Old World Deli, Bellingham WA

By lisala on 8/29/10 9:29pm
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I'm in an area where there are absolutely no Jewish Delis, at all, for miles. This is more of a hardship than you might think. There are, supposedly, bagels and bialys to be had, but thus far the Northwest idea of a bagel has been unimpressive. That said, I have discovered what is locally called a deli, but that honestly, is also at least 50% bistro. The "Old World" in their name is the dead give away. It really is an "old world" style deli and bistro.

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Subway for Breakfast

By sarajean on 8/17/10 11:13pm
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Subway is one of those restaurants where I could eat every. Single. Day. I totally get you, Jared. And even though they always make fun of me for my weird sandwich (lettuce, cucumber, and cheese on wheat with some salt, pepper, oil and vinegar—yum!), I will keep coming back for my insanely awesome $5 foot long.

As you may have already been aware, Subway has been running a breakfast special for the past few months. According to the sub shop, the breakfast meal has been so successful with its egg and cheese muffin and flatbread sandwiches that plans for many more items—including select coffees!—will soon be available. Subway’s menu will soon be home to several yet to be disclosed breakfast choices that will offer early commuters something delicious and possibly more healthful to choose from.

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National Drive-Thru Day

By sarajean on 7/23/10 9:16am
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Saturday July 24 is National Drive-Thru Day, a day meant to encourage people to use the drive-thru for their convenience. But do we really need an excuse to sit on our butts and buy more junk food that we don’t need, wasting more gasoline while we idle? I think not. In fact, it seems like every day is drive-thru day—and it’s not limited to food, either. Gas stations, dry cleaners, and plenty of other services have drive-thru windows as well. How about instead of a drive-thru day, we instead spend the day both not using the drive-thru as well as making plans on how to not use the drive-thru in the future.

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Rudy's Pizzeria Bellingham, WA

By lisala on 6/8/10 10:36am
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1232 North State Street
Bellingham, WA 98225-5016
(360) 647-7547

Rudy's is a bit of an institution in this coastal Western Washington college town. It's next to a beer-bar called the Up and Up. The Up and Up features an extraordinary array of beers on tap, and (a requirement for beer bars in college towns) cheap beer by the pitcher. People would get their beer at the Up and Up and then duck next door to Rudy's to order a pizza. You'd have a fun evening with a bunch of friends, and if you split the tab, beer and pizza for very little money. A few years ago the owner of Rudy's bought the Up and Up, so now you'll see a lot of back and forth traffic between the two places.

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Old Country Buffet

By lisala on 5/31/10 4:37pm
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I've seen signs for several "homestyle" buffet restaurants; they feature buffet stations where you serve yourself, and offer a variety of choices built around the concept of middle America cuisine, and "comfort food." I note that they tend to be at malls and shopping centers—off of main throughways and interstates, where not only families with children, but long distance truckers and travelers can spot the familiar sign even in unfamiliar areas. I should probably confess that my first knowledge of these restaurants was via a South Park episode, where the featured buffet restaurant was named "Old People's Buffet." Most of the "comfort food" American style buffet restaurants are owned by a single corporation, who owns the "Country Buffet, " "Old Country Buffet" and "HomeTown Buffet" chains.

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Dave's Diner and Brews, SeaTac / Seattle, Washington,

By lisala on 4/12/10 5:13pm
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While Seattle is chock full of fabulous places to dine that suit every palate and pocketbook, Seatac is less fortunate, even outside of the actual airport itself. There's a Dennys, of course, and the ever-present fast-food chains are well represented by Jack in the Box and Taco Bell.

And then there's Dave's Diner and Brews.

Dave's Diner and Brews is a genuine diner, with a full service bar in the back. There's a neon sign, and a classic car parked beside the front windows of the diner. Inside, the diner is decorated with old license plates and road signs.

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Gyros at the Mediterranean Grocery, Bellingham WA

By lisala on 4/8/10 10:38am
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For more info: 
Mediterranean Specialties Cafe
‎505 32nd Street
Bellingham, WA 98225-6509
(360) 738-6895
Google Map

There's a small family-owned Mediterranean grocery and cafe in Bellingham, Washington. The grocery sells about thirty kinds of olive oil, twenty-five pound sacks of rice, several kinds of bread including lavosh and pita, imported teas and jams—including, as far as I can tell, the complete range of Twining's tea in both tea bags, and in tins of loose tea. There's a decent selection of chocolate from Europe, Greek and Lebannese coffee, wine from all over the world at a range of prices, honey, a wide variety of special oils, including sesame, walnut and cottonseed, various canned Greek delicacies, several different kinds of

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Piroshky Piroshky

By lisala on 2/27/10 10:19pm
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There are two Seattle eateries that I pretty much insist on visiting every time I'm there. One is Ivar's, and the other is a tiny family-owned one-note place called Piroshky Piroshky. The next time you're in Seattle, down by the Pike Place Market, make sure that you notice a little storefront restaurant called Piroshky Piroshky.There's usually a line all the way out the front door and down the sidewalk before this small family restaurant even opens. This downtown Seattle landmark has hit on the secret of doing what you know, simply and excellently, without trying to do too much, or provide a bunch of superfluous options that only serve to clutter up the menu. Reviews of Piroshky, Piroshky only confirm what the line on the sidewalk out front tells anyone passing by.

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O'Brien's Irish Pub On Wilshire Santa Monica, CA

By lisala on 2/26/10 10:53pm
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2226 Wilshire Blvd.,
Santa Monica, CA
310-829-5303

Owner "Willie" William O'Sullivan opened his pub in 1994, and it was immediately a favorite for other Irish expatriates and overseas workers. It's dimly lit, with a long bar that seats about 15, and two columns of booths. Large screen TVs are visible from about anywhere. They serve Guinness (which they pour properly, thank you), Harp, Bass, Magner Apple Cider, Harp Lager, Stella Artois, Wydmer Hefeweizen, Bud Light and a selection of bottled ales, as well as offer full bar service. The drinks are real drinks, and they're usually a good selection of Irish whiskey on hand. This is a good neighborhood bar, one where you'll still find Irish patrons in search of Guinness and a proper Irish breakfast. Which brings me to the food—qu

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Some Elements that Turn Patrons into Regulars

By Serenity Fox on 2/25/10 8:19pm
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Once again, I have found myself in one the booth based high tops in Friday’s cocktail lounge. Of course, over some time, Friday’s has become an increasingly favorite venue to patron and sense of comfort. Aha! In the realm of food and beverage, this begs the questions: what is so interestingly attractive about this establishment and others that are found as such that keeps patrons coming back, time and time again? What are the common qualities do these places possess? What are those “IT” factors?

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