Move over cupcake — PIE is the new kid in town!
It wasn’t that long ago that cupcakes busted onto the scene – with cupcake exclusive bakeries popping up all over the country, including Seattle, people were going out for a cupcake after dinner, knocking ice cream off it’s throne.
Well, now, cupcake has a run for its frosting.
The talk around town is that pie is the new cupcake. In Seattle alone, there are at least five pie exclusive businesses, which already beats out the four cupcake shops that the city has held dear for the past few years.
Let’s break down Seattle’s pie hot spots –
Pie
Neighborhood: Fremont
Claim to pie fame: Pie offers a different variety of pies every single day including savory pies, late-night pies, vegetarian pies and morning pies
What to get: The portions at Pie are all single serving, just like a (ahem) cupcake would be. The mac n’ cheese pie is popular from the savory menu and the banana cream pie is a hit on the sweet list.
Find them: 3515 – 35th Avenue North // www.sweetandsavorypie.com
Seattle Pie Company
Neighborhood: Magnolia
Claim to pie fame: What started as a small husband and wife pie baking venture turned quickly into a huge success including winning Seattle Magazine’s Best Pie of 2010 and a mention in acclaimed Sunset Magazine.
What to get: The Deserted Island Pie is a customer favorite for sure – strawberries, apples, marionberries and raspberries mixed together with a yummy crumb topping. Keep an eye out for Pie Cones coming this summer – yes, that’s pie in an ice cream cone!
Find them: 3111 West McGraw Street // www.seattlepiecompany.com
Shoofly Pie Company
Neighborhood: West Seattle
Claim to pie fame: Pies that are classic and delicious without too many bells and whistles. Shoofly is where you want to go to bring back memories of baking with your grandmother on summer vacations as a child.
What to get: If you’re a key-lime fan, Shoofly Pie Company will be your new favorite place. We also love that you can pick up balls of fresh dough for making your own pie at home!
Find them: 4444 California Avenue Southwest // www.shooflypiecompany.com
A La Mode Pies
Neighborhood: Wherever you live in Seattle or the Eastside
Claim to pie fame: Pie delivery. Yes, you read that correctly. You can have pie delivered. And not just any pie, but amazingly delicious and innovative pies created with mostly local and organic ingredients. Delivery is free within Seattle and just $5 on the Eastside.
What to get: Whatever pie you order from Al a Mode Pies, add some LolliPies as well. They are little mini pies on a stick that are perfect for little pie-lovers or that baby shower you offered to host for the co-worker you hardly know – choose from apple cinnamon, cherries jubilee and blue Hawaiian (blueberry with coconut and pineapple)
Find them: Order online at www.alamodeseattle.com // also served at many restaurants around the city including Blue Moon Burgers in Fremont and Zeitgeist Coffee in Pioneer Square.
High 5 Pie
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Claim to pie fame: Major pie creativity happening at High 5 Pie including Pie in a Jar (pie baked in actual Mason Jars that even come with a lid, not that you’ll need to use it) and Flipsides (pockets of pie for on the go pie eating). Bonus points for High 5 Pie’s gluten-free options.
What to get: Peanut butter lovers can’t miss both PB options on the menu – the Peanut Butter and Jelly Pie and the Peanut Butter and Chocolate Pie. Not into PB? The cherry almond pie gets rave reviews.
Find them: 1400 – 12th Avenue // www.highfivepie.com
Even the Water is Vegan: A meat eater’s experience at Seattle’s vegan Plum Bistro.
I have a confession to make.
My best friend is vegan.
There, I said it.
I hope you’re still reading.
(You know I’m kidding, right?)
Having a vegan best friend is hard work. When she comes over for dinner, I scour the food blogs for recipes that will be tasty for her, while still satisfying my meat and cheese loving family. I usually end up giving up and ordering pizza (with an olive oil base and no cheese, of course).
Her thirtieth birthday was a few weeks ago and because I love her so much, as do the rest of our friends, we all put big cheesy smiles on our faces when she told us that she wanted to have her birthday dinner at Plum Bistro on Capitol Hill. I had actually heard a lot of buzz about Plum Bistro without even realizing that it was a vegan restaurant. But still, I was nervous.
