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Seattle’s Pacific Science Center with CityPASS

April 8, 2017 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

This past Spring Break, my family and I ventured to Seattle to experience the popular sights and attractions of the Emerald City. Visiting the top attractions was easy because of CityPASS. CityPASS is a fantastic way to save time and money with admissions to activities packaged into one convenient booklet. One of the 5 attractions included in CityPASS is the Pacific Science Center, which is the perfect place to immerse yourself in hands-on science fun. Admission also includes one Documentary IMAX® movie. Read on to find out what we enjoyed at Pacific Science Center.

Disclosure: I am a CityPASS media partner and received complimentary CityPASS.

About CityPASS

CityPASS is offered for 12 different cities in North America. For Seattle, you save 45% off admission to 5 top Seattle attractions. The pass is valid for 9 consecutive days and the booklets can be shipped, received via instant email delivery or purchased at a partner attraction. With CityPASS, you save time from standing in line and paying for admission at the attraction. All you need to do is walk up to the entrance, present your CityPASS booklet, and then you’re in! One tip is that the CityPASS booklet is treated like cash so you must keep in safe. Unfortunately, if you lose the booklet, it cannot be replaced.

Seattle CityPASS Ticket Booklets

Check out an overview of the attractions included in Seattle CityPASS in this official video:

Tropical Butterfly House

One of the highlights of our visit to the Pacific Science Center was the Tropical Butterfly House. This exhibit has been open for 18 years now and is a 4,000 sq ft exhibit housing live, colorful butterfly all year round. The butterflies are imported weekly from sustainable farms in South and Central America, Africa and Asia. The exhibit contains about 500 butterflies and is warm and humid (~80°F) to mimic the tropical environment. I was in awe by the beautiful patterns that I saw on the butterflies. Check out my recap video below.

Oh, I loved seeing the eyespot on the wings of this owl butterfly:

You’ll find butterflies eating juices from overripe fruits. I saw some that were probing fruit pulp to find juicy spots. Butterflies have a proboscis – a hollow tube like straw – to draw nectar from flowers. Some species use fruit juice as food instead.

There were a few butterflies that were simply laying on the ground. But don’t worry, they’re OK! Butterflies need rest too.

Dinosaur Exhibit

The Dinosaur Exhibit features dinosaurs from the Mesozoic Era. Some of the dinosaurs are animated so it is a great place for kids to go and play make-believe.

Physical Sciences & Engineering Exhibits

The Pacific Science Center has numerous science exhibits for hands-on, interactive fun. My son particularly enjoyed exploring the Gemini Capsule Model. It was a particularly popular attraction as there was a line-up of kids for it!

And everywhere you turn, there’s something to engage with to test your knowledge or just have fun!

Just For Tots

The center also has a spacious toddler-centric safe, area for play.

Overall Impression

We really enjoyed our time at Pacific Science Center and am planning to return on our next trip to Seattle. Unfortunately, we stayed just about 2.5 hours and needed more time. It’s really a great place to enjoy a day of family fun and I would recommend visiting the center if you are visiting Seattle. For more information on CityPASS, visit www.citypass.com

Seattle Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour with CityPASS

March 30, 2017 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

My recent Spring Break trip to Seattle last week included visits to top attractions in the city thanks to CityPASS. CityPASS offers discounted admissions to popular attractions packaged into one convenient booklet. One of the attractions included in Seattle CityPASS is a harbor tour run by Argosy Cruises. Here are some highlights:

Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour — Ship

Disclosure: I am a CityPASS media partner and received complimentary CityPASS. The links below are affiliate links, which means I receive a commission if you click a link and make a purchase. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they will help us keep this site up. Thanks for the support!

