My Edmonds Restaurant News: In case you aren’t full from Thanksgiving — new eateries to try

Hope you had a gobblelicious Thanksgiving, wherever it was. On to the Edmonds restaurant news. Three have just opened in Edmonds. What’s your liking? Beer? Burgers? Soup and sandwiches? All three, for heaven’s sake? Read on – we’ve got you covered.

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Salish Sea owner Jeff Barnett, right, with mentor Skip Madsen of American Brewery.

Salish Sea Brewery – the (nitro) tap is flowing: Salish Sea Brewing Co. opened last Saturday for friends and family, then segued to a soft-soft opening before its official soft opening on Wednesday. My wife and I swung inside when it opened at noon on Sunday (it was 5 o’clock somewhere) and so were unofficially the first customers to belly up. Owner Jeff Barnett, who says Salish is a “boutique micro-brewery” (more café than bar), poured the brew. His wife, Erika, and spirited young kids Sarah and Evan brightened the place for a while, too.

I sipped the amber ale (5.2%) with its malty finish, and Dorothy enjoyed two full-bodied Porters (5.5%), the latter of the most excellent quality, with a dark chocolate grain and slight coffee finish. $5 each, $4 for schooner size. The porter had its genesis with beer maestro Skip Madsen of Edmonds’ American Brewing Company, who Barnett worked for and calls his mentor. While we chatted away, Madsen pulled up in his convertible and dropped off a keg of his famous Breakaway IPA (7.2%).

(FYI: On Dec. 23, American Brewing will debut its own Espresso Porter, which promises to be a smooth, dark maple and coffee-infused beverage.)

Competition? Not really. There’s enough beer for all, apparently. “Skip is a legend in the beer world,” said Barnett. “A genius, and the godfather of the IPA.”

Salish (pronounce it “say-lish”) uses four high-pressure nitro taps to go with its other four. It’s kind of complicated, but here is the important part of nitro – it provides for smooth, creamy beers with frothy heads.

Salish is a work in progress, with more brews to come. The pretzels are crispy and free, and Barnett will soon stock a panini press for sandwiches and serve soups and arugula salad. Pick up a hat. A T-shirt. And don’t forget your growler.

Salish Sea is at 518 Dayton St., Suite 104, on the north side of Old Milltown.

McDonald’s open on Edmonds Way: The fast-food giant returned to Edmonds Way this week after a tear-down and construction of a fresh site opposite Taco Bell and Goodwill. The restaurant and its drive-through are now open 24 hours and we’re told several of the old employees were hired along with new ones. It’s still cheap – a buck for a BBQ Ranch Burger, $1.59 for a double cheeseburger, $2 for the new Buffalo Bacon Ranch McChicken.

The McCafe is open, and I have to admit the drip coffee at McDonald’s has always been among the best you find at a fast-food restaurant. (I know some who prefer it to Starbucks drip, shocking I know.) You can also order lattes, iced caramel mochas and white chocolate mochas, as wells as frappes and smoothies.

The outdoor seating area at the new Westgate McDonald's.
The outdoor seating area at the new Westgate McDonald’s include’s child-friendly chairs.

The children’s germ – ah, play – area is gone. Sorry, kids. The indoor area is cool in a retro kind of way, and paintings reflect the Edmonds area. And don’t forget – it’s now the QPC, not the Quarter Pounder with Cheese. (Not sure what it will be called in France – metric system observation courtesy of “Pulp Fiction.”)

By the way, Edmonds has another remodeled McDonald’s, this one on 2120 Highway 99 near 216th, reminds My Edmonds News reader Jim Underhill.

Soup’s On Café opens at Five Corners: Edmonds’ newest restaurant is Soup’s On Café, which you’ll find, as owners Theresa Williams and Will Carhuff say, “Located at the first of 5 Corners, at 5 Corners in Edmonds.” Patrons will get a grand view of the roundabout construction while noshing on sandwiches, soups, salads and desserts. As mentioned in a previous column, the owners hope to replicate the success of an Old Milltown staple from way back, Soup’s On. That version was co-owned by a gentleman named Dick Nelson, who hopped on a ferry from the Peninsula to see the new digs during opening week.

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What’s in store at Soup’s On.

The official opening was this past Wednesday, and I had the distinction of purchasing the first Package Deal, a small garden salad (homemade croutons), sandwich and cup of soup for $12.75. I chose the house roast beef on wheat, which came dressed with shredded lettuce, tomato, red onion and a pickle spear. I chose herb sauce to smother on both pieces of bread. Other sandwiches are smoked ham, chicken salad, roast turkey, bacon and avocado, fresh garden sandwich, hard salami and … and … peanut butter and jelly.