I figured that my best bet was to go online beforehand and check out the menu so that I knew exactly what to order before I even got there. I think that some of my anxiousness about going to Plum was the anticipation of that moment when the waitress asked for my order and I don’t pronounce anything right and accidentally ask for cheese on my “burger.”
The menu was a bit intimidating. I must admit that I just believed that being vegan was just about NOT eating dairy and meat products. I didn’t realize, or ever consider, that vegans need to replace these foods with other healthy proteins. So I tackled the menu, item by item, and with the help of Google. I learned about tempeh and quinoa and burgers that were made from seitan. After educating myself about what vegans actually eat, my nervousness turned into curiosity.
First of all, the restaurant itself is gorgeous. Located on 12th Avenue in the heart of the hill, the space feels warm and intimate, but with open ceilings and glass walls. The drink list is amazing and uses fresh ingredients – I chose one with rum, fresh blueberries and basil with crushed ice. They also have a nice selection of specialty beers, which impressed my husband.
The funniest moment of the evening (trust me, there were many) came just after we sat down. One of our dear friends looked at her glass of water, which had been waiting for us on the table when we sat down and skeptically asked, “What is this?” I think she was relieved when we all reassured her that it was just water.
My recommendation to non-vegans who go to Plum Bistro is to order from the appetizer menu. We ordered one of everything for the table to share and I fell in love with all of them – the Spicy Cajun Mac ‘N’ Yease was buttery and rich, the Avocado Roll plentiful, especially with the chipotle mayo. We also had some yam fries that are no longer on the appetizer menu, but come as a side with some of the dinner items – they were crisp and flavorful.
I can’t say that going to Plum Bistro made me any more open to becoming vegan myself, but it certainly opened my mind to the world of veganism and especially to the realization that there are not many options for vegans when they dine out. I was so impressed with the willingness of the servers at Plum to explain what menu items were and what they taste like. Plus, the prices at Plum Bistro were extremely reasonable, considering that the ingredients they use are 100% organic.
Plum Bistro should definitely be on your must-try list for dining in Seattle, whether you are vegan, non-vegan, or just hungry.
Plum Bistro is located at 1429 Twelfth Avenue. It’s small, so I’d recommend making reservations if you are with a crowd. 206-838-5333 or online at http://www.plumbistroseattle.com
Note to readers: The water is not actually vegan at Plum Bistro. It’s just a joke.
A Tour of Seattle from 3000 feet
When the clouds decide to take a breather for those 71 days out of the year, Seattle is probably one of the most gorgeous cities in the entire world.
On these days most would head to Gasworks park or Alki for frisbee and a picnic, but here’s a proposition, why not head into the air?
Hear me out. A few days ago I decided to petition a local pilot into giving a ride to Hoquiam for lunch. Why? Because it sounded awesome.
We took off from Boeing airport right behind a 787 Dreamliner and circled around to the waters south of downtown Seattle. Down below ferries were bustling back and forth, and the sun shimmered down from the Olympics, across the water to the beautiful skyscrapers along 99. As we chugged along in the little Cessna 150 the view went from stunning to absolutely breathtaking. The Olympics drew closer and closer like something out of Lord of the Rings, and as Seattle grew farther and farther away it began to look more an more like a glistening Emerald. (Thank god I finally solved that mystery).
Fast forward 30 minutes of me ooing and ahing and thoroughly annoying the pilot, and we arrive at Hoquiam airport for lunch at Lana’s Hangar Cafe, a small diner off the runway.
I’d love to say the food here was a transcendental experience, and that I’d uncovered some sort of hungry pilot conspiracy to keep it hidden away from us mere groundlings, but alas, it just ok. I ordered the Ruben, my all-time favorite sandwich, and it was neither good nor bad, rather refreshingly normal like most diner food. What did make this lunch relatively extraordinary was watching the airplanes, one right after the other, land in front of us and off load hungry dogs, kids, parents and grandparents into the little diner. There was a sense of community in the restaurant that was fascinating to experience because this seemingly bustling world of private aviation was previously unbeknownst to me. If only the food were a little better, I might have been motivated to pick up flying myself.