About CityPASS

CityPASS is a great way to experience a city and to save money on admissions. For Seattle, you save 45% off admission to 5 top Seattle attractions. The pass is valid for 9 consecutive days and the booklets can be shipped, received via instant email delivery or purchased at a partner attraction. With CityPASS, you get to save time from standing in line and paying for admission at the attraction. All you need to do is walk up to the entrance, present your booklet, and then you’re in! One tip is that the CityPASS booklet is treated like cash so you must keep in safe. Unfortunately, if you lose the booklet, it cannot be replaced.

Seattle CityPASS Ticket Booklets

Check out an overview of the attractions included in Seattle CityPASS in this official video:

Getting onboard the cruise was very easy. Once we decided which of the tours we wanted to go on, we arrived 30 minutes ahead of departure time and presented the CityPASS booklet at the Argosy visitor center at Pier 56. Tour times are noted inside the CityPASS booklet.

Aboard the one-hour narrated Argosy Harbor cruise, we took in amazing views of the Seattle skyline, Elliott Bay waterfront, the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges, shipping terminals, and historic neighborhoods.

TIP: For the best views, coming and going, it is recommended to head to the top of the boat and sit on the city side (your right, when facing the front of the boat).

I particularly enjoyed getting up close with the shipping terminals and seeing US Coastguard ships.

On the tour, you also get a harbor view of the Seattle Space Needle. It was nice to see it from a different angle as we had gone up to the Observation Deck the day before.

Overall Impression

The Argosy Harbor Cruise is a terrific way to see the waterfront area of Seattle. The narrated tour was educational and, at times, hilariously entertaining. For more information on CityPASS, visit www.citypass.com

A Visit to the Seattle Space Needle with CityPass

March 29, 2017 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

For Spring Break this year, my family and I visited Seattle to experience the sights, attractions, and of course, the food! On this trip, we had the opportunity to see Seattle from a different angle and with convenience – that is, with CityPASS. One of the 5 attractions included in CityPASS is the infamous Seattle Space Needle.

About CityPASS

CityPASS is a fantastic way to visit a city’s top attractions with admissions packaged into one convenient booklet. For Seattle, you save 45% off admission to 5 top Seattle attractions. The pass is valid for 9 consecutive days and the booklets can be shipped, received via instant email delivery or purchased at a partner attraction. With CityPASS, you get to save time from standing in line and paying for admission at the attraction. All you need to do is walk up to the entrance, present your booklet, and then you’re in! One tip is that the CityPASS booklet is treated like cash so you must keep in safe. Unfortunately, if you lose the booklet, it cannot be replaced.

Seattle CityPASS Ticket Booklets

Check out an overview of the attractions included in Seattle CityPASS in this official video:

41 Second Ride Up

After presenting our CityPASSes right at the entrance, we received a ticket in exchange.

On your way to the elevator, there are numerous informational displays regarding the history of the Space Needle. The Seattle Space Needle was built in 1962 as an observation tower in honor of the 1962 World’s Fair. It is 605 ft high and a symbol of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.

The Space Needle elevators can carry 25 people at a time. Each elevator has 7 cables, though one is enough to hold the entire weight.

Check out my 41-second ride to the top in this recap video along with views from the observation deck and the sunset on the horizon.

Observation Deck

The observation deck sits at 520 feet. Fun fact: there are 848 steps from the bottom of the basement to the top of the Observation Deck. Staircase workout, anyone? From the deck, I could see the Seattle Great Wheel, the Seattle Aquarium (included in CityPASS) and Argosy Cruises (also included in CityPASS).

And there were lots of oooohhs and ahhhhs from visitors on the Observation Deck. Although quite a windy evening, the energy was happy and excited.

Many gathered to watch the sun setting in the horizon.

And of course, on your way out, you pass through the gift shop to pick up gifts and souvenirs.

One thing to note about visiting the Space Needle with CityPASS is that it includes Day/Night admission. So you can check out the amazing view in daylight, then return during the last 3 hours of operation to experience the lights of the city by dark.

