Tea at Saint and Scholars in Snoqualmie

After a Mother's Day luncheon and gardening with my mom, Dan and I ended the day at our friends' Irish pub, Saints and Scholars for their special occasion High Tea.

Everything was delicious and we happily ate through all of the options. Two standouts were the salmon rosette and the salted chocolate pot. It was so nice to slow down and enjoy ourselves at this little tea party.

#hightea #snoqualmierestaurant #irishpub 


 

Saints & Scholars Irish Pub in Snoqualmie Impresses

Ribbon Cutting at Saints & Scholars 10-3-2022

I am thrilled to share an inside look at Saints & Scholars Irish Pub in Snoqualmie, Washington! Our dear friends, Amanda & Adrian spent the last 2.5 years pouring their heart and soul into this magnificent project and it is stunning. 

Amanda & Adrian share remarks with Mayor Katherine Ross

A view into the bar before the crowd streamed in

The ribbon cutting was at 2 o'clock and as everyone gathered, live bagpipe music brought a celebratory mood to the air. Mayor Katherine Ross spoke of the enormous challenge Amanda & Adrian had faced when taking on a new restaurant and bar. Little did anyone know that 6 months later we would face a global pandemic. The couple had always imagined expanding the kitchen to be able to serve a full menu and they definitely wanted to convert the space into an upscale Irish experience, but I don't think anyone thought that it could be this beautiful. Amanda is the secret sauce that that elevated this combination of tables, food and mood into an establishment to remember. And be drawn to again and again. 

  

A moment for a pint during an afternoon filled with bagpipe music

A drink with our neighbors Nicolette, Trevor and Dawn after the Ribbon Cutting

The Glendalough: Botanist Gin, Fresh Lemon, Cucumber, Basil, Lemon Agave

The custom millwork was made in Ireland.

Guinness & Shepherd's Pie and Fried Chicken Sandwich with Side Salad

Dan and I had the Shepherd's Pie and Fried Chicken Sandwich with a side house salad dressed in champagne vinaigrette. Yes, this is going to be very popular place. 

Look how beautiful this little hallway is! Each piece of art was chosen with care.

Amanda joined us for a little while to celebrate.

The Apothecary cabinet and botanical prints - a nod to the wonderful world of drinks and spirits.

The beautiful and bountiful selection of whiskey

Aqua lights are a mood

In the formal bar area, a stream of aqua light glows from beneath the bar to compliment the stained glass panels that were painted, fired and glazed in Ireland before being set in the wall at Saints & Scholars. The menswear suiting that lines the back of each leather barstool is a nod to the rich history of Irish tweeds and seeing this touch made my heart swell. 

Did you notice the hanging crystal decanters used as decorative lights in the front window? Do you remember where all of the beautiful cut glass crystal wine glasses came from when you were registering for your wedding? Ireland. These chandeliers bring a touch of jewelry to a beautiful ensemble called                Saints & Scholars Irish Pub. I insist you come and experience this 
bespoke Irish restaurant for yourself. 

Bailiey's Creme Brulee - someone's a genius

Bless Amanda, Adrian and their entrepreneurial spirit, for building this restaurant from scratch during a pandemic was a Master Class in design, planning and grit. Slainte!   

*Note: Saints & Scholars Irish Pub is wildly popular already and they are relying on Open Table to manage the reservations for dinner. You can check availability and reserve a table here.

#saintsandscholars #irishpub #irish #snoqualmie #snoqualmiewa #grandopening #newrestaurant #seattle #seattlerestaurants #seattlefoodie #finddelight

Monsoon Restaurant in Seattle: Delightful and Delicious

We ordered too much and then somehow ate it all. That sums up our first visit to Monsoon on Capitol Hill, a restaurant that describes itself as serving Vietnamese Food with Pacific Northwest innovation. I am not very familiar with Vietnamese dishes, but Dan found this restaurant online and knew we'd like it. 

The menu was loaded with options, so we chose a variety of dishes to try for fun. My salad (above) was a refreshing and crunchy mix of shredded green papaya and herbs with caramelized shallots and shrimp. It was bright, tasty and healthy. 

We had this fun weekday night because Dan decided to drive into Seattle with me to have an early dinner before I went to my sorority alum book club. While I was discussing books, he was buying some at Elliott Bay Book Company. Win-win.

