Eat

The West Seattle Farmers Market is gearing up for an abundant spring harvest with a variety of fresh lettuces and hearty greens, asparagus, carrots, rhubarb and other local farm fresh delights. Farmers will also come with all kinds of plant starts so city dwellers can prepare for their own garden harvests.

Cooking demo May 10 at 11 a.m. with Foraged and Found Edibles
Jeremy Faber of Foraged and Found Edibles will show market shoppers how to make delicious dishes with wild Washington greens and mushrooms. Jeremy is an accomplished chef and loves to introduce others to the wonderful and unique flavors of Washington’s wild bounty. The demo will start at 11am and recipes will be provided.

May Events at the West Seattle City Farmers Market:
May 3 - West Seattle Symphonette
May 10 - Cooking demo with Foraged and Found 11 a.m.
May 24 - Free mule wagon rides for kids of all ages, live music from Clallam County, and free sweet pea starts from Langley Gardens

In the freakish off chance that we happen to have one of those teaser, sunny days during our normally rainy spring season, let’s maximize our use of that glowing ball of light in the sky. Cheers! to an evening of enjoying the beauty of Ballard on Seaview Avenue.

Even non-Ballardites trek to our neck of the woods to visit Ray’s Boathouse, Café and Catering for its scenic location and proximity to Golden Gardens. At the bar of the café is one of the city’s most favored happy hours. Arrive on time, as on nice days Ray’s happy hour is popular and seating is in high demand.

The happy hour menu applies to only the bar area, and the regular café menu is served outside on the deck. However, seated inside, the opening and closing of doors bring in a drift from the sound – cool, breezy wind and light shines through. Everyone is merrily chattering and eating.

If you’re ready to move on from seafood appetizers, walk across the street to Paseo. The tasty Fremont Cuban sandwich shop opened a Ballard location, a small cash-only sandwich shack. The most popular sandwich is the Cuban Roast, a delicious pulled pork sandwich.

GreenGo Food
5402 20th Ave. N.W.
206-783-1402
http://greengofood.com/
Tues & Wed 11:00 - 7:00;
Thurs. & Fri. 11:00 - 9:00;
Sat. 11:00 - 7:00 (until May, then later)
Sun. 11:00 - 3:00, closed Monday

How can we not like a cute little non-chain establishment like this, where one can get a big ol' natural juicy burger, where the emphasis is on organic, local and sustainable foods, and where an advertising blitz means extra chalk writing on the sidewalk?

Indeed, GreenGo Food (a Japan- sounding business name if ever there was one) is all of things and more. And less. But mostly more.

Billing itself as "Fast food with a conscience in the heart of Ballard," GreenGo Food has been open since February in the spot most recently occupied by Patty Pan Grill, which has now moved their focus entirely to farmer's market fare.

At GreenGo, organic cheeseburgers ($8.5) rule the roost, along with a smallish menu dotted soup, a small salad, a few hot-non-sando items (like the cheesy Polenta Royale). But competing for top dog on the menu is something not even listed on the regular menu, which is the fried egg sandwich ($5).

Thursday, April 30, local diners will stand up against AIDS by sitting down at their favorite restaurant during Greater Seattle’s Dine Out For Life. 

At least four restaurants in West Seattle and more than 150 throughout the city and suburbs will donate 30 percent of their proceeds from that day—including breakfast, lunch, cocktails and dinner—to  Lifelong AIDS Alliance, the Northwest’s leading AIDS Service Organization.

Now in its 16th year, Dine Out For Life has become a community tradition.  The last Thursday of every April, restaurants across the region join together to raise funds to fight against AIDS. 

Proceeds help support Lifelong AIDS Alliance’s critical care services for people living with HIV, AIDS and other chronic illnesses.  These services include the Chicken Soup Brigade Food Program, housing and case management. 

West Seattle area participating venues include:

Abbondanza Pizzeria, 6503 California Ave. S.W., 935-8989

Ama Ama Oyster Bar and Grill, 4752 California Ave. S.W., 937-1514

Buddha Ruksa, 3520 S.W. Genessee St., 937-7676

Thursday, April 30, local diners will stand up against AIDS by sitting down at their favorite restaurant during Greater Seattle’s Dine Out For Life. 

At least nine restaurants in the greater Ballard area, and more than 150 throughout the city and suburbs, will donate 30 percent of their proceeds from that day—including breakfast, lunch, cocktails and dinner—to  Lifelong AIDS Alliance, the Northwest’s leading AIDS Service Organization.

Now in its 16th year, Dine Out For Life has become a community tradition.  The last Thursday of every April, restaurants across the region join together to raise funds to fight against AIDS. 

Proceeds help support Lifelong AIDS Alliance’s critical care services for people living with HIV, AIDS and other chronic illnesses.  These services include the Chicken Soup Brigade Food Program, housing and case management. 

Participating restaurants in the Ballard area:

Alexa's Garden Cafe, 9701 15th Ave. N.W., 349-0338

74th Street Ale House, 7401 Greenwood Ave. N., 784-2955

Cafe Vita, 4301 Fremont Ave. N., 632-3535

Reusable tote bag in hand, I wandered among the canopied tents in search of the freshest local produce; I sought inspiration for soup.

I am usually an avid recipe follower, but my broth-based meals are typically prepared on whim, consisting of anything I can find in my pantry, refrigerator, or herb garden. The year-round West Seattle Farmers Market was the perfect location to stir my senses and motivate a new recipe.  

Whether chicken noodle or lobster bisque, I typically look for ingredients in five categories: vegetables, herbs and aromatics, proteins, starches, and liquids. Chopped veggies sautéed in olive oil provide an excellent flavor base for a clear soup and the organic baby leeks at Full Circle Farm were jumping at the chance to fill the role.

Downtown Ballard, once a one-sushi-restaurant area, is now a hotbed of sushi options.

Sam's Sushi Bar & Grill at 5506 22nd Ave. N.W. is the longest-tenured, having opened eight years ago.

In the past half-year, three new restaurants have opened nearby, challenging the dominance of Sam's.

Shiku Sushi opened Sept. 29 at 5310 Ballard Ave. N.W. and Moshi Moshi Sushi followed closely behind, opening Feb. 3 a few doors down.

O'shan Sushi became the most recent addition to the neighborhood when it opened March 26 in the former Austin Cantina space at 5809 24th Ave. N.W.

In the video, representatives for the four restaurants discuss what makes their sushi unique and the spirit of competition that has sprung up in the neighborhood.