Overall Impression

It was a fun and memorable experience visiting the Space Needle with CityPASS. I loved the 360-degree views of the mountains, water, and concrete jungle. For more information on CityPASS, visit www.citypass.com

Lining Up for $10 Lunchtime Pasta at Il Corvo

March 24, 2017 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

I’m a fan of Eater’s Dining on A Dime series on Youtube and it was there that I learned about Il Corvo in Seattle. Il Corvo is a humble eatery located in the Pioneer Square district and they serve handmade pasta for $10 at lunchtime on weekdays only. The restaurant is very community-oriented and believes that people should be able to enjoy high quality, handmade pasta at affordable prices. Known for their delicious pasta and budget-friendly menu, Il Corvo draws long lineups every service. After watching Lucas Peterson showcase Il Corvo, I had to try it myself. Check out the video below:

Note: This is not a sponsored post. This meal was not complimentary. I did not receive any compensation or incentive to share about my experience. The restaurant did not know that I am a blogger.

Line Up Before 11 Am

Last week, my family and I were on a spring break vacation in Seattle. I made it a point to have a light breakfast one morning and then head over to Il Corvo to line up before they opened at 11 am. We were first in line at 10:45 am but soon many people joined.

And by the way, if you’re first in line, the direction of the line should be facing downhill. The girl who came in behind me said that was how the line usually goes.

Il Corvo Etiquette

How it goes at Il Corvo is that you order at the counter, get a seat (either they direct you or you select), bus your own table and enjoy your food! The instructions are noted on their door.

Interior

The interior of Il Corvo is minimal and serves its purpose. The space is small and accommodates about 36 people; there is a mix of two and four-person dining tables and a larger communal table. Every seat is meant to be occupied so you might be sharing a table with others. The staff helps by directing people to sit at specific tables.

Il Corvo Menu

Il Corvo serves only three types of pasta each day which are noted on their chalkboard menu. Their also have antipasti dishes like house made focaccia, proscuitto & pickled celery, kale salad, olives and pickled vegetables. For drinks, they have wine including prosecco, and beer.

What We Tried

My husband and I tried the Cornetto with spring garlic cream and Bucatini al’Amatriciana with spicy pancetta and tomato sauce. Unfortunately, I forgot to order some antipasti to round out the meal. And when I realized it, it was too late; we had already been directed to a table and the line up was to the door.

Both pasta dishes were gloriously al dente – absolutely delicious! The sauces were flavourful but still light. I love white sauce and the spring garlic cream was just right. The bucatini had a nice amount of spiciness to eat to satisfy spicy lovers. both of the pastas were loaded with parmesan.

I know the pasta dishes were $10 but I wish they could charge more for a larger size. I certainly was wanting more of it because they were so tasty. Furthermore, the pasta dishes are very simply pasta with little or no other protein or seafood. Because of that, I would recommend the antipasti to round out the meal.

Why Weekday Lunch Only?

With the popularity of Il Corvo, some may ask why doesn’t the restaurant open for dinner and on weekends? According to the Il Corvo website, Chef-owner Mike Gaston had worked traditionally long hours in fast-paced restaurant environments. Hence, he conceived Il Corvo with a restaurant concept that would allow him to achieve a work-life balance.

Overall Impression

I was impressed with Il Corvo’s commitment to serving a high quality pasta dish at an affordable price. I do wish they had more options like larger size bowls, but I guess that would change their restaurant model. Would I line up for it again? Yes, if I could be in the first seating after they open. But if I had to wait over an hour, I probably wouldn’t as the menu isn’t diverse enough for me to make it worthwhile. Rating: 4/5

Rain Cafe in Seattle Makes Mille Crepe Cakes

March 23, 2017 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Last month, I enjoyed some utterly mouthwatering mille crêpe cakes at the newly opened L’otus Cake Boutique in Richmond. Though I have yet to visit Lady M for some world-class mille crêpe cakes, I am willing to settle for some local takes on this classic French cake with alternating layers of crêpe and cream. While researching interesting places to eat in Seattle, I came across Instagram posts of mille crêpe cakes offered at Rain Cafe. What stood out to me were that these cakes came in interesting flavours like taro, durian, cookies & cream and one “rainbow”-colored one. They also seem to have them pre-made instead of requiring customers to pre-order. I decided to visit to Rain Cafe to see how their mille crêpe cakes fared.

