Seattle

We started our 8-day food-fest with our friends Bonnie and Nancy in Seattle.  We stopped off and got Philly Cheesesteaks at an Italian deli on the way home from the airport.  After the airline boxed breakfast, we needed a bit of sustinance.

First night at their home was a grilled tri-tip and grilled salmon.  A really good homemade potato salad and really fresh corn on the cob.  This is the kind of food you can’t get at a restaurant.  Dinner was perfect, the weather was perfect, the company was perfect.  We ate on the deck, and just laughed and talked till the wee hours.  The perfect way to start a vacation!

The following morning, we took the new light rail and headed into town.

We headed into Pike Place Market, and after wandering a bit, decided to do lunch before spending lots of money  elsewhere.

We went to a Bolivian restaurant where I had a really good shredded flank steak salad.   (I was still pretending that I was going to stick to the diet at this point…)  Victor and Bonnie both had cans of what we affectionately termed Llama Tinkle.  A really gawd-awful “Golden Cola” from Peru or whatever.  It sucked.  Oh well…  It looked pretty…

We headed into the market and just wandered around.  I hadn’t been down there in probably 20 years or more.  It hasn’t changed much.  Fortunately.

Still miles of fresh produce…

and, of course, fish…..

We bought t-shirts, went to Sur La Table and had lots of fun things shipped home, and generally, just had fun.

Then we went out to dinner.

We went to a local Italian restaurant in Burien that was really out of this world.  Bistro Baffi –  it was great food, excellent service (cute Italian waiters!!!) and just a lot of fun.  The weather was perfect, we ate outdoors, and just had a blast.

A plate of focaccia and an olive oil and balsamic dip started us out…

I started off with a Pear and Gorgonzola Salad with Candied Pecans and a Champagne Vinaigrette.  I ate every bite.

And then a Salmon Risotto that was to die for!  It had a spicy red creamy sauce that was excellent.  Salmon.  Seattle.  Had to do it.  And I’m glad I did!

Victor had a similar risotto with shrimp.

Bonnie went for the lasagne – enough for several meals –

And Nancy chose the (I think) Chicken Parmesan.  Another huge portion.

We split two desserts.

The first was a Lemon Gelatto with White Chocolate that was out of this world!  It looked like hard boiled eggs and tasted like heaven.

And a Tiramisu that one just doesn’t get outside of Italy.  It was a real surprise.

It was at this point I realized my diet was going to go to hell for the next few days.

I decided to go with the flow.

Tomorrow…  Portland!