Tag Archives: wine

Alegre Bakery and Gelato in Tacoma’s Proctor District

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There dear husband and I were looking for an afternoon treat and I remembered that there is a new bakery in the Proctor District, Alegre Bakery and Gelato at 3820 North 27th.

It is a little off the main business area, around the corner from the dry cleaner, but it is well worth finding. It was a warm day so we picked the gelato option and both got pistachio. It was so darn good! I also got a jam topped cake that I stuck in my purse (in a bag!) and promptly forgot about it for three days. While I found it this morning and microwaved it and it was delicious!

The space itself is thoughtfully designed and the woman who served our gelato was charming. I’m sure we’ll be back. They have a Facebook Page and I see there is mention of a gelato with wine in it. Now doesn’t that sound interesting?

 

Stink

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I was beginning to feel like I was the only person in Tacoma that hadn’t been to Stink at 628 St Helens Ave, Tacoma, WA 98402. But dear husband and I were back at the new art supply store, Artist and Craftsman (yes, that is going to be a problem), and Stink was open and we were hungry, so off we went. I had the Five Mushroom Soup and he had the Italian Mac and Cheese and both were yummy. The service was fast and friendly and the décor is quirky since they use box springs as wine holders. For more information, check out their website.

Chamber’s Bay Whole Foods

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16793848633_738f3a9fab_kI was pretty excited when I learned that Whole Foods was opening up a location in University Place (Chambers Bay Whole Foods, 3515 Bridgeport Way West, University Place, WA 98466). We had a Whole Foods near us (kind of) when we lived in Dallas and I’ve always enjoyed shopping there. My day to day shopping is elsewhere, but Whole Foods was a pleasure for a once in a while treat.

I went to Chambers Bay Whole Food’s grand opening with live music and free samples. It was a lively event! But yesterday I went back to see how they are doing now that the opening is over and the US Open has left town.

The good points are.

  • Their employees are helpful, cheerful and knowledgeable.
  • Free samples! Lots of delicious fresh fruit and even a little wine.
  • There is plenty of parking and an entire underground parking lot also.
  • Plenty of ‘to go’ meal options including pizza by the slice, salad bar, hot food bar, juice bar, coffee bar with adjacent bakery, a bar bar (yes, you can have beer or wine with your pizza there in the store!) and other made to order goods.
  • They have a lovely Facebook Page.
  • Their website is also well done.
  • They have a good selection of local produce and other goods. For example there is an upcoming brewer’s night with local beer brewers.
  • All kinds of products that I don’t see elsewhere.
  • I love the octopus on the narrows bridge art over the cheese shop!

The less than good points are:

  • Well, they are expensive. For example the leg cramp medicine my husband uses was 1/3 more expensive than it is on Amazon. Though I found quite a few reasonably priced items and some of the sale items (I love their soaps) were a steal!
  • This location doesn’t carry Tom’s Shoes, which is what brought me there. In fact they have very little in the way of clothes. That’s OK, if I want clothes with my groceries I go to Fred Meyers. Though I really wanted to check the fit on the new Tom’s sneakers.
  • Like Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods doesn’t stock most day to day items, so if I want Pepsi or Oreo Cookies, I need to go elsewhere. They do have healthy options to sodas and sweets.
  • I was looking forward to taking a class or two there and they don’t seem to be set up for that. Maybe in the future.

The good outweighs the not so good and I’m delighted that they are here.

 

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Vinotique in University Place

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Wine & CheeseVinotique at 7304 Lakewood Drive West in Lakewood, is in the same center as Tacoma Boys. Per the owner, they are in their 25th year of operations! They have a wonderful wine selection and plenty of cheeses, but what I didn’t expect is that they serve deli meals. On Friday nights they serve tapas. Their website is here and their Facebook page is here.

Update: Toward the end of 2014, Vinotique’s owners retired and the store closed.

Veggies Northwest – Fircrest

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Veggies Northwest Fircrest at 1115 Regents Boulevard, Fircrest will be open a year as of April 28, 2013. It primarily sells fruits and vegetables, along with cheeses, beer, wine, nuts and a few miscellaneous items. Really they have a great selection and I’ll be stopping back. There is a second Veggies Northwest location, the original one, in Chehalis. Their Facebook page is here https://www.facebook.com/veggiesfircrest

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208 Garfield

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Lunch today with some of my favorite people at 208 Garfield,which sensably enough is located at 208 Garfield Street South, Tacoma, WA near PLU. The restaurant really has a great menu. I had a delicious grilled cheese with grilled red onions and a small side salad for only $4! I also had a filter dripped coffee for $2.

http://208garfield.com/

State run liquor stores will be gone by June 1st, 2012

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From the Washington State Liquor Board website

http://liq.wa.gov/transition/overview

With the passage of Initiative 1183, the Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) will cease state liquor store and liquor distribution operations by June 1, 2012. Contract liquor stores – which are operated by small business owners – may continue to sell spirits, but state-run liquor stores will be closed. The Seattle Distribution Center – which supplies state and contract liquor stores with spirits – and its assets will be sold.

I didn’t really go into the liquor store at Tacoma Central Shopping Center today. Come to think of it, I haven’t been in a liquor store in years! Not that I have anything against them, I just don’t seem that interested. Last time I sent in I bought some rum for a rum cake.

But I was wondering about when the stores would be closing and this was my excuse to find out.

 

Fresh Northwest Design

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Fresh Northwest Design in Gig Harbor creates custom art on wine bottles, which is so cool! Our family was lucky enough to get a quick tour and see the pre and post production bottles. Individuals and companies order personalized bottles to celebrate and commemorate events and occasions.

To learn more, go to their webpage http://www.freshnwdesign.com/ and their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/freshnwdesign

 

Top of Tacoma Bar

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Top of Tacoma Bar by Gexydaf
Top of Tacoma Bar a photo by Gexydaf on Flickr.

After a long work week I was glad to meet my friend for a quick happy hour glass of wine at the Top of Tacoma. We shared the delicious chicken nachos and really there was enough there for a couple more people! The food there is not the fried food I typically associate with bars, but instead is pretty darned tasty.

During nicer weather, there is outside patio seating. I love their ornate metal fence which features tops!

http://www.topoftacoma.com/

♥

Rosewood Cafe for a Wonderful Lunch

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Rosewood Cafe

Originally uploaded by Gexydaf

The Rosewood Cafe between the Proctor District and the Stadium District is just what a cafe should be. They have wonderful, creative food, an extensive selection of wine and pitch perfect service.

3323 North 26th Street
Tacoma, WA 98407-6236
(253) 752-7999

http://www.rosewoodcafe.com/about.html