A Bellingham Foodie Blog Restaurant Reviews Bellingham Washington 98225

June 19, 2009

The Fork

The Fork. It conjures images of food. It will also conjure images of white table linens, muted lighting and soft moss colored walls.

Go ahead and take the drive to North Whatcom Lake. Enjoy the scenery, the winding road, the smell of green. At journey’s end, you will find a restaurant with touches of perfection. Solid wood floors, comfortable seating. 2 bars: 1 for imbibing and 1 for the wood fire cooking. And your server will be very nice and subtle in her attention to your needs. The table is kept clean – no tea bag pouches, no dirty dishes, never an empty coffee cup. The Fork serves Stumptown Direct Trade Coffee. My breakfast partner rated it a 7 out of 10. He gave  Moka Joe a 9+ and Starbuck’s a 5. You decide. I drank Mighty Leaf chamomile tea and was very pleased; an 8 to Spice Hut‘s 10.

Obviously, we went for breakfast. I ordered the Smoked Salmon & Baked Egg Sando in red onion, cucumber, tomatoes and yogurt dill sauce. It came gyro style and was delicious. Tom ordered the Daily Omelet with house potatoes and toast. The omelet had Italian sausage,  sun-dried tomatoes, baby spinach and manchego cheese. I was allowed a small taste – he thoroughly enjoyed it. What stood out with our meal were the flavor bursts. My salad had some stewed tomatoes and the sun-dried tomatoes in the omelet were very tasty. Tom’s omelet included ample whole gently-baked garlic cloves.

In fact, Tom very much liked The Fork and said we would be back. He doesn’t say that about very many places at all. It makes perfect sense once you know the restaurant’s he has worked/trained in.  He had humored me this morning by agreeing to play guinea pig with me,  but later noted that the wine list included his favorite Pinot Noir (Argyle) by the glass, which demonstrated  good taste as well as economic wisdom.  Needless to say I was relieved the experience didn’t dissappoint.  Tom did come away with a few mosquito bites… a wet morning on the north side of the lake, doors wide open for the fresh morning air. Or perhaps it was because of the fresh fruit berry compote he enjoyed.

Some other breakfast offerings at The Fork at Agate Bay are Biscuits & Country Gravy with 2 eggs, house potatoes; Georgia’s Peach-Stuffed French Toast with Russell’s Chantilly Cream. There’s more – including a large tray of morning breads/muffins/pastries. Visit and find out.

Stand-outs on the lunch menu are Curried Marcona Almonds, Nectarine & Strawberry Salad with organic greens, candied walnuts, manchego and balsamic vinaigrette. There is a Grilled Jerk Chicken Sandwich and a Wood-Fired Portobello Sandwich. The Fork makes what they call ‘Firebreads’: Sausage & Apple and “Mario & Luigi” (pepperoni or cheese).

What I would like to try for dinner on my next visit: Dungeoness Crab Cake-Potato Napolean, Nectarine & Strawberry Salad, and Cedar Plank Wild Salmon (sunchoke potato puree, wild mushroom & asparagus succotash with black pepper butter).

Breakfast 8-2pm, lunch 10-2pm and dinner 5:30 til closing.

See also “the Fork at Agate Bay“. Find it at the fork of Y and North Shore Roads in Bellingham.   733-1126

June 16, 2009

Last Meals in Padded Cells

Filed under: Bellingham local,local,Pacific Northwest,restaurants — Tags: , , — Bellinghamster @ 1:31 am

The Whatcom Museum was Bellingham City Hall long ago. The rooms and halls we walk filled with artifacts, objects and art were once the space of politics and ordinances. Downstairs from the public rooms are now offices, but once were the Police Station with jail cells. The ornate central staircase has a twin underneath it – walk down it and imagine the sarge sitting high behind the elevated desk looking down on the criminal brought in for booking. The jail cell bars are still on the walls. The walls are as thick as a chocolate layer cake. And there is a padded cell. The original padding is still on the inside of the door. I touched it and I felt afraid for who had been in it.

It made me wonder about last meals.

Some people would choose a favorite meal. I would choose something I couldn’t have anymore – Howard Johnson’s strawberry ice cream.

When I was growing up our family drove many miles. My folks LOVED driving to new places and this was also the way we spent our vacations. If you are familiar with the long road trip as part of your childhood vacations, then you also remember the rest stops and for me  all of them were Howard Johnson restaurant/inns (eastern seaboard). In fact, part of the highlight of going on vacation was eating out and I LOVED eating at Howard Johnson’s. I am not a picky eater, then or now, and always cleared my plate(s). And I always chose the same dessert:  Howard Johnson’s strawberry ice cream.

Paul H. Beckner created the formula for the strawberry ice cream almost 100 years ago while working for Louis Sherry.  Louis Sherry ice cream was being served at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York when Howard Johnson sampled it. Mr. Johnson wanted Mr. Becker to work for him. And he did. Time has passed and Howard Johnson’s has been bought and sold a few times. There are 3 franchises left: 2 in NY and 1 in Maine. It was a great childhood memory and strawberry ice cream is still my favorite!

x-country road trip anyone?

