store opening :: moorea seal in belltown.

This past Friday, I had the pleasure of taking a sneak peek at Moorea Seal's first ever store front! Located in Belltown, this store not only serves as a beautiful showcase and extension of Moorea's online shop but it's also, a studio where all the creativity and business planning comes to life. Moorea is beyond talented, and I'm obsessed with her handmade jewelry, as well as her eye for clean design. 

Upon walking into her store, I was immediately drawn to a large table of jewelry at the front. That's where I saw it... Moorea's Orion Necklace. The dainty brass fans against the matte black and mixed metals.. gorgeous. I mean... everything was just beautiful. It wasn't over the top - just simple and elegant pieces. Also, there was this really neat, open faceted geometric diamond that caught my eye. It was a gorgeous brass color, and I'm dying to have it on my coffee table as part of my happy home decor. 

My favorite part of the store is the stationary sets and printed paper section. I'll admit it.. I'm a huge geek when it comes to letterpress and printed paper. The typography and color-contrasts that Moorea hand-selected were just the right amount of fun, but still elegant. I ended picking up two cards that day - one for Mother's Day and one for a co-worker's birthday. No doubt, I'll be back for more. 

I'm beyond excited for Moorea and her recent accomplishment. Congrats to her on this new and exciting project! I hope you all get a chance to visit her store when it officially opens on May 9th. 

the gorgeous diamond.

the card i picked up for mama nguyen.

moorea and me | so happy i finally got to meet you!

About the Store:

The Moorea Seal store is a  selection of accessories, home decor and paper goods, highlighting handmade artists from the United States along side carefully curated  from across the globe. Taking inspiration from the adveturesome spirit of the Pacific Northwest, the look is fresh, sleek and a chic approach to modern decor and women's accessories with a touch of rustic sensibility. Seven-percent of all proceeds from the store benefit five non profit categories: Women's Causes, Children's Needs, Protecting the Planet, Caring for Animals, and Health + Wellness. 

2523 3rd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121

tanakasan: asian comfort food.

Recently, my main squeeze and I had the pleasure of visiting Tom Douglas' newest restaurant: TanakaSan, located on the corner of 6th and Lenora at the lower level of the Via 6 apartments. An Asian fusion take on classic comfort foods with a slight Midwest twist (the chef is from Wisconsin!) - we were thrilled with the menu choices. Below are a few snippets of our brunch:

curried lamb dumplings

black cardamom, tamarind, green papaya

caramelized coconut beef

jasmine rice, coconut sambal, fried egg

pastarami

slowly cooked pork, hash browns, caraway, cabbage, poached egg, dijon mustard

My favorite dish had to be the coconut beef - loved the sambal relish that was creamy, sweet and provided great contrast to the spices and salty yet savory flavor of the beef. The jasmine rice had a beautiful aroma and was fluffy. Note, that it had been several months since I last had a bowl of rice... and for a girl who grew up on a bowl per day, that's a toughie. I was in heaven with every bite. 

Afterwards, we ventured to Assembly Hall (also owned by Tom Douglas) which is a little juice/smoothie/coffee place on the same floor as TanakaSan where we grabbed a light refreshment. My drink of choice - the tropical spice - which had a blend of pineapple, orange, lime and cayenne. My main squeeze opted for a more hearty drink - the restoration smoothie, featuring banana, spinach, pineapple, coconut and ginger. What I love most about Assembly Hall is that the juice and smoothies are done right in front of you. Some juice stands already have the juice pressed, but when I ordered my tropical spice - it was squeezed right before my eyes... just the way I like it!