After filling up, we headed back to Seattle, this time from the North. As we slowly made our decent, we flew over Magnolia, the bridges of Ballard and Fremont, past Lake Union and Queen Anne to Capitol Hill, and finally past the stadiums where we shortly after landed back at Boeing Field.
It was in a word… incredible, and something every single person in this city should try at least once. So next time you see a deal come along for an introductory flight lesson, or tour – just go for it.
*Some options for flight sightseeing are Kenmore Air and NW Seaplanes. Or book a discovery flight with Alternate Air or Wings Aloft.
Food + beer + 1: The only ingredients for a perfect Seattle weekend
As the work week drew to a close last Friday, I felt like I was floating all the way home. It was sunny, warmish and I was excited about everything my wife and I had planned for the weekend.
For starters, there were people everywhere, everyone wanted to be outside and for good reason at that; it has been a cold, gray and wet winter. I don’t know about you, but I’m about ready to ditch that scene and embrace some sunnier skies and warmer days.
We knew that we had a lot planned for Saturday and Saturday night so we knew that we’d need to take it easy on Friday. We went out for sushi at one of my favorite places in our neighborhood, Hana Restaurant. For the first time in what seems like forever we ordered the perfect amount of sushi. Usually it’s a case of the “eyes being bigger than my stomach” syndrome and I feel compelled to eat to the point of having a food baby (possibly twins) but we did alright this last time out. Edamame got our evening started along with a giant bottle of Kirin and were followed by a veggie roll, spider roll and a third roll whose identity I cannot recall at the moment as well as pieces of shrimp, yellow tail, salmon, octopus and tuna nigiri. Absolutely delightful and I might make it a priority to eat there at least once a week.
Because I am new to the city and my wife is reacquainting herself with it, we have committed to exploring other neighborhoods and seeing as much as we can especially now since the weather is slowly getting nicer. After a morning run we hopped in the car and drove over to the junction in West Seattle. We ate at Elliot Bay Brewery & Pub. Sadly we didn’t try any of the beers on tap on account of heading to a beer event later that night but that didn’t stop my wife from enjoying her quinoa salad and I devoured a grilled salmon sandwich in near record time. We walked up and down California Ave SW, exploring some of the shops over there and then made our way back home.
We quickly changed (clothes, not our personalities) and began making our way to the Museum of Flight to attend the Hops and Props event that they were hosting. We decided to take public transportation down there and changed busses at 5th and Pine. I swear that there are more people downtown on a weekend afternoon than there are on a Wednesday morning at rush hour. Anyway, we eventually made it down to the Museum and began to help out our friends at Full Throttle Bottles, one of the main sponsors of the event.
The event is a fundraiser for the museum and attracts around 40+ craft breweries and some 1500 attendees (total guess- there were a lot of folks there) all there to drink beer, eat food, drink beer, check-out the museum, drink beer, eat more food, drink beer and drink beer. I can sum-up my night in three words: SO MUCH FUN.
Aside from eating my weight in corn dogs and jambalaya, I got to try some lovely IPAs that I’d not had before and made some friends with some of the brewery reps too. When my wife and I head to Portland at the end of the month we’re getting a private tour of the Laurelwood Brewery but this probably more a result of my affiliation with Full Throttle Bottles rather than my being an incredibly charming individual. Anyway, it was a great event with fun people, good food and great beer. And there are planes hanging from the ceilings everywhere with an outstanding WW I and WW II exhibit that shouldn’t be missed, even if you’re not into planes and what have you.
Sunday was spent mostly recovering from Saturday night though we did manage to eat at Glo’s that morning. That was my first time there and now I know why people are always queued-up outside that place. The food was delicious and I am pretty sure that the hash browns they serve are among the best I’ve ever had. For whatever reason I had a hankering for corned beef hash which is unusual because I don’t really eat red meat anymore and am rarely interested in eating it anyway. Well Glo’s was kind enough to accommodate my yearning and I cleared my plate (including scrambled eggs and toast).
