Good morning Seattle

Last day in Seattle. Woke up to the beautiful view of the Space Needle.

We started our day with a trip to a local donut shop, Mighty-O Donuts. We both had an apple fritter and watched the bustling commuters heading to work.

Perfect morning for a walk. 

Cool sculpture we saw on the way back to our hotel. 

Time to pack and head to the airport. Bye Seattle. 

Din Tai Fung

It is our last night in Seattle. So many people had recommended Din Tai Fung in Pacific Place for dinner, especially the dumplings so we just had to go there. The service was the best so far in Seattle. All the staff seemed to truly love their jobs. The food was wonderful.

We shared pork & crab xiaolongbao, shrimp and pork pot stickers and pork chop fried rice. The xiaolongbao was so delicious with the warm broth center. The pork chop on the fried rice was amazingly tender.

For dessert we had chocolate xiaolongbao, dumplings filled with a rich warm chocolate ganache like filling. Wonderful.

Seattle - Pioneer Square

So we did the touristy thing today and took a walking tour of the “underground” of Pioneer Square. It was quite interesting to hear the history of how the Pioneer Square area of Seattle was constructed after the fire of 1889. The underground is actually just a tunnel system under the sidewalks that was originally the ground level before the streets were added.

The area around Pioneer Square is very up and coming. We strolled the streets until we happened by BRGR Bar. Just a long narrow building with wood tables up front and a small bar and kitchen in the back. Our burgers were some of the best we have ever had, so juicy with an amazing pillowy bun from a local bakery. We added a stack of onion rings that were equally delicious.

Gorgeous day for a walk. We walked the 2 miles back to our hotel and then enjoyed the park area around the Space Needle.  Think we are going to have Tai for dinner.

Seattle means Seafood

We couldn’t come all the way to Seattle without eating seafood. Duke’s Seafood & Chowder is well known for their wonderful award winning clam chowder and Pacific coast seafood.

My husband loves fish & chips so his only question was to select either cod or halibut. Cod won.  It was served with pickled beat salad.

I chose the stuffed and puffed prawns. The prawns were stuffed with Dungeness crab, Harvarti, Parmesan and Asiago cheeses and accented with pesto.  And yes, I did start with a cup of clam chowder. All was fabulous!

Amazon Go - Seattle

Just a bit chilly today. We thoroughly explored Pike Market Place today. Note for visitors, Sunday is the busy day. We had fun browsing the shops and getting a bite for lunch. Being by the bay, it was a bit chilly this morning.

We grabbed a hot drink and headed to the city center streets. Call me super geeky but the highlight this afternoon was going to the Amazon Go store. So cool, just like it says, just scan the QR code on the app, browse the store, pick up your items and walk out.  Lots of salads, sandwiches and kitchen made desserts to choose from as well as prepackaged goods. Just down from the entrance are full height glass windows so you can see into the kitchens where the fresh food is made.

Seattle Dive Bar

Yelp listed Pacific Inn Pub as a Dive Bar and that it definitely was. It was pouring down rain so we took an Uber. That also meant that if we decided not to stay we would have to Uber to another restaurant. The pub was packed with people but after about 10 minutes a couple of stools opened up at the bar. It was worth going out in the rain and the wait. They boasted that they have the best fish & chips in Seattle. I had the seafood platter with Alaskan cod, shrimp and oysters and my husband had the fish & chips. The batter was a bit heavy but very good.  Atmosphere was definitely dive bar :-)

We are planning on spending tomorrow at Pikes Place. I’m looking forward to a fun day of shopping and food.

Seattle - Epicenter of Glass Art

What a beautiful morning for a walk to Top Pot Doughnut shop. Wonderful fritters and doughnuts in a great hipster atmosphere. A must visit in downtown Seattle.

Our first stop after breakfast was to the Seattle Glassblowing Studio for 3 hour lessons on the art of glassblowing.  Our instructor, Phillip was very skilled and the perfect teacher.  After a safety briefing, our instructor discussed the basics of glass blowing and then we selected color for our first pieces. We both started with paper weights.  We pulled the molten glass into swirling shapes of color for the centers of the paper weights. Then he showed us how the clear glass is added and the piece is molded to a beautiful sphere.

After learning the basics with the paper weight, my husband made a double wall blown bowl. So cool how you blow to expand the glass and then suck the air back to form the inner bowl.  Well, not quite that simple but Phillip made it very easy to do.

We were looking for coffee table pieces that were different sizes and designs but coordinated together so we made 3 beautiful burgundy swirl fluted vases and bowls.

To finish off our lesson I picked a fun piece, a yellow and burgundy pumpkin with a speckled green stem and tendril.

We learned so many cool techniques. I’m anxious to see the pieces in a couple days after they have completely cooled and the colors are their final vibrant colors.

After a quick bite of lunch we went to the Chihuly Glass Museum to see the glass displays. The timing of this trip after the glassblowing lesson gave up a better appreciation of what it takes to form these pieces. The Chihuly gardens were just gorgeous.