Belles of the Sound

Read on for the latest in our Belles’ Man on the Street series extoling the adventures of Henry Fitzgerald as he moves from Florida to the Emerald City. 

Five months ago I moved from the Sunshine State all the way across the country to Seattle to start a new job. I had recently graduated from UCF and was looking to get out into the real world and make it on my own.  I didn’t know much about Seattle aside from the fact that it rains a lot and the SuperSonics moved from there. Still, I hired some movers, packed up my few possessions and set off to meet my future.

Once I arrived in Seattle and settled into my apartment, I figured it was time for me to get out and explore. Of course I didn’t exactly know where I should go since I had only been there briefly for an interview and I didn’t have much time to find anything.

This next part might take away from the excitement of the story, but it definitely came in handy for me. Instead of going out and just wandering around town, I decided to get on social media and see what I could find out about Seattle. I figured I could find some nice spots to eat at and different spots to check out on the weekends. I was right.

Seattle Restaurants @searestaurants

I found a Twitter account dedicated only to posting information about different places to eat in Seattle. It was love at first Tweet. I love to eat and to tryout different cuisines from various cultures. I was able to find a spot to eat that first night at a diner that was mention in a post and the food was great.

After that I decided to try this out again and see if I could learn more about the Seattle nightlife.

Seattle Places @seattle_places

The Seattle Places Twitter account posts about spots around the city that have events or parties going on. Another great thing about it is many of the posts list discounts for various places. It has something for everybody too. I saw a post with 87 percent off of a massage and another one for 55 percent off of guitar lessons. They post about various bars and clubs too. I’ve been to a couple of spots the account recommended to get some wings and watch the college football bowl games and some NBA action.

Daily to do list

I also came across a page on Facebook called 365 Things to Do in Seattle. This turned out to be another great resource for me to find different activities that are taking place here. If I have a question, I can ask right through the site and get an answer right back from other locals. I have come across some really helpful and friendly people through the Facebook page who keep me posted on different events that they hear about, which makes the service even better.

Social media has made my transition to a new state and city much easier. Not only was I able to find places to go that I enjoyed, but I also save money in the process and met some cool people. I’m not sure I could have adjusted as well to a cross-country move before the Internet and sites like Twitter and Facebook.

Please enjoy the latest in our Belles’ Man on the Street Series by new Seattleite Henry Fitzgerald:

Seattle cuisine tops the list of the many great things about the city. With bold flavors and unique tastes, eating in Seattle has become a highlight of my life. Trying new foods, infusing Asian elements into cooking and taking a few risks in the kitchen are among the things that distinguish Seattle cooking and cuisine.

If you can’t cook, or remain unconvinced that it’s necessary, check out these reasons to finally learn how to cook.

If you are the resident chef or a certified foodie, by all means, skip ahead to “Places to Shop”.

Three Reasons to Finally Learn How to Cook

1)    Save Money: It’s no secret that eating out constantly really adds up. The burgers you scarf down with a friend during lunch run at $8 a pop. The swanky dinners run much higher and you haven’t even factored in a tip, sales tax or a glass of wine. At the end of the month, you’ve spent over $100 on food, but have nothing to show for it. Grocery shopping can save you a lot of money. Sticking to your list, creating a budget, creating a menu and securing food coupons means you can feast on Seattle’s best food without breaking the bank.

2)    Stay Healthy: All those meals out not only add up in terms of money, but also in calories. While eating out every now and then is fine, the calories in restaurant meals run at over 1,000 per meal at the least. Learning how to cook now means your shorts will still fit come spring.

3)    Make an Impression: Every girl loves a guy that can cook. Even if it’s just a simple pasta dish or a gourmet grilled cheese, being able to go into the kitchen with ingredients and emerge with a finished product is a dazzling feat. The sooner you learn the better.

Places to Shop

Seattle features amazing grocers and farmers markets with fresh plenty of ingredients. Though many farmers markets are seasonal, there are a few that are open year round. Buying produce from farmers markets helps support the local economy and often means you can score the freshest veggies at a great price.

The city also has a great mixture of specific and general grocery stores. As far as basic groceries that also carry specialty items, the Metropolitan Market in West Seattle and the Quality Food Center in the University District have just about everything you could imagine – and then some. For more unique items you can’t find at your basic grocer, you can check out Uwajimaya or the Hau Hau Market, both in the International District.

Use your shopping as a chance to branch out and try new things. Look up recipes before you go shopping, and choose similar recipes to save money and avoid wasting ingredients!

Dishes to Prepare

If you are unsure of where to begin looking for recipes, you’ll be pleased to find out that Seattle is full of foodies. There are many local food blogs with plenty of beginner friendly recipes.

Here is one my favorites, and one of the first dishes I learned to cook, just to get you started:   

Toasted Israeli couscous

This healthy dish combines bold flavors with an exotic flair. So Seattle. It’s easy to make, and the ingredients can be found at any grocer.

Serves 4

Prep and Cook time: 30 Minutes

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons butter

1 medium shallot, sliced

1 small butternut squash, diced into 1-inch cubes

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

2 cups Israeli couscous

2 tablespoons dry white wine

1 3/4 cups water

2 cups salad greens

1 cup small fresh mozzarella balls, halved

Salt and pepper to taste

Peel and dice the butternut squash. In a large saucepan, melt the butter and add the shallots, diced squash, nutmeg and cinnamon. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook until the shallots are soft. This step should take about five minutes.

Add the couscous and toast until lightly browned, about three minutes and stir often to prevent burning. Add the white wine, stir and simmer until it’s reduced. Add the water, another 1/2 teaspoon of salt and bring to a gentle simmer until the water is absorbed and couscous and squash are both tender. This step should take about ten minutes.

Stir in the salad greens and toss. Cook until greens are wilted. Remove from heat, season to taste with salt and pepper, then stir in the mozzarella balls before serving.

“I don’t want pie,” my mother said.

“What do you mean ‘you don’t want pie?’ I retorted. “Everyone wants pie at Thanksgiving.”

“Not me. I don’t want pie. Let’s come up with an alternative,” she said while ambling away, signaling the end of the conversation and my dreams of pie.

And here we are. Four days away from a pie-less Thanksgiving. I mean really, though. Who doesn’t eat pie at Thanksgiving? It feels almost un-American, right? Though there’s really no sense in debating the issue because what the Thanksgiving chef wants, she gets, and if she doesn’t want pie we will find an alternative. But it will involve pumpkin. I put my foot down on that one. Having no pie at Thanksgiving is one thing, but having no pumpkin at Thanksgiving… that’s blasphemous.

Below are some of the pumpkin pie alternatives I’ve been contemplating. Right now I think the creme brulee is winning, but it’s really any dessert’s game. If you find yourself in a similar pie-deprived situation or just really like pumpkin desserts, I hope these recipes will be of some help

Pumpkin Pie Creme Brulee 

Photo via Love and Olive Oil

Pumpkin Mousse

Photo via Taste of Home

Pumpkin-Chocolate Cheesecake Bars

Photo via Martha Stewart Living

Who doesn’t love a Top Pot doughnut? You’re crazy if you don’t.  – That’s all.

Top Pot co-founders and Seattle-based book author, Jess Thompson have co-written a book that will teach anyone, you, how to make your own famously hand-forged Top Pot doughnuts in your own kitchen.

The book is called Hand-Forged Doughnuts and is for sale on Amazon.

The Seattle PI reporter Amy Rolph said it best yesterday in her post:

“Step one: Buy Top Pot Doughnut’s new book about making ‘Hand-Forged Doughnuts.’

Step two: Do whatever the book tells you to do.”

And… watch this awesome video the co-founders put together. At the very least, it will make you want to make a doughnut run on your lunch hour.

Top Pot Doughnuts_Chronicle Books Trailer

- I  notice that I’m carrying on the sweet theme here from Belle Jeanine’s post yesterday… I have seen Top Pot Doughnuts as a wedding cake table before. Just sayin’

As I work to plan my upcoming wedding, I decided I didn’t want to do the whole, big, traditional wedding cake. Therefore, I’ve been seeking out the perfect little desserts to include on my cake table. So far, I’ve found a couple that are worthy of my affection, and wanted to share them with you all:

A la Mode Pies

A la Mode Pies‘ Owner/Chef Chris makes up delicious “LolliPies” that come in several flavors including cherry, apple and blue hawaiian. These delicious pastries on a stick will be the perfect addition to my wedding, and to your grad party, birthday party, or maybe just because you need a slice of pie! These things taste just like grandma’s and you won’t be disappointed. A la Mode Pies also offers a huge, seasonal variety of full-size homemade pies just in case the single servings aren’t enough for you!

