Seattle: Where to Eat [II]

I have spent a cumulative total of about ten days of my life in Seattle. Which is to say that I have discovered more than one amazing eatery every day that I have spent in the Emerald City. Just in case you weren't totally overwhelmed by all of the mouth-watering possibilities in my last post, I'm going to continue listing my favourite places to eat in Seattle.

When in Seattle, you should also indulge yourself at...

Le Panier - 1902 Pike Place
This place touts itself as a "very French bakery." This self-titling seems a bit laughable, until you discover that can smell the scent of baking bread wafting from the shop at least a block before you actually reach Pike Place. Moreover, Le Panier does not pander. They sell roulé aux noix and éclair vanille, not nut rolls and vanilla eclairs. Consumers are forced to have a certain awareness of a culture other than their own should they wish to enjoy Le Panier's bread, or at least be willing to humble themselves before the inherent complexity of the French language to place their order. Even if your tongue stubbornly refuses to roll an r, it is absolutely worth stumbling over pronunciation to be rewarded with a crisp, golden amandine (a croissant filled with almond paste.) If you have ever had so much as a passing interest in bread, do not miss visiting Le Panier.

Racha Noodles and Thai Cuisine - 23 Mercer Street
By now you're probably starting to notice a pattern. I do have a passionate love for Thai food. It was love at first taste, on my sixteenth birthday... a love that blossomed in spite of the fact that another patron at the restaurant that night spilled their entire mango smoothie in my lap, and only made the situation worse by trying to clean my lap for me. If I could only eat one dish for the rest of my life, I would choose pad thai without hesitation. I seek it out in every city I visit, and found one of my favourite versions here. Racha Noodles and Thai Cuisine should not be confused with Racha Thai, the mall restaurant that is the higher-end sister restaurant of Noodle Zone/Thai Go. This is an independent establishment that serves excellent cuisine deserving of true recognition. Aside from the mandatory pad thai (which is called pud thai at Racha, for whatever inexplicable reason), I highly recommend the spring rolls and the chef's specialty, royal duck curry.

Starbucks and Seattle's Best Coffee - Multiple locations in Seattle
Seattle is a coffee drinker's paradise. (Personally, I'm a tea drinker... Although I have yet to find an establishment that poured hot water badly, I still feel a slight pang of jealousy every time I go to a coffee shop and watch three people in line ahead of me collect potent drinks crowned with whipped cream and caramel syrup.) If you're an avid fan of a particular latte, or just need your daily caffeine fix, I offer you a challenge. Sample Starbucks and Seattle's Best Coffee, both of which have outposts on almost every block in the downtown area, and let me know which outlet really serves the city's best coffee.

Sweetie's Candy - 1501 Pike Place

Although it's been several years since I could accurately be called "a kid", candy stores still thrill me. This tiny, standing-room-only emporium is no exception. Lined wall-to-wall with old-fashioned glass jars of sour soothers, gum drops and chocolate chews, Sweetie's is a diabetic coma just waiting to happen. Traveller's with a sweet tooth really cannot miss this shop. I return time and time again for a favourite treat that I have yet to find anywhere else: Almond Joy M&Ms. Drooling yet?

Trophy Cupcakes - 2612 North East Village Lane
Cupcake shops seem to be popping up everywhere these days, and I have to admit, I do wonder how you can run a successful bakery that only sells one thing. The key, clearly, is in the flavours. Trophy Cupcakes may only sell cupcakes, but on any given day there are five standard and seven daily varieties to choose from. Chai Cardamom and Chocolate Covered Pretzel cupcakes sound exciting, but it's the icing that can make or break a cupcakery. Rest assured, Trophy Cupcakes' buttercream is sweet but not cloying, rich but not heavy. Located in University Village Mall, this is the perfect place to take a shopping break and indulge. I highly recommend visiting on Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Sunday. After all, you can get a chocolate cupcake just about anywhere these days. But on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, Trophy Cupcakes bakes their Hummingbird special, a banana pineapple coconut cake with cream cheese icing, a cupcake truly worthy of distinction among its peers.

Check back soon for tips on where to shop in Seattle!