Note: This is not a sponsored post. This meal was not complimentary. I did not receive any compensation or incentive to share about my experience. The restaurant did not know that I am a blogger.

Asian Strip Mall

Rain Cafe is located in North Seattle in an Asian strip mall. The interior is very spacious and seems like a good place to study, get work done on a laptop, get together with friends or just enjoy a meal. They offer board games and even a keyboard piano and guitar for customers to use!

Seating is ample with a mix of booths, dining tables, and counter seating.

Rain Cafe Menu

Rain Cafe’s menu seems to be a mish-mash of Taiwanese and Japanese dishes. For appetizers, you’ll find Taiwanese and Japanese street food like popcorn chicken and takoyaki. For mains, they have Chinese-style oxtail soup but also unagi don. Rain Cafe also has a small poke bar if you’re in the mood for some poke. Drinks run the gamut from coffee, tea to bubble tea. The menu seems affordable with appetizers between $4-$6 and mains between $7 – $11. Good for a student budget.

My primary interest were the mille crêpe cakes which they label as simply “layer cake.” The layer cakes are made in house according to staff and are placed in a display case. At the time of my visit, the flavours for the layer cake were taro, matcha, cookies and cream and durian. They also offer other types desserts like Japanese cheesecake and crème brûlée.

What We Tried

My family and I came in for some mid-day snacks and had the following:

Agedeshi tofu ($4.95)
Popcorn chicken ($4.95)
Taro layer cake ($7)
Cookies & cream layer cake ($7.25)

For the taro layer cake, you could taste the taro flavour. I thought it was decently moist, light, creamy and flavourful. In terms of presentation, it could be neater like the arrangement of the layers or perhaps trimming the edges. But for a more home-style mille crêpe cakes or rather one that you would find in an Asian strip mall, I thought it was pretty good and satisfying.

The cookies & cream is a more unique flavour for a layer cake. It was less smooth than the taro cake because it had crushed cookie bits within the cream layer. The cookie bits added som fun texture to an otherwise smooth dessert. It did taste like cookies and cream and was delicious overall.

And here’s a little video of me cutting into those cakes:

Cookies & Cream and Taro mille crepe cakes at Rain Cafe in North Seattle. I quite enjoyed these more unique flavours for a mille crepe. They offer Durian and Matcha flavours as well ?#NotSponsoredJustLove . #blog #blogger #foodblog #bloguese #foodblogger #bloggerlife #seattle #friday #fridays #seattlefoodie #seattlepulse #feed #travelblogger #traveling #tgif #traveltheworld #pnw #usa #america #cake #taro #cookie #sweets #holidays #springbreak #vacation

A post shared by FOODGRESSING.COM | Areta (@foodgressing) on Mar 24, 2017 at 3:29pm PDT

Aside from cake, we had some savouries like the original flavour popcorn chicken. Good texture in terms of crispy on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside. However, it was quite underseasoned even for original flavour. Adding some more salt would improve the taste.

Agedeshi tofu is one of my go-to Japanese appetizers. Crunchy on the outside, silky on the inside, and reasonably sweet and savoury flavours from the sauce. Pretty good.