The SweetSide

Brand new to Seattle (and a former colleague of mine), The SweetSide Owner/Chef Kara has left the corporate world to pursue her culinary cake dreams. Even though she’ll be out of town for my wedding and can’t make these for me, I’m dying to add her cake pops to my wedding dessert line-up. They are simply adorable and come in just about any flavor you can think of. Check out her photo gallery to get some inspiration for how a dessert table should look. Like, A la Mode Pies, Kara and The SweetSide also do full cakes and other delicacies designed to complete your event.

I know there are tons of bakeries in Seattle, many of which I probably am unaware, so if you know of any other places I should add to this list, feel free to enlighten me in the comments below!

My friends and I and our tiny baby mugs

If you didn’t make it down to Fremont’s Oktoberfest this last weekend, don’t fear. I did and I sampled many tasty adult beverages.

As I was sipping out of my tiny five-ounce beer mug, tasting one beer after another, I realized I was consistently choosing the Oktoberfest selections from most vendors. And then a light bulb turned on – I thought, it would be entertaining to put all the Oktoberfest beers together into one tasting party with no distractions (I know, incredibly genius and original huh?)

Aaaaaand then I thought you might be interested too.

Many of these are available at your local grocery store, and if not, perhaps the challenge of going about town to collect them all could be part of the entertainment.

Here are my recommendations:

#1 Deschutes Oktoberfest

Utilizes German Pilsner and Munich malts, as well as German N. Brewer and Hallertau hops. We tried a very traditional method of acidification in our brew kettle. We used a sour sort strain we received from the Distelhauser Brewery in Tauberbischofsheim, Germany.

#2 Okto Festival Ale (Widmer Brothers)

Loosen your lederhosen. Our full-bodied OKTO Festival Ale is inspired by Bavarian Oktoberfest, and we pay fitting tribute with its distinctive malt flavors, mild floral character and crisp clean finish. Prost! To the land of the Prost. Where to Buy: Marjor grocery retailers

#3 Oktoberfest (Silver City Brewery)

Silver City Oktoberfest is an authentic interpretation of this classic amber lager. Just a few sips of this luscious brew and you are transported to the great beer halls of Bavaria. You will enjoy the rich malty sweetness, and spicy hop character of this popular Silver City seasonal brew. Where to Buy: Numerous locations around the Puget Sound

#4 Samuel Adams Oktoberfest

Samuel Adams® Oktoberfest has a rich, deep reddish amber hue which itself is reflective of the season. Samuel Adams Oktoberfest masterfully blends together five roasts of malt to create a delicious harmony of sweet flavors including caramel and toffee. The malt is complimented by the elegant bitterness imparted by the Bavarian Noble hops.

#5 Tomtoberfest (Georgetown Brewing Co.)

Oktoberfest-style amber lager brewed with 2-row Pilsner, Munich, Caramel and Black Malt. Imported Hallertau Hersbrucker hops and Bavarian lager yeast combine to make this Georgetown brew as German-like as possible. Nutty and malty with a dry, clean finish. ABV 6.3% Designed and brewed by Tom Wearly.

Where to buy: Limited bars, growlers at the brewery

And last (not an Oktoberfest but delicious and festive nonetheless).

#5 Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale

Amber-colored ale, brewed with a bounty of fall flavors like vine-ripened pumpkin, allspice, cloves and nutmeg. Together with a touch of wheat, Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale has a smooth, lightly spiced finish. Pairs well with beef dishes and seasonal soups.

Prost!

“Chocolate has become so important to Seattle culture, that it is rivaling the other famous bean in town.”

The sentence above is music to my ears and my taste buds. While the coffee bean holds an indisputable place in my heart, the cocoa bean reigns supreme. I am a chocolate lover. I will always choose dark over milk and white, but will never turn down a piece of any. I am an equal opportunity chocolate eater. Understanding my affinity for chocolate, you can understand my surprise when I discovered Savor Seattle’s Chocolate Indulgence Tour. An entire tour dedicated to chocolate that I have never heard of? Impossible! But sadly true.

The Chocolate Indulgence Tour is a two-hour walking tour that explores the shops and kitchens of Seattle’s finest chocolate. Um, yes please. Some of the highlights include over 15 chocolate tastings, President and First Lady Obama’s favorite chocolate, a history of Seattle chocolate and tastings of some of the city’s most famous desserts. And that is just scratching the surface. Sign me up!

The tours take place year round, however, there is one this Friday and we should all go. Screw work, let’s go get chocolate hangovers. Spend the afternoon in chocolate comas. Yes? Sounds wonderful, see you there. Tickets are $49, the tour starts at 11 a.m. at the Mayflower Park Hotel on 4th and Olive. If you can’t make it this Friday, you can check out the list of other tour dates at the Savor Seattle website.

I’ve lived in Seattle for 6 years now. But before I moved north, I called Portland home. While I love Seattle, Portland will always hold a special place in my heart as well. I have several friends making the trip down I-5 this weekend, so I thought I’d share a few of my recommendations for a fun-filled Portland weekend!

How to Get There:

1. Plane – You can fly to PDX for just over $150 round-trip and the flight is only an hour. Certainly the fastest way to get to Portland. Well, as long as security doesn’t take too long.
2. Train – Amtrak is a pretty easy and inexpensive way to get down to Portland. You can purchase your trip for as little as $62 round-trip. The trip takes about 3 ½ hours, which is much faster than dealing with the traffic on I-5 during rush hour. And you get to move around, read, work, watch a movie, eat and even have a drink. If you take the Amtrak Cascades train you even get Wi-Fi. It isn’t the fastest connection ever, but it’s free!
3. Automobile – The cost of driving will depend on how high gas prices are at that moment, and how much your car likes to guzzle gas. How long the trip takes will also vary, depending on traffic. I’ve done this drive a million times and it bores me. One thing I do like about the drive is stopping at the Burgerville in Centralia. Yum!

Where to Stay:

1. McMenamins – I’ll admit right now, I’m a McMenamins fan girl. I freakin’ love this business! Anyway, their hotels are my favorite! There are a bunch of them in the Portland area, but my top three are Crystal Hotel, Kennedy School and White Eagle. I mean, who wouldn’t want to stay in an old elementary school? If you’re looking for value, White Eagle is the best!
2. Inn at Northrup Station – It’s located in the fun and trendy NW 23^rd/Nobhill neighborhood, and is just up from the Pearl District. It’s right on the streetcar line so it’s easy to get around. The suites have kitchenettes so you can have breakfast, snacks, drinks, etc. in the room. I love the design and decorations at the Inn at Northrup Station. It’s got a funky, retro vibe.
3. The Jupiter Hotel – A cool, trendy boutique hotel on the eastside of Portland. The restaurant/bar that is connected with the hotel is the Doug Fir Lounge, another one of my Portland favorites. I also find it hilarious that they have an “After Midnight at the Jupiter” deal!

Where to Eat Breakfast/Brunch:

1. Brasserie Montmartre – Best eggs benedict! They have an awesome brunch and tasty mimosas!
2. Mother’s Bistro – Even if you get a late start to your day, you can get yummy breakfast from Mother’s until 2:30! So good this place has their own cookbook!
3. Urban Farmer – Tasty breakfast and brunch items with an emphasis on tastes of the Northwest.

Where to Eat Lunch:

1. McMenamins – Hey, I warned you I’m a fan girl! But seriously, they have awesome burgers, sandwiches, salads and tater tots! There are almost as many McMenamins pubs in Portland as there are Starbucks in Seattle, so it’s hard to tell you my favorite ones. I used to go to Blue Moon the most because it was blocks away from my apartment, but any of them will be great!
2. Food Carts – Portland has quite a reputation for outstanding food carts. And they’re EVERYWHERE!
3. Deschutes Brewery – I’m from Bend, where it all began for Deschutes Brewery, so of course I’m a fan! But hometown-bias aside, their food is awesome!

Where to Eat Dinner – Casual:

1. Montage – Montage has a terrific menu with a variety of Cajun dishes, but they are best known for their mac and cheese!
2. Pastini Pastaria – I really miss this place! Yummy pasta dishes of all kinds, but my favorite is the tortellini gorgonzola!
3. Henry’s 12^th Street Tavern – This place is especially great if you have a group and people that have lots of different tastes because the menu has a huge variety. They also have a fantastic happy hour, and it runs all day on Sundays!

Where to Eat Dinner – Fancy:

1. Jake’s Grill – Jake’s is a Portland institution and is now part of the McCormick & Schmick’s family. There is also Jake’s Famous Crawfish a couple blocks away. Both are awesome!
2. RingSide Steakhouse – This place is THE place to get steak in Portland. It’s been open since 1944 and has won many awards. You want meat? Go here! (Note: at the time when I published, the website was down. Not sure why.)
3. Urban Fondue – Who doesn’t love fondue, right? I love this cute little restaurant up in the northwest neighborhood! Mmmm, cheese!

Where to Eat Dessert:

1. Saint Cupcake – I really love this place! Best. Cupcakes. EVER! Get the dots so you can try plenty of the tasty flavors!
2. Papa Haydn – For as long as I can remember, this was the best place for dessert in Portland. They are like pieces of art!
3. Moonstruck Chocolatier – Need your chocolate fix, this is the place! Adorable, beautiful and, most importantly, tasty little chocolates for your pleasure!

Where to Catch a Concert:

1. Crystal Ballroom – Suspended ceiling makes for a bouncy floor, need I say more? (Yes, it’s another McMenamins.)
2. Roseland Theater – A smaller venue with lots of room to dance and seats in the balcony when your feet need a break.
3. Doug Fir Lounge – Awesome little venue where you can get really close to your favorite bands!

How to Get Around Town:

1. The MAX – Portland has about a 20-year head start over Seattle when it comes to the light rail. The MAX is a stellar way to get around town. Fast, easy, clean and inexpensive.
2. Portland Streetcar – Just like The MAX, it’s easy to use, fast, clean, etc.
3. Walk – Portland is a very walkable city. Unlike Seattle, Portland is pretty flat. So go for a walk!

Portland Institutions (AKA – Don’t miss these places!):

1. Powell’s Books – The best bookstore you’ll ever visit! If they don’t have it, it isn’t in print.
2. Voodoo Doughnut – How can you NOT visit a place when the tagline is, “the magic is in the hole!” Get the bacon maple bar. Trust me!
3. International Rose Test Garden – Portland is the city of roses, after all! This park is beautiful and peaceful. There are some amazing views of the city up here, too. Take a camera!

What to Do:

1. Drink Beer – Portland is known for being a microbrewery capitol of the northwest. There are plenty of options including Bridgeport, Widmer and Deschutes breweries.
2. Movies – I know it seems like a silly thing to do on a weekend away, but I love the movie theaters in Portland. There are a bunch of them where you can get a burger and beer while you enjoy your movie. Most of them are McMenamins theaters, but there is also the Laurelhurst Theater.
3. Saturday Market – Don’t let the name fool you, it’s actually on Sundays, too! There are all kinds of crafts and cool items for sale. There is also tasty food to snack on.

So now you know how to have an outstanding trip to our neighbor city to the south. Go plan your trip!

What are your favorite places in Portland?

If you’re a cocktail drinker and enjoy the bartender’s quirky concotion every now and again, I have a new drink for you.

Created by and featuring Seattle’s own Beechers Handmade Cheese, I introduce you to the grilled cheese martini.

Photo courtesy of Beechers

Wait! Don’t go! There’s more…

The local cheese icon is debuting a grilled cheese martini (yes, bright orange and made with actual grilled cheese sandwiches) at its newly-opened New York restaurant. Because I have yet to taste this interesting adult beverage, courtesy goes to the Seattle Times for quoting a mouth-watering description of how the drink is made and how it tastes.

• “Into a cocktail mixer go vine-ripe tomatoes, muddled basil, tomato juice and
  a healthy  of that double-filtered grilled cheese vodka,” one blogger
  wrote. “Then there’s shaking and stirring, a martini glass is rimmed with
  house-reduced balsamic and crispy bits of Surryano prosciutto, and the entire
  concoction is poured over a giant tomato juice ice cube.”

Don’t feel left out Seattle. The signature drink is available for a limited time at Bennett’s Pure Food Bistro on Mercer Island, a sibling company of Beechers.

This drink is made with a real grilled cheese sandwich. The vodka is infused for 24 hours with a sandwich.