Can't wait to come back and try more of the yumminess!

xoxo

a few bites in seattle

As I've quickly learned from my gradually increasing waistline, my best adventures are spent eating some of Seattle's finest grub. From oysters, sushi and fresh crab to handmade pasta, my main squeeze and I have been eating our way through each weekend... and of course, I document all meals via Instagram. He now knows that no plate shall be touched or forked until the perfect photo is snapped, filtered and posted. :)

Visitors from out of town and even friends from the area who are exploring Seattle's gastronomic goodness have been bugging my main squeeze and I for our "favorites" list... which we somehow just didn't have much time to put together... or maybe we couldn't really narrow it down. However, when an opportunity to share a few bites in Seattle with Taylor Sterling, Founder and Creative Director of my favorite online magazine Glitter Guide came up.. it was the final push to put it all in writing. (Hope you have a blast in the Emerald City, Taylor!)

So here it is, for you and your soon-to-be-happy tummies.

Enjoy!

Note to out-of-town guests, this list is categorized by Seattle neighborhoods. In addition to listing the restaurant, I've named my "must-have" bite when trying it out.

ballard.
bastille | 5307 Ballard Avenue NW
Roasted pork belly with figs
walrus and the carpenter | 4743 Ballard Ave NW
A dozen of oysters, fried oysters with cilantro aioli and steak tartare

fremont.
revel | 403 N 36th St.
Roasted duck, smoked tea noodle, pickled raisin, duck crackling and the pork belly with kimchi pancake
paseos | 4225 Fremont Ave N
Caribbean roast sandwich *warning: it's messy, but oh so delicious. The lines get really crowded so call and order ahead. 

capitol hill.
oddfellows cafe | 1525 10th Ave
Everything... I've never had a bad meal here.
la spiga | 1429 12th Avenue
Lasagne Verdi (handmade spinach lasagna with ragu) or the Parpadelle Con Ragu Di Coniglio (parpadelle with braised rabbit ragu)
barrio | 1420 12th Avenue
Tingo de pollo tacos, Guajillo Pork enchiladas and Braised Brisket Quesadilla
plum bistro | 1429 12th Ave
For my vegan friends, here is a mecca of delicious tasties. The best: oyster mushroom fettuccine.
skillet | 1400 East Union Street
Famous for their bacon jam... get the burger loaded with bacon jam, creamy bleu cheese and arugula

south lake union.
brave horse tavern | 310 Terry Avenue North
Handmade pretzels with the pimento cheddar cheese dip. On Sundays, go for their pickle brined fried chicken dinner.
portage bay cafe | 391 Terry Ave North
The most crowded brunch spot but with amazing brioche French toast and scrambles... all made from scratch and local, organic fare. Don't miss out on their infamous toppings bar.

belltown / downtown.
tavolata | 2323 Second Avenue
My first "big date night" spot with the main squeeze for his birthday. Never disappointed.. always leave more than satisfied. Love the smoked fish bruschetta to start, and obsessed with their Gnocchi Alla Romana. Rigatoni is a classic, and exquisite there.
black bottle | 2600 1st Avenue
Seven Spice Shrimp, Blasted Broccoli and Grilled Octopus with Fava Bean Salad. Broccoli has always been downplayed at restaurants... but trust me, they give this green underdog its shining glory moment.
local 360 | 2234 1st Ave (between Bell and Blanchard)
What's not to love? Food sourced within a 360-mile radius from the restaurant - ensuring the freshest ingredients while supporting local farmers and the community. Also, how could you not resist trying their delicious PB&J bons bons.
umi sake house | 2230 First Ave
Hands down... my fav in Seattle. Extra points for swanky-ness and tasty apps. Get a few of their specialty rolls: Samurai Spirit and Street Fighter.. and pair with a Cucumber Daiquiri. For a more traditional sushi spot, visit Shiros (a few blocks up towards 2nd Ave).. the line is long, but oh hey.. the chef was trained by Jiro.
lola | 2000 4th Ave
Kebabs... get the lamb, or for my veggie friends.. the haloumi cheese with fig combo is divine.
serious pie | 316 Virginia
Roasted seasonal mushrooms, truffle cheese pizza or the Yukon gold potato, rosemary, pecorino. Either way, this is like no other pizza experience you'd had before. T. Douglas is the man.
spur | 113 Blanchard Street
Sockeye salmon crostini, Goat cheese Gnudi and the butternut squash dessert... Note: dishes are seasonal... venture and try the recos of the night.
le pichet | 1933 1st Avenue
Can't resist the duck liver terrine... my main squeeze loves the Eufs plats jambon et fromage aka broiled eggs with ham and smothered in Gruyere.
seatown  | 2010 Western Ave
Even Anthony Bourdain couldn't resist this other famous T. Douglas spot... fried egg sandwich with avocado, Beecher's cheese and Dungeness crab.
cafe campagne | 1600 Post Alley
Some say it's a tourist trap being in the heart of Pike's Place Market.. but if you're a local, scout a table early around 9:30 a.m. and enjoy one of my favorite breakfasts: oeufs en meurette - poached eggs with a sauce of pearl onions, bacon and mushrooms in a red wine sauce, foie gras sauce and served with fries.

