Out & About: Drizzle Olive Oil and Vinegar Tasting Room

I have been putting balsamic vinegar on just about everything lately, and part of this is due to Drizzle Olive Oil and Vinegar Tasting Room. Located in Fairhaven Village in Bellingham, Drizzle carries a huge variety of vinegar, olive oil, spices and pasta. Shopping at Drizzle is a lot of fun, because you are allowed and encouraged to taste anything you'd like!

Out and About: Dashi Noodle Bar

Tommy and I both had the day off yesterday, which was really nice. After eating brunch and lounging for most of the day, we decided to give the Dashi Noodle Bar a try and I'm really glad we did!

The interior of Dashi is very modern and stylish with light wood countertops, orange and white walls,  and scallop-like decals throughout. The menu is pretty straight forward: choose your topping (pork, chicken, beef, tofu or veggies), noodle (ramen, udon, rice noodle, whole wheat, or rye ramen), broth (pork & chicken, mushroom, beef or konbu-bonito), then additional toppings such as an egg or ginger bacon.

I went with tofu, udon noodles, mushroom broth with an egg. The noodles were cooked nicely, and the egg was a nice addition. But the real star of my bowl was the mushroom broth which contained large slices of seasoned mushrooms. There was also a condiment bar with toppings like basil, jalapenos, chili sauce, cilantro and onions to spice up your dish as you please.

Tommy and I shared some saki, and spit one of the "steamed buns." While the bun was really good (coconut curry with chicken) it wasn't much of a bun at all, but instead more of a wrap. The gal at the counter told me this after I ordered it, but I must have been in denial because I was still a bit surprised when it came to the table. Regardless, it was very tasty. Can't wait to go back!

Out and About: Mount Bakery Cafe

Tommy and I recently tried the Mount Bakery Cafe for the first time last week, and were a little upset that we had never gone before! Right next to the Temple Bar, the Mount Bakery Cafe specializes in crepes and eggs benedict which are arguably the two best options for breakfast. Score!

The first time we went I ordered a sausage crepe that was filled with creamy scrambled eggs with fresh herbs, carmalized onions and slices of sausage. It was so good I ate the whole thing, and Tommy had to roll me out of the place (well, almost). Tommy went for the eggs benedict, which was served on a belgian waffle! Such a good idea. Second time around I had a turkey sandwich, and Tommy went for the crepe.

The atmosphere is small and cozy, and our server was very nice and prompt. The cafe also sells baked goods to take home, so of course I had to get a few croissants for the next morning. I went for chocolate while Tommy had the cheese and ham. Both were flaky, buttery and oh-so-satisfying.

Out and About: Pure Bliss Desserts

Pure Bliss Desserts in one of my favorite places in Bellingham; it smells of cake and fresh coffee, there is a pink velvet couch to sit on, and champagne and wine is available. What more could you possibly want? 

Tommy and I often celebrate special occasions with a slice or two of either the red velvet, salted caramel, lemon bliss or something chocolatey. The cake is incredibly dense and the frosting is never overly sweet. Pure Bliss also serves cookies, bars and other sweet treats. The russian tea cakes are delicious! 

Not only are the baked goods amazing, but the bakery itself is beautiful. Sparkly black chandeliers hang against white and black striped walls, with pink accessories adding a pop of color. It's very chic, feminine, and puts you in the mood to indulge. 

One of my favorite things about Pure Bliss is that they are open until 10pm Tuesdays-Saturdays. This makes it a great place to have a glass of wine with the girls while being able to also have cake. Win win! My mom and sister recently visited, so of course we had to get a cup of coffee and a slice of German chocolate cake. So, so, so good! 

Out and About: Brandywine Kitchen

I had heard a lot about Brandywine Kitchen, so when Tommy and I realized we had nothing in our house for lunch, we decided to give it a try. Located downtown Bellingham, Brandywine Kitchen's motto is "from seed to plate," and the food definitely speaks to this. Everything we ordered was fresh, well seasoned and very flavorful.

The inside was spacious yet cozy, and I absolutely loved the colorful origami cranes hanging from the front window. The large brick walls are stuffed with small pieces of rolled up paper (the paper which holds the silverware/napkins together) featuring little messages. I wasn't sure what they were at first, so I took one out and read it. Hopefully this doesn't jinx the message inside because it was the cutest! It read "Someday I will marry the man sitting across from me. Yes, someday! <3 you honey!" So sweet.

My only complaint was the service, or lack there of. Customers are instructed to place their order at the front, choose a seat, and bus their own table. This is all fine by me, but when two sandwiches and two mimosas come to nearly $40 after tip...a little table service would be nice. Or at the very least, a cashier who greets you and doesn't make you feel super awkward! Haha.

Overall though, I would definitely eat here again. The food was great, and I'm willing to give the cashier the benefit of the doubt and assume she was having a bad day. Plus, I want to put my own little secret message in the wall!

Out and About: The Temple Bar

The Temple Bar is one of my favorite little bars in Bellingham. It's cozy, adorable, and has a great happy hour including a bottle of wine and a cheese plate. While the menu is a bit pricey, the food is high quality and the drink menu offers classics with a twist.

The Temple Bar is the perfect spot for a girls night out, or a drink before dinner. Tommy and I have been many times, and the service has ranged from great to poor. On average, it's definitely on the up. My most recent trip was my best experience yet!

Despite the occasional poor service, I keep coming back thanks to the great cheese plates offering soft and hard cheeses, olives, apples and nuts. All this with a bottle of wine for uner $20? Yup. Count me in.

Out and About: Old Town Cafe

So, I'm sure you have figured out that I live on the coast, because of you know...the whole "by the bay," thing. To be more precise, I live in Bellingham, WA. Bellingham is a college town really close to the Canadian border (Vancouver, Canada) and it's a pretty great place to live. It's a unique mesh of college kids, Canadian tourists, and retirees.

 Because of Bellingham's awesomeness, I want to share some of the great places Tommy and I love to visit. This means a new series of posts is born! "Out and About" will feature my favorite restaurants, hang outs, and...well, mostly restaurants probably. I'm sure this will eventually extend to places other than Bellingham, like Seattle.

I'm glad that the first post in this series is Old Town Cafe, a great little place to grab breakfast or lunch in Bellingham. Tommy and I seriously went to Old Town once a week when we first discovered it. The fact that they have huge mimosas doesn't hurt.

Old Town is very interested in using local and organic ingredients. Their walls are always promoting different local artists, and they are accommodating to gluten-free diets, or simply organic only concerns. Their walls are always a rotating showcase of local artists, and the food is delicious. Keep in mind it is a "get your own water,'" kind of place, so don't expect the waiters to dote on you. But honestly, I don't mind.