not the most expensive in town either. All things being equal, its the location, friendliness of the staff & the fun variety of plants that makes this place a stand out.
Best Burgers:
Boomers Drive In
Skip the rows of fast food joints on Samish Avenue & drive into Boomers. I know it kills you to wait 15 minutes for your burger, fries & shake, but trust me, it is worth it. And getting all three of those in the Boomer's "combo meal" for around $5.50 is a much better deal than paying the same for flavored cardboard at ol' McD's.
Most interesting newcomer:
Sharazad
This is a Persian place where the old Mallard ice cream used to be. For some reason I find myself craving the Kubideh (ground meat kabob) & Barg (steak kabob) with salad. Simple, lightly spiced, but fresh, healthy feeling & tasty. Their baklava is cheaper than most, generous & wonderful.
Best for groups:
Boundary Bay Brewery
Some of their dishes are a little funky, but the prices are great and there's enough variety to satisfy everyone. I like the cheesesteak sandwich.
Best Thai:
That place downtown that plays techno & has lots of guys in tight shirts.... HA!
Well it has decent food, but I prefer the ambience of On Rice or Busara. It's pretty much a toss up between those two.
Best place to buy avacados:
Haggens
50 cents a pop this week!
Best breakfast:
Old Town Cafe
There are quite a few great places, but I have to go with Old Town Cafe on this one because they have a kids play area.
Pepper Sisters.
Unique, exciting & flavorful food, Rogue Hazelnut Brown Ale on tap, my weird passion for posole and free, warm, soft sopaipillas for dessert. If it weren't for the warm temp inside the restaurant & the sometimes long waits, it would be heaven.
Best Splurge:
Flats Tapas Bar. Ok, so I know that if you do the math, the cost of this place can equal out to $1 or more per bite of food. But that bite is so flavorful, rich and marvelous that you feel like you've had five. It has a fancier name, but the sausage on bread sandwich thingy is our favorite. And the scallops, and the fritatta with truffle oil. mmmmmm... Did I mention that one night the hostess carried our son around the restaurant for 30 minutes while we ate our dinner? Now THAT is service.
Best Breakfast Pastries:
Avenue Bread
My husband will hate me for this one since his idea of breakfast pastries are Chuck's Donuts in Renton. But I prefer the delicate flaky crust & faintly orangey taste of a sweet cheese danish at Avenue Bread. Even if it costs 10 times as much as a Chuck's donut.
Best Mexican:
Taco Lobo
1) Al Pastor, a juicy sweet slow cooked pork taco filling
2) Amazing fresh corn tortillas
3) the best refried beans I've ever tasted
Best Nursery:
Bear Creek
Quiet, secluded... sure the plants aren't steals, but they're not the most expensive in town either. All things being equal, its the location, friendliness of the staff & the fun variety of plants that makes this place a stand out.
Best Burgers:
Boomers Drive In
Skip the rows of fast food joints on Samish Avenue & drive into Boomers. I know it kills you to wait 15 minutes for your burger, fries & shake, but trust me, it is worth it. And getting all three of those in the Boomer's "combo meal" for around $5.50 is a much better deal than paying the same for flavored cardboard at ol' McD's.
Most interesting newcomer:
Sharazad
This is a Persian place where the old Mallard ice cream used to be. For some reason I find myself craving the Kubideh (ground meat kabob) & Barg (steak kabob) with salad. Simple, lightly spiced, but fresh, healthy feeling & tasty. Their baklava is cheaper than most, generous & wonderful.
Best for groups:
Boundary Bay Brewery
Some of their dishes are a little funky, but the prices are great and there's enough variety to satisfy everyone. I like the cheesesteak sandwich.
Best Thai:
That place downtown that plays techno & has lots of guys in tight shirts.... HA!
Well it has decent food, but I prefer the ambience of On Rice or Busara. It's pretty much a toss up between those two.
Best place to buy avacados:
Haggens
50 cents a pop this week!
Best breakfast:
Old Town Cafe
There are quite a few great places, but I have to go with Old Town Cafe on this one because they have a kids play area.
Taco Lobo
Location: 117 W Magnolia St
(360) 756-0711
Summary: For a cheap, from scratch, authentic style mexican food, try Taco Lobo. And don't forget to order the Al pastor.