bellevue.
din tai fung  | 700 Bellevue Way NE #280
With only a few in the US, Seattle is lucky to cater one of the amazing, authentic Taiwanese dumpling houses... and soon to house two locations (Bellevue and University District). Absolutely obsessed with the shrimp and pork shu mai dumplings, but also highly recommend the spicy shrimp and pork wonton soup.


To my Seattleites, which of these are on your must-eat list? 
If you have any other recos, feel free to share in comments below.

xoxo

dishcrawl seattle: gastronomic adventures.

This past Tuesday, my main squeeze and I attended our very first Dischrawl! For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept, be sure to check out my original post about it.

First stop of the night - one of my favorites: Local 360 - a sustainable restaurant that is known for using locally grown produce within a 360-mile radius. I've been to this quaint place many times, but was absolutely delighted that the dish prepared for us was not on the menu.. a little special treat for us Dishcrawlers.

Fried chicken on top of a light slaw and cornbread | Parsley and hazelnut pesto puree with endive and crostini | Rockfish hushpuppies placed on top of a sweet honey butter

spotted: me. instagramming my food.

Served to us by candelight, this was one of my favorite stops of the night.

Next, we ventured down 2nd Ave towards Sarajevo Lounge, a Bosnian club and restaurant.

on our way to the next stop for more yummy in our tummy

Hummus | Handmade lamb and beef sausage | Traditional Bosnian cream and roasted red pepper dipping sauces | Gyro slider

To be honest, I was very surprised at how tasty the food was... since I've always walked past the place and never been in. Not sure if it was my favorite place, but an interesting choice nonetheless to have on the Dishcrawl.

After that, we headed to one of my go-to places for take-out / where I go to satisfy my cravings for home cooking - Green Leaf, a Vietnamese restaurant. We were graciously welcomed in by the owner who explained the dishes in detail. I sort of didn't really pay attention, as I am all too familiar with this cuisine... just dug right into the yumminess.

Handmade fresh spring rolls | Sauteed shitake mushrooms with lemongrass  Mixed salad of green papaya, mangoes and lotus rootlets

To end the night on a sweet note, Holy Cannoli was the place to be for a custard-filled little sweet treat. My choice for the night? Limoncello.

My favorite place of the night? I'll pick two - Local 360 and Green Leaf.

And of course, I had to have a picture with Dishcrawl Seattle's Ambassador - Melissa.

Had a fun little Belltown adventure.Thanks, Dishcrawl Seattle for the splendid evening!

PS - Huge thanks to my main squeeze for taking great photos for me during the event.

Sponsored Post: I was contacted by Dishcrawl and compensated with free tickets. However, all opinions are my own.

Dishcrawl Seattle.

Think pubcrawl but for foodies.... that's right folks, a gastronomic adventure is happening in Seattle, and it's on Feb. 5th in Belltown. I'm absolutely stoked to participate in Dishcrawl Seattle - a unique dining experience that is similar to a progressive dinner... BUT better. 