Returning home to lie paralyzed in food coma we finally tore ourselves off the couch once again, to gorge on more food. This time we ventured into the ID down to Harbor City Restaurant for dim sum. We ordered modestly and so far this is the best Chinese food I’ve had since moving here. We ordered shiu mai, spring rolls, pork puns and this fried shrimp with tofu dish. The shiu mai is served as an order of four and they are the biggest shiu mai I have ever seen. The spring rolls are other-worldly and the pork puns were stuffed with the sweetest pork. Both dishes were terrific. The shrimp and tofu thing was really good too. It was served in a sweet brown sauce but I couldn’t help but drench everything in hot sauce.
So even though I gained 4 ½ pounds over the weekend and probably contributed to my bad cholesterol increasing about 11 points I think it was well worth it. Although I just noticed that my left arm feels kind of tingly- is that bad?
Restaurant Review: Poppy
In my seemingly never-ending quest to stay in Capitol Hill on a go-out night, I finally had the opportunity to try some grub over at Poppy on Broadway. Before I continue I feel it necessary to state that this lack of neighborhood exploration on my part has little to do with a belief that Capitol Hill is the end all/be all of Seattle neighborhoods. Rather, I am getting lazier in my later years and it’s just easier to be that much closer to home. But I digress. Friends, Poppy did not disappoint.
I had some friends from Sacramento in town and we had spent the early part of the evening at my place, drinking and snacking on random appetizers. After a few rounds we decided that we wanted to go out to someplace where we could have some more drinks and get some food but not at a dive or some cheapo noodle joint or some such place. So I suggested Poppy and the next thing I know we’re running up the hill that is Roy Street through the pouring rain seeking shelter and more beverages.
We were seated immediately in their chic, minimalist, yet oddly cozy dining area. And after skimming the menu, we were intrigued with the possibilities. Our server was prompt to get our drink order, and waited patiently as we decided which plates to order for our smorgasbord of appetizers.
We ordered the Washington farmstead cheeses with rye-thyme crackers, the spot prawn, avocado, hearts of palm and shiso salad, the lightly fried mussels with dill, an order of eggplant fries with sea salt & honey and lastly, the three spreads with naan (curry avocado, chat masala celery root, sesame carrot), then enjoyed our drinks and waited for the delicious to hit the table. (Turns out you can put “the” in front of most adjectives and turn them into nouns).
Everything was delicious. If I had to rank them, I would go 1. Eggplant fries 2. Mussels 3. Prawns 4. Naan and 5. Cheese. The mussels were beautiful and I’d never had dill as a complementary flavor for them before. I love dill so this was heavenly. The prawn dish was a nice mélange of flavors and while there were many flavors to experience, it was perfectly balanced and I didn’t feel like any one item overpowered the rest. The Naan was soft and flavorful and I really liked the curry avocado dip. As for the cheese, well, I’m not much of a cheese guy so I didn’t eat any of that but everyone else at the table seemed to enjoy the sampling.
Now about those eggplant fries- I just might’ve embarrassed myself with those suckers. Have you ever seen that SNL sketch where Chris Farley, Adam Sandler and David Spade are all dressed-up like girls who work at a GAP in the mall and Chris Farley is stuffing his face with handful after handful of Adam Sandler’s fries? Well, don’t make me spell it out for you, you get the picture.
So if you’re in Capitol Hill and looking for something a little more upscale than the usual suspects on Broadway, Poppy is your place. Trust me when I tell you that you won’t be disappointed.
Visit http://poppyseattle.com/ for a full menu and more delicious pictures
Seattle-cation: the new stay-cation
When the gloomy Seattle clouds finally part for those two whole days a year, why let the tourists have all the fun?
I’m not going to use the term stay-cation, because I think we’re all a little sick of that term – so let’s go with Seattle-cation instead.
A vacation in Seattle is the perfect cure to the Spring Fever that is starting to hit us all this time of year. But you don’t have to have kids to enjoy a little vacation in your own city – it’s a great way to squeeze in some downtime away from the chores and responsibilities that are always looming at home. Book a room in a neighborhood that you would love to explore but never get the chance to!
