Gastronomy Blog by Cathy Chaplin

Restaurant Review

11 Jan 2012

Matt’s In The Market – Seattle

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The Astronomer and I would have never stumbled upon Matt’s In The Market had our friend Daniel not pointed us here. The restaurant is tucked away in the Corner Market Building, three floors up from the throngs of tourists crowding Pike Place Market. Here, owner Dan Bugge and Chef Chester Gerl source fresh ingredients for their ever-changing menu from the market stalls below.

Without having to ask, we were seated at a table for two under the arched windows overlooking the iconic Public Market sign. It was the most memorable view of the entire trip.

Glancing to our right, we could see the pale blue water and snow-capped mountains in the distance. Seattle is a beauty.

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Breakfast / Brunch

09 Jan 2012

Mighty-O Donuts – Seattle

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On our final morning in Seattle, The Astronomer and I hopped a bus to the quaint neighborhood of Wallingford to visit Mighty-O Donuts. While I’m usually dubious of fried dough with health claims attached to it, I’d heard such positive reviews of Mighty-O’s vegan offerings that I felt compelled to try them for myself.

I mean, if there’s one town in this world that could produce a delicious doughnut without chemicals, preservatives, hydrogenated oils, artificial colors and flavors, genetically modified organisms, or animal-derived ingredients, I would put my money on Seattle.

Mighty-O has been selling their unique brand of O’s in the Seattle area since the late 1990s and opened this store in 2003. The shop produces over a dozen different varieties of cake doughnuts each day with either a vanilla or chocolate dough and various toppings.

Oreos are a passion of mine, so I chose the “Cookies and Cream” doughnut ($1.85) with a vanilla base, sweet glaze, and crushed chocolate cookies.

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Restaurant Review

06 Jan 2012

Skillet Diner & High 5 Pie – Seattle

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Down home meals prepared with local ingredients and served in hip but homey settings are a Seattle specialty, so The Astronomer and I found ourselves eating plenty of American comfort food during our stay.

After such thoroughly satisfying meals at both Local 360 and Steelhead Diner, we did not hesitate to seek out another upscale diner experience. This time, we headed to Capitol Hill’s Skillet Diner for lunch.

Skillet Diner began as a mobile food trailer called Skillet Street Food, which was launched by Chef Josh Henderson in 2007. The trailer garnered a passionate following throughout the Pacific Northwest serving American comfort food prepared with classic technique and seasonal ingredients.

The brick and mortar restaurant, which opened in spring 2011, serves the same kind of easygoing fare that resonated with fans of the mobile establishment.

The Astronomer and I grabbed two seats along the counter which peered into the restaurant’s open kitchen. We worked up quite a sweat trekking from downtown to Capitol Hill, so we were pleased as pie to be greeted with a bottle of chilled water and ready mason jar glasses.

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