Dishcrawl Seattle allows food-centric minds alike to come together and explore with their tastebuds, a variety of cuisines and restaurants. Next Tuesday, it's featuring four amazing Belltown restaurants! 

Which ones, you ask? Well - that's the fun part of this dishcrawl - it's a secret until day of, but you can play the guessing game and get hints by following @dishcrawlseattle on Twitter. Also, be sure to check out their Facebook page for yummy photos and specials to their favorite restaurants!

Tickets are sold here for only $45 to partake in this culinary exploration. As a treat to you m'dear readers, here is a discount code: lovebelltown 

Be sure to check back next week as when I post photos of my favorite dishcrawl bites, a Vine video clip of the adventure and more...

Hope to see some of my favorite Seattleites at Dishcrawl Seattle!

Sponsored Post: I was contacted by Dishcrawl and compensated with free tickets. However, all opinions are my own. I look forward to sharing with you my experience with Dishcrawl next week.

friday friday friday... let the fun begin

I feel like this post doesn't need much of an intro. I mean, let's be real.... it's FRIDAY! Yaayyy for a relaxing 2 days filled with adventures to a vineyard for some wine tasting and reading.

To start off my weekend, I'm coming here right after work:

Obvi, I would choose Local 360. I have been obsessing over their PB&J bons bons... all week!

And doing a little bit of this:

Okayyyyy maybe not as glamorous and without the cocktail dresses... but you get the gist. I'll be with some sweet sisters and presiding as dare-I-say-it... Prezi (?) of the Lake Washington Alumnae Association at our ADPi alumnae happy hour. Our goal besides tossin' back a couple of wine glasses would be to revamp our wonderful alumnae chapter and find ways to strengthen our efforts for our local chapter (Alpha Theta) and international organization. Oh, the sweet bonds of sistah-hood. <>

What am I most looking forward to? sleep.

T.G.I.F.

Image [1] [2] [3]

happy easter weekend.

friday.

lake union

Every weekend begins with a healthy run... and lucky for me, the office decided to close early (3 p.m.) for Good Friday/Passover! Did I get out right at 3? Umm.. well, not really.. haha more like 3:45, but regardless, I was able to enjoy the beautiful sunshine that afternoon in Norts (Nike running shorts) and an oversized t-shirt.. Yes, you heard right. No sweats - it was that warm outside!

The water was absolutely breathtaking, and of course, made me curious if the puppies would be out at Myrtle Edwards Park, down by the waterfront. I love it when people walk their dogs out by that park... they are just absolutely adorable! So, ran from SLU - past the Space Needle - and down to the piers and through the park... a hard but oh-so-worth-it run. Took in some rays and then realized it was already 5 p.m., which meant it was time to get back and eat/get ready for evening of fun festivities with the girls. Indulged myself at the Whole Foods salad bar and treated myself to a little fruit tart (courtesy of my mother who stocked my fridge with desserts). 

Note to friends: Whole Foods has an awesome salad bar - I filled my bowl to the brim with fresh arugula, spring greens, organic beets, celery, cucumbers, organic tofu, edemame, kidney beans, almonds, sprouts, red onions and some fresh strawberries - all drizzled with an all-natural, no-oil, fig balsamic vinaigrette. (only $9 for a bowl... depending on how much ish you pack into that bowl)

[1] our lovely drinks [2] Me and Carly

Time was tickin' fast... and before I could even catch a breath, it was almost time to go out! Amanda (a fellow co-worker) arrived at my place first, and together, we cabbed to Cap Hill (picking up Carly on the way).

Our first stop was Grim's - my favorite place on Cap Hill for the following reasons:

1) They serve their drinks in mason jars.
2) It has a butterfly lounge... need I say more? BUTTERFLIES!!!
3) I have met some of the cutest guys there.
4) They have a dance floor called, Woods. It's like this place belongs in a storybook... butterflies and woods... outrageously awesome.
5) This was my first non-Ave (University District aka college scene) bar last year.

