Friday, May 30, 2008

Julia's on Broadway

Julia's on Broadway
300 Broadway E
Seattle, WA 98102
(206) 860-1818
website

Five out of Ten
Julia's (Broadway) on Urbanspoon

Julia's on Capitol Hill is a longstanding institution that represents Seattle ambiance at its best. The west coast Victorian decor and ornate decorations make this enormous space with 30 foot ceilings a comfortable place to sit for a long meal. Unfortunately the food does not quite complement the great service, location, and decor.

The breakfast menu is typical and large. The coffee is hot and frequently refreshed. But the portions were heavy and not very well cooked. I had the potato plate with two eggs, but it also came with an unappetizing tomato based sauce that could not be well discerned from oil. She had the standard egg breakfast, but the bacon was overcooked and generally weak. The toast was also from a bag of sliced bread. All in all a bit of a disappointment from such a well known and well established place.

Julia's is a great place with great service. If looking to experience a great Seattle feel for all its charm, and to keep your coffee cup full, this is a great spot. Order carefully and do not have high expectations for the food.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Coastal Kitchen

Coastal Kitchen
429 15th Ave E
Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 322-1145

Seven out of Ten
Coastal Kitchen on Urbanspoon

Having a unique, but limited, menu the Coastal Kitchen had some of the tastiest and well spiced food we have tasted to date. Always crowded, with a long wait that grows quickly, the service here was friendly but inattentive. The ambiance was a combination of typical Capital Hill art and a take on the changing theme, which was currently Roman. But it is clearly the food that holds this place together as a neighborhood favorite breakfast spot.

I had the mushroom Swiss omelet, made with two types of mushrooms locally grown, and fresh chives. Fruit was substituted for toast, and the Orange juice was fresh squeezed from the market. She had the classic EMPT. The potatoes were spicy and delicious and the most noteworthy part of the meal.

Kid friendly, and a great cup of coffee (when you can get it filled) round out a wonderful tasting breakfast. The wait is well recommended.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Breakfast At Home

Since finding out I had Celiac disease, we have experimented extensively with both available products and homemade foods to determine what wheat items can be replaced and what will just be missed. For example, a warm and chewy NY style bagel with whipped cream cheese is just something I have to live without, as is a sandwich on crusty baguette from Salumi's. Some things, however, are easy to make and hard to detect that they are gluten free. Fortunately, for breakfast, pancakes and waffles are one of the replaceable ones. They are just not available on any menu that I know of, except at home. Of course I love the ambiance of this place (home) because of the sweeping city views and soaring ceilings. There really is nowhere else I would rather be or eat, but the service here is, well, not so attentive.

Besides the gluten free waffles, this breakfast had two other special ingredients. Lately, we have been frequenting the University Farmer's market. We have become very enamored with the fresh organic eggs and chickens from one vendor. When we first found him, he asked if we had ever tried his product before. When we told him we had not, he told us that we were in for some big trouble, because now we will never be able to eat anything but. He was pretty accurate. The quality of the product is just so fresh. I can not wait to try his duck early in the summer. For this breakfast, we had fresh organic eggs from the farmer's market.

The second ingredient we have come to enjoy very much is the bacon we got from Wooly Pigs. We first heard about this place from our daughter who interviewed them for a school journalism piece, but later have read about them in Seattle Magazine. Their story is fascinating and their product is incredible. We certainly will never taste pork roast in the same way. Their bacon is just as good, with a thick, chewy and meatier taste. We have done a couple of Mangaliste roasts, but this was the first taste of the bacon, and we are now fans as well.

As much as we love the convenience and ease of breakfast out, there always is no place like home. Its the best way to insure the meal is gluten free and tastes great.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Le Pichet

Le Pichet
1933 1st Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 256-1499
www.lepichetseattle.com

Eight out of Ten
Le Pichet on Urbanspoon

I have to admit that I am completely partial to Le Pichet. It is one of our absolute most favorite restaurants in the city. We have had so many good meals and so many good nights here. It is very hard to separate out all of our great dinner experiences from the breakfast experience. Although there is a limited breakfast menu, and this is far from your classic American breakfast by any means, the food prepared, the great coffee, and the whole experience make this another place easy to recommend.

The ambiance of Le Pichet is very enjoyable. A classic small french bistro done impeccably well. The sights and smells always captivate here. The menu, although limited for a breakfast meal, somehow satisfies. The food is perfectly prepared and presented. I ordered the ham, eggs, and Gruyere prepared under the broiler. I left well satisfied. The Orange juice is squeezed at the bar, and is a great addition to the meal.

This is a very enjoyable place to simply sit, read the paper, or people watch, all with a common thread of really great food. Not quite as good for breakfast as it is for dinner, Le Pichet still provides a breakfast that makes me proud to be downtown.