Overall Impression

All the food we tried from Rain Cafe was better than expected for the type of place it is. Their cakes weren’t the most polished in terms of presentation but still decently satisfying for the sweet tooth. I wouldn’t mind trying their layer cakes again in other flavours but the taro and cookies & cream were good. Rating: 3.5/5

I Tried McDonald’s Chocolate Dipped Cone

March 21, 2017 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

This past week, my family and I took a Spring Break vacation down to Seattle. And on one pit stop of our drive south, we visited a McDonald’s in Ferndale, WA. While it’s always interesting to see some differences in menu offerings, one particular standout was the McDonald’s chocolate dipped cone. As I was standing in line to order, I noticed numerous customers walking away with this cone. The McDonald’s chocolate dipped cone is priced at $0.99 and features a vanilla soft-serve in a rich, chocolaty hard shell.

Note: This is not a sponsored post. This cone was not complimentary. I did not receive any compensation or incentive to share about my experience. The restaurant did not know that I am a blogger.

A new menu item?

While I initially thought that was the case, a search online shows they are not new. It seems that they were introduced sometime back in 2012 for a limited time. When they were discontinued, that certainly did not sit well with fans of the chocolate dipped cone. There was even one attempt to petition Obama to bring back the cone.

Did I like it?

To start, the cone I received could be improved in terms of presentation. My cone specifically lacked a soft serve swirl. So when the soft serve was coated with chocolate, it didn’t look as good as it would have with a swirl. The chocolate coating is quite smooth, but thick and doesn’t break apart that easily. It’s also quite sweet which makes the vanilla cone much more indulgent. For me, however, the chocolate was too rich for my taste.

And as you can see in the photo below, the chocolate coating is so hard that I was easily able to rip off the entire “casing” from the cone itself.

Verdict

I think the McDonald’s chocolate dipped cone gives the regular vanilla soft serve some extra “oomph” by making it a more decadent treat. However, the chocolate mix they use for the coating is too rich for my personal taste. My overall rating for the McDonald’s chocolate dipped cone is 3/5.

Where Can You Get One?

For those of you looking to get one of these cones, they are currently being offered at 1688 Main St, Ferndale, WA 98248. And it might a very limited offering because the McDonald’s USA site doesn’t even list it on their menu online.

Hot New Seattle Restaurant: Wanderfish Poke

February 23, 2017 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

When my family and I visited Seattle last month, I researched for new, hot restaurants in Seattle. Reviewing Seattle Eater’s Best New Restaurants List, I came across Wanderfish Poke which they recommended. Poke-focused eateries are currently all the craze in Vancouver and I thought it would be interesting to see how poke fared in Seattle. What drew me to visit Wanderfish Poke in particular was the fact that they use locally and sustainably-sourced seafood. I’m a fan of sustainable food, protecting the oceans and support the Ocean Wise program here in Vancouver. While we have many poke eateries in Vancouver, there is just one that is Ocean Wise: Poke Guy in Gastown. So with the appeal of sustainable ingredients, I decided to visit Wanderfish Poke on our trip.

Wanderfish Way

Located in Capitol Hill, Wanderfish has a charming, cute, nautical-inspired yet still modern interior. Above the poke bar, there is a line that reads, “Life’s Short – Eat Fresh & Travel Often.” That resonated with me at the time as we were traveling and coming to Wanderfish Poke to “eat fresh.” This was a good sign (in different meanings). There was a mix of dining tables for 2 – 4 people and a high top counter near the back under some industrial lights.

Wanderfish Poke Menu

Wanderfish Poke delivers a fast-casual yet farm-to-table approach; they’re about sustainable fish, a chef-driven menu, and locally-sourced produce. On their menu are build-your-own bowl options as well as Chef creations. Bowls range between $9 – $13. Their menu is available online. Their salmon is wild and not farmed and their sauce is made in-house from scratch. The bases they offered seemed “healthier” than your typical sushi rice: bamboo rice, brown rice, kelp noodle & seaweed, kale mix, and lettuce. For protein, they offer sustainable ahi tuna, wild sockeye salmon, albacore, bay scallops and tofu. Wanderfish also has some good options for spicy food lovers like habanero, jalapeno chips, chili thread and spicy aioli.

Chef and co-owner Jason Velasquez was there on the evening of my visit.

