New Year's Day in Seattle

So, Tim and I meant to leave Seattle on New Year's Day...but the weather was against us. Turns out Snoqualmie Pass was closed...with no estimated time of reopening...so we did what anyone would do, made the best of it. First, we went to find a place to eat breakfast/brunch/well almost lunch by the time we left. We headed to Portage Bay http://www.portagebaycafe.com/Home.html as we have heard nothing but good things about this place. There was an hour and a half wait...I was weak with hunger but couldn't wait. We were rerouted to the downtown location...but decided to try a greasy spoon like place called DISH...it was closed. As we pulled down the street to figure out where to go next we noticed a sign with the Eiffel tower on it...I glanced in and saw hardly anyone inside. My sister (who lives in Seattle) said that it had just opened recently...so I said, let's try it. So we decided to try Anita's http://www.anitascrepes.com/home.htm It was a cute little bistro...took Tim and I back to our time in France in September. We looked at the menu and to our surprise it offered cassoulet as a menu item...Tim had just made cassoulet for Christmas Day. The owner was friendly and the food was divine. Tim said his faith in American food had been restored that day. He was tempted to return for dinner to try the cassoulet. Since we were eating our first meal of the day, we all got breakfast or breakfast type food. I ordered the ham and cheese crepe, Tim got the bacon egg and cheese crepe and my sister ordered the breakfast which came with eggs, bacon and a crepe (choice of cinnamon or raspberry) she chose the raspberry. All of us were EXTREMELY satisfied with our choices. And, the size of the meal was just right, not too big and not too small. We will DEFINITELY be returning to this place next time in Seattle!

The other thing we did was go and see SEVEN POUNDS the latest Will Smith movie. I won't say anything about it except it was a good movie and I recommend it. I am afraid to say much else because I really don't want to give anything away!

By evening we went to this GLORIOUS pizza place http://www.veracipizza.com/ called Veraci's. This place had some of the BEST wood fired pizzas I have ever had...and the greatest part is you can buy it by the slice (to try different types) or a whole pizza. And, if you want some dessert...they also have some gelato right there! We had a whole pizza with four of us eating...we also got a caprese salad to go along with it and then my husband and I ordered one slice each of another kind...both REALLY REALLY good. The crust is thin and crispy, the toppings are fresh and not too overpowering, a perfect blend of crust and toppings! And...my sister ordered the gelato...okay I have had better (in France and Spain) but in the US this was really pretty good...a little grainier than I like...but the flavor was good and I would eat it again!

By Friday morning the pass was open...so Tim and I headed back to Spokane. Here are a few pictures of the pass as we drove through!