supply run: seattle

for coffee, doughnuts & thai food

Hello from the other side of a quick return to society (or something like it), aka one week ‘down south’ in Seattle.

Truly, we went for the apples (a let down, but it’s cool), walkability, dinner dates, to experience “trolloween”, the novelty of Trader Joe’s, just a little bit of museum hopping, legit coffee, and plenty of doughnuts – with a capital D (the ‘ough’ situation is all yours for the time being).

As usual, the trip went by far too quickly. As expected, we returned to SNOW. Definitely all caps.

It was a rare trip together without obligations nor appointments. Precious time off following Jules’ exhaustive summer in the park.

We flew in & out of Anchorage for the toss up of extra hours on the road in return for better flight deals. This had the added bonus of an opportunity to peruse more thrift stores for new-to-us furniture for our abode and one more nice surprise: what was easily (laughably, really) the best meal we’ve had in Anchorage – if not elsewhere in Alaska, okay since a “fancy” falafel plate pre-covid down at The Little Mermaid on the spit in Homer, which has evidently since closed anyway ! – at Ray’s Place, a “Triple D” featured family-run Vietnamese restaurant in what’s increasingly considered an “old school diner”.

Ray’s had been on my “maybe try” list since we first arrived due to a listing on HappyCow, and gosh, check-mark to “animal free” printed on the menu and a hot, fast “spicy tofu” stir-fry and tofu summer rolls in a booth for two. Granted, we were hungry after a morning of errands and skipping dinner the evening before due to our return flight, but I’m just giving you the full picture here - overall, it was a gleeful delight! With actual vegetables and a flavorful sauce!!

Look at me, talking about flippin’ Anchorage with sunglass-adorned excitement before getting to those doughnuts and metropolitan adventures…

enjoying “spicy tofu” at ray’s place in anchorage, ak

Fun fact: I got my hands on Thai basil from both Uwaijimaya in Seattle and Red Apple Market in Anchorage. I could not resist!

Therefore, I’ve made both pho chay and pad prik king since we returned home (Thai basil of any kind being more of a fabulous supplement to that second one, but I already mentioning how irresistible I find the stuff - holy, tulsi, sweet, whatever - bring it on). I even picked up a handful of bean sprouts! Pho chay follows.

pho chay for our first meal back at home, pan-crisped curry tofu not pictured

Okay, bring on the doughnuts. Donuts!

Whichever you like, as long as there’s a good cup of coffee for sippin’ and/or dippin’.

Jules picked up this box of Mighty-O on our last morning

Anybody else remember trekking to the sole Mighty-O back in the day, er, early 00s? I was so proud of figuring out that bus ride, printed directions off of Mapquest in tow.

the statue of communist revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin gets a holiday makeover

On-to more good stuff…

this is us, literally diving into the best thai food we’ve had in eons (er, stateside) - green papaya salad, spicy tofu bomb w/ sticky rice & phad prik gaeng tofu at Kin Len Thai Night Bites in Fremont

Now that’s a reason to leave Alaska for dinner.

That first meal was followed by a late night visit to quite the nearby retro arcade, which brought on all the best kind of Northwest dive bar + kitschy velvet artwork + ice cold tallboy of beer memories.

pinball for Jules and The Simpsons for Jess at Add-a-Ball in Fremont

admired on our walk back from Ballard

We walked down blocks of new condos with Ring doorbells and sign after sign of handwritten and typed insistent instructions for delivery drivers to not leave packages outside (or throw them over the fence). The thing is, you know who’s probably taking them? You know who they are. The displaced. The fringes of society. We’re all here. What a time.

one more visit to kin len for thai - papaya salad and eggplant tofu <3

1) quick tomato, castelvetrano, garlic & v. feta rigatoni in Hotel Hotel Hostel’s kitchen 2) coffee & doughnut breakfast at the Denny Triangle Mighty-O 3) our temporary block in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood 4) another morning’s breakfast croissants from Lazy Cow Bakery [clockwise from top L to R]

Let me tell you one thing - opt for the croissants at that bakery in the collage in Fremont. Skip the burrito. Trust me on this one.

One more photo collage follows, feat. Jules and their first-ever boba experience -

1) “midwestern”-style v. pepperoni pizza from Ian’s, 2) assorted sushi from Kamakura 3) savoring morning americanos at Fremont Coffee Roasters 4) green tea oatmilk boba at Boba Gem 5) relevant sticker 6) just some of v. chz assortment at Ballard Grocery Outlet, sheesh 7) Dough Joy - to visit while open next time, of course!! 8) practically stumbling upon the newly opened Ben & Esther’s vegan delicattesen for a turkey club 9) tofu rollz at Mama Viet’s Kitchen [clockwise from top L to R to middle]

That last square has a sticker that really held my attention. “Welcome to the downfall of the American empire”. Hmm.

Not pictured: covid tests after wading into the waters of indoor dining again (with the good results, phew).

In immediate retrospect, with the casual glory of coffee & doughnuts & hopping on frequent buses & strolling the aisles of Asian markets aside, restaurant & grocery prices in big city Alaska were now reasonable after a week in Seattle !

I waded through a time warp of our own journey between Alaska & Seattle while exploring the exhibits at the small Klondike Gold Rush National Park. Contemplatig the timelessness of scurrying for supplies and opportunity.

We’re all doing varying degrees of “trying out best” in learning what advice to trust – and what those supplies should be, whether for a week on the “trip of a lifetime”, or committing to a homestead, or a few years here and there – and the advice, ultimately, is best from the people of the land you’re going, and your own lived experience.

I remain an over-packer, for the record. : )

I will add that our longtime favorite little spot in Seattle – In the Bowl – had closed a few years ago, and its replacement & short block on E Olive is seemingly ready for demolition. What a sight. Support the ones you love while you can! Local dollars, local sense. Mhmm.

In conclusion (or again, something like it) good times & decent-to-pretty dang good-to fantastico eats and supply runs in both cities, all things considered.

Do you have any fond memories of Seattle or dare I say…Anchorage?!?

tah tah

‘Til next time, with the timely debut of winter stews & afternoon strolls well under zero.

References & Relevant Links:

• HappyCow Seattle

• Add-a-Ball Arcade

• Ray’s Place website; Ray’s Place on HappyCow