There’s something about the end of the year that adds pressure to everything we do. Despite all the talk of holiday cheer and “merry and bright,” heightened expectations can bring a sense of weariness. We’re fretting over feasts and gatherings while working fervently to tie up loose ends—gifts, work, everything—with a pretty bow. Each month,…

Seattle has many foodie groups on social media, but I have a soft spot for Seattle Halal Foodies, started by Mehrab Shahriar in 2019. When Shahriar moved to Seattle nine years ago, the halal food scene was small compared to other U.S. cities. Perhaps because of its underdog nature, I found this group to be…

My mother’s food follows the teachings of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which advocates eating specific ingredients and dishes to ease us into seasons and build resilience during transitions. I believe this is a practice we can do intuitively with all cuisines. Whether you’re cozying up to a cocktail or pulling your first sweater of the season…

Just as we began to have our doubts, the heat comes on strong; a flush of tomatoes hit the vine, and things start to feel like summer just as autumn creeps around the corner. Nothing is predictable. I am aware—and often guilty—of the tendency to hunker down with sameness when the world feels unstable, when…

Since recipes aren’t usually subject to copyright, every dish has potential for nuance and creative interpretation. Dishes come alive when they’re tweaked and adapted to new environments to suit the taste or preferences of different individuals. This evolution is what takes a recipe from mere formula to lasting memory. Let’s not use the F-word; instead,…

The unexpected find is a rare thing in this world, where it seems all great things have been TikToked by folks more savvy, more persistent than me. But dining out is not about this type of rat race. Luckily, I find there are still many surprises in every neighborhood: underrated dishes that become my new…

Seattle doesn’t have one reigning sandwich, but that hasn’t ruled out sandwich shops from taking root and becoming key players in our food scene…

It’s common this time of year for year-end roundups touting the newest, “best, most exciting” restaurants, but looking ahead to 2024, I want to hone in on a different set of restaurants redefining what it means to eat local in Seattle. 

So often around this time of year, our attention turns to the holiday feast — the giant bird, abundant sides, and numerous pies — such that we forget how everyday meals can be regular opportunities to treat ourselves. Family-owned restaurants are returning to classic recipes and bringing a sense of comfort and ease to our…

The notable chill in the air compels us all to take better care of ourselves, to tuck into the comfortable and warm spots of our home, to indulge in the richness that our body craves this time of year. This month, we’ll have two new bakeries added to a growing list of incredible bakeries in…

A lot of good things come from saying, “Why not do both?” When both options are coveted, marrying the two hardly feels like a compromise at all. The food scene is working hard to make our tough choices easier, particularly as we head into autumnal months when cravings turn to comfort foods, but stomach space…

Food has the wonderful effect of capturing a time and place. Many dishes in this city bring memories into the present, celebrate history, and preserve the abundance of our current season. What is old can be made anew. And in this bustling city where creativity, change, and traditions intersect, we can return to many familiar…

July may have us asking, what makes up American food these days? Though the American flag cake studded with strawberries and blueberries remains a patriotic standby, we in Seattle are lucky to have a food scene bursting at the seams with creative and unique offerings from people who dare to dream. Life is Like a…