Pie

**Before I start my first review from my year-long hiatus, I'd like to say "Hello again!" to everyone.  I'm glad to get back into food blogging and hope it'll be as much fun as I remembered it was.  Now, on to the good stuff.**

Working in certain neighborhoods in downtown Seattle can have its advantages. During lunchtime I'm surrounded by many places where I can get my fill to my delight. One of these establishments is called Pie and, as the name implies, they sell pie!

At Pie you can get handmade, handheld savory or sweet pies. I've tried almost every single pie flavor they have, since I visit often and I usually get one sweet and one savory pie every time. The savory flavors include steak & potato, English meat, broccoli & cheese, smoked turkey, etc. Some sweet pies include: maple bacon, key lime, mixed berries, coconut cream, etc. My favorite savory pie would have to be the pepper steak. It's almost like a beef stew in a handheld pie (but not as messy). My favorite sweet pie would have to be the maple bacon. Unfortunately, this pie is seasonal and so they don't have it everytime I go in for a visit. Image a maple cream filling topped with crispy bacon bits. Simply delicious!

The awesome bakers at Pie usually have a few rotating pies and some seasonal ones as well. The staff at Pie are very laid back and hospitable. They're also open to any ideas for potential pie flavors you might have. Trust me, I've got food ideas. :)

The establishment is nestled in a really good location on a main road in the Fremont neighborhood. It's not a huge place inside, but it will accommodate a small to medium party if you have one. There are also a couple of outside tables for those nice, sunny days (yes, we have those in Seattle). I love that they stay open late during the weekends. They have a side window that's open until 2am!! Perfect for those late-night party-goers looking for a tasty treat.

OK, here's the breakdown using my 5-"Nom" system (5 being the highest):

Service, 5-NOMs= The staff is pretty awesome there. They truly stand behind their product. If it looks anything but picture perfect or appetizing they'll give you a discount. And, if you're a regular, they've been known to hook up customers with free pies.

Atmosphere/Location, 2.5-NOMs= Downtown is always busy and along with that is the usual horrible parking problem. Pie does not have its own parking, so you'll have to find streetside (good luck during busy hours). If you work or live nearby, then no worries. It's right in the heart of Fremont. The inside is very fitting for this establishment. It's open so you can see the bakers doing their thing.

Food Presentation, 3.5 NOMs= I think Pie is a great concept. Who wouldn't like a handheld meal on the go. The product looks great. There is that one chance that it'll collapse on you while you're on the go, but that's why it's in a container too. Each pie is unique and has a different look depending on what it is. Very cool.

Taste, 4 NOMs= I've liked all the pies I've tried with the exception of probably only one. For the most part, they're delicious, well-seasoned, and full of flavor.

Value, 5 NOMs= Under $5 for a hearty, flavorful, mobile meal. You can't beat that really. They even have mini pies, if you just want a taste and don't really want to dish out that much. They even have a lunch deal where you can get a Pie combo for a pretty good price.

Originality, 5 NOMs= There isn't any other place around here that I know of that serves up handheld sweet and savory pies.

Overall, 4.1 NOMs= Not bad, Pie. Not bad at all. Keep dishing out new and original flavors and I assure you I'll be coming back for more. First there was the cupcake craze. Now, I think it's going to be a handheld pie craze.

"Food?....it's O.N.N.N.!" 
-NMOS

Smores!

Hey everyone. This post is going to be about chocolate and smores, so if you don't like that....well, leave! Just kidding.

I recently tagged along with a nice group of friends to Theo Chocolates down in Fremont. Apparently, one day out of this month was "National Smores Day" (I didn't even know one existed, although it doesn't surprise me.), and Theo chocolates decided to honor it in a 3 consecutive day tribute by making smores for its patrons. No, they weren't free, but they were only $3.

Basically, you had to go inside, pay your $3 and show your receipt to the smore-builders outside the factory. Incidentally, honoring National Smores Day is a big deal because the store was pretty packed.

