Eating Solo in Ballard on Pooch Duty

While my daughter has gone out-of-town to celebrate her grandfather's birthday, I volunteered to do the dog-sitting at her (and the dog's) home. Though I like to cook, I don't always do it for myself, less so when I'm away from home. As I've written before, my daughter lives in Ballard (a neighborhood of Seattle),... Continue Reading →

Guay Tiow Tom Yum at Pestle Rock

I'm dog-sitting my daughter's dog while she and my wife are in California for my wife's father's birthday. One of the benefits of doing this is that I have the vast domain of Ballard's restaurants to choose from for five days, all within walking distance. I won't do this for all three squares; I'll likely... Continue Reading →

Saigon Cafe & Deli: Another Bánh Mì Surprise on the Eastside

On the Eastside, finding a place that sells good bánh mì is a challenge. The choices are much better in Seattle where the concentration of Vietnamese communities and businesses makes it more likely you'd find very good examples of the classic Vietnamese sandwiches. Not too long ago, a friend and I ate at Yeh Yeh... Continue Reading →

Black Cat Cantina (Portland, OR)—CLOSED

"What are your favorite things on the menu?" my wife asked. The waitress quickly glanced at her, then me, as if gauging what might appeal to us. "I would recommend the ceviché de camaron, shrimp mixed with mango and strawberry, chile and chopped cilantro. There are also lemon and lime juices in it. You will love it.... Continue Reading →

Organic and Natural at Chef Naoko Bento Café (Portland, OR)

Slowly but surely, the organic and natural food movement is making inroads into the restaurant business. This trend is a good one, especially for those of us who dine out. Personally, I buy organic for home cooking whenever I can, so you could say it's a challenge whenever I eat out. As it stands now,... Continue Reading →

La Luna for Lunch

Since we were in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle, it was a disappointment that Mezcaleria Oaxaca, sister restaurant of La Carta de Oaxaca in Ballard, is closed on Sundays. We came across La Luna after we parked the car near the corner of Boston and Queen Anne Ave, which looked like some sort of... Continue Reading →

Lunch at Szechuan Bean Flower (Issaquah)

Without a GPS unit or an internet map, it would be difficult to find Szechuan Bean Flower, a Chinese restaurant that, being so hidden away in Issaquah, surely has to be concerned about customer volume. You can't even see it driving along Gilman Blvd, the main drag past Gilman Village that parallels I-90. From what I... Continue Reading →

Pizza at Ballard Pizza Company (Seattle)

My wife and I have been dog-sitting for our daughter this weekend. Rather than having her dog over to our house, we thought it would be best if we did the sitting where she would be most comfortable, at home, especially since this would be the first time my daughter would be away for a... Continue Reading →

Kimchi House (Seattle, WA)

For all the restaurants that Ballard boasts having, none has been Korean. Until now, that is. What used to be a sushi restaurant on 24th Avenue only a few weeks ago is now Kimchi House. There was no change in ownership, just a change in the chef and menu. After the father retired, the rest... Continue Reading →

Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee

Not many realize that the Panama Hotel in the International District has a tea and coffee shop. Though it was set up to serve its clientele, it is open to the public. The space is not very large but is nicely decorated with old historic black-and-white photos on the walls and memorabilia of the Japanese... Continue Reading →

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