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.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
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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