In my mind, there is one reason to visit this place: Al pastor
Al Pastor is a slow cooked, shredded pork & pinapple filling that you can get in any number of Taco Lobo dishes. (Tacos, burritos, etc) It is tinged red, is sweet, juicy & barely spicy. My mother hates spice but loves Al pastor. I generally get my al pastor in a couple tacos, which comes to around 5 bucks. These are small simple tacos with lettuce and onions, but they come wrapped in the most delicious homemade corn tortillas. My husband usually orders three. If you want, you can also get a couple tacos with some truly fabulous rice & beans. They must have tons of lard in them or something, because they are the best I have ever tasted. Each order comes with a basket of chips & unlimited trips to the salsa bar. The other meat options are all ok. The fish tacos contain some very fresh tasting flaked halibut, but are a little on the bland side with no spices or tangy white sauce. (you can add fresh pico de gallo from the salsa bar which helps some) The carne asada is quite good, but not as good as al pastor. The chicken is barely worth mentioning, but I'm never a big chicken fan for tacos. This place is usually hopping during lunch & dinner hours, and the line at the order counter can be long. But they do have plenty of tables and will help you find a seat if it is crowded. On the other hand, they do run out of al pastor occaisionally, so arriving early is always a good bet.
(360) 756-0711
Summary: For a cheap, from scratch, authentic style mexican food, try Taco Lobo. And don't forget to order the Al pastor.
In my mind, there is one reason to visit this place: Al pastor
Al Pastor is a slow cooked, shredded pork & pinapple filling that you can get in any number of Taco Lobo dishes. (Tacos, burritos, etc) It is tinged red, is sweet, juicy & barely spicy. My mother hates spice but loves Al pastor. I generally get my al pastor in a couple tacos, which comes to around 5 bucks. These are small simple tacos with lettuce and onions, but they come wrapped in the most delicious homemade corn tortillas. My husband usually orders three. If you want, you can also get a couple tacos with some truly fabulous rice & beans. They must have tons of lard in them or something, because they are the best I have ever tasted. Each order comes with a basket of chips & unlimited trips to the salsa bar. The other meat options are all ok. The fish tacos contain some very fresh tasting flaked halibut, but are a little on the bland side with no spices or tangy white sauce. (you can add fresh pico de gallo from the salsa bar which helps some) The carne asada is quite good, but not as good as al pastor. The chicken is barely worth mentioning, but I'm never a big chicken fan for tacos. This place is usually hopping during lunch & dinner hours, and the line at the order counter can be long. But they do have plenty of tables and will help you find a seat if it is crowded. On the other hand, they do run out of al pastor occaisionally, so arriving early is always a good bet.
Mount Bakery
Location: 308 W Champion St
(360) 715-2195
Website
We went to Mount Bakery the other morning for our second breakfast visit. Sitting at one of three outside tables this time of year is sublime, they are in the shade in the morning, but on an 80 degree day, that is perfect. Mount Bakery's menu has fabulous breakfast options such as savory & sweet crepes, omelets, pastries, homemade granola, & french toast, ranging in price from about $5 for eggs and toast to around $15 for a fresh crab omelet. Since we usually go for breakfast, I don't remember everything they have for lunch, but at 10:00 am when we went, they were serving both lunch & breakfast. Mount Bakery is "slow food" which merely means that everything is made from local ingredients & is made on site from scratch. The service isn't super speedy, but "slow food" in no way reflects the wait for your meal. This particular morning we had a sweet nutella/banana crepe & a savory breakfast crepe - eggs, ham & cheese in a crepe with potatoes on the side. The crepes were wonderful. Maybe I'm not keeping up with restaurant inflation, but the $7 sweet crepe seemed a bit spendy for just bananas & chocolate. The breakfast crepe was much more substantial and was only a buck or two more. It included a side of "mixed" potatoes - both sweet potatoes & regular ones cut into wedges & roasted with herbs. A few potato pieces were undercooked, but other than that they were pretty tasty. The "jambon" or ham in the breakfast crepe was also particularly good. (they seem to have a slight french theme on the menu with many words written in french) We have also had the chocolate croissants, which, I am told by connoissuers that they are some of the best in the NW. Once I bite into the buttery chocolately-ness, my mind tends to go a little numb with delight, so I need to go try them again and focus a little more so I can recommend them myself. Last time we went they were out because they'd been open at 5am to show the tour de france. As far as breakfast pastries go, they have a limited selection of croissants & some scones. Being a bakery, this surprised us on our first visit, butthey do have a much larger selection of desserts like chocolate tortes, lemon tarts & cream puffs. There is also a fabulous sounding eggs benedict on the menu where instead of an english muffin, they pop the thing onto a savory belgian waffle. I'll let you know if I order that anytime soon. Overall, I would definitely recommend Mount Bakery as one of many nice places in town to enjoy a leisurely sit down breakfast.
