Hungrygrrl » phinney ridge

Veraci Pizza (Ballard, Fremont, Phinney)

sara — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:41:00 +0000

There is no more welcome sight on a crisp fall day than a pizza oven.

Last weekend I was wandering through the Ballard market with Sheela, when I discovered Veraci Pizza. Set off to the side near the coffee place, they have the pizza oven fiery hot and a line to show it.

Ballard market is one of my favorite places in the falls. Probably because of its wealth of deciduous trees. Crunching through the leaves feels like fall to me.

But the produce is also just so beautiful in the fall, those ruby beets and rainbow radishes.

I ordered a vegetarian and had to wait an extra 15 minutes as they had just put it in. Fresh from the oven pizza, a touch of char on the bottom, kalamata olives, feta, roasted peppers. It hit the spot.

Right now they’re just in the markets (Ballard, Fremont, Phinney, Mercer Island), though they do have a side catering business if you’re looking for someone to park a pizza oven on your front lawn.

And rumor is they’re starting a real brick and mortar place on NW Market by Le Gourmand. If only they had a branch in West Seattle…

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Veraci Pizza
http://www.veracipizza.com
(206) 525-1813
veracipizza@yahoo.com

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Wild Mountain Cafe (Phinny Ridge)

sara — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 19:23:00 +0000

We were tired. I’d just gotten off work (I work nights) and I wanted something comforting. My boyfriend wanted eggs. We went to Wild Mountain.

I have never ever had a bad meal there. In fact, I have had damn straight good food everytime. The inside is like my great-aunt’s dining room–big solid wooden chairs, bright sunlight flooding in through the windows. The food is a perfect mix of organic local produce and comfort food. Macaroni and cheese, omelets, eggs benedict, lamb stew. It’s always a hard choice.

We sat down at a green and blue tiled table toward the back and I ordered the BLT. How could I resist Niman Ranch bacon with local tomatoes? And this one came with avocado. My boyfriend hesitated, thinking about those avocados. He could live on avocados. Instead he went for the breakfast burrito with green chili and homemade salsa. I ordered a lemonade and was amazed. Real lemonade, with small bits of lemon. I drank it in 5 minutes, like a little kid. He sipped on his coffee.

At a nearby table a 6 month old threw his rattle on the floor and gurgled. At another table, two construction workers ambled in and ordered coffee. “Is Mary working they asked?” It felt like a small town diner.

The BLT was amazing, that mix of crispy salty bacon and fresh tomatoes was just what I needed. The burrito was good, but heavier, a little too eggy.

We paid our tab and left, off to a good nap. But we’ll be back. And maybe next time I’ll get the eggs benedict. With spinach. And more bacon.

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Wild Mountain Cafe

1408 NW 85th St
Seattle, WA 98117

(206) 297-9453

http://www.wildmtncafe.com

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Phinney Market (Phinney Ridge)

sara — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 16:32:00 +0000

I stopped by last friday evening to pick up a bottle of wine and the owner pulled me to the back of the store insisting I try some of what they were pouring that night. They were deep in the midst of the weekly dinner, a new thing they’d been trying with one of the cashiers who doubles as chef. A long table was filled with people drinking wine and passing trays of carefully prepared food. I bought the wine and went off to my own dinner party, sad to leave but vowing to return. I kept my promise last sunday, settling into the window seat with my boyfriend, drinking strong coffee and reading the New York Times. The food was delicious, a southwestern burrito with slightly grilled zucchini and mushrooms, and a sauce that was somehow both creamy and spicy. And it looked beautiful, garnished with sliced fruit and a sprinkle of coriander This was all topped off by mimosas. It’s now our favorite breakfast spot, even though you can’t choose what you want to eat. They serve friday dinner and sunday brunch and only one option each time, but they always post it a few days before in case you really didn’t want crepes that day. But every time I’ve gone, it’s been exactly what I wanted.

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Phinney Market

5918 Phinney Ave N
Seattle, WA 98103

(206) 789-3663

http://www.phinneymarket.com

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Olive You (Phinney Ridge)

sara — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 01:48:00 +0000

I stumbled across this place, half in a daze as I was walking home from tiendita latina. The owner was tucked into a work-related chat, but he stopped when I walked in. “What do you need?” He asked. The case behind him was filled with grilled eggplant rolled around asparagus, mushrooms stuffed with feta, big platters full of spicy cheese, but no baba ganoush. “No problem, I’ll make some, I need to make it anyway.” As I waited the bartender poured me a glass of water, and cut a lemon into the top of it. “You’re not a vegetarian are you?,” she whispered, “the lamb’s wonderful. And that spicy cheese as well.” I tried the cheese with fresh pita and olives. It was wonderful, a thick sheepy cheese blended with subtle spiciness. After only 5 minutes, my baba was ready as well, the best I’ve ever tasted…creamy and smoky with heavy amounts of garlic. I’ll be back for those lamb skewers. And that eggplant. Open for lunch and dinner, with a full bar.

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Olive You

8516 Greenwood Ave N
Seattle, WA 98103

(206) 706-4121

http://www.olive-you.com

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