Okay, back to Monsoon. Everything was presented so beautifully, I took a picture as each dish arrived. My safety net was the chicken dumplings. I thought that if everything was too spicy, I could rely on the dumplings. Well, they were stars on their own. Each bite was tender and satisfying, while the dipping sauce was salty and complex. I would definitely order this again and again. They really filled me up, though and I had just tried the Grilled Lemongrass Beef skewers.

Wow. The flavor of the beef was sweet and spicy and the tender meat pulled easily off of the lemongrass skewers. This dish definitely scored high in my mind.

But surprisingly, my all time favorite was the Asian Eggplant with spicy coconut sauce. It was silky and tender and rich and divine. Oh Monsoon, you have taken over my taste buds and made sure that I'll be back. Thank you.

#seattleblogger #monsoonseattle #seattle #vietnamese #pnw #datenight #capitolhill #seattlerestaurants #illbeback

The Mill: The Perfect Spot for a Pre-Show Meal

We had a delicious casual meal at The Mill Restaurant & Sports Bar in Milton, WA. I had been searching for a restaurant to have a pre-concert dinner on our way down to the Washington State Fair. The Mill had a lot of great online reviews and I felt confident making a reservation.

Well, in a word, it was just what we were looking for. The menu was interesting and varied. It was early early in the evening, so the restaurant was quiet and the server worked hard to get us in and out in time for our 7:30 tickets. I had a bright and cold watermelon salad and a hearty Mill Burger on a fresh brioche bun. If we hadn't had a timeline, I'm sure would would have enjoyed staying and talking in this terrific new restaurant. 

#preconcert #preshowdinner #miltonwa #themill #greathamburgers 

Seattle: Matt's in the Market has a Must Try Fishwich

I can count on one hand how many times I've ordered a fish sandwich, yet when I was at Matt's in the Market in Seattle last week, I knew it was the right thing to do. And the fish that day was halibut, and I love halibut.

Well, this may have been the best sandwich I've ever eaten. Truly. The Fishwich is described as iceberg lettuce, mam lil's pepper aioli, bacon and saved sweet onion on brioche. The battered fish was hot and tender; the chew of thick cut bacon gives resistance and heft to each bite; the sauce completely necessary though I have no idea what was in it and the slightly charred fresh brioche bun made me question why I hadn't eaten here sooner.

My 2 college friends were in town and while showing off Pike Place Market, the crowd started to get thick and I suggested trying a restaurant that I had heard about for lunch. It had been a busy morning and we needed a chance to sit down and absorb the experience. Bravo me. I'm so glad that Matt's name came to mind and that I was able to find it. We were on foot on Pike Street and I used Google Maps to walk to the corner of Pike and First. You have to walk up 2 flights of stairs to find it, though we found the easy access elevator once we were upstairs.

The sandwich was served with a side of watermelon strawberry gazpacho drizzled with olive oil. We loved that too and wondered all day if the hint of herb we detected had been tarragon or savory. The next afternoon, we decided to make our own batch of watermelon gazpacho. Thanks for the inspiration, Matt!   

#seattle #pikeplacemarket #mattsinthemarket #fishwish #memorablemeal #friendsintown    

Dinner in Waco: Diamond Back's

I know where you should have dinner when you are visiting The Magnolia Market in Waco, Texas. Diamond Back's

I was in line to check out at Magnolia Market and I overheard the women next to me talking to the shop girl about her dinner plans. I jokingly said, "Where are we going?" She kindly looped me into her conversation and told me that she had heard great things about Diamond Back's and their broad menu. She had made a reservation for 8 people and felt happy to have secured a place for dinner. She generously referred to her phone and gave me the restaurant's phone number.

It was exactly what we were looking for! After a long hot day of fun, a beautiful dinner in a cool and quiet restaurant was perfect. We both had a big salad with apples and pecans, warm popovers and a trio of salmon, steak and shrimp. The food was delicious and frankly, I wished we had doubled back here for our 2nd night instead of trying a casual barbecue place. This was perfect for a girls trip and I highly recommend it!

