New in Edmonds

Restaurant News has spotted new signs, new menus, new locations, new owners, a new game to encourage kids — and their parents — to visit many Edmonds locations, including our restaurants.

Bucatini, 9818 Edmonds Way: Bucatini has a new sign and new menu: “Business is great and we’ve been blessed,” says Anthony Donatone, owner and chef at Bucatini. The new sign is beautiful, the street sign posted on the pole, Sinatra Way, made me chuckle. There is a Sinatra vibe at Bucatini. Chalkboards list the new menu specials and with so many options, repeat visits will be needed so that Restaurant News can complete her report on all the food.

At this visit, my dining companion and I did a seafood comparison on lunch sandwiches. We ordered the Wild Rock Fish — grilled Pacific Coast rockfish on crusty ciabatta with a citrus remoulade — and the Big Shrimper — lots of prawns, slaw and a citrus remoulade on a toasted ciabatta. A bit of a wait, but the first bite explained the delay. Attention to detail is a standard in Anthony’s kitchen. All of the shellfish in the Big Shrimper was prepared to perfection. Tiny shrimp were just as tender as the biggest prawns.

Since it was lunch, and I’d only nibbled on both hero sandwiches, I didn’t flinch when dessert came. I’m addicted to Anthony’s Grandma’s Ricotta cake, but it was high time to taste the New York-style cheesecake. Light, creamy with a delicate flavor and texture, house-made; the extra care makes a huge difference.

Red Twig, 117 5th Ave. S.: A recent photo of new owner LaFon Jantz prompted Restaurant News and her teen companion to visit. A tricky task when the business hours posted in various online spots conflict. A word with staff revealed that new owners are hard at work updating the website. I was directed to a sign on the doors for up-to-date info: Monday-Wednesday, 7 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sundays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Dessert choices beckoned, real items in the display case held more appeal than a chalkboard, especially for a 13-year-old. We managed to order and took our seats.

To our delight, dessert arrived at the table first. How could we resist nibbling on coconut pie and Nanaimo bars?

One fork full of the creamy coconut filling and the chocolaty crunchy crust led to another. Yep, I have a new favorite dessert, and I don’t have to drive downtown to get a slice from Palace Kitchen.

Even though it was a very warm day, I just had to order the Prana Chai. The blend is an award-winning fresh chai from Melbourne, Australia, and is the best fresh chai ever. The moist, hand-blended mixture of Chai spice and tea — also sold in one-pound bags at the restaurant for home use — was presented in a Moroccan-style teapot. A mug of steamed milk accompanied the tea. When ready, one pours the tea through the personal strainer, into the thick froth. Each sip tasted like dessert too.

My teen companion chose lemonade. Citrusy and tangy, it tasted like fresh squeezed, and kept her from consuming the entire Nanaimo bar before her sandwich arrived.

The ham and Swiss panini was served on lightly toasted whole-grain rolls. The side salad was bright with color from carrots, greens and tomatoes, and was dressed in light vinaigrette, the perfect finish to the plate.

If you do like crepes and even if you don’t or never have, you may want to try Red Twig’s Spinach Artichoke and Brie Crepes. I promise they are amazing. Colorful from the fresh green of just-steamed spinach, and the golden crust of the crepe, melted Brie covers each bite without overwhelming the delicate ingredients. No to-go box for me on the entrée, but we did finally decide the desserts were too rich to finish. As we licked the rich chocolate from our Nanaimo off our fingers, we noticed a group with children, who offered sheets of paper to the counter help as the parents ordered.

Finding Waldo, a program in place courtesy of the Edmonds Bookshop, has several of our local restaurants on its passport sheet. What a great idea to boost local Edmonds business and have our kids focused on something besides Pokémon characters.

More that’s new

Here and There Grill added new locations for the truck.
NEW: Tuesdays, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Redstone, Lynnwood
NEW: Tuesday 5-9 p.m., Ridgecrest Public House, Shoreline.
Wednesday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., 4th and Dayton, Edmonds
Thursday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Kruger Clinic, Edmonds
NEW: Friday 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Alderwood Business Center, Lynnwood
Friday 5-8 p.m., American Brewing Co., Edmonds

Mobile meals for humans — what about cuisine for our canine friends?

My dogs spotted a bright turquoise blue food truck at the Edmonds Off Leash Park. They raced over to the unit, tails wagging. How sweet to find me a cup of hot coffee on this cold blustery day.

“Good dogs,” I said, as I strolled over to scrutinize my options. Peanut Butter and Banana Bones? Doggie Ice Cream Sundaes? Ha, the joke was on me. This was a food truck for Fido and friends, The Seattle Barkery’s mobile unit. Get the full scoop on this treat wagon here.

We do love our doggies in Edmonds. In response to reader inquiries about dog-friendly places to dine, I offer a website called Bring Fido and a list restaurants in Edmonds that welcome dogs at their outdoor tables. Need help deciding where to eat? Check out this link for a detailed description of each restaurant, along with pictures and reviews from other dog owners who’ve eaten there.

Want to celebrate birthdays or holidays with your beloved Bowzer at your side? Bring Fido lists an establishment here in Edmonds that caters to canine clientele and their owners: Dining Dog Café, 9635 Firdale Ave N. (Firdale Village) Edmonds, WA 98020

Bone appétit!

— By Kathy Passage

A specialty gourmet food broker for over 30 years, Kathy Passage has in-depth knowledge on food and the special qualities of ingredients used in the exquisite products she helped bring to market. Kathy brings this unique perspective from the “other side of the plate” to writing about the food and restaurant scene in Edmonds.