ramblings of a Seattle travel, food and photography hound
It's been twenty years or so since its official opening. During that time, I didn't know that there was a Chinese garden in Seattle. I am not alone, I suspect. It seems it hasn't been well publicized for all the years it's been in existence. Locals are more likely to have gone to the Japanese Garden near... Continue Reading →
Every April and October, Seattle area diners look forward to Seattle Restaurant Week. The program actually extends over a two-week period (except Fridays and Saturdays) and features many restaurants that have agreed to offer a 3-course dinner for $30 per person (and, in a few cases, two-course lunch for $15). These prices can be great values when... Continue Reading →
The following images taken at Pike Place Market here in Seattle are more evidence that spring has arrived. The flower stalls especially are bursting with tulips. Local asparagus, artichokes, morels and fiddleheads are a joyful reminder that bountiful crops are beginning and will continue to appear through the fall.
It's not so easy to find old-growth forest within Seattle city limits anymore, yet Seward Park has the Magnificent Forest featuring evergreen trees aged 200 years or more. The park was designed by the famous Olmstead brothers and remains a wonderful legacy of a time when city officials saw fit to set aside forested areas for public enjoyment. It occupies all... Continue Reading →
There's nothing like the promise of a beautiful day, after an extended period of wet weather, to stimulate the desire to do something outdoors. Last Friday was such a day. We decided to hike on the Little Si Trail near North Bend, which strangely we'd never done for all the years we'd been living in western Washington. The trail is very... Continue Reading →
In the next few months, my wife and I will be conditioning ourselves for a trip to Peru and Bolivia later in the year. High-altitude hiking in the Andes will be punishing enough without even taking into consideration demand on legs, knees and lungs. Our first real hike of the year was yesterday, the popular Little Si Trail... Continue Reading →
The malasada is a must-eat in Hawaii. The dessert is just as popular on the islands as the doughnut on the mainland, if not more so. I could easily forego the other foods of Hawaii (with the exception of poké), but not malasadas. Their defining characteristics vis-à-vis doughnuts are their relative crispiness and eggier texture, but otherwise... Continue Reading →
I don't know if Nashville, both the city and its food, has suddenly become trendy, or not. Articles about it seem to be appearing in print and digital media wherever I turn. Could it be that I've become more attuned to these write-ups because I had just been there last year (and loved it)? While the Grand Ole Opry... Continue Reading →
In a non-descript strip mall, virtually next door to Spud Fish & Chips, is a gem of a pizza restaurant. Evviva Wood Fired Pizza is a bit tricky to find. You won't see a big sign along the rooftop as there are for its neighbors (Spud's dominates), but set your sights lower at storefront level and you'll see... Continue Reading →
For me, few things are an antidote to cold weather than hot ramen. Over a week ago, the Seattle area experienced temperatures in the low 40s, a good excuse to hop into Jinya Ramen Bar for a hot lunch while my wife and I were running errands in the Crossroads area of Bellevue. Though my favorite bowl there is the Jinya... Continue Reading →
zoomeboshi 