#dinnerinwaco #magnoliamarket #wacotx #diamondbacks #fixeruppertrip 

Seattle: Queen Mary Tea Room Triumph

I found a wonderful place to have lunch with my mom in Seattle. We were out and about last week and found ourselves near the U-district (shopping area near University of Washington) when I remembered that I'd read about a tea room in the area. What if I could find it and we could get in? Fingers crossed...

The Queen Mary Tea Room and Restaurant was all that I could have hoped for. The hostess was able to take our coats and seat us right away. The restaurant was cozy and their incredible inventory of tea and tea-related gifts provided a beautiful backdrop for a ladies lunch.

We both ordered the Chicken Pot Pie that is served with an organic green salad. 

I always wince a little in a tea room, because more often than not, the kitchen relies on tarragon to elevate their chicken dishes. It never works. 

Let me say that Queen Mary's Tea Room serves the best Chicken Pot Pie I have ever had. The sauce was delicious, but not too rich. The seasoning was light and flavorful perfect for the white meat chicken, carrots and peas. The puff pastry was pretty, delicate and felt like a luxurious touch on a rainy afternoon. It was worth every penny and we ate every bite.

I look forward to indulging in their afternoon tea service; I feel certain that I will enjoy a long conversation over some beautiful food.

Rumba: Tropical Restaurant in Seattle

When I think about Rumba in Seattle, I really have to lead with this image (above). The WHOLE fish really made an impression on us and I must say, Dan was in the right frame of mind and dove right in. It was summer and though the fish was fried, it tasted light and flavorful.

The restaurant has a "on board a pirate ship" feel and it really works with their extensive wall of rums from around the world.

Dan enjoyed a potent rum punch and I had an orchid-adorned pina colada.

I devoured my fish taco and pulled pork taco - they were the perfect size and full of great flavor. I would pop back into Rumba for dinner anytime, it was lively and the food was delicious.

Golf Club at Newcastle: Bagpipes and Chills

We had heard that The Golf Club at Newcastle had a wonderful spot high on a hill that featured the city of Seattle in the distance, framed by Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.  

Last year when we drove up to take a look, I took this photo of a Barrat horse being led over to meet the wedding party. With the blue skies and picturesque setting, this scene felt like a magazine shoot

The guests were arriving for the wedding and I hurried out of the way. Near our car, we talked to a groundskeeper who said that we really needed to come back at sunset to hear the bagpipes. Wait, what?

Return we did, on a beautiful summer night in late August. We arrived around 6 o'clock and found a table in the club bar. There is also another pub restaurant called the Wooly Toad on the second floor.

After we ordered hamburgers and a salad, we walked out onto the terrace in time to see the bag piper arrive.

It was too good to be true. A clear night, a beautiful view and the time to enjoy it. Did I mention that it happened to be my birthday? I think I can get used to celebrating in the Pacific Northwest. 

#seattle #golfclubatnewcastle #sunset #myheartsinthehighlands

Seattle: Goldfinch Tavern after Seattle Art exhibit

We celebrated my birthday with a lovely dinner at Goldfinch Tavern, in the Four Seasons. It is located right across the street from the Seattle Art Museum, so it was the perfect spot to eat with Shannon after we saw the Yayoi Kusama "Infinity Mirrors" exhibit.

I ordered the fennel-crusted halibut with spring peas. It was light but satisfying and was dressed in a lemon thyme sauce.

I started with a chilled heirloom tomato soup that was delicious on this hot day. I have been longing for decent tomatoes with real flavor and this soup helped me feel like summer and the good tomatoes were finally here.

I had to have dessert and was so happy to see a chocolate/cherry combo on the menu. This was a rich chocolate mousse terrine with dense butter cake, poached dark cherries, chocolate crumble and vanilla ice cream. Yum x10.

Seattle: Maximilien Restaurant has Spectacular View of Puget Sound

When I was still in Michigan, I made a reservation at Maximilien Restaurant in Seattle for the Saturday just after I returned. It was to celebrate being together for the second half of the summer and put us right in the heart of the Seattle waterfront and Pike Place Market.

There is a large rooftop garden adjacent to Maximilien's patio and the public is welcome to explore, take pictures and admire the view from up there.

There are vegetables growing, flowers blooming and a smattering of kooky art installations.

You must stop and see this beautiful outdoor patio before having a lovely French meal.