With Spring Break in Seattle just around the corner, now is the perfect time to pack up the family for a little overnight adventure in one of the city’s fun hotels.
First, the requirements for the perfect Seattle-cation location
A Pool
This one is a given if you are planning a Seattle-cation with the kids since most of us Seattle-ites don’t have pools at home. Most of the hotel pools in the city are indoor, but if you’re planning a Seattle-cation for the summer months, consider splurging on The Four Seasons on First Avenue – their outdoor rooftop pool is worth it!
Room Service
Depending on your budget, room service can mean ordering your entire meal from the hotel’s menu or just having ice cream sundaes delivered before bedtime. If you aren’t too keen on room service, you can always have a pizza delivered from your favorite place or do some exploring of the restaurants around the hotel. It’s a great way to check out a new neighborhood and maybe find a new favorite place to eat!
A Great Room
When you’re planning an overnight, get the best possible room you can afford. Since the idea of this is almost to have a slumber party at the hotel, you want somewhere that is comfortable and that you actually want to spend time enjoying! We’ve all stayed at hotels that you hardly want to touch the remote, let alone kick off your shoes and relax – this is not the time to stay at the Last Chance Resort for $29.99. Remember – you’re still saving a bundle by not having to travel, so put a little bit more into a room than you normally would, if possible.
Now, let’s talk about some places in Seattle that have great Seattle-cation potential
The Maxwell Hotel, Lower Queen Anne
One of Seattle’s newest hotels, The Maxwell is a great Seattle-cation option. First of all, the location is excellent – right on the north edge of the Seattle Center where you can run around the fountain if the weather is nice or take a visit to the Science Center or Children’s Museum. They have a wonderful indoor pool that is family friendly and kids will love the Ala Carte Program where they can order a cart full of fun goodies like Legos and art supplies.
Westin Hotel, Downtown
For the perfect downtown Seattle-cation location, the Westin is hard to beat. Amazing heated indoor pool? Check! Room service menu that will make parents and kids both happy? Check! Westin Heavenly Beds ensured to have you all sleeping like babies? Check! We also love the Westin for family travel because they are so incredibly accommodating – you can even have them get you a jogging stroller for your stay! Be
Hotel Bellevue, Downtown Bellevue
Going to the Eastside counts as getting out of town, right? The Hotel Bellevue is the hotel at the Bellevue Club, a members-only athletic and social club on the Eastside. But, you don’t have to be a club member to enjoy the hotel, which also gives you access to all their great equipment and activities. Hotel Bellevue is a great option for a family with older kids – they can check out the Youth Lounge with ping pong tables and arcade games, while you have a spa treatment! Sounds like vacation to me!
A few more Seattle-cation tips
Be flexible with dates if you can to get the best deal. Depending on the hotel, it may be cheaper to stay during the week verse the weekend or it could very well be opposite if they have a conference booked during the week. Call and find out.
Pack light. You don’t need much and lugging luggage makes this all a lot less fun.
Surprise the kids! How fun would it be to pack them up like you’re going to a dentist appointment and then SURPRISE! Seattle-cation! They’ll love you for it.
Getting to know the Emerald City, one deal at a time
When my wife and I moved to Seattle from Washington, D.C. in the fall, neither of us really knew our way around Seattle. Fast forward to January and I am hired to work here at DealPop HQ. Working here at “the Pop” which is what everyone calls it (that’s a total lie- nobody calls it that) has helped me to get to know my new city faster than I could’ve ever imagined.
Working at DealPop: An education in Seattle
Part of my job is to know inside and out the great places of Seattle, so I’ve become rapidly acquainted with the different neighborhoods that make-up the Emerald City as well as the different businesses that reside here. For example, prior to working here all I knew about White Center was that it was kind of far away and didn’t have much to offer in the way of appealing commerce. But now I know better. The strip, otherwise known as 16th Ave SW, is the kind of urban revival that reminds me of H Street, back in D.C. I wouldn’t have known that Proletariat Pizza is some of the best pizza in the city or that Full Tilt ice cream has an outpost there or that Company, new to the scene, is quickly becoming a favorite hangout for locals.
