How lucky can a kid get? Go away to college and your parents follow. And then they decide to open a restaurant to cater to the college crowd. There are pros and cons to this scenario. The pro is we get (opening in May) fresh, affordable Mexican food.
May 1, 2009
April 16, 2009
Shawarma
Shawarma is marinated meat cooked vertically on a rotisserie and sliced into strips. Add sauteed slivers of onions, a freshly rolled and baked pita and you have a delicious taste of Wrap & Roll. Wrap & Roll is a Mediterranean cafe in Sunset Square. When you walk in be prepared for the door chime: DING DONG. It took me by surprise and made me wonder if I was the brunt of a joke. Oh, well, so what, it wouldn’t be the first time. The space is small and long, but with a wall of windows is very light. Walls of periwinkle, light gray IKEA chairs and round tables edged with a blue mosaic all with a view.
Max was kind and asked if he could help me (I was staring at the long menu for a long time trying to make up my mind). I wanted to know how I could have 1 of everything, but just a small portion. What would I like? The turkey shawarma, the falafels, the hummus, the vegetable pancake, the pita bread…he smiled and said, ‘No problem’. While I waited, he served me a plate of 3 side dishes: spicy carrot salad, red cabbage and tabbouli. It’s so easy to tell if something came out of a jar or was made fresh, and the foods I ate here today were FRESH and flavorful. And there was more than enough to feed 2 hungry parents. Thumbs up to Wrap & Roll; the north side of Bellingham has Mediterranean just as the south side does with Mediterranean Specialties Cafe.
Next to the movie theatre in Sunset Square. 734 1917
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April 7, 2009
Bellingham Farmers Market is now OPEN for the season
The Bellingham Farmer’s Market opening day was Saturday and it was packed! It’s no wonder with the weather a cooperating factor – here comes our Pacific Northwest summer! Hooray! There were some of the old and some new vendors. I was glad Danielle from Sharazad was there as was Curt’s Kettle Corn (can you smell it?). There were children eating cupcakes from Icing On the Cake and ogling home-made, hand-made wool dolls. There were some new vendors tending booth. Waldorf mom’s with talent extraordinaire: one creating beautiful designs on furniture, another on glass, plus one making Kathy Kruse type German dolls of wool.
There are dozens of vendors and as the season progresses there will be the abundance of produce I’ve come to relish. My mother and MIL* love visiting Bellingham, and one of the highlights, besides their grandchildren, is the Farmer’s Market. My mother buys her gifts for her Florida friends there. She has traveled with Dr. Dandelion’s Lavender and, at other times, has flown home with dozens of spring radishes and plant starts (horseradish, if you need to know, THRIVES in Clearwater). While MIL has spoiled the grandchildren with Bavarian Pretzels and popcorn and ice cream…not that I’m complaining.
So plan accordingly: go to the Farmer’s Market late, so it’s not too crowded when I’m there. And, oooh, I can’t wait to hear a cappella from U4eeuh!
*MIL = mother-in-law
March 16, 2009
Discontinued: TJ’s Soy Nut Butter The Trader Joe and Costco saga
Just ask Aaron. He only forgot one thing from his shopping trip to Trader Joe’s: soy nut butter. He went back only to find…it was a discontinued item. Why? Wasn’t his purchasing it regularly creating enough of a turnover? And those peanuts in the shell I had been buying every single week. Gone. Just like that. Do you remember the dark chocolate chess cookies? I bought them every week, too. I asked a Trader Joester where they had been moved to and she told me they never carried it. Are you kidding? I’ll bring you all my receipts for the past year and show you the charges for it. Newbie.
Youtuber “Carl” made his own Trader Joe’s commercial with his smart phone, walking the aisles. Too funny, and it rings true:
[youtube:www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdB7GDZY3Pk]
I could go on and on about Trader Joe’s, but instead I’ll write about Costco and the asterisk next to the price of an item and what THAT means. It means you better buy ALL of it because they are going to discontinue carrying that item, the one you’ve been buying for 5 years. At least it’ll be a cheaper price than you’ve been paying. Sometimes, like magic, a product reappears after a couple of years. It happened to me last week; the R W Knudsen Blueberry juice was available again! It must have taken a long time to squeeze the berries.
Sometimes you can influence the buyers. At Trader Joe’s they keep a running list of customer requests. At Costco, I made such a stink about the brownie mix back in 2005. I’m revealing a well kept secret, but I don’t care anymore. I use a brownie mix. No one can make the brownies better than Ghirardelli. I’ve eaten tons of brownies and so I have my proof. I’ve been using the mix since the ’80’s when I found it in my Costco in NJ. You know, the famous Ghirardelli chocolate from San Francisco. Well, I move from the northeast to the northwest and expected SOME things in the Costco’s to be different. But, wait. The Costco in the northwest is carrying a brownie mix from Hershey’s. Are you kidding me? No wonder the mix is so expensive. The California mix has to travel to NJ and the Pennsylvania mix has to travel to Washington. Cross country, just like me!
I’m happy to tell you the Costco in Bellingham, WA now sells Ghirardelli brownie mix. They got sick of listening to this New Yorker flap her trap.
January 7, 2009
Dad & Speak E-Z’s Memphis BBQ, Bellingham
It was about 4 years ago we shocked our New York families. We moved 3000 miles west to Bellingham, WA. Needless to say, this did not go over well, but we were wished many happy returns.
It has been a life changing decision and we have been thrilled ever since (have you seen the weather in NY lately?). We wanted to share our new home, so sent out the word to come visit. My Dad did not hesitate and flew up from Florida. His trip coincided with his birthday and knowing how he loved my Mom’s fried food and roasted meat dishes, there was no question where to go out to celebrate.
The best local family food restaurant in Bellingham, WA: Speak E-Z’s. Imagine jazz, Elvis and muted lighting. Add to this image comfort food aromas. You have Speak E-Z’s (and some of my mom). The service is great -very friendly- and Dennis, the owner, will chat you up (just like mom). His food is fried in 100% pure vegetable oil and the ingredients are fresh (as in made from scratch).
My Dad ordered Dennis’ smoked plate: pork spare ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket and a quarter of chicken, topped with Dennis’ BBQ sauce and served with 2 sides. Plenty enough for two (we had plenty take home).
y favorite meal is Dennis’ signature seafood gumbo paired with his jalapeno cornbread muffins and honey butter. I don’t need to eat anything else. But I do.
I can pick from the BBQ beef brisket with mushrooms and onions on a toasted hoagie to BBQ spaghetti with tons of vegetables (which is what I chose for this meal); and there’s fried okra (yum), onion rings and Texas style toast with baked beans. The kids get a menu, too: grilled cheese, chicken fingers, fish nuggets or BBQ meatballs.
Everyone had a great time (including 3 children) and it will be a happy memory with my Dad.
PS Dennis has added some new items I’m looking forward to trying: a vegan BBQ burger and a no egg ceasar salad (hold the parm). I think some fish nuggets on the side would be good, too.
2400 Meridian St    714-0606
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