Sometimes we all want to get a bite to eat, fast. For me today was one of those days. The sky started to clear, the sun had come out and the temperature was only moderately chilly when the wind was blowing. I wanted to enjoy the sunny, dry afternoon while it was here because come tomorrow it could be a blanket of clouds and rain again. But where should I go to get something fast? One thing I will promise you that will never be posted on these pages will be reviews of McDonald’s, Wendy’s or Taco Bell. I will not say that they are horrible places to eat as I too have my guilty pleasures. No, the reason you won’t see the likes of a national fast-food chain here is that, I’m sure, by now, all of you are aware of the food served at those places and what it tastes like. So that still leaves the question, where to eat. Well I was almost home when I saw the sign. A place I have been to many a time since moving here. Truth be told, it was the first place I had lunch at on arriving in Seattle. Being that it’s right around the corner from me made this place especially attractive. The restaurant in question is Tacos Guaymas.

Being that it was just after four in the afternoon the line was non-existent. So I dashed to the counter and put in an order for a Chicken Wet Burrito ($7.25). Now while I call this fast food what I really mean to say is quick food. Fast food tends to conjure images of grey-ish meat, greasy fries and rubbery cheese. What was delivered to my table mere minutes after paying for my order was a burrito the size of a tree branch. For the money one gets an over-stuffed burrito that looks like it is about to burst from its tortilla casing. Smothered in a tangy red sauce, topped with fresh pico de gallo and a sprinkling of fresh, grated cheese the burrito just begged to be eaten. And I was more than happy to oblige.

Here is where the fantasy was shattered. Like most food prepared quick the interior held the dark secret of hasty construction. Once past the rubbery tortilla, the sour cream and guacamole was piled in one end of the burrito leaving the other relatively dry. The chicken of my Chicken Wet Burrito was scattered here and there, in places shredded and in others left in large chunks, but was nonetheless very tender and tasty. I’m not sure if they had a shortage of chicken and needed to squirrel away their stores to make it last throughout the dinner rush but I could have done with a bit more. The bulk of the burrito was made of inexpensive rich and beans. Flavorful though they were, laced with fresh cilantro, I could have done with less filler and more meat.

But you get what you pay for. This was not a horrible meal but not really even close to “good”. It was quick, cheap and gave me the fuel I needed to walk down to the canal and enjoy the weather. I’ll just leave it at that.

While many reviews you will see written here gravitate towards sandwiches, burgers, fried chicken and other quick cheap meals, there are times when I like to go out and splurge on a fancier class of restaurant. It was such with Ponti Seafood Grill.

Set on the Southern bank of the Fremont Ship Canal, Ponti is set back away from the hustle of the Westlake Avenue and Fremont Bridge traffic. A quiet subdued atmosphere is what you can expect to find in the dining area of the restaurant. With one side of the building covered in windows overlooking the canal you can catch all the action while still feeling safe and secure. And the service is equally spot-on with quick, knowledgeable staff ready with suggestions on what is best that night.

I started off with an order of Dungeness Crab Spring Rolls ($7.00 half, $12.00 full). These crispy, fried spring rolls came to the table still piping hot stacked on a small mound of cilantro and pickled ginger. The heat caused the ginger to give off a wonderful aroma that begged me to try a bite. Inside the crisp shell was tender, sweet crab mixed with a light blend of cabbage, red pepper and rice noodles. Accompanying my half order of spring rolls was a red curry aioli that held the faintest hint of spice that played well against the light sweetness of the roll. Before I knew it the spring roll was gone and I was left tempted for more while awaiting the arrival of the main course.

For this course I choose the Pan Seared Alaskan King Salmon ($26.00). What arrived was a high-rimmed plate with a small mountain of squash risotto in the center, topped with a good-sized salmon filet and a fair portion of black trumpet mushrooms. I tasted the risotto first. A creamy, cheesy flavor hit my palate first, the risotto itself very tender. Underlying the flavor of cheese there was a hint of delicate squash, almost non-existent. While I like cheese, I would dare say the risotto could have done with just a tad less in order to let the squash flavor really come to life. But this dish is about salmon and so I carved off a bite with the edge of my fork. Tender and flakey with still a hint of glossiness on the inside. The outer surface has a wonderful sear to it, a golden brown crust flecked with bits of pepper and a crunch that matched nicely with the faintly salty ocean flavor of the fish. Combined with a bit of mushroom and there was a wonderful blending of earthy and buttery flavors.

While this particular meal may have been a little more than I’d typically like to spend for a quick casual dinner alone, I will say that it was well worth it. Sometimes the best pleasures are the ones that you bestow upon yourself and this is one that I will likely return to in the near future.

