Pastry and Coffee. Delightful.

During one of our treks to the Market, we decided to try out Le Panier, a French bakery we’ve passed by several times. I now know that every time I wander around Pike Place, I will be overcome with a craving for a palmier.

Confession time friends. I’ve never had a palmier. I had seen these delightful-looking crisps in grocery stores and have always been intrigued, but something deep down told me that if I tried the packaged kind, I would be let down. I needed to save my first experience for something real. And I am so glad I waited.

We went into Le Panier, and liked it at once. The tiny little shop was packed with people waiting in line for treats. I have to admit, I felt a little bit like a tourist as I gaped at all of the gorgeous desserts and pastries in the case. I am woefully unfamiliar with French pastries, but am now determined to become an expert…. Although I’ll have to do it slowly, so I can still fit into my jeans.

As the line crept forward, we weighed our options and decided on a Raspberry Croissant (Josh loves anything raspberry, and really appreciates a good croissant), and I was at once taken by the delicate little Palmier. We ordered our treats, along with a dark chocolate mocha to share. We were so glad we did.

The mocha was a very nice addition to the pastry – not too sweet, and very good decaf. Highly recommended.

Really Delicious Dark Chocolate Mocha

The croissant was wonderful, tender and flaky and filled with raspberry preserves. But the palmier… that elegant little confection stole my pastry-loving heart. Crisp and sweet and airy… if I don’t stop talking about it, I’m going to have to ask Josh to take me back right now.

Palmier and Raspberry Croissant

Chai and Green Tea Bread

The other day Josh and I were in Pioneer Square, and decided to try All City Coffee. It was quiet when we went in, possibly a slow time of the morning. The barista got our order for us and we took a seat at the bar by the window.

The decor is retro-garage, and for a moment I felt the urge to go home and dust off a copy of Grease. Old cars are etched onto the glass of the pastry case and painted onto canvases along the walls. Bar stools are polished wood atop what look to be camshafts lodged in the floor. Large windows overlook the corner of 4th and Prefontaine, and one feels comfortably tucked away in non-touristy part of Seattle. Electronic music played in the background, and there was even a small bar set up in the corner, unattended at 8am.

Barstools by the Window

This morning we ordered a chai and green tea bread. The bread was sweet, moist and dense, and had adzuki beans throughout, which was a creative touch. The beans added a unique texture and we really enjoyed them. The chai was nicely spiced and not too sweet, but lacked a depth of other flavors. I’m not sure which brand of chai they use, but it didn’t quite hit the spot for me. The soy milk was textured well though, and the foam was dense and rich. I was glad that they offered ceramic plates and mugs – a huge bonus in a good coffee shop.

Chai and Green Tea Bread

There is an upstairs loft (an even bigger bonus in quality coffee shops), and there is a large leather couch with a glass topped coffee table. There are a handful of other smaller tables and chairs, making it a cozy little nook to hide away and study while enjoying a morning cup. 

View of King Street Station

View of the Bar From the Loft

Overall, it was a nice place to get a cup of coffee and relax for a while. It’s conveniently close to the train station, so if you have a bit of a walk after you take the train, stop by All City Coffee first. There’s also another location in Georgetown on South Vale. Or check out their website at www.allcitycoffee.com.  

Outside of All City Coffee

[where: 125 Prefontaine Place South, Seattle WA 98104]

Decaf Double Short Americano and a Marionberry Croissant

Zeitgeist is a coffee shop in Pioneer Square, just a couple of blocks away from King Street Station. We love it, and since we were planning on spending the day in Seattle, we knew we had to start it off with a cup of coffee from Zeitgeist.

Order Counter

Order Counter

The interior of Zeitgeist has a very retro feel – everything about it’s brick walls, high warehouse ceilings, cooler full of quality bottled beverages and brown eggs in a wire basket, well-worn furniture and independent art on the walls makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a slightly different – and much more hip – world. This morning there was world music playing in the background – all the more reason for us to love the environment!

Interior of Zeitgeist

I especially love the giant dictionary on the stand in the center of the shop. The first time Josh and I were there, we flipped through it and found the definition of its namesake: “The spirit of the time; the taste and outlook characteristic of a period or generation…the general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people.” Very fitting!

This morning we ordered our favorite drