FACT -I love Seattle’s vibrant food scene. With its eclectic whole-in-the-wall mom and pop restaurants, trendy food trucks, and amazing fine dining establishments, there is no shortage of places to eat around the city. As someone who really enjoys eating out, I’m always eager to try a new place to eat especially when it comes recommended by trusted friends who are passionate about food. So, when my good friend, Keren Brown, recently published her debut book, the “Food Lovers’ Guide to Seattle: Best Local Specialties, Markets, Recipes, Restaurants & Events” -I knew it would be well received as a trusted source of where to eat all over Seattle.
I first met Keren three years ago at a celebrity dinner event and since then, we’ve become close friends. She is an authoritative and trusted voice, and a respective figure in the restaurant and food community. She knows how to connect food enthusiasts with one another and hosts networking parties and workshops through her Foodportunity events.
One thing I have always admired about Keren is that she not a respecter of a restaurant’s popularity status within the Seattle food scene when it comes to telling me where to eat. This has always been the case long before she wrote this book. If I ever wanted to know where to go on a date night with my husband, I would call her and she would suggest places to eat depending on the type of ambiance, price range, and type of overall food experience I was looking for. Her honest recommendations were always spot on.
While she was writing this book, I was delighted to accompany her a few times during the research phase which included visiting hundreds of places in secrecy so she could write a guide book, which is different than a review book.
The book itself is divided up into sections by location and offers tidbits from the perspective of a close trusted friend and not a restaurant reviewer. Keren shares not only where to eat but where to find local ingredients from specialty shops. As an added bonus feature there are the many local celebrity chef recipes included in the book.
This is a great book for locals who appreciate a personal guide to where to eat throughout Seattle. Small enough to fit in a purse or bag, this guide book is also great for anyone planning to visit the city and prefers a personal food tour guide on where to eat beyond the touristy destinations. For under $15, this book is well worth its price and make an excellent gift for the holidays for anyone who dines out and around the city. Trust me, I’ve purchased several copies of this book and have given them away as gifts and everyone who has received them has raved about it.
I’m excited to giveaway two copies of this book! Along with the book, each winner will also receive a fabulous Fonte Coffee gift pack (1 lb. of coffee and a $15 gift cardworth). Prizes provided by Globe Pequote Publishing and Fonte Coffee (<— AMAZING COFFEE!!). Thank you to you both!
To enter the contest, tell me where you like to eat in your neighborhood in the comment section below. Contest will close Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 9 pm PST. Winners need to have a US mailing address and will be contacted by email. Contest is now closed. Congrats to Diane and Julia!
maile says
we live in issaquah, and our family has a few local favorites. one that we’ve recently come to love for a quick bite is macky’s dim sum in gilman village. it’s owned by sonny and macky (sweet couple) – and while we don’t think it’s a very healthy option, it has has been very delicious each time we’ve gone. the children love that they can get shumais and pork humbows all the time!
Katie @ Katie Without Restrictions says
For casual lunch, we have a fantastic little sandwich shop called Wrap it Up, and for a night on the town we have a GREAT restaurant called the Courthouse Pub!
Miss McBooty says
I live in the sleepy town of Longmont, Colorado. Longmont is 40 minutes from Denver and 25 minutes from Boulder. Luckily I don’t have to look far to find a variety of tasty choices. One of my favorite places to dine is a pizza place called Proto’s. I have been on the search for the perfect margarita pizza for as long as I can remember, and Proto’s has stolen my heart (and my stomach)! Their stone oven pizzas are thin and perfectly crisp with amazingly fresh, local toppings. I don’t know how they do it, but I can’t get enough of their pie! Yummy.
Love your show,
Miss McB
Kimberly S says
I love this blog, and I really enjoy Keren’s book! I recently had a great sushi happy hour at Wann, and it will definitely be on my list!
Adrienne McWithey says
My husband and I have a few favorites….mostly hole in the wall joints we have happened upon, or that have been recommended to us. Our Monday tradition is to venture out and hit a new coffee shop or restaurant, hoping to find some new favorites. One of our “no fail go to” restaurants is a little joint (maybe 3-4 tables in the entire place) called Yellow River, they’re cookin’ up so can’t be beat Chinese Food here in Wichita, KS.
Beth says
We frequent several very small places and really prefer owner/operated, local restaurants. A few that come to mind are Nick’s Diner and Royal Cafe for good “home cooking” and Sainz for the “mexican grandma cooking.” It’s a great day when we find a new place that can call us both friends and patrons.
MG Atwood says
Love eating at the boat house
lydia says
Le Fournil on Eastlake in Seattle— yummy fresh croissants every day!
Drisdy Kee says
I like to eat at the hole-in-the-wall places in nyc… usually NYC Chinatown dives or Flushing Chinatown treasures that have great food for cheap.
adrene says
Missing Seattle but will be there for Christmas! Boston’s east coast favorite is Legal Seafood for the next best thing to Northwest Salmon, chowda, or seafood. The book sounds fantastic and will probably pick up for me (if I don’t win) and my Seattle family members….its a great gift idea that I’ve been looking for 🙂
Janesa says
I live in the Portland area, my favorite place was Malay Satay Hut but they closed their location here, so about once a month or so I drive up to Seattle or Redmond to visit the locations there and visit with the owners Sam and Jessie. My new favorite place here is The Flying Pie Pizzeria, their vegan/gluten free Primo Pesto is AMAZING!
Angela says
We’ve just moved away from Seattle (sniff), and I don’t have a new favorite neighborhood place yet, but one of our favorites in Seattle was Gorditos. Can’t beat those humongous wet burritos!
Guy says
In Bellingham, I would have to say my favorite is a catering company which operates a restaurant night a couple times a month – Ciao Thyme! In addition for the time in between, I really enjoy a local mobile kitchen, StrEAT Food.
Cathy says
Jersey’s Great Food and Spirits in Shoreline…start with the home made bbq chips, split a club sandwich (too big for one) and finish it off with burnt cream.
Hana says
We love Roy’s chocolate souffle!
Rika says
Djan’s in Wallingford, best phad thai in Seattle!
Brenda says
I love to go to Scallini’s, a wonderful Italian restaurant.
Julie @BananasForBourbon says
In Seattle I loved eating in Ballard! Delancy was magical. In my own neighborhood, I like Urge Gastropub. Seriously great food and even better beers.
Shawna says
I live in Chicago and my favorite restaurant is a tiny little Costa Rican place called Irazu.
Diane in Wisconsin says
Jill, as I posted my comment I noticed you also mentioned The Village Pizzeria, only mine is in Dresser, Wisconsin. How coincidental and they both have great food.
Diane in Wisconsin says
Our “Cheers” in Village Pizzeria. They have the best food, not just pizza.
Julia & 1001tealcranes says
It’s probably not fair to say my most favorite place to eat in my neighborhood is my Mom’s (even if she is the best Korean cook EVER) is probably Yogurstory on Keeaumoku (near Ala Moana Shopping Center). It’s this cute little place that serves the BEST eggs benedict and they allow dogs in their outdoor seating area. That’s just one place. I love food too much to limit myself. hahaha
Jill Flint says
Right in our neighborhood in Kirkland, there is a great little taco truck we like to visit, their shredded pork tacos are amazing! We also visit Whidbey Island a lot and there is an incredible place we go in Langley called The Village Pizzeria. Their Pesto Pizza is to die for, seriously good stuff 🙂
Corinna says
In Manhattan, La Bonne Soup serves THE best chicken cobb salad and Cafe Centro has amazing everything!
I was born and raised in Yuma, AZ and Chile Pepper has by far the best burritos and rolled tacos!
Alyssa (Everyday Maven) says
We have only been in Seattle for 1 year (and love it so far) and are learning the food so I am not sure I can say we have a definitive favorite yet but Nishino has amazing sushi!