Well Worth The Wait

It’s that time of year again. Yeah, you guessed it, The Barleywine Fest at The Parkway. Now I know I haven’t much written about The Parkway on this blog, but don’t let that deceive you. I have a great love for that place. Some of the most treasured people in my life work there and for the past few years some great memories have been made there. It is, for many reasons, my 3rd place.

They are a wonderful source of great events throughout the year. Barelywine is my personal favorite. Not only is it an opportunity to try beverages that you normally wouldn’t, but it’s also a good excuse to get pants-shitting drunk. If you reserve only a few times a year to drink like there’s no tomorrow, let this be one of them.

This isn’t for the faint of heart. Usually after only a couple you can start to understand (and appreciate) why they only serve these bad boys in 6 ounce glasses (formerly 8 oz, but I think the change is for the better). They encourage you to buy 5-7 at a time so you can compare and contrast. Awesome.

As usual, they will also be having a little roast out on the patio with a little piggy on the grill as well as some other meaty favorites for all you carnivores. This is usually the point when I start to really get excided about the impending summer weather.

This year I’m excited to not only take part in the tasting, but I’ll also be working there that evening. Look for the sassy one taking your empties and telling you to go to the bar if you want to order anything (good luck). It tends to get pretty busy that day so I would recommend bringing your most patient attitude.

And because I would be an idiot if I didn’t say so: Remember to use good judgment that night. If possible, walking is your best bet, but if not cabs are always available.

Resurrected!

I suppose it seems fitting with Easter at our backs. The secret ingredient that I’m lacking is time. It’s tough enough working two jobs, but two service industry jobs (as many of you know) makes it nye impossible to muster up enough energy and/or time for anything outside of work. I usually joke with my customers (although mostly true) that my social life is my work. I interact with people, I’m out of the house, I’m showered (most of the time) and wearing pants (always).

Most of you know that I was forced back into this industry after not so politely being laid off (twice!) from my last. I fought it, kicking and screaming, but nevertheless here we are again. I forgot what ass-kicking, back-breaking, patience-testing work this can be, but I’ll be damned if I don’t find myself falling in love with it all over again.

I was reading The Weekly Volcano recently while at work, mainly an article about what a hit the restaurant industry is taking as of late. Our economy, going to shit and all, is taking it out on the places we love the most. I’m still young enough (naïve enough?) to believe that something like this hardly affects my day-to-day life, or at least I thought I was.

This is me being affected by it. Day to freaking day.

To make a long story short, people, don’t forget the places you enjoy eating, drinking and shooting the shit at the most. We didn’t forget about you. In fact, chances are we are longing for the days when you used to send your food back 8 times because we didn’t have the correct salt to pepper ratio or that one time you had too many PBR Tall Boys and thought it would be a great idea to take your shirt off and dance around the bar. Yes, you, That Guy- we want you back with all your sloppy drunk, manner lacking, 32 cent tip leaving glory. We promise we won’t judge you as much as we used to.

Here, eat this.

My weekend was filled with an abundance of food, beverage, laughter and love. I was hopeful it would be, but I try not to control how my days fold out for me. I’ve truly grown to despise planning ahead, and am now more interested in spontaneity, happenstance and good food.

Carmelita: A vegetarian delight.

Rich sauces, fresh ingredients and a happy yet not quite full tummy. When you compare the portions to the price it almost doesn’t jive. Then you taste it, and none of that really matters anymore.

The food successfully saturates every known taste bud and awakens some that maybe aren’t so well known. Each plate seems to feature a wide range of textures and a fantastic balance of flavors to make even the meatiest meat eater pleasantly surprised. But don’t get too used to the menu as it changes with the seasons. This is A-OK with me knowing that they’ll be featuring the season’s best ingredients with each new meal. Is it fall yet?

Before summer ends try the Spinach, artichoke and ricotta rotolo with green garlic cream, taggiasca olive-tomato salad and basil oil. For $18 I may not have gotten completely full, but I was fully satisfied. Each element was like an exaggeration of itself; the creamy sauce was the creamiest and the spinach was the greenest. I had to remind myself to slow down and actually taste it, not inhale it.

I was actually happy after my meal because it left just enough room for a couple bites of dessert. The Chocolate Muck Muck featured a chocolate brownie with a hot, magma liquid chocolate center. Flanking this was a strawberry sauce that looked like catsup and whipped cream that was as thick as custard.

If not just for the food come for the atmosphere as well. The waitstaff is dressed as if they are going to the prom (tastefully), and the decor is extraordinary. From the warm, dim lighting to the intricate, metal leaf sculptures on the ceiling to the poppy mural in the main dining area, this place cocoons you so you don’t want to leave.

The only bad thing I found was that the service was only medial, but not horrible. The most attentive employee was the water guy who insisted on filling my glass even after I only took a couple drinks.

All in all:

Tacoma Szechuan: As authentic as it gets in Tacoma.
Next to Paldo World on the corner of 96th and S. Tacoma Way

It would be difficult to say anything truly bad about this place. It is by far the best authentic Chinese food the South End has to offer, and if it weren’t for Shanghai Cafe in Bellevue Tacoma Szechuan would be the best.

Authentic, delicious, priced well, and large portions to boot. (I ate for 2 days!) If you don’t believe me try the Hot Pot. I dare you to finish that in one sitting even if you have friends helping you. I have yet to explore everything the menu has to offer, but I will be checking back in from time to time to describe my findings as I will surely be returning back to this place. Plus they have smoothies!

All in all (so far):

The Red Hot: Like Shorty’s only better.
(no clowns!)

They’ve got it going on. The specialty? Hot dogs. Any possible way you can imagine them, they’ve probably got it. And they’re fantastic, I hear. The downer is that they stop serving the dogs at 10pm and I arrived at approximately 10:10. But let’s not overshadow the fact that they also have beer. So even if you miss the dogs you didn’t necessarily miss the fun! There’s still good beer!

Beer that you can enjoy while watching old school metal videos on the projection TV, but only until midnight when they close. This is actually good news because it means I don’t have to completely abandon my usual spot on Saturdays; I’ll just be showing up a little later. This can be good news for you as well because The Red Hot is located on the ever growing 6th Ave. in North Tacoma, which if you know that area at all you know is in stumbling distance to about 5 other drinking spots minimum.

All in all: