Edison, WA: Tweet

The population of Edison, WA is 133.  But we decided to take the northern route 20 heading east across Washington because we wanted to stop in Edison for breakfast.  We met friends who drove down from Bellingham and explored town: a couple galleries, a bakery, a handmade furniture maker, a local artist wares shop, and Tweet, said breakfast place.  Tweet looks to be in an old garage and it now peddles veggies, coffee, and scrumptious meals to locals and visitors.  I’d venture to say it’s a two hour detour worthy place.  We ate our last extravagant northwest breakfast there before reluctantly turning the car eastward toward Chicago.

Antique Sandwich Co.

My friend Chaela has influenced many delicious habits of mine (tahini on toast, molasses on granola and yogurt), but I am now taking also taking inspiration from her parents.  We got to visit with them in Chaela’s home state of Washington, and now, I’m determined to replicate their rhubarb sauce and red lentil hummus.  Her parents also bake awesome pies (I feel I owe the success of the Paonia Peach Pie to them).  Her mom, Tamie, has honed her kitchen skills for over 30 years at the charming Antique Sandwich Co. in Tacoma, WA.  Check out some of the photos Chaela took of the place last summer.  Her mom’s cafe was an absolute must-see of our NW road trip this summer, and it was certainly a highlight.  At this point in the trip I was beginning to have eating out overload, so I didn’t plan to order this milkshake, but it looked too darling to pass up.  No regrets.  Espresso + Chocolate + NY Times crossword.

Mallard

I think Mallard’s ice cream in Bellingham, WA makes my top three all time favorite ice cream joints.  It even beats Jeni’s in Columbus, OH.  Last time I was here I ate a very memorable cardamom ice cream.  I was disappointed to not see it on the flavor list this time, but that allowed me to branch outside my indian spices and try basil.  It was sweeter than I expected, but it was perfect.  I will have dreams about this ice cream.  The chocolate earl grey wasn’t bad either.  But, oh man, the basil.

The Kitchen

Our first stop on Orcas Island was for lunch at The Kitchen, a mostly outdoor cafe of Asian inspired deliciousness.  We all ordered variations of rice and veggies with tofu or tempeh or salmon.  I had tofu with sesame rice cakes and peanut sauce.  We ate in the sun.

Orcas is beautiful

ice cream

genius cone.

Breakfast in Seattle

Anna, my nyc roommate, hails from Seattle, and turned me onto The Coastal Kitchen, and for that, I don’t know if I can ever repay her.  In 3 trips, I’ve stayed in Seattle for a grand total of approximately 4 days, and I’ve eaten breakfast just as many times at the Coastal Kitchen.  I love how their menu focuses on a rotating latin country, and how you can learn tidbits about the country from the audio piped into the bathroom.  I had smoked sea bass with yucca hash and poached eggs there that I will never forget.  I’m just worried I’ll never be able to pull myself away and try a new breakfast place in Seattle, ever!

I took some time out from Kansas to travel to Washington state with my mom for a spontaneous weekend adventure.  I wanted her to see the state I’ve fallen in love with and to love it too and to declare she’s moving the family to the west coast.  I was extremely worried that the whole plan was ruined as it rained the entire weekend.  But I knew there was still hope when my mom turned to me very seriously and slowly declared, “This is the BEST LATTE I’ve EVER had.”  Of course we ate well in Seattle, on Whidbey Island, and in Bellingham (love), but it was the homecooked goodness from our most hospitable of couchsurfers that made the eatin’ so good, not to mention the good vibes and conversation also bestowed upon us!

On Whidbey Island, Nikki and Luke made us an autumn feast that included dates stuffed with marcona almonds and wrapped in bacon, acorn squash filled with apples and raisins, beet, goat cheese, toasted walnut, spinach, and balsamic salad.  Thankfully Nikki took us on a hike along the bluffs the next morning.  We had such a wonderful evening full of food, conversation, and board games!

In Bellingham Jim and Rick made a delicious breakfast of hash browns, eggs in the hole, and canadian bacon cooked entirely in cast iron skillets with eggs from their chickens.  They have an enviable pantry and are obviously fond of sharing food with friends.  They had a beautiful looking cask of apple cider fermenting nicely on the counter, and I could get lost in their back garden for hours.  They also took us to the Bellingham farmer’s market where I spent the morning swooning over beautiful Washington produce and lemon and pumpkin whoopie pies.

And we got to hang with Harold, and break bread for breakfast at the Firehouse Cafe.