Before moving to Seattle I was always under the impression that the town was built totally on nerds and geeks. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with nerds and geeks, take it from someone who owns a scrolling LED belt buckle and writes about his dining experiences on the Internet. But once I moved here I discovered that there is a whole melting pot of types of people. One type that I was surprised to find were outdoor enthusiasts. Even the geeks and nerds seemed into skiing, rock climbing or kayaking. So much are people into outdoor activities that one restaurant has even located themselves on the edge of Portage Bay so that you can simply paddle up and get a bite to eat. Tucked away in the U-district, near the hospital, sits Agua Verde.

Billing themselves as healthy Mexican cuisine I stopped in. An open interior floor plan, the walls are painted in varying pastel shades from greens, reds and oranges. A doorway leads out to a covered deck but as it was still cold I decided to grab a seat inside by a window. I choose the window so I could take in the view of Portage Bay and the houseboats lining the opposite shore. I can imagine on a warm summer’s day you could easily loose several hours on the patio watching boats come and go. The service was fast, friendly and a little bit flirty. No more than 5 minutes after placing my order had it arrived at my table.

I started with a half Quesadilla de Champinones ($3.95/half, $6.50/whole). While this was there half sized portion it clearly could have been a meal in itself. A crispy flour tortilla wrapped around fillings of fresh, crunchy spinach, sautéed mushrooms, onions and lots of creamy Monterey Jack cheese. While the menu states the spinach is sautéed as well it clearly was raw but the fresh flavor added a nice touch to the quesadilla. But my favorite was the combination of the cheese and the mushrooms. Talk about Mexican pizza, well, this would have been Mexican calzone but those little sautéed mushrooms with their buttery goodness was a great complement to the ultra-smooth, melted Jack cheese. Overall a very mild flavored dish but a great start.

Next in line was and order of Tostadas de Tinga ($7.50). The two fried, corn tortilla rounds came loaded with tender, shredded white and dark meat chicken, topped with salsa, lettuce and sour cream. Yet, while I call it sour cream this was actually more like crema fresca. Smooth and slightly tart but with a cool savory note, this was a perfect complement to the spicy, smoky chicken. Bathed in a red sauce that tasted of garlic and chilies, the chicken flavor was pronounced but enhanced by a simmer in the sauce. Combine that with a tomato salsa and fresh lettuce and you have wonderful little Mexican treats. Crunchy, spicy, smooth and creamy made these tostadas a hit.

Last on the table were the Tacos de la Casa, Carne ($6.95, $9.95 with beans and rice). Looking back on the pictures and how the tacos smelled when they came to the table I’d like to report that they were wonderful. With tender strips of flank steak cooked to a perfect medium doneness. But no, what arrived were chewy, gristle-y strips of some kind of meat that was not flank steak. I’ve cooked and eaten flank steak many times and even at it’s worst it was more tender than what came on these tacos. There is nothing worse than biting into a piece of meat and having to tear at it like a dog to get your teeth through it. Served on three flour tortillas tiled to make one large tortilla was not helpful either. I wasn’t sure how to eat this. Should I slide the meat, peppers and onions off to one side and pile what I wanted onto an individual tortilla? Was this meant to be eaten as one? Regardless of how I decided to move forward, it was the tough meat that made this dish, practically, inedible.

What’s the phrase? “Two out of three ain’t bad”? I have to admit that despite a poor taco choice the rest of my meal was very enjoyable. I could see myself, if I worked close enough to the southern end of the University of Washington, stopping in for lunch and the occasional dinner at Agua Verde. The Quesadilla was wonderful and the tostada very good in it’s own right. And if I ever decide to take up kayaking, this would be the perfect place to come for drinks and appetizers afterward.

As most people can see by reading this site, I tend to eat out often. This is not to say I can’t cook, no, far from it. I cook quite well which is why often times I have such a critical eye when I’m paying for a meal. When I do cook at home I always try to get the freshest ingredients and whenever possible, organic or free-range. I’m not here to extol the virtues of organic produce and free-range meat. Some people say that they can taste the difference and while, at times, I may agree, it seems to me that the higher price doesn’t really get you better quality. The reason I try to go with organic and free-range is for what’s not on or in my food. I don’t want to nibble on a salad or take a bite of steak and be thinking about what chemicals have been sprayed on or fed to my food. I get enough chemicals in the air I breathe and water I drink. So it makes me happy to see places that are focused on serving food that is based on organic ingredients and such a place is Essential Baking Company in Fremont.

The cafe front on the Fremont baking facility would remind you of a coffee house of old. A smattering of tables and chairs, the odd sofa in one corner and along a wall of windows, a counter area lined with stools is how the interior was dressed. It was here I perched with my Braised Herb Turkey Sandwich ($4.75/half - $6.75/whole) and Creamy Potato Soup ($3.50/cup - $5.50/bowl).