Drink of choice for the night: Tom Collins
(Carly's: Vodka Sprite with muddled limes | Amanda B's: Spiced Rum and Diet Coke)

The Girls and me at Purr

We made an appearance at Purr to pick up two of my besties... Carl and Robert! Now here is my opportunity to tell you why I like gay bars - which I've been asked several times...

1) I don't get hit on by creepy guys because well, they aren't into women. duh.

2) You get the best compliments, and you know it's real because those guys are always in style.

       ex:. "Girl, I love that dress... you look so hawt, girl!!"

3) They play all the best music aka top 40s aka BRITNEY, betch.

My besties - Carl and Robert

But don't get me wrong, I love me a straight bar... and getting my flirt on with my sistah-friends. So we decided to try out Barca (I was a first-timer). It was definitely a different ambience.  The men were FRATTY. I thought I had escaped the GS (greek system). These men... more like boys... were eyeing girls like cattle. disgusting. The beer goggles weren't really on, so I could see quite well all the "moves" that were being played out. ewww like get yo' hands off my shoulder.. who gave you permission, yo?

One drink there... and it was lame music. We needed to get out of there fast. So we ditched Barca, Carly went home, and it was Amanda-squared skipping in our heels to meet up with Carl and Robert for a dance party at R place! We made two quick detours  - one at Ranch Bravo where we refueled with tacos and the other at Linda's, a popular dive bar. (I may have had an awkward moment... getting hit on by a woman was quite interesting.)

Finally, we made it onto the dance floor of R place - loud, fun fist-pumping songs and sweaty people.. um.. you know it's a real partayyy when there are go-go dancers. The night ended with a giggly, cab ride and sore feet.

saturday. 

It's officially peonies season - my favorite flowers have arrived.
I bought 4 stems at Pikes Place Market on Saturday morning after my run.

Saturday morning began with another long run - this time it was just down to the piers, ending at Pikes' Place Market. When I got to Pikes, all I could see was color. Reds, yellows, greens, pinks - flowers were in bloom everywhere. I was immediately drawn to the tulip stand... but didn't have cash on me. Luckily, I remembered that there was an ATM down the street, but when I headed down Pike, my eyes caught bucket of pink peonies - my favorite flowers!! Their season had just started, and that flower stand was one of the first to have them in the area. Of course, I was hooked... so I bought four stems (one for my bathroom, and three for my desk at work). 

Quickly ran home, trimmed and put them in water, hopped in the shower and got ready for adventures to the mall. The girls and I (Shirley and Amanda B) had plans for mission retail therapy. Let's just say five hours later, I was "shopped out."

sunday. 

Dungeness crab eggs benedict and a Hibiscus Kiss brunch cocktail

Easter Sunday began with sunny rays shining through my window, waking me up at 7:30 a.m. Yes, I woke up that early without an alarm clock, and it felt amazing. Put on my Sunday best and headed to Christ Our Hope, Catholic Church on 2nd avenue, where I heard the Lord's Word and sang His praises. It was a beautiful service, and a great way to start the new liturgical year.
Awkward moment at church? Getting "matched" and asked if I had heard of the Catholic Singles' events. Apparently, there is a "Catholic" version of match.com... and I was highly encouraged to go check it out.

Celebrated the day with brunch at Etta's, one of my favorite T.Douglas restaurants. I had a delectable Dungenness Crab eggs benedict drizzled with a crab butter hollandaise sauce, homemade fries and crisp honey apples - paired with a Hibiscus Kiss brunch cocktail - grapefruit, champagne and bitters.

The combination of sun, booze and brunch may have made me all warm and fuzzy because the moment I arrived back at my studio... I fell into a 2-hour nap, that left me so refreshed.

As much as the day sunny day made me feel energized, I was not motivated to make the cake pops, I had planned to whip up on Friday. What resulted instead was a cooking frenzy... five pots, two pans, and countless bowls later, I made hearty rosemary, ginger kale and chicken noodle soup, kale-wrapped salmon on top of sauteed asparagus, and beef bourguignon. boom. chef-in-the-making, betchesss.

