The long languid days of summer are almost here! With these wonderful sunshiny days come picnics, hikes, warm afternoons sipping wine in the Plaza, and festive barbecues in the backyard. It is truly difficult to even consider traveling away from Sonoma when it is just this glorious here, this perfect. Although, I plead with you to give in to the urge to travel a bit, to explore other amazing locales that are merely a couple of hours away once settled into your plane seat. I would fly around the world for a good meal, but these small American cities boast what is easily the most creative food scene in the country right now.
Café perfection found in Seattle
There is not a moment when I am in Seattle (which is as often as I am able) when I don’t find myself yearning to plop down onto one of the little leather-topped wooden barstools at Le Pichet. As the glass door swings open and I cross into the happily bustling space, I am one moment exploring the stunning displays of Pacific Northwest seafood at Pike Place Market, the very next, practically transported to Paris. Le Pichet is the sort of perfect little place I hope to find in every city and desperately wish we had in Sonoma. The teeny bar is topped in soft, grey zinc, the ceilings soar, and the glass windows are wildly tall, allowing the golden sun to stream in or the cold rain to romantically pelt against them. The waitresses are utterly charming, all red-lipped with cropped bangs à la Française.
Whether it is 8 a.m. and I am barely out of my pajamas, sipping a latte, or it is late afternoon with a chilly glass of Muscadet, Le Pichet brings me utter contentment. Petite slabs of gooey Époisses or nutty Idiazabal when coupled with glistening, paper thin slices of Jambon make the most divine meal, always the excellent house baguette and a slab of sweet butter and vinegary cornichons on the side. There are perfect little French salads of crisp Bibb lettuce or tender frisée, tossed with toasty hazelnuts, a tiny julienne of tart apple, a runny-yolked poached egg. Bubbling bowls of fragrant onion soup, their sublime scent of Swiss cheese wonderfully hovering in the air, while quivering, cheesy quiche grace almost every table. There are mass quantities of to-die-for food in Seattle, the restaurant scene here is simply exploding, a long weekend certainly a necessity for any food-loving West Coaster. No matter what hot spots I find myself at, a little bit of my heart is missing Le Pichet. Lepichetseattle.com
Philly is buzzing
There is always, always, a line at La Colombe. It often snakes through the soaring space, the mostly young, yoga-clad patrons shuffling along the scuffed wooden floors with noses tucked into phones, all waiting their turn at ordering some of the best coffee in the country. The line moves quickly, but even if it didn’t, I believe we would all be queuing up here, enduring whatever wait we must for a brew this perfect. The coffee is not only mind blowing, but there is also just something about La Colombe that other coffee joints could take a few tips from. The small, glass pastry case has a modest, but thoughtful selection of goodies that are neither too sticky nor overly sweet. A perfect sugared brioche is the tastiest accompaniment to my heavenly, milky latte. Once your expertly crafted coffee is pulled from the glistening, monster of a machine, it is lovingly poured into thick, beautifully painted, ceramic mugs, and set happily on their matching saucers.
Lingering at La Colombe is easily one of the great experiences during my frequent travels to Philly, many hours spent gazing at the good looking locals, their faces brightening into big smiles over their velvety cappuccinos and cream-filled, dark roast iced coffees. Everyone definitely smiling because they get to live here and drink La Colombe all the time. Try to get to Philly this summer, it is a charming, history-filled spot with more good food then a town this size is required to offer, but in the very least order some crazy-good La Colombe coffee for home by visiting Lacolombe.com.
Thailand by way of Portland
Portland, Oregon has easily become the foodie destination of the West. You can spend countless weekends eating your way around the city; nibbling on the flakiest croissants at Ken’s Artisan Bakery, digging into insanely gorgeous plates of pasta at Ava Gene’s, sipping on perfect morning-after Bloody Mary’s at Cylde Common, and sampling Olympic Provision’s house-made charcuterie. Each dish ordered happeneds to be more scrumptious than the last; each restaurant unique, offering menus loaded with beautiful local ingredients, handcrafted cocktails, and thoughtfully chosen wines. It would be difficult to proclaim one dish ‘the best,’ especially when you take into account the addictive order of buttery soft polenta you’ll all but lick from the bottom of the bowl at Ava Gene’s or the chewy-crusty baguette – bread perfection – layered with paper thin slices of French ham and cold, salted butter at Ken’s. Although, dinner at the, now notorious, Thai restaurant Pok Pok, will surely blow your mind. The food here is more authentically Thai, tastes more like Thailand, than any Thai restaurant I have eaten in outside of Thailand. The chicken wings are literally life changing, an absolute must. They are super crunchy on the outside, the meat inside moist and steaming hot, and are coated in a thick, sticky-sweet crust, loaded with smoky chiles and pungent fish sauce; heaven especially when munched on with sips of the house tamarind-flecked whiskey sour. Find more information about Pok Pok at pokpokpdx.com.
What I am sipping now: Michelada
I am just back from a few wondrous days exploring colonial Mexico. As I wandered the cobbled streets of Puebla, browsing covered food stalls and 200-year-old sweet shops, I found nothing quenched my thirst or perked me up in the heat of the afternoon more than the popular Mexican beverage, the Michelada. Into a salt-rimmed glass go ice, tomato juice, that weird Maggi seasoning, and a generous dash of hot sauce. A beer of your choosing is served on the side, but I strongly recommend a slightly dark, but crazy-crisp Victoria. I ducked into quiet, shady cafes for one regularly, a perfect resting spot, slowly pouring my beer into the spicy, beefy, tomato juice. A lick of salt, the jolt of pepper, the bracing cold bubbly beer is the ultimate travel treat. I am now making my own version on planes and in taverns no matter where my travel weary body may be they always pick me up.
Kristin’s perfect Michelada
- 1/2 cup tomato juice or Clamato (or Bloody Mary Mix)
- 2 T. Maggi Seasoning sauce (I often substitute A-1 sauce or other steak sauce)
- Generous dash of hot sauce
- Squeeze of fresh lime juice
- Kosher salt, for rimming the glass
- Bottle of beer, I prefer Victoria or other dark Mexican beer
- Ice
Rim glass with salt, fill with ice and add all the ingredients, stirring to combine.
Serve with beer on the side. Serves one.
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