The soup was minestrone, which I chose over chili and the Very Vegetable, which Williams says will be the staple among the rotation of daily soup specials. A cup is $4.50, while a small bowl is $6.50 and a large bowl $8.50. You get a homemade roll with both small and large sizes.

Soup’s On Café’s hours are 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.

Pocket Pies at Revelations: What’s new at Revelations Yogurt and Dessert Bar? How about Pocket Pies? Owner Debbie Duvall says they are fast, easy, delicious and custom made with the flavors you want. Here’s how it works: Pick a crust: graham cracker, brownie or oreo. Pick a sauce. Pick a froyo flavor. That’s it. Early favorites are graham cracker crust, pumpkin sauce, vanilla, brownie crust, caramel sauce, sea salt caramel, and Oreo crust. Worried about calories? Without crust, the PocketPies are just 100 calories.

Holiday relief: Join Bar Dojo on Sunday (Dec. 1) in raising money for relief in the Philippines. The restaurant will donate 20 percent of sales to help the victims of Typhoon Haiya, which killed more than 5,000 people. Thousands still are missing.

Santa pix at Waterfront Coffee: Santa loves the coffee in Edmonds. He’ll be waddling up to the Waterfront Coffee Company Dec. 10 from 2-6 p.m., where you can have you picture taken with the Big Red One. Headspinners Photography and Magic Photo will take the pictures. Donations will be accepted. All proceeds benefit Clothes for Kids, which provides wardrobes for school-age children from low-income families in the Edmonds School District.

“Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year,” said Waterfront’s Vickie Balas. “It’s a time for giving and sharing with others less fortunate then ourselves. We can make a difference in someone’s life this holiday season.”

Christmas Ship caroling comes to the Edmonds pier on Monday night
Christmas Ship caroling comes to the Edmonds pier on Dec. 10.

After taking pictures, grab a coffee and head down to the Port of Edmonds from 7 to 7:30 p.m. and see the Argosy Christmas Ship. Raise your voice and join the choirs caroling from the fishing pier. Check out an earlier story on My Edmonds News for more information. Waterfront Coffee is at 101 Main St.

Shooby Doo cookies at tree lighting: The annual tree lighting ceremony at Centennial Plaza is a sublime entry point to the holidays in Edmonds. Carolers, candy canes, hot cider, of course. How about cookies? Bar Dojo’s Shooby Doo Catering will be handing them out. The fun starts at 4:30 p.m. (but get there earlier) Saturday (Nov. 30) at Fifth Avenue North and Bell Street. Dress warmly!

Plenty of gift ideas from The Cheesemonger’s Table: Cheese for the holidays? No rules, right? Strom Peterson’s The Cheesemonger’s Table has a variety of $50 gift bags stuffed with goodies (“Show your appreciation by making their home smell like truffles!”).

Too much? The insulated bags by themselves, emblazoned with the store’s name, are $10 and great for packing work lunches. Cheese? Brand new from Beecher’s Handmade Cheese in Seattle is a version of Beecher’s Flagship Reserve, aged 13 months and soaked in red wine and local blackberry honey. Excellent with spicy charcuterie, we’re told.

Cheesemonger's Table bounty. (Photo by Brian Soergel)
Cheesemonger’s Table grilled chicken club. (Photo by Brian Soergel)

By the way, I know the four different, hot grilled cheese sandwiches (ham extra for $2) are the talk of the town, but I just had to try the grilled chicken club with pancetta, swiss, tomato, and basil mayo and ciabata ($10). Paired with a bowl of creamy tomato soup and the lip-smacking housemade truffled popcorn, it was a tasty accompaniment to some time perched on the outdoor bar table, people watching on a sunny Sunday.

Celtic Cowboy schedule: Something’s always cooking at Celtic Cowboy BBQ. There’s Rib Tip Tuesdays and Wicked Wings Wednesdays, for example. “Both can be eaten straight off the smoker or tossed in one of our homemade sauces: barbecue, hot, KC molasses or apricot jalapeño,” says Steve Freeman. Thursdays and Fridays are for campfire burgers. “We hand-patty them and then smoke Painted Hills all-natural ground beef for an hour. Saturdays and Sundays are game on. Football specials are available plus whatever else we scurry up.”

Restaurant owners: Got a new menu? Plan a remodel? Doing something good in the community? Any news, thoughts or tips on the restaurant scene in Edmonds, from restaurateurs and eaters alike, are appreciated. Shoot an email to brian.soergel@gmail.com.

Brian Soergel

— By Brian Soergel

 

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