Entries Tagged 'Bellingham Restaurants' ↓

Had lunch with a lovely woman today. The sun shone, we dined outdoors, the conversation never lagged. Interesting stories were swapped and anecdotal habits of partners. We ate well and wondered about those of us that didn't care much for eating. They could take it or leave it. For me it is an obvious passion my partner sometimes shares with me. So to hear of someone 'forgetting' to eat, I wonder: Just what are they eating to feel satiated throughout a day? Her partner preferred sunflower seeds. Roasted with sea salt. And beer. I thought, WOW, a comfort food combo I would enjoy, too.

Which then reminded me about the FANTASTIC meal Tom and I had at the Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen last week. Chuckanut Brewery is owned by Mari and Will Kemper. They hail from the Thomas Kemper brewery in Paulsbo. This is quality above and beyond. This is a serious place of malts and hops. On tap:  Dortmunder, Dunkel, Kolsch  (Tuesday Night Special), Marzen, Organic Amber Ale, Helles, Organic Pale Ale. To compliment the ales and lagers, Chef Chad Bowes presents many temptations sourcing locally. A NY boy (love 'em) who entered the restaurant biz on LBI, NJ before making his way West.

Marie, the hostess, was wonderful; friendly, helpful and a sense of humor. We could sit at the bar, near the bar or the main dining area adjacent to the open kitchen. If you've read past posts, you will know I enjoy watching men cook! So we sat near the kitchen and the smells were delicious. The space looks like it was big enough to hold a fire engine. The walls are light colored with lots of windows, light. Be prepared to halt conversation, not just to sip your brew, but to allow for the freight train to pass.

Our server was very nice. She explained brew and food pairings and was very unobtrusive. Tom had the Brewmaster's Meatloaf: Misty Isles beef, homemade gravy, summer roasted veggies, garlic mashed red potatoes. He drank the Dunkel lager. I ate the South of the Border Yamburrito. It was HUGE! Yams, roasted garlic, cabbbage, carmelized onions, Jack cheese and corn in a flour tortilla topped with tomatillo salsa. It was served with rice and black beans, as was my dinner AND my breakfast the next morning. Ok, my secret is out. I eat my dinner leftovers for breakfast the next day. So what. It's a step above the French onion sour cream dip and ridged potato chips I use to eat for breakfast after one of my mother's dinner parties. My sister used to eat the cakes. Mom never told us not to…

Chuckanut Brewery Starters include mini seafood tacos, savory goat cheese pie (Holmquist Hazelnut crust), chips & Chuckanut Brewery salsa, roasted yam fries.

Chuckanut Brewery Soups – Chad's Chuckanut Chowder has clams and smoked salmon and there is a vegetarian soup of the day. Salad is by DeVine's: field greens, caesar, Thai sweet chili beef or Southwest blackened buffalo tri-tip (Twisted Ranch Buffalo).

Chuckanut Brewery Lunch serves sandwiches, burritos, brats or Wood Stone pizza's made with NW 'Shepherd's Grain Flour'.

Chuckanut Brewery Dinner – see above, and add BBQ Beef, crab cakes, mac& cheese.

Chuckanut Brewery DESSERT is homemade and varies by the season/week. Tom and I shared a Dunkel Chocolate Truffle with chocolate ganache and mountain berry sauce. It was excellent. Our other choices were Rainier cherry & nectarine marscarpone cream tart w/almond graham cracker crust; Chocolate bread pudding w/mountain berry sauce & fresh whipped cream.

I know I keep sayinghow either this restaurant is a favorite, or that one is… but now Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen is my favorite for its BREW & STEW!

Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen  601 W Holly St  Bellingham WA  360-75-BEERS  open daily @ 11:30

Think big red British bus with outdoor picnic tables and fresh fresh fresh fish served by Vicki and you've arrived at Jacci's Fairhaven Fish & Chips in Bellingham, WA. Walk up to the bus window and place your order. It's an easy menu: clam chowder (fresh daily) or salmon, halibut, cod or chicken with chips and cole slaw (fresh daily). They'll call you when it's ready – have a seat and soak up, hmm, depending on the time of year, sun or rain. Or you could get your order to go. She also serves over 24 flavors of soft ice cream, milkshakes and floats. Indulge!

I am a HUGE fish and chips fan (although I trade my chips  for slaw). Everywhere I go to eat I check the fish selection. In Fairhaven, Vicki serves the tastiest fish and chips. Just ask my daughter, it's her favorite place for it, too.

Jacci's Fairhaven Fish and Chips 1020 Harris Ave   Fairhaven WA  98225  M-Sat 11-7 Sun 12-5     360-733-5021

Photo delivered via Robin Dude's Flickr photostream

The Copper Hog is a gastropub. A gastropub is a British public house specializing in high quality food. The definition fits Copper Hog to a T. Tom and I have been a couple of times now and the food is SUPER. Stop laughing. There will be something for me to eat no matter what time of day or what kind of mood I'm in.

I've eaten the colcannon (Irish style mashed potatoes), diced Ahi sashimi in shoyu and sesame oil w/seaweed salad served on crispy wontons (awesome), sliders (kobe, battered cod, spiced hummus).

Pub Snacks to have while playing darts (curry chips or beans on toast or colcannon or french fries, gravy and cheese curd)

Pub Fare to have while at the looong bar watching futball on the tele (Omar's fish & chips w/sweet pea puree, bangers & mash + gravy)

Small Plates to share at a dimly lit table away from the hub bub (Irish onion soup, rustic crouton & melted Irish cheddar or char broiled teriyaki bison flank steak salad or cold soba noodle salad or oysters on the half shell served with a pint of Murphy's)

Big Plates to have and share seated in tall private cushy booths (cast iron seared lamb, summer green beans & colcannon or carmelized duck breast, potato cakes, wild summer mushrooms, cherry chutney and port/current reduction or apple cranberry dressing stuffed pork loin, homemade applesauce w/baby carrots). Now, by no means are these the only options on the menu. And, this is The Copper Hog's summer menu.

But, wait. I haven't mentioned the list. Of what? Of beer. Of scotch. So many delicious pairings for your gastro experience.  Samichlaus, Orval Trappist, Delirium Tremens  (Belgium), Dalwhinnie (scotch). And try a black and tan. Tom enjoyed his VERY much.

Copper Hog Bellingham

The Copper Hog 1327 N. State St Bellingham WA   360-927-7888

PS  Delicious fish & chips.

This Sunday, August 9th, from 11-1, you can participate in a self-guided Co-op to Co-op Bike Ride. Check in at the downtown store during that time to receive your packet and route map. Plan for an 11:30am departure if you want to ride with a group. Courtesy of the Co-op staff and the HUB, there will be a fix-it station available for you to pump up your tires and do minor repairs before you pedal. When you get to the Cordata store check in to claim your REWARD and partake of the last Cordata BBQ of the summer. Bike home or WTA #232. I will be chauffer (for MY team) because the youngest isn't ready for this ride.

AND BBQ at the Cordata store from noon-3pm. $5 BBQ, $3 for 10 years and under with $1 donated to Animals as Natural Therapy. Bison or portebello mushroom burgers with deli sides. Live music, bike info courtesy REI and Everybody Bike, llamas bunnies horses and assistance dogs. My advice:  get there early for good seats and eats.