June 15, 2009

Barlean’s Salmon

Filed under: Bellingham local,Bellingham Restaurants,local,Pacific Northwest,restaurants — Tags: , , , — Bellinghamster @ 8:30 pm

The Community Food Co-op at the Cordata Store held a wonderful event today. It was a BBQ For Literacy. They served a $3 BBQ with $1 donated to the Whatcom Literacy Council. There was a free book swap, live music (Kevin has MUCH talent) and almost a dozen authors open to discussion. Weather was sunny breezy and the food great!

You wonder:  what am I going to eat for $3? WELL, you had a choice of a Hempler hotdog, a tofu dog, 2 BBQ chicken legs (big) or grilled Barlean’s salmon. The side was potato chips and FRESH cole slaw (big servings).  I told the server the only time I get Barlean’s salmon is in a bottle with lemon swirl! She had a good laugh. The salmon was delicious as was everything else;  I had 3 serious food critics with me – my kids – who told me so.

We ate good food, were entertained, checked out some books and authors and even got some fancy calligraphy bookmarks. All in all, a perfect family outing.

Now if you missed this event, don’t despair. There will be 2 more in July and August. I’ll be there with kids in tow…

June 5, 2009

Prospect Street Cafe

Filed under: Bellingham local,Bellingham Restaurants,local,Pacific Northwest,restaurants — Tags: , , — Bellinghamster @ 2:35 pm

It was time to celebrate. I think wedding anniversaries and birthdays are special occasions worthy of excess. They are the celebration of an enduring existence. And since my marriage has been enduring very well for quite a long time we toasted it with Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne at Prospect Street Cafe.

No reservations. Open Wednesday to Sunday 5pm to close. Menu ever changing in step with the season and local produce, and Chef/Owner Spencer Santenello’s VIVID imagination!

Our server was very nice. We worked together to pop the champagne bottle’s cork. It tasted soft bubbled sweet tart.

Here’s to “How many?!” Here’s to “That many more!

As we mulled over which special to have, I noticed an elderly couple being seated nearby. They were dressed for occasion with a little bling and a lot of sparkle in the eye. Just sets the mind to wondering of the future…We both chose a fresh seafood special and I had a house salad. Tom selected ahi tuna prepared 3 different ways: tartare with crisp julienned greens, seared with cumin seeds and papaya, and seared with sesame seeds topped with roe on a bed of rice. All 3 set in delicious sauces. All 3 distinct and flavorful. I ate whole mustard crusted salmon with a potato latke. My house salad had cherry tomatoes, cucumber and sesame-miso vinaigrette. Excellent.

Prospect Street Cafe is the best gourmet restaurant we have experienced in Bellingham. Thank you, Chef Santenello!

114 Prospect Street (across from the Museum)    714-8262

May 30, 2009

Fairhaven Pizza Company

Filed under: Bellingham local,Bellingham Restaurants,local,Pacific Northwest,restaurants — Tags: , , , — Bellinghamster @ 4:13 pm

It has been outrageously beautiful in Bellingham. Sun, warmth, everything blooming. On Saturday the Bellingham Community Boating Center had an open house with free boating and instruction. They cater to people who like to get on the water in a kayak, canoe or a sailboat under 26 feet. My older son has been sailing on the bay and lakes in smaller sailboats for a few years now and as soon as the wind and clouds start looking good to him in the Spring, he has sailing on the brain. So, an open house at a new place was just the cure. He and his brother had a blast! After signing a waiver, they were off and sailing with a crew on a 17 foot sailboat for the afternoon. Clearly a different experience from sailing bytes and lasers by yourself! Remember:  the most important part of the boat is the drain PLUG!

When they were all done and sailed out, we agreed they could walk up to Fairhaven Pizza Company and get a late lunch. I’m sure they were purposeful and proud as they strode up Harris and over to the pizza place. They said they were treated ‘FANTASTIC’. They were very well respected and devoured some delicious pizza. My boys are 13 and 11 years old. They have been to Fairhaven Pizza many times with the family. They have received free personal size pizza‘s as rewards from the Library summer reading program coupon the owner generously donates. He is Tom Traibush and I think he has a great personality, not to mention outstanding foods!

I don’t see kids handling themselves around Bellingham/Fairhaven much, but I was taking my 3 year old sister to Pizzarama when I was 11. It was a 7 block walk and I had $2 to buy us each a slice, drink and Italian ice. And that was in NYC. It’s still there – 3715 Francis Lewis Blvd, Flushing (no jokes allowed). Time for the kids to take back the pizza place. I think the previous generation was at the burger joint? the soda fountain? Just trimming the apron strings…

1271 Harris Avenue (next to Trek Video)   756-7561

Older Posts »

Powered by WordPress