What We Tried

We went with two large poke bowls ($12.49): the Poke & Chips and Truffle Bowl. The Poke & Chips seemed like a unique concept; I’ve never tried chips with poke. Wanderfish’s version had sweet chili soy, walla walla onions, tomatoes, avocado, cilantro, corn, masago, and gluten-free chips. I went with ahi tuna for the protein. And the verdict: it was absolutely delicious. A light, refreshing bowl where everything just tasted so good together. The chips were very grainy and crunchy gave the bowl a fun textural contrast compared to the usual rice.

I enjoyed scooping up the poke and toppings onto the chip. Who knew that poke and gluten-free tortilla chips would go so well together. Bravo.

The other bowl we had was the Truffle Bowl which was quite different from the Poke & Chips. I went with kelp noodle for the base, albacore for the protein and the rest were truffle aioli, dill, masago, crisp garlic, green onion, enoki mushroom, and shimeji mushroom. It was tasty but on the heavier, creamier side from the truffle aioli. We couldn’t quite finish all of it in one sitting. I think getting a small bowl would be good for this one.

Overall Impression

I was impressed with Wanderfish’s commitment to showcasing what the Pacific Northwest has to offer in terms of sustainable, fresh fish and local produce. Those Poke & Chips are worth the drive (across the border) and I’d be back for it on my next trip to Seattle. Rating: 4/5

Website: www.wanderfishpoke.com

Jade Garden in Seattle

April 15, 2016 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Fellow food blogger, Picky Diner’s, recent food adventures in Seattle inspired me to finally write about my Seattle eats. So in today’s flashback Friday post I’m going to share with you my visit to Jade Garden in Seattle.

Back in 2012, Bolt Bus had just launched service from Vancouver to Seattle and were offering fares for $1. I took advantage of the deal and did a day trip down to Seattle with my mom. The drop off point in Seattle was 5th Avenue South and King Street which is very close to Chinatown. Feeling hungry after a long bus ride, we ventured to the nearby Jade Garden for some lunch. A quick search of Urbanspoon and Yelp on my phone had showed that Jade Garden was one of the top places for Chinese food in Seattle. The popularity was confirmed by the fact that we had to line up though not too long. However, it seemed like there were slowly more and more people arriving.

Old School

Jade Garden is definitely an old school Chinese restaurant by having dim sum carts. This way of serving food in Chinese restaurants in Metro Vancouver was slowly disappearing. The interior also seemed to be a bit dated.

What We Tried

Our meal consisted of egg tarts, pineapple buns, Shanghai dumplings, and shrimp dumplings. There was a tea charge of $0.60 and the dim sum were priced reasonably at $2-$3. The food in general tasted good though not better than what I had in Metro Vancouver. I give them credit for their decent portions for the price. Although the food is not made-to-order, they tasted pretty fresh and was piping hot. Given the high volume and turnaround, the food probably doesn’t sit on the cart for too long. Service was basic which is what you would expect at these kinds of places.

Overall Impression of Jade Garden

At Jade Garden, you’ll get a satisfying meal without breaking the bank. I like the old school Chinese restaurant vibe with the dim sum carts. Rating: 3.5/5

About CityPASS

Tropical Butterfly House

Dinosaur Exhibit

Physical Sciences & Engineering Exhibits

Just For Tots

Overall Impression

About CityPASS

Overall Impression

About CityPASS

41 Second Ride Up

Observation Deck

Overall Impression

Line Up Before 11 Am

Il Corvo Etiquette

Interior

Il Corvo Menu

What We Tried

Why Weekday Lunch Only?

Overall Impression

Asian Strip Mall

Rain Cafe Menu

What We Tried

Overall Impression

A new menu item?

Did I like it?

Verdict

Where Can You Get One?

Wanderfish Way

Wanderfish Poke Menu

What We Tried

Overall Impression

Old School

What We Tried

Overall Impression of Jade Garden

About Me

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