DealPopping through Capitol Hill
My wife and I decided to look for a place to live on Capitol Hill because we liked that there were tons of restaurants and bars, shops and other commerce-driven conveniences within walking distance. And because of all of that activity, naturally there have been plenty of DealPop offers right outside my door. And yes, we have religiously been taking advantage of them. And yes, it has encouraged me to try some places that I would have otherwise overlooked. And I don’t know why I have now started four consecutive sentences with the word, “and.”
Anyhow, some of the offers that have hit Capitol Hill have helped me to become more familiar with my neighborhood. The northern-most stretch of Broadway, in my experience (and when I say this I mean me only, not other people that I know), is oft-forgotten. Everything on the Broadway strip is south and it leads to the Pike and Pine corridor so those first 2 blocks where Broadway begins and 10th ends seem a lot quieter than the rest of the street. And it’s a shame because there are some fun places over there.
Two weekends ago my wife and I went to Galleria’s for dinner where I couldn’t get enough of their Cadillac Margaritas. Even though this reminded me of my not-so-long-ago bartending days where people wanted drinks strong enough to have them falling off their barstool after the third sip I couldn’t resist. The service was great and the so was the food. We’ll be back for sure.
Then this past Sunday we brunched at Kanape which took over a storefront that used to house a pizza place. It’s a tough location for sure but I have found my new brunch spot. There is a brunch item called “Braboraky” which is a potato pancake served with lox. My only regret was that I didn’t order two of them because I inhaled the first one so quickly I barely paused to appreciate the combination of flavors that had befallen me. Even better, as the weather warms-up they will be adding some café tables to the sidewalk out front and nothing invites business more than outdoor seating on a nice day.
There are some other offers that I’ve purchased and haven’t used yet and at least one of them is a non-Cap Hill offer at that. In other words, at some point I’ll get off my lazy duff and venture over to another neighborhood. But until that day comes, I’ll keep DealPoppin’ in Capitol Hill, exploring my neighborhood one deal at a time.
4 Reasons to Fall in Love with West Seattle
My husband and I moved from New York City to Seattle in 2006 and bought a house in West Seattle a year after deciding that we were probably going to spend the rest of our lives here. I grew up in the fairly deep suburbs of San Francisco and once I moved to the “city” of Berkeley for college, couldn’t imagine a life that wasn’t urban. Now that I am married, own a house of my own, and am raising a dog and an almost two year old, I am finding that West Seattle, and the California/Alaska junction in particular, provides the perfect mix of urban, yet somewhat suburban feel. Because the junction is less than a mile from our house, we spend a lot of time eating and drinking our way down the strip. If you find your way to my hood, here are a few spots you shouldn’t miss and why:
Than Brothers
This is what I believe to be the tastiest Pho in Seattle. We used to hit up the one in Ballard when we lived there and were thrilled to find one only a few blocks from our house in West Seattle (there are 13 of them in the Seattle area). I get the small chicken with extra tofu and all the fixin’s. The portions are large and it costs us just over ten dollars to feed the whole family a healthy and comforting meal.
Bakery Nouveau
Okay, so I am clearly not the only one that LOVES this place. Sure they are known for their pastries, which are undoubtedly delicious, but I favor their savory food. The BLT is to die for; it comes on a baguette with fresh mozzarella, lettuce, tomato and of course bacon. My husband and I usually get one of these and one of the straight up ham and cheese (although nothing ordinary about it) and split the two. Almost every weekend we pick up a baguette from Nouveau to eat with our meals. It’s awesome reheated in the oven alongside fresh cracked crab. Tip: go early in the morning or later in the afternoon to beat the crowds.
Mashiko
The sushi here is unbelievable. We go about once a month and aren’t afraid to splurge. They are kid-friendly and super inviting and accommodating. I recommend sticking with straight up Nigiri here – their fish is fresh and never disappointing. We usually get the seared Scallop, Black Cod, some kind of Salmon (I highly recommend the White King when it is in season as it is right now), Albacore and their version of Eel (“Unagi”) which is actually catfish (“Namagi”) as Mashiko doesn’t serve anything that isn’t sustainable. We also get sweet potato tempura and chicken yakitori for the little one. Oh and a large hot sake and a pint of the Shiso-infused Beer that is specially brewed for Mashiko by the Elliot Bay Brewing Company across the street.
