February 2021
Café Munir is a Worthy Destination
Tucked away in north Ballard, this hidden gem serves up authentic tastes of the Mediterranean.
White stucco, arched doorways and airy interiors accented with wood: Café Munir is a sophisticated oasis tucked away in north Ballard near Larsen’s Danish Bakery. Here, the flavors of Lebanon—lemon and feta, lamb and oregano—work their magic when tucked into pliant flatbread served warm and fragrant. Start with a shareable portion of muham’mara ($4.50), a…
Ray’s Boathouse: Why We Live Here
A new chef tinkers with tradition at Seattle’s quintessential view restaurant.
Ask a local if he or she has been to Ray’s Boathouse and you’re likely to hear a resounding “Of course!” followed by enthusiastic recollections of that time they went in high summer and sat out on the sprawling, glass-wrapped deck, salty wind in their hair, Puget Sound in all its sailboat-in-the-setting-sun glory at their…
Breakfast Sandwiches at Dahlia Bakery
When quality care is given to every last bite, an old fast-food favorite can still be a comfort.
It turns out that my fond memories of McDonald’s Egg McMuffins, usually enjoyed in the backseat of my parents’ wood-sided station wagon while on road trips, don’t make McMuffins eaten now, as an adult, any less disappointing. Some things are best left as nostalgic taste snapshots, I guess. Except when a craving calls, and then…
Ethan Stowell’s Rione XIII is Now Open, So Says Facebook
Rione XIII is now open. At least that’s what I read on Facebook. Ethan Stowell’s latest – named for a neighborhood in Rome the well-traveled chef is particularly smitten with – might still have a hoop or two to jump through as far as final inspections go, but it was a busy weekend at this…
A Red Hot Time at the Auction of Washington Wines Picnic
Talk about red hot! The whites and pinks were huge hits at the Auction of Washington Wine Picnic on Thursday evening at Chateau Ste. Michelle. One clever winemaker – Ambassador Vineyard – won over the crowd of well-dressed ladies and gents by handing out fans along with sips of their new winery’s 2009 Estate Syrah….
Essex Opens with a Host of Homemade Ingredients and Craft Cocktails
The much-anticipated craft cocktail bar Essex has finally opened its doors, and I (and anyone who desires more great cocktail options) couldn’t be happier. For those who don’t know, Essex sits right next to Ballard’s supreme pizza parlor, Delancey, and is owned by the same folks: Brandon Petit and Molly Wizenberg. Essex is not an…
Hike to a Waterfall, Try Ballard’s New BBQ and Other Weekend Musts
MUST TASTEKickin’ Boot Whiskey Kitchen The folks who brought you the The Matador present a new addition to Ballard’s bevy of barbecue restaurants. Kickin’ Boot will serve house-smoked meats, Southern barbecue and lots and lots of whiskey. Read Cody Bay’s full preview to learn more about the menu offerings, including something she describes as “a terrifying meat…
Great News Cocktail Fans! Sambar Open Another Month
Sambar is back from the brink! The beloved cocktail oasis behind the now-defunct Le Gourmand will remain open until the end of September, chef-owner Bruce Natafly told fans in a mass e-mail blast earlier this week. “Sara and I are keeping SAMBAR open through the summer, and we are at the stove cooking the food…
Consignment Steals in Downtown Kirkland
A designer enclave is well worth the S.R. 520 bridge toll.
Consignment hounds, this designer enclave is well worth the S.R. 520 bridge toll: Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Ragamoffynn’s still reigns as the Eastside queen of consignment; owner Gisela Manning’s shrewd eye keeps the high-end couture stock flush with elite designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Prada and Chanel (boots!). If your wallet is…
Old Bellevue’s Refined Boutique Shopping
Soak up the refined boutique scene of this charming old-town shopping district.
Begin on Main Street, the historical pocket of downtown just south of Bellevue Square, which harks back to the area’s days as a sleepy Seattle suburb, where an independent spirit lives on along a pleasant promenade of unique boutiques and restaurants. Begin at (1) Jarbo, the source of Sharon Roth’s exquisite clothing line, which she…
Houseware and Décor Finds in South Lake Union
Home to Amazon and a slew of great restaurants, SLU is also a hub of mod home furnishings.
Echoing the glitzy sleekness of the neighborhood itself is SLU’s hub of mod home décor shops, ranging from the locally owned Inform Interiors (now located in a larger location at Dexter Avenue N and Thomas Street), with its wide array of funky chairs, stools and metal tables, to the much ballyhooed West Elm, beckoning with…