Anyway, after I got my receipt I stood in line in front of the tent where they were making the smores. Everyone got to choose any Theo Chocolate bar flavor, which they grabbed out of a bag and used to make your smores. I ended up choosing the Chai, which happens to be my favorite bar from Theo's. This wasn't just any smores though. This one had specially/hand-made, rich and delicious graham crackers and marshmallows. Although the smores weren't that big, the quality was well worth it. I believe today was the last day, so sorry to all you local Seattle-ites that wanted to try it.

Theo Chocolates is a local, fair-trade chocolate company. They have many different organic milk and dark chocolates from which to choose. There are some really "weird" (well, at least to me) flavors like coconut curry. I did try it before, but it's not something I'd get again. Stick with the Chai!

Anyway, check out and enjoy the pics. Be sure to check back frequently because I'm already backed up on reviewing some local Seattle restaurants and eats. Until next time......om nom nom nom.

-NMOS

Kwanjai

In the heart of Fremont (a neighborhood in Seattle along South Lake Union) sits a small Thai restaurant called Kwanjai. Incidentally, Thai restaurants are abound throughout this area, but this one is one of my favorites.

I go to this restaurant about 3-4 times a month. I like the fast service and the great value. The outdoor seating, although not that aesthetically pleasing with plastic tables and chairs, is nice when the weather is beautiful.

I was lucky enough to have 3 of my co-workers accompany me to this lunch. We all had delicious-looking dishes, but I'm only going to review the chicken pad kee mao dish that I ordered.

Anyway, about the restaurant: It used to be a small, blue house that was converted into a restaurant. They've done a great job making use of the interior space with the open kitchen and the seating. This place has a very "homey" feeling to it in this little "house". Nevertheless, this restaurant gets enough business on a daily basis to fill up all the tables.

The food is great and the price is just as nice. You can get a generous portion for about $6.50. My pad kee mao (one of my favorite Thai dishes, especially from this place) came out piping hot and fresh in an expedient manner. All the ingredients in this dish turned out to be a great marriage of flavors. There was the broad, flat noodle (similar to chow fun), tomatoes, thinly sliced chicken, egg, thinly sliced carrots, and broccoli. It was really tasty. The first pic is my chicken pad kee mao dish, and the rest are just of my co-workers' dishes.

Now, on to the review using my 5-doughnut rating system:

• Service, 3.5 doughnuts= We were seated immediately upon arrival and they took our order after giving us enough time to look at the menu to decide. The waitress was very friendly and would frequently check up on us to refill our drinks and see if we needed anything else.


• Atmosphere/Location, 2.5 doughnuts= Although this restaurant is one of those "hole-in-the-wall" kind of restaurants, I kind of like it. Like I said, it used to be a house before they converted it into a restaurant. There's this nice, quaint, homey feeling to the place. The location is great. Like I said, it's in the heart of Fremont in between other small restaurants and small businesses. I guess the only problem would be the parking situation, since there's only street parking available.
  
• Food Presentation, 2 doughnuts= Nothing really too special about it, although the fresh vegetables used added some nice color to the overall dish. It still looked nice and appetizing.
  
• Taste, 3.5 doughnuts= The taste was great. The seasonings and ingredients used went well together. Thai dishes tend to use a lot of sweet sauces, so along with the slight spice they use, the dish was pretty good.
  
• Cost/Value, 3.5 doughnuts= One of the things I like about the place is the great value. The food is tasty and the price is pretty nice. I think it was about to about $7 a plate, which isn't bad for what you're getting.
  
• Originality, 1.5 doughnuts= They serve up all the same Thai dishes you'd find in other Thai restaurants. Although there's nothing too original to that, they do serve up some delicious dishes.
  
• Overall, 3 doughnuts= I definitely recommend this place. It's one of my favorite Thai joints in Fremont. If you want a quick, delicious, affordable Thai dish with friendly, fast service, then check it out.
  

If you'd like to view the menu from this place, take a look at: http://www.allmenus.com/wa/seattle/49765-kwanjai-thai-cuisine/menu/lunch/.