Theo Chocolate

Chocolate. Is there anything more essential to life? I've encountered one or two people who say that they (gasp!) don't like chocolate. But alas, I love love love it. Over the past two years, I have made monthly pilgrimages to Theo Chocolate in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood. Technically, this is a chocolate factory. As you walk by, you often feel like you are living in the world of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the classic children's book by Roald Dahl. The smell of cooking chocolate wafts through the windows, and you wonder what is going on inside behind the building's red brick walls.

But wait - it gets better. Attached to the chocolate factory is a retail store where they sell their chocolate bars, caramels, drinking cocoa, and other goodies. And heaped in every corner are containers full of SAMPLES. Unlimited, unguarded samples consisting of broken up chocolate bars in flavors like dark chocolate sea salt, mint, orange, and hazelnut. So you can literally try over 10 kinds of chocolate and, if you're like me, go back for seconds of your favorites. Last Christmas, Stuart and I bought a dozen or two bars and sent them out to friends along with our holiday cards. For a $7 fee, you can also participate in a tour of the factory and see all of the behind the scenes magic. 

 

 A (blurry) look at one of the sample containers

A wall of chocolate - and check out all the sample containers! If you are cheap, live nearby, and have no shame, this could literally become your (free) everyday dessert.

Paseo Caribbean

As I mentioned on Thursday, the pressure is on for me to document my favorite Seattle eats and to share these prime foodie spots with you! One place that I cannot BELIEVE I haven't posted about yet is Paseo. This is, hands down, one of the best places to eat in Seattle and definitely the best sandwich in all of Seattle. Their Yelp page speaks for itself, with over 2,000 reviews and a 4.5 star rating. The rating don't lie, folks.

The sandwiches here are a work of art - tender meat marinated for days in a delicious mystery sauce, enormous onions grilled to perfection, a crusty-chewy baguette, and an amazing cilantro sauce with jalapenos tops it all off. Stuart and I always do takeout because 1) this is the messiest sandwich you will ever eat and is best savored in the privacy of your own home, and 2) there is very limited seating inside at their Fremont location. Our parents always request a visit to Paseo when they visit, so you know it's gotta be good. They also have nice entrees that can easily be shared and come with salad, beans, rice, and corn on the cob.

Tips: you need these! They only take CASH, and sandwiches run about $9 per person with tax. They are sadly closed on Sunday and Monday. The line is always crazy long and can take an hour+ on a nice day, so CALL your order in ahead of time. It will take about 20 minutes and you can wait to pay for it in a very short line (stand on the left side of the red divider at the counter).

 

 Prepared to be in a blissful food coma after eating one of these babies. I always order the Caribbean Roast Pork (pictured here). 

Serious Biscuit

Sometimes, you just have to eat a big, buttery, fluffy piece of carbohydrate. And by that, I mean a biscuit. While I've posted about a great at-home biscuit that you can make here (just omit the strawberries for a plain version), the offerings at Serious Biscuit really hit the spot. Stuart and I went for the first time a few weeks ago, and I can't wait to go back.

When we went, we ordered "the zach," a biscuit creation with fried chicken, tabasco black pepper gravy, bacon, and egg. We shared that dish along with a simple buttermilk biscuit with a side of their seasonal rhubarb jam. Together, it was the perfect amount of food and gave us a taste of both something savory and something sweet.

 

 

*Seating tip! When you enter, there will likely be a long line and a place to leave your name to wait for a table. However, the downstairs "bar" area is open seating, so just grab any open table and order at the counter. You will get your food in NO time at all. We learned this through trial and error after waiting over 15 minutes unnecessarily. Oops!

Fremont Brewery

It's hard to believe, but Stuart and I are moving to California in just one month! While that obviously means we need to prepare to pack up, sell some furniture, and say goodbye to the good friends we've made here in Seattle, it also means that I need to share all of the Seattle food spots that I love but haven't gotten around to posting yet. You would not believe the collection of material I have built up that just hasn't made it onto the blog yet. So, my goal prior to our August 21 move date is to post ALL about Seattle food spots, from breweries (this post!) to bakeries to restaurants. My goal is to do 3-4 posts per week until we move, so that I have the best chance to accomplish this goal!

Today's post features my hands-down favorite brewery in Seattle, Fremont Brewery. When I moved to Seattle two years ago, I didn't even drink beer. But now, I can't wait to grab a cold drink here in Fremont while I chat and unwind with friends before dinner. Stuart and I have brought practically everyone we know here, from siblings to parents to out of town guests. If you plan to visit, be forewarned that this is a beer-only establishment: no wine, no non-alcoholic beverages, no food. Just a vast array of beer choices varying in hoppiness, with bowls of free pretzels to snack on. The upside is that you can bring in any food of your own that you want. We've seen people with pizza, birthday cakes, sandwiches, you name it. The outdoor patio with communal tables is just perfect on a warm summer day.

 You can't beat the sampler option - 5 tastes for $5

 My mom and Stuart enjoying the beer & sunshine

View of the outdoor patio

Za’atar Spice

As noted in my last post, while in Israel I ran across lots of fresh juice stands, gummy candies, and falafel dishes. But I also brought home a little piece of the Middle East in the form of a bag of za'atar, an herb mixture that is very common in Israel and used in lots of Arab cuisine. It can come in different variations, but is usually a combination of herbs such as thyme, oregano, and marjoram that is then mixed with sesame seeds, salt, and sumac. Our Israeli tour guide introduced us to za'atar on a small cobblestone street in Jerusalem by buying what looked like a giant, elongated bagel from a little bakery. With the "bagel" came with a little paper dipping packet full of za'atar. We all passed around the bread and took turns ripping off a bite-sized piece and dipping it into the dry za'atar.

When we visited the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem (the big food market, or shuk), I bought some to take home. Luckily, the airport officials did not confuse it with some illegal drugs and my little bag of green herbs made it back to the states with me. Apparently, the most common way to eat za'atar is with bread, as I first had it on my trip. An even more delicious way is to mix it with olive oil first and then eat it with pita bread, etc. You can also mix in into hummus or savory yogurt, or use it to season chicken or vegetables. I have a good sized bag, so I can't wait to try it out! You can buy za'atar at many well-stocked grocery stores, online at The Spice House or Amazon.com, or even make your own unique blend using the ingredients listed above.

The shop in Jerusalem where I bought my za'atar

Above is what I hope to create with my za'atar in the near future!