Jak’s
Most people go to Jak’s for the steak, including my husband. While I eat it too, I dream about their spinach salad (spinach, hard-boiled egg, toasted almonds, shredded mozzarella, and honey mustard dressing). They also make a mean Manhattan that sits mighty well in the tummy after a long work-week. Jaks is also a great place for brunch, especially because you can usually sit down immediately. Again, they are kid friendly and the food is reliably good. They have an extensive list of morning cocktails at excellent prices – perfect cure for the hangover.
These are only a few of the reasons why I don’t tend to venture outside of West Seattle on the weekends. Sure it sounds a bit provincial, but when you have all of this deliciousness (and an amazing dog park, epic views of the Olympic Mountains, one too many gourmet markets, an awesome farmers market & Trader Joe’s on its way) less than a mile from your house, why leave?
Stay tuned for more recommendations in West Seattle. In the meantime, please weigh in on some of your favorite places in the ‘hood…
Photo Credits: Than Brothers Bakery Nouveau Mashiko Jak’s
It’s (technically) Springtime in Seattle!
Spring is here! Well, at least if you look at your calendar, rather than out your window…
I’ve lived in the Northwest long enough to know that Spring in Seattle doesn’t mean much more than continued rain and possibly turning down our thermostat a couple of degrees. But, the arrival of this transitional season does perk up our spirits a bit – there are buds on the trees now, the evenings are giving us more daylight to enjoy, and visions of Summer BBQs are starting to become clearer. This, my DealPop friends, is called Spring Fever.
Spring Fever hits our household hard – our kids are beginning to itch to explore the parks, hit the wading pools, stay up later and bust out the bikes. Unfortunately, the weather hasn’t quite caught up with us yet, so until it does, we try to keep them busy and distracted.
Here are some of our favorite Springtime activities around the city that help to cure our Spring Fever!
ICE CREAM!
Actually, we’re hooked on the Fro-Yo lately (frozen yogurt, for those who don’t know). Our new obsession is with Menchie’s on Queen Anne Avenue North. They have over ten flavors and dozens of toppings to choose from. Plus, it is self-serve so you can just get a little taste (or a small serving size for the kiddos) or pile it all on! I love sneaking in a helping of fresh fruit on my kids’ fro-yo – they don’t even notice a scoop of kiwi or raspberries among the gummy bears and chocolate chips!
DAY OUT AT UNIVERSITY VILLAGE.
University Village is a parent haven and is perfect for a day where the weather isn’t quite park worthy. Here’s what we do – first, stop in at Starbucks to pick up coffee for the adults, then stroll over to the undercover play area (the Littles love the bouncy butterfly!) and we usually finish up with a trip to The Ram for lunch where they are super kid friendly, but still offer a great beer selection for mom and dad. Other hot spots – The Apple Store to play games on the pretty computers, train table on the top floor of Barnes and Noble, Pottery Barn Kids to give the doll strollers a test-drive and Trophy Cupcakes for a little sweet treat. With all this fun, the kids hardly even notice when we sneak in an errand or two while we’re there!
MINI-ROADTRIP.
I grew up in a family that loved a good road trip – my dad would pack us in our 1984 VW Vanagon and we’d explore the back roads of Washington for an entire weekend – not going anywhere in particular, just driving until we found somewhere interesting to stop. I love that we do the same with our kids. And I’m not talking about putting them in the car with the portable DVD player – I mean pack them up, get some little toys and snacks to keep them entertained, turn on some great tunes and hit the road for some quality family time. From Seattle, we love venturing north to Whidbey Island. Jump on the ferry at Mukilteo (just 20 minutes away from downtown) and take the quick ride across the water. Our favorite little town to explore is Langley – don’t miss the Star Store and lunch at The Braeburn (their tuna melt is amazing!). If the weather is nice, stop at Useless Bay on your way home to do some beach exploring!
INDOOR PLAYAREAS.
