Friday, November 23, 2007

The Grateful Bread

Here we are on our first stop - a wonderful little bakery and coffee shop called The Grateful Bread. This is somewhat of a local secret buried deep in Seattle's residential neighborhood of Wedgwood. A new-comer, however, would never know it, as it's always quite busy, if not packed, especially on a Sunday morning. Whether you are young or old, hungry or thirsty, or just looking for a good place to study, this is it. When we arrived, it was hoppin'.

Jakes says:
The Drinks: 3/5 shots. With Cafe Vita coffee, how can one go wrong?! I got an americano, room for cream. It was yummy. In fact, as I was leaving, I went and got another. Yikes!
The Buzz: 4/5 shots. This place was jamming! I loved the vivacious spirit. But, if you are one who likes to ponder the meaning of life, visit on a weekday and enjoy the serenity.
The Aftertaste: On top of a great cup o' joe, I had an amazing pizza bagel that was served piping hot. All in all, this is a great place to be. We'll be back very soon! I hope to see you there!!!

Chrissy says:
The Drinks: 3.5/5 shots.
I love Caffé Vita Coffee. It was my favorite a year or so back, in fact, and I have been know to give a bag of whole beans (fresh from the roaster on Capitol Hill) as a gift for close friends and family. I thought my double non-fat latté at GB was quite good: full-bodied, with a slightly strong, deeply-roasted overtone. Even though I usually prefer a light to medium roast, I really enjoyed this cup. The latté art was okay, too...
The Buzz: 4/5 shots. I cannot agree with Jake when he recommends visiting Grateful Bread on a weekday for a more serene environment, because I tried just that two weeks ago when I met my colleague to plan for an upcoming student performance. There wasn't even an open table on Tuesday at noon, so we were "forced" to go across the street to Top Pot Doughnuts (NOT a bad alternative in the least!) Every time I have gone to GB, from the first year I moved to Seattle (2001), this place has been buzzin' and busy. The fact that I am still going back to the Grateful Bread after seven years speaks for itself. Bottom line: There is a vivacious feel at the Grateful Bread that adds to the ambiance instead of overwhelming it. There is a community feel as it attracts young people and old. We saw a table with three generations enjoying each other's company - an old-timer grandfather with a few parents and their two young children. It's always refreshing to see a variety of folks out and about.
The Aftertaste: 5/5 shots.
GB is laid back, yet they do such a terrific job at what they do: coffee, baked goods, homemade soups and sandwiches (yum on all accounts!) This feels like a truly authentic Seattle coffee shop - almost cliché: hippie barristas (some complete with dreadlocks), a community bulletin board near the bathrooms, warm colors and lighting, outdoor covered seating (accessible in the winter months), and damn good coffee. The picture of Gerry Garcia behind the L-shaped serving counter - a nod to this shop's namesake - also adds some indie flair. I feel like I am treating myself when I go to the Grateful Bread, which is when I usually have time to walk there (up two big San Fransisco-type hills).




http://www.gratefulbreadbaking.com/

Sunday, November 18, 2007

The Grind

We decided that we would live up to the name of our blog and give you all a taste of something most Seattelites take very seriously: coffee. This is the first of hopefully many reviews of our favorite coffee refueling pits stops in Seattle!

First, we must make the disclaimer that not all coffee shops in Seattle are the same...

Yes, Dr. Evil is the CEO, but the real issue is that the coffee leaves an aftertaste similiar to that of charred bath water (thumbs down). To their credit, the Starbucks in our lovely Wedgewood neighborhood has a really charming dual-sided indoor/outdoor fireplace that offers locals some extra comfort during the rainy season.



Notice all of the customers...

THE GRIND

Each establishment will receive a rating in three different categories, 0-5 shots of espresso in each category:

A) THE DRINKS - taset, presentation, etc
B) THE BUZZ - vibe, ambiance, etc
C) THE AFTERTASTE - our chance to summarize our general impressions of whats good and whats less than good

Chrissy rates, Jake rates.

With this easy guide just a key-click away, you will be a bit more informed while navigating the extensive java network in Seattle. We hope you enjoy reading as much as we will "researching"! Stay tuned...

Saturday, November 10, 2007

My So Called e-Life...

“Life is a b movie, it’s stupid and it’s strange; a directionless story and the dialogue is lame. But in the “he said”, “she said” sometimes there’s some poetry, if you turn back long enough and let it happen naturally.” ~Ani~

I must be one of the last people on the planet who does not have a blog. I tried Myspace for a while and failed miserably. (You may find relics of me still there) But, being far from friends and family, I’m willing to give it another shot. I hope that you find some amusement in our “he said”, “she said” e-life.

Just a quick synopsis of my life since we last chatted. Do you want regular or decaf? One shot or two? Room for cream?

I am trying to get through physical therapy school at the University of Washington. It definitely has pushed my envelope for learning. I bought a little one bedroom condo in NE Seattle, where I live with...

Chrissylein (aka TANK)-


Banja'-


and Buddha Belly.-


We all seem to be really happy to be together despite the tight quarters.

Well, that’s about it. Really. I’ll try to get some more pictures posted as the spirit catches me. Adios.

-Jake

Talk amongst yourselves...

Although this blog will likely have very little to do with coffee, it will certainly give Jake and me a chance to express ourselves and throw a bit of our lives up on the web. Something about blogs irks me, but I do realize that I occasionally wonder how a friend or family member is doing and hop on their blog for a quick update. (It's a better alternative than, say, calling at a very late hour - Pacific and Eastern time!) So, stay tuned for some pics and hopefully video clips, too, once I decide on a camcorder to buy.

As for an update, I have still been coming to grips with the fact that my Summer of Glory has come to an end. No more tromping around in the Alps,

no more Paris,

and no more heirloom tomatoes.

I think I have been experiencing lycopene withdrawal, in fact. Additionally, it is now dark at 4:30 pm! Blah. There is a reason why this city is known for it's coffee and micro-brews. And grunge music.

While I'm thinking of it, here is my teaching website for those of you who haven't seen it: www.dunaway.violininstructor.com
Yeah, I know... Cheap way to increase my Google visibility! :)

In the meantime, talk amongst yourselves!

Chrissy

P.S. - I took so many photos of sheep and cows in the Alps, much to Brian's annoyance, that I thought I would put one to good use. Here goes...

(Say, is that a black sheep???)