We both ordered French Onion soup, a summer halibut dish and an icy drink. I think this would be a wonderful place to enjoy a cheese plate, fresh bread and a bottle of wine. Bon appetit!

#pikeplacemarket #maximilienrestaurant #seattle #seattleblogger #foodandwine #cigarboxpurse #makersgonnamake

Gig Harbor: Tides Tavern was a Lucky Find

Gig Harbor is a little resort town that we barely had the chance to visit, but I already know that I want to go back. When we drove through town I saw cute gift shops, ice cream and plenty of places to sit and enjoy the water. If you look in the photo above and find the kayak, look directly above him, that's Mount Rainier!

We took a driving trip in late May with the goal of reaching Port Townsend on the northeastern tip of the Olympic peninsula. It was a beautiful day, we had a picnic in the cooler and our plan was to enjoy the ride.

We stopped in Gig Harbor to stretch our legs and find a picnic table. We noticed a large public dock called the Maritime Pier and parked so that we could walk out onto it. From the pier, we noticed this seafood restaurant called Tides Tavern.

Out of nowhere, my mom said that she thought she had read about Tides Tavern in Coastal Living magazine recently. Really? I goggled "coastal living, tides tavern" and sure enough, Tides Tavern was selected as one of the best seafood dives in all of Washington. Good job, Mom - what a memory! We decided that if the timing was right, we'd return to the restaurant that night for dinner. 

We found a spot in Gig Harbor for our picnic lunch and then packed up and drove to Port Gamble, then up to Port Townsend, back down through Port Ludlow and then made our way back to Gig Harbor again around 7:30. It sounds like a lot, but it was an easy drive and simply beautiful!

When we returned, we noticed that the tide had come back in! Look how pretty the restaurant looks in the evening. We had to wait about 30 minutes for a table, but enjoyed our fish & chips in a favorite local hangout.

Gig Harbor, we will be back! #summerinwashington #daytripping #finddelight

Traverse City: Mama Lu's Tacos

I love to get restaurant recommendations, however this was the first time I've gotten one from my 24 year old nephew. When did he get so old? I was looking for a fun place to have a date night dinner. William and his girlfriend raved about Mama Lu's Taco Shop in Traverse City and insisted we try the Street Corn appetizer. 

Everything that came out of the kitchen was fresh and picture-worthy. So much so that I turned our tablescape into a watercolor image (above) with one my Waterlogue phone app. Doesn't it look cool? 

The street corn was delicious! Roasted cob pieces are slathered with lime mayo and rolled in chile cotija cheese and I will certainly order it again. However, eating it was a mess! I wanted to be cute and lovely on our date and instead I was thankful that I was already married. Street Corn is not first date food.

***Update: Mama Lu's saw my post and let me know that they offer their delicious Street Corn cut off the cob! Just let your server know...

The tacos were small but mighty. I had one steak and one pork and they were really flavorful and satisfying.  Dan had 1 steak and 2 chicken and he was very happy.

Mama Lu's is a cute place that specializes in bright fresh flavors and the overall vibe was happy. The restaurant was full and everyone seemed very happy with their south-of-the-border selection. Try it!

Seattle: How to Cook a Wolf restaurant

My friend Tracy came to visit and we had a gorgeous early dinner at How to Cook a Wolf before my book signing at the Queen Anne Book Company.

The sun was out and the temperature was in the low seventies. Our table was indoors, but on the edge of the raised window leading to the patio. Everything tastes better outside and it really felt like we took Tracy somewhere special.

We started with Toasted Sea Wolf Leaven Bread with fennel honey butter and roasted garlic and Roasted Cauliflower Salad with a Preserved Lemon vinaigrette.

We added a Yellow Beet Salad with Pomegranate Yogurt and a savory nut topping. 

This dish was Grilled Leg of Lamb with Farro and Goat Cheese...

I concentrated on this incredibly tender and sweet Seared Halibut with Pureed Onion and Grilled Lettuce. It was absolutely delicious. 

Did we have time for dessert? Yes!

House made Banana ice cream (wow!) with a Chocolate Crunch Cake

Pistachio cannoli with pieces of toffee candy

A delicious meal in a modern but relaxed setting. I ate like I was the Queen of Queen Anne. I will be back again and again.

#howtocookawolf #seattle #dininginseattle #momentsofdelight #queenanne