Thankfully, Seattle is prepared for all this Spring rain with some awesome indoor play areas for kids – and the best part about them is that they also cater to the parents with delicious menus, drinks and comfortable seating areas to relax and visit with each other while your kids get some energy out! If you’re looking for somewhere to let them play while you sip a latte and flip through a magazine, try Twirl Café on Queen Anne. Don’t want to sacrifice a good meal while they play? Serendipity Café in Magnolia is the perfect spot – they have a delicious menu for kids and adults, including a full bar (kids eat free on Saturday evenings!). If you live on the Eastside, the Topspot Café in Woodinville is ideal for meeting friends for an out of the house play date and coffee or for letting the little ones play while you plug in your laptop and get some work done.
Hope these ideas help you survive Spring Fever in Seattle! Be sure to keep your eye on DealPop for other fun places to explore with your family this Spring.
You can read more from Katie at Being Five
or you can follow her on Twitter at @being_katie
How to Make Kumquat Jam
Here in Los Angeles, it may seem like citrus season all year long, but it wasn’t till a few weeks ago that I noticed the kumquats in my neighbor’s yard ripening. These kumquats were tart when I bit into it, but like all kumquats, their skin had a fragrant with citrus sweetness to it. Since the fruit was too tart to eat by itself, I decided to make kumquat jam with it.
Kumquat Jam
(makes 2 pint jars)
Ingredients:
650-700 grams of whole kumquats (rinsed and shaken dry)
1 thumb sized piece of ginger
350-400 grams of sugar
water
a pinch of salt
Tools:
a small pot large enough to hold the kumquat and some water
a paring knife
a chef’s knife
cheesecloth
clean, empty jars with lids
Cutting
The first step is the most complicated and time consuming. I used the paring knife for this since it’s smaller and easier to control when doing more delicate tasks. Cut the kumquat in half lengthwise. You’ll see a long white stripe of membrane or pith. Cut that part out and poke out any seeds. Reserve these pieces in a separate bowl. Do that for each kumquat. It helps to have music playing for this tedious step. In the end, you’ll have one bowl of seeds and membrane stuff and one bowl of halved kumquats. Save the bowl of seeds and other stuff for the next step!
Starting the Pectin
Put the seeds and membranes into a small sauce pan and add enough water to cover. Turn the heat on medium, let it come to a boil, then turn it to low and let it simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally so nothing burns. Add more water if it starts to look dry. The mixture will thicken.
After 15 minutes, pour the mixture into your cheesecloth set over a bowl to collect the liquid that comes out. Set this aside to drain and cool for now.
Adding the Kumquats
Slice all the kumquats into thin slices. No need to be exact here since once they cook down, you won’t be able to differentiate one slice from the other very easily. Weigh the kumquats. Don’t forget to tare your scale to the weight of your container! Halve the weight of the kumquats and add that amount of sugar to them. For example, I had roughly 675g of sliced kumquats, so I added about 350g of sugar. I don’t like when things are too sweet, but if you enjoy a very sweet jam, go ahead and make it 3/4 the weight of the kumquats.
Slice five 1/8 inch slices of ginger. Mix the sugar, ginger, and sliced kumquats together and set aside.
Back to the Pectin
When the thick liquid in the cheesecloth is cool to the touch, make a pouch out of it and strain as much of the liquid and goop out of the mixture as you can. The substance that comes out is pectin and is essential to make your jam have a nice jammy consistency. It helps to twist the pouch and scrape the sides of the cheesecloth down with a spoon.
Finishing it up
Mix the pectin liquid with a few tablespoons of water and put both back into the pot. Feel free to discard the now squeezed-dry seeds and pith. Put the kumquat and sugar mixture into the pot also. Add enough water to barely cover the top of the kumquats, add a pinch of salt, and turn on the heat to medium high.
Stir to dissolve the sugar.
When the stuff in the pot comes to a boil, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. The mixture will thicken toward the later half of the 45 minutes. If it becomes too thick, feel free to add more water.
When it’s the right jammy consistency, turn off the heat, discard the sliced ginger, and carefully ladle them into jars. Put them in the fridge and let it set over-night.
Ta Da! You now have brag-worthy homemade jam.
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