Tuesday, September 25, 2012

A tiny bite of Seattle

epic ales
{epic ales}

the ace, seattle
{the ace, seattle}

the ace, seattle
{the ace}

pastry
{pastry - rhubarb + cream}

turkish delight
{turkish delight}

turkish delight!
{turkish delight!)

pike brewing co
{pike brewing co}

ace seattle
{ace breakfast}

We just got back from a one week vacation that started with less than 24 hours in Seattle. We had a strange itinerary because we were using airline miles, and we decided an overnight stay was better than a long layover. We quickly realized that Seattle has more than enough food and bars for a single night but we tried to do it justice. The weather was ridiculously good and we wandered around for hours, tasting as much as possible.

Of note -

The light rail was perfect for getting from the airport to downtown and then taking us back to SoDo to explore some breweries. Day passes were cheap and the trains run often.

Epic Ales is a tiny little brewery and they were pouring an amazing tart cherry beer that I would have loved to smuggle home in my suitcase. Currently it's just one room tacked onto the back of an old building, but they're planning to open a gastropub in the coming year. I'd come back just for that.

Just outside of Pike's Place Market we spotted tons of people with yellow bags and I doggedly followed the source until I found a Russian bakery and picked out a rhubarb and cream pastry. Jackpot.

You would think I'd be sugared out at that point but when I saw a sign advertising homemade Turkish delight the C.S. Lewis lover in me couldn't resist. I had the lemon and the raspberry and it was fresh and miles better than the tinned versions I've tried, but I'm still not sure it's worth betraying your entire family.

We had an amazing dinner at Rocco's, which had apparently just opened. No pictures, but the pizza was to die for and the drinks were excellent. We probably would have ordered the I Feel Like A Golden Girl just for the name, but it lived up to our expectations.

I've never stayed at an Ace hotel before and I'd read mixed reviews, but it was perfect. The shared bathrooms (um, I didn't realize they were shared when I booked it, but I shouldn't have been surprised given the price of the room) were never full, our room was tiny but comfortable and the front desk guy was happy to check us in early.

We woke up super early and ran over to watch the sunrise over the sculpture park and then checked out just in time for breakfast. The cheapskate in me LOVES a free breakfast and it hurts my heart to miss out, even if it means I have to eat at 6:30 am and take my coffee to go. So worth it.

And then we were on to New York!

26 comments:

  1. Glad you enjoyed Seattle! I've never been to Roccos or Epic Ales before, but always love finding new places.

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  2. I would like one of those Turkish delights, please! (Sounds like you had a smashing time.)

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  3. Love the photos! And I love free things too so whatevers!

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  4. So many great photos! Is it weird that I'm a sucker for a really cool designed coffee cup? I know for a fact I would have gotten that coffee after seeing the cup!

    -Alyssa
    The Glossy Life

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  5. Turkish Delight! I want to make it for Mikey and Nico, but the recipes intimidate me. I hear there is a shop in LA that makes it from scratch, and I've been thinking we need to make the drive up there to buy some. Have you been there? They were in The LA Times a while back.

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    1. I haven't even heard about the place in LA! I'll have to look it up. Although having it once might be enough. It was tasty, but I like a little fat to buffer my sugar. : )

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  6. Beautiful pictures! I haven't had turkish delight in forever it looks so so yummy!

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  7. Looks like a fantastic stopover! Walking, eating and microbrews sounds like a great way to spend the day. I haven't been to Seattle in years, but you're making me want to go back.

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  8. It sounds like you got to see quite a bit. Next time, you'll have to make this your vacation spot. There are many, many more wonderful things to do and see!

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  9. looks like my dream trip! ive been dying to stay at an ace hotel... anywhere! and the brews... oh yes please!

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  10. sounds like the perfect trip. :) now NYC? sounds like such a great adventure.

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  11. We had less than 24 hours in Seattle too as part of our 6 weeks in USA. We loved Pike Place Market! But we did leave feeling like we didn't "get" the city because we didn't have the time to explore as much as we normally would. And my husband loves craft beers so would have enjoyed that (but we did get some tasting in Portland OR which he loved). Maybe we will get a chance again next time we're in your part of the world. Can't wait to hear about NYC, we fell so deeply in love with it!

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  12. new york! i bet you guys had so much fun here. and that's the most amazing name for a pizza i've ever heard.

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  13. Not worth betraying your family for, hahahahaha. Oh, Edmund.

    This makes me want to go to Seattle more than I already do.

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  14. You were in my hometown! My brother loves the Turkish delight place at the market. Glad you liked it and hope you can come back for a longer visit next time. (Anytime between July 4 through September is a pretty safe bet for good weather.) Looking forward to hearing about NY next :)

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  15. Aren't those pastries delish?! One of our favorite little quick breakfasts/snacks in Seattle. Can't wait to get back there.

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  16. Those turkish delights look amazing... yum! :)

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  17. You seem to know a lot about micro breweries and small brewers. Do you have any must do's in California, my boyfriend is such a beer geek so are there any real small ones that perhaps he won't know about. I'd love to surprise him.

    Thanks and gosh I wish I was going to Seattle.

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    1. We definitely have a bit of a beer obsession in our house. I'm not an expert, but I do love breweries. I haven't been to all of these locations, but I've at least tried all the beers. Finding the breweries is always an adventure, since they're usually located in industrial areas without much signage. Have fun!

      LA breweries: Eagle Rock brewery (tiny but fun. They aren't my very favorite beers, but they're relatively new, so I'm giving them time) Strand Brewing (haven't been, love the beers though), Beachwood, Craftsman.

      Orange Country breweries: The Bruery (brewery is in Fullerton, but there's also a tasting room in the Orange Circle), Bootleggers, Cismontane (I need to get to this one, because I love them)

      San Diego breweries: Ballast Point, Green Flash, Stone. Probably lots more I'm not aware of - they have a big beer scene.

      Northern California breweries: Drake's (haven't been here, but love their beers), Lagunitas (they have a whole outdoor tasting area and it's really fun), Russian River (it's actually a tasting room and not the brewery, but the beers are great)

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    2. Wow, thanks so so much!
      Hopefully my boyfriend will be happy; he is such a beer addict.

      I totally forgot your name was Rachel (Snap and props on correct spelling)

      Thanks again.

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  18. I've never been to seattle and by the looks of these photos, its such a beautiful city! Love your photos!

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  19. I love how you snuck in that C.S. Lewis reference. I shall always have a soft spot for those books.

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  20. I had my engagement photos taken at the ace hotel - amazing backdrop. Glad you enjoyed your layover in the Emerald City!

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