Now here I am with a spotless kitchen and a pile of laundry.... what's a girl to do? I know.. go to bed because it's way past her bed-time. Taking one household chore at a time.

Seattleite in Training: All my adventures begin with "R"

Notes from your Seattleite-in-Training: Apologies for the lack of posts due to my busy work days and nonexistent social life.. puh-leeze... there are no excuses for my negligence to you my dear friends. Personally, I blame it on the oh-so-dreadful weather and the fact that I have been waking up before light hits the sky... curse you winter. BUT I'm starting to get back in the groove. Expect more posts to come.... thus, I bring you my latest entry: "All My Adventures Begin With 'R'"
_________________________________________________________________________________

running, riesling and red lipstick...dessert?

Okay maybe not everything I love or do begins with R, but that letter has made quite a few recent appearances - mainly, rain. Typical Seattle weather has been a torrential downpour these past few days, and best believe that I am, now, more than ready for some sweet sunshine. One would think that the first day of spring would scream sun, pastels and wedges. However, in the Pacific Northwest, we beg to differ. Bust out the Hunter wellies and brightly printed trenches - we're going puddle-jumping.

[1] the front of re:public, on the corner of Republican and Westlake

Despite the cold winds and slight drizzle, Wednesday night's after-work adventure led me to a newly-found favorite: re:public, a little trendy restaurant and bar in the heart of South Lake Union. Oh, and of course, no adventure would be complete without one of my best friends: Robert. (Robert is the instigator for all my adventures; I believe this blog title suits our friendship quite well.)

Upon arrival, we were seated quickly at a booth adjacent to the bar and greeted by our hostess, who noted that we only had ten minutes before happy hour ended. [Happy Hour is from 4 to 6 p.m.] If only she knew that happy hour never really ends when I'm with Robert, that kid is a hoot and a half.

[2, photo courtesy of Robert] Tequila Sprite and a Chardonnay

A tequila sprite ($4 well drinks during HH) for the bestie and a glass of the house Chardonnay ($5 /gl) for myself.

After sifting through the HH and dinner menu, our hostess recommended the HH Fish N' Chips ($7) - three pieces of beer-battered, fresh Halibut, served on a bed of garlic, parmesan fries, homemade tartar sauce with a hint of dill and a lemon wedge.

Robert and I glanced at each other, and without hesitation, we both ordered it. Oh of course, since it's a HH dish, we thought the portion would be smaller - so the menu stayed with us, as I eyed the crisp pork belly sandwich with local rhubarb ($8) and the braised beef short rib with tomato conserva and green onion ($7). choices. choices. choices...

[3, photo courtesy of Robert] The most filling Happy Hour appetizer I ever had.

But when our fish came out, boy, we were glad that we hadn't ordered anything else. The three pieces were huge - we definitely got our money's worth. Crispy batter and delicate Halibut, it was cooked exquisitely. I absolutely loved the homemade tartar sauce - it was lighter than most others because of the fresh dill.

[4, photo courtesy of Robert] Blood Orange Pear sorbet with toasted graham cracker crumbs for garnish

To end our meal on a sweet note, Robert and I had the blood orange, pear sorbet ($2) for dessert. Tart, sweet and refreshing - it was the perfect way to end our dinner. At first bite, the blood orange sweetness  tickles your taste-buds, but the faint aftertaste of pear leaves your palette wanting more. Needless to say, I'm obsessed with the sorbet; it's my new favorite flavor... maybe playing second to lavender ice cream.

Folks, if you haven't tried re:public, I highly suggest it for your next date or to celebrate the happiest of hours with a friend/bestie/co-worker. Best believe this won't be my last 'venture there... re:public was a winner in my book.

re:public

429 Westlake Ave N.

Seattle, WA 98109

(206) 467-5300

www.republicseattle.com