(360) 715-2195
Website
We went to Mount Bakery the other morning for our second breakfast visit. Sitting at one of three outside tables this time of year is sublime, they are in the shade in the morning, but on an 80 degree day, that is perfect. Mount Bakery's menu has fabulous breakfast options such as savory & sweet crepes, omelets, pastries, homemade granola, & french toast, ranging in price from about $5 for eggs and toast to around $15 for a fresh crab omelet. Since we usually go for breakfast, I don't remember everything they have for lunch, but at 10:00 am when we went, they were serving both lunch & breakfast. Mount Bakery is "slow food" which merely means that everything is made from local ingredients & is made on site from scratch. The service isn't super speedy, but "slow food" in no way reflects the wait for your meal. This particular morning we had a sweet nutella/banana crepe & a savory breakfast crepe - eggs, ham & cheese in a crepe with potatoes on the side. The crepes were wonderful. Maybe I'm not keeping up with restaurant inflation, but the $7 sweet crepe seemed a bit spendy for just bananas & chocolate. The breakfast crepe was much more substantial and was only a buck or two more. It included a side of "mixed" potatoes - both sweet potatoes & regular ones cut into wedges & roasted with herbs. A few potato pieces were undercooked, but other than that they were pretty tasty. The "jambon" or ham in the breakfast crepe was also particularly good. (they seem to have a slight french theme on the menu with many words written in french) We have also had the chocolate croissants, which, I am told by connoissuers that they are some of the best in the NW. Once I bite into the buttery chocolately-ness, my mind tends to go a little numb with delight, so I need to go try them again and focus a little more so I can recommend them myself. Last time we went they were out because they'd been open at 5am to show the tour de france. As far as breakfast pastries go, they have a limited selection of croissants & some scones. Being a bakery, this surprised us on our first visit, butthey do have a much larger selection of desserts like chocolate tortes, lemon tarts & cream puffs. There is also a fabulous sounding eggs benedict on the menu where instead of an english muffin, they pop the thing onto a savory belgian waffle. I'll let you know if I order that anytime soon. Overall, I would definitely recommend Mount Bakery as one of many nice places in town to enjoy a leisurely sit down breakfast.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Jacci's Fish and Chips
Location: 1020 Harris Ave
(360) 733-5021
Is there a decent or even great fish & chips joint in Bellingham? Located in the heart of fairhaven in a refurbished london double decker bus, Jacci's outdoor seating area is often packed on sunny weekend afternoons. If you can find a table on a sunny day, the outdoor seating amidst the bustle of fairhaven is the highlight of the meal. The fish portions seem meager for the price: about $8 for 3 pretty small pieces. The fish is beer battered, frozen & tossed into the fryer when ordered. The pieces are thin & my salmon was a teeny bit dry & overcooked. However, my order of salmon & chips seemed to contain more fish than my partner's somewhat measly portion of cod & chips. The tartar sauce is the best I've ever tasted, it contains lemon zest - an outstanding addition to an otherwise boring condiment. The fries are also great, wedge cut & crispy. I would recommend Jacci's if you are looking for a fun place to sit in the sun & soak up the fairhaven atmosphere w/o breaking the bank.
(360) 733-5021
Is there a decent or even great fish & chips joint in Bellingham? Located in the heart of fairhaven in a refurbished london double decker bus, Jacci's outdoor seating area is often packed on sunny weekend afternoons. If you can find a table on a sunny day, the outdoor seating amidst the bustle of fairhaven is the highlight of the meal. The fish portions seem meager for the price: about $8 for 3 pretty small pieces. The fish is beer battered, frozen & tossed into the fryer when ordered. The pieces are thin & my salmon was a teeny bit dry & overcooked. However, my order of salmon & chips seemed to contain more fish than my partner's somewhat measly portion of cod & chips. The tartar sauce is the best I've ever tasted, it contains lemon zest - an outstanding addition to an otherwise boring condiment. The fries are also great, wedge cut & crispy. I would recommend Jacci's if you are looking for a fun place to sit in the sun & soak up the fairhaven atmosphere w/o breaking the bank.
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