On a Lighter Note

(How much lighter? Well, the originally-planned title for this post was 'Food Porn'.)

It's been difficult for me to figure out a transition from my last post about Daly-pup because, to be honest, I have not made that transition yet in my daily life. So I figured what I would do today is something that Melody suggested - I will focus on things that I think he would have enjoyed and tell you about those things.

So I'm going to tell you, just like I promised, about the food in Seattle.

First of all, I should warn you, I loved every morsel I ate in Seattle. Every. Single. Bite. So pardon me if this post ends up being long-winded but there's just... there's just so much to say...

And I'm going to start with doughnuts.

Colin and I walked into Top Pot Doughnuts our first morning in Seattle (and our third). I had seen a piece on Top Pot on the Travel Channel (the show Breakfast Paradise always makes me want doughnuts) and it was one of the places I knew I had to visit while we were in town. We stood in a long line that wound around in the tight space, finally arrived at the counter with wide eyes and growling stomachs and promptly ordered more doughnuts than a family of five could eat.

As husbands and wives are wont to do, we disagree on the matter but I think, without a doubt, the original glazed were the best doughnuts I've ever eaten. They are large and doughy (my favorite) and not over-glazed so they aren't too sugary sweet. (Darn you Top Pot for not delivering your yummy goodness via FedEx! Silly quality concerns - I'd take a day-old Top Pot over no Top Pot any day!)

We also had doughnuts two other times in Seattle at Tom Douglas’ restaurant Lola. We ventured down to Lola for dessert after eating at another Tom Douglas hot-spot, Serious Pie (more on that in a moment) on a Food Network suggestion (remind me to drop Giada a doughnut-themed thank you card). Lola has this dessert – it’s a paper bag of warm, hot, light doughnuts that you shake vigorously to coat them all over with a cinnamon sugar mixture. They come with these little containers of a creamy mascarpone and a warm huckleberry jam and the warm cinnamon sugar dough with the slight tang in the jam and the creamy mascarpone is just this incredible texture/taste combination that confuses you and makes you happy in one bite.

The first night we had these – we were going to get them to go because there was a long wait for a table. They handed us our order, however, and we instantly commandeered seats in the bar near a window and finished off the entire to-go setup in no time. Two days later – we were back.

Colin is still craving them.

Both nights we had Lola’s for dessert, we had dinner first at Serious Pie, just down the street. We originally went there (again on a Food Network tip) so that I could taste the goodness of a Yukon Gold Potato Pizza. Well, to be quite honest, that pizza was over-salted and I enjoyed the piece of Colin’s tomato and mozzarella far more and when we went back the second time we ordered two of those (and promptly ate them both).

It was not all doughy repeats, however, as we also had stops at the Space Needle (spectacular view, mediocre food) and Pike Place Market (chowder, macaroni and cheese and dried cherries, oh my).

We also went to a small burger joint, Red Mill Burgers. This was a Man vs. Food pick-up and from the moment we opened the door and stepped in – I knew it’d be good. A juicy burger on a warm bun with Red Mill sauce, Tillamook cheddar and fresh lettuce and tomatoes… please sir, may I have another?

But I think one of the things I was most impressed with in Seattle was the fresh fruit. This may seem small and silly to some but I can’t even begin to describe the fruit I picked up one day at Pike’s Place. Apples and pears that were so big to eat them fresh out of my hand was almost difficult and grapes that exploded with so much juice when I bit down that I sighed in contentment and was full for hours. I would give anything to find that quality of fruit here closer to home.

Luckily some of the food I loved in Seattle I can get shipped straight to my door – Beecher’s handmade cheeses, Chukar Farm’s dried cherries and berry mixes and even smoked salmon from the notorious stand where they throw the fish. I am currently anxiously awaiting the arrival of a birthday box from Chukar Farm’s and wish only that I could order Top Pot, Red Mill and fresh fruit the same way.

Just means I have to go back and continue to eat my way across Washington state. At the earliest opportunity. If anyone wants to do me the favor of dropping hints to my loving husband, I'd be oh-so-appreciative...