The Turkey Sandwich came on freshly baked rosemary bread. A very soft, tender crumb bread, the slices were dotted with bits of rosemary throughout. Under each slice of bread was tucked a slice of Swiss cheese. This may not seem like a big detail but when it comes to the world of commercially made sandwiches often you get one slice of cheese on just one said of the sandwich. Wedged between the two sides of bread and cheese were hearty, tangy mesculine greens and vine ripe tomatoes. But the star was the turkey. No pressed turkey loaf was this but a slow roasted turkey breast that had been rubbed with herbs and cooked so that the meat was still juicy. Sliced slightly thick and redolent of sage and pepper it was piled thickly onto the sandwich. Overall a simple presentation but the combination of flavors melded perfectly.

After devouring half my sandwich I turned my attention to the soup. A large bowl filled with what I can only describe as pureed red potatoes simmered in cream and garlic. While not chunky like many potato soups this was not silky smooth either. I could taste the graininess of the potato and remnants of the red skins. The addition of cream tempered this rustic feel and brought a little civility to it. While the potato flavor was tame for a Creamy Potato Soup one flavor that did jump out, to almost the detriment of the dish, was garlic. It almost tasted as if someone tried to add roasted garlic but didn’t let it roast quite long enough. So in the end the result was a subtle garlic flavor in one bite and then a bite of slightly raw garlic in another. It may have been an off batch but still tasty none-the-less.

Despite a blemish or two that is easily over-looked Essential Baking Company proves that you can have great taste without all the chemicals. But be prepared to pay a little more for it.

I must admit that most reviews I have done for this site have been for restaurants that I’ve visited in the past. These are restaurants that, for the most part, I’ve had a good experience with. Hey, after all, you go with what you know, especially when it comes to starting a new venture such as this web site. Yesterday’s review was no different. The restaurant I visited I had actually tried, almost a year ago, yet hadn’t been back since. I know, you’re thinking, “This can’t possibly be a good review.” Well, read on about my experience with Paseo.

A tiny metal building up Fremont Av. N. set back under trees and behind parked cars it’s easy to miss this 12 seat restaurant. Know mostly as a to-go place, if you can find a seat good for you. Fortunately for me I arrived between rushes when there was, aside from staff, no one in the building. So I placed my order and grabbed a seat by the

window. I call it a window when in reality it was a set of French doors which open out onto the sidewalk on warm, sunny days. The temperature being 43 degrees this day, the doors were closed and the heat on. But that was fine; it kind of put me in a tropical mood as I waited for my Pork Sandwich ($6.25) and Media Noche Sandwich ($6.79).

Now here is where I explain why it has taken me nearly a year to return to Paseo. You see, before my first visit, I had heard how their sandwiches had this great Cuban/Caribbean flavor and being from Florida I should check them out. Well, having only just recently relocated from the Sunshine State, I was in the mood for a nice porky tropical sandwich. I had ordered the Pork Sandwich, took a bit and was

incredibly disappointed. What was this? A pork patty, one that was reminiscent of the pork from a McRib ™ sandwich? How were people raving about this? Combine this with waiting in a line out the door and it just never seemed worth going back. But it was by the urging of a couple of people that I went back to try their other pork sandwich, the Media Noche.

So here I am sitting with two sandwiches at my “table for one”. First to taste was the Pork Sandwich. The roll is as I remember it, a nice, golden-brown, slightly chewy crust, and tender crumb interior that has been grilled just slightly. Inside the roll is a good slather of a garlic-y mayonnaise, a couple of leaves of Romaine lettuce, some cilantro, jalapeno peppers, a ton of grilled onions and that pork patty. On closer inspection it appears the patty is a pork cutlet that has been either pounded with a tenderizer or run through a cubing machine. Either way I will admit the texture was very tender, a nice, slightly crunchy grilled exterior slathered in sauce. It is this sauce that I’m having some trouble wrapping my head around. Slightly sweet, slightly spicy it’s not something I’m used to in my Cuban/Caribbean cuisine. I could taste some cayenne, garlic, maybe even some jerk seasoning and what I can only describe as Hoisin sauce. Combine all the ingredients together and you get an interesting flavor combination but one that tends to lean toward the sweet side and less in the “great pork flavor” realm. But this is what I remembered from my first visit.

Now for the Media Noche. While the Media Noche is by no doubt a Cuban sandwich, what arrived at my table was more Cuban inspired. This was basically the same sandwich as the above with the noted exception of shredded pork instead of the pork patty and sans the overly sweet sauce. This was pork in its natural state. Small chunks of slow roasted, tender and falling apart pork shoulder. Nothing to disguise its goodness. Combined with the lettuce, onions, cilantro and onions this proved to be a meatier, yet milder, sandwich than the Pork Sandwich. This was what I was looking for, pork done right.

While I won’t say that someone should pick the Media Noche over the plain Pork, I will say that a lot depends on preference. Do you like a spicy, sweet sauce or do you prefer to have more of the natural, mild pork flavor to come through? Me, I will be returning to Paseo for the Media Noche. One thing is for sure, and is common to both sandwiches, grab napkins. The onions, liberal saucing and ample mayonnaise provide for some slippery contents that will want to escape from your two slices of bread.