Category Archives: Restaurants

Dolce Si at Point Ruston

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image Dolce Si Bakery and Gelateria  in the Point Ruston Complex opened in November 2015 and I’ve been itching to go visit.  I finally got there and altogether it was a good experience. The space is charming and the counter person was delightful. I got my pastries to go and enjoyed them at home.  It was very busy while I was there and good for them! My only tiny wondering is why they didn’t have a pitcher of 1/2 and 1/2 for customers to doctor their to-go coffee. Instead they had flavored coffee creamers, which to me didn’t fit with the otherwise classy feeling of the place.  I’m sure Ill be back to checkout additional pastries and some of the house made Gelato.  The local newspaper, the News Tribune recently said that Dolce Si was one of the best restaurants to open in 2015.

More information can be found here.

Right near by Dolce Si I would some darling otter sculptures. The single one is right outside the cafe and the mother/child is in the traffic circle.

 

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McMenamins’ Anderson School, Bothel

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imageI was pretty excited to hear that the newest McMenamins had recently opened in Bothell. It is known as the Anderson School and is located at 18607 Bothell Way NE, Bothell. So dear husband, dear daughter and dear daughter’s friend went to explore it this weekend. The complex includes a restaurant/tavern, several small bars, a lovely heated saltwater pool, a movie theater (in the previous gym), an area for a reception, a small store, outdoor areas with fire pits and of course, the hotel which is in the original junior high school which has 72 rooms located in the original classrooms.

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Naked Pizza

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imageNaked Pizza at 417 Ramsey Way (Kent Station), was a takeout stop for me after my dentist appointment today.  It is part of a small chain that has 7 US locations (this one, 4 in Virgina, one in New Jersey and one in New Orleans, LA) and one location in Kenya. I really enjoyed the mason jar lighting system over the largest table in the restaurant. When I finally got home almost an hour later (I5 traffic is crazy!) the pizza had to be reheated, but it was very good. Their website tells me that the pizza is made with an abundance of good stuff.

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Salty’s at Redondo Beach

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Dear husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary at Salty’s at Redondo Beach at 28201 Redondo Beach Drive South, Des Moines. There are three Salty’s locations (here, Aliki Point and near Portland on the Columbia River) and this was our first time at any of them.  It was altogether a lovely lunch. The restaurant extends over the water and has a comfortable, but sophisticated feel to it. Dear husband had the Dungenous Crab Melt and I had the Cod Fish & Chips. Both were excellent. My only sadness is that I had no room for dessert since I was excited to see that they served Winegars Ice Cream. Their website has full menus and their Facebook Page has a chance to win gift certicates. They even have an instagram feed.

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Klyde Warren Park, Dallas, TX

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imageCatching Up from the Texas trip.

While in Texas I got in a short visit with some very dear friends and they took me to see the recently opened Klyde Warren Park in Downtown Dallas. The 5+ acre park opened in 2012 and is constructed over the Woodall Rodgers Freeway at the edge of the city’s art district. This privately managed park features various food trucks, a children’s area with a tree house, a dog park, outdoor seating, water features, gardens and a putting green. There was a very positive feel to the place as folks enjoyed the sunshine and one another’s company. The one photo shows my ice cream sandwich with homemade cookies and ice cream 🙂 The bee actually got stuck to my hat, making for an easy photo. Yes, he then flew away.

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John Wilks Booth may have lived in Granbury, TX

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imageCatching up from the Texas trip

There is some debate on the fate of John Wilks Booth. Most say he was killed by Federal soldiers who had tracked him down at the Garrett Farm.

But the more interesting theory is that the wrong man was killed at Garrett Farm, Booth escaped to Granbury, TX, changed his name to John St. Helen and tended bar in what is now the Nutshell Cafe. While extremely sick, St. Helen made a death bed confession, but then he recovered. Since his story was then out there, he needed to leave town. He went to Enid, Oklahoma where he committed suicide. A book, Escape and Suicide of John Wilkes Booth by Finis Bates, was written about this (that part is for sure true). Bates later gained control of St. Helen/Booth’s body and exhibited in carnival sideshows.

So, that explains where there is a mural featuring John Wilks Booth next to his wanted poster and near a picture of Lincoln. The mural also features the Lady in Red, who was suppose to be the love of Booth’s life. And on the other wall is Davy Crockett. The Nutshell Cafe is reportedly haunted by the Lady in Red with her boyfriend, Booth, supposedly haunts the adjacent Granbury Opera House.

On a lighter note, I found the coffee to be good at the Nutshell Cafe and would be glad to go back to try the ice cream.

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Welcome to Paradise

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imageParadise Bistro & Coffee opened on the Granbury Square in 2012, I stopped by for some relief from the heat and an iced coffee and slice of lemon cake. It was really a treat and I happily spent some time there reading my book. On the way out, I was given a ‘to go’ cup with ice water. They do understand that dehydration is a problem here in Texas! The website for the bistro is here.

The window looking into the space clearly reflects the historic Hood County Courthouse which was constructed in 1890. The courthouse is the focal point of the Granbury Square.

The business is located in the two story masonry Harris Building, which was constructed in 1899 by local stonemason, I. W. Walley. It was originally occupied by a furniture store, It has a cast iron storefront.

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Bonnie and Clyde are rumored to have been here

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imageThe story is that Bonnie and Clyde’s car was in need of repair and they stopped at the service station on the town square in Granbury, TX. While it was being fixed, they had a picnic on the lawn of the courthouse. The local law recognized them, but decided to leave well enough alone since they did have a reputation! They finished their lunch, picked up their car and skedaddled out of there. I’m not sure if that is true, but the building is certainly there.

The Baker-Rylee Building at 100 North Crockett Street in Granbury, TX was built in 1895 as a hardware store and has a limestone construction which is typical of the area. The Transcontinental Company bought the building in 1929 and removed two walls to make it into a service station. When my folks first moved to Granbury in 1981, it was still a service station though sometime in the early 1980s that use ceased. I remember going to it when it was an Italian Restaurant and now it is delightful restaurant called The Fillin’ Station. My swiss mushroom burger was one of the best that I’ve ever had and the fries and onion rings were also outstanding. The folks that work there are so very nice.

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Seattle Seahawks 12 Club

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SeaTac Airport Alaska terminal has a 21 and older area for boarding passengers to relax while waiting for their plane. It is called Seahawks 12 Club. A quick peek inside showed many tables to sit and while away the time, some food and Seahawks paraphernalia. This statue is of Walter Jones #71 who was a offensive tackle from 1997 to 2009. 

  
 
I’ve also included a picture of the Starbucks at the terminal. I really like how they have the Seattle symbols lined up!  
 

Granville Island, Vancouver BC

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During our last Vancouver visit many years ago, we explored Granville Island, so I was eager to return and see if it is as wonderful as I remembered. It was even better. We took the SkyTrain into the city and then caught the bus to the market entrance.

19919280216_d4d7793528_k The first thing we did was go to the market building to grab some lunch, which we enjoyed along with the stunning view of the harbor and city.  Dear husband and I shared the mushroom pot pie.

19379968373_1c47338dce_o(1)19993094492_21c5710e37_oLater we strolled through the busy market with its many buildings, enjoying the unusual produce, delis and gift items. It is a foodie mecca. In 1915 the island was created from reclaimed land and became home to industrial uses and in the late 1970s it developed into its current mixed use.

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