Seattle

As you've seen it's been a while since our last post. The west coast is filled with amazing things to do, whether it be exploring one of its many waterfront cities or getting acquainted with the vast outdoors - there are few limitations, if any.

We were lucky in Seattle to have some clear skies and warm weather so we could take advantage of all that the city has to offer. We started our first morning by going to Pike Place Market to check out the world renowned scene. The market offered fresh seafood, artisan cheese, produce and flowers among other goods such as pastries and gourmet pastas. We were brave enough to try some interesting jams, such as black pepper pomegranate and ginger. We picked up some locally made goods; champagne grapes, a rustic baguette and chevre and walked along the waterfront to the sculpture garden where we ate a deliciously simple lunch in the shadow of the gardens largest sculpture.

Afterwards we walked to the Seattle Center which hosts the Space Needle. Hopping on the cities only Monorail we passed through part of the Experience Music Project Museum and ended up near Pioneer Town, the oldest part of the city. Pioneer Town was completely burnt down in an early 1900's fire but has been rebuilt according to the architecture of the day. We walked through China Town, which was surprisingly very small and almost unnoticeable where we found refuge from the glaring west coast sun in a small asian garden.

In the evening we headed to Cafe Flora somewhat on the outskirts of downtown where I was personally very excited to go! Cafe Flora has been mentioned numerous times in my favorite magazine, Vegetarian Times, and has won vast amounts of awards from vegetarians and food critics throughout. The food was nothing short of perfect and we made sure to give the chef our compliments before leaving. We started out the meal with a lentil pate platter which included locally baked croccantini, caper berries, caramelized red onion confit, and assorted olives. Our entrees were as equally creative and tasty. I had the wild mushroom tartlet baked with goat cheese and sweet onions, topped with a green bean salad in a shallot djion dressing and a huckleberry current sauce. It was perfect combination of spicy, sweet, and sour. Jack had the Polenta dish which was served with onions, peas, and cherries in a balsamic port reduction with cambazola cheese. Dessert was also wonderful. I had the vegan chocolate mouse topped with fresh blackberries and Jack had the blackberry ice-cream, which unfortunately was not vegan. Out of all of the many places I have been which offer vegetarian food (and I've been to dozens and dozens) I would highly recommend Cafe Flora above all others.

Our last day in Seattle we went to the Porchlight Cafe while we were getting the car serviced. The cafe was simple and offered good coffees and Mighty O Donuts which are also famous world-wide amongst vegans for their large menu of Vegan and Organic Donuts. They were by far the BEST donuts we have ever had! Fluffly, rich but not too dense and topped with just the right amount of glaze or topping. Thankfully they also sell them at Whole Foods and other local organic eateries. Mighty O and Cafe Flora alone are enough to make me visit Seattle again!

Seattle was a nice town which was vegetarian friendly but it lacked that certain something that would make me move there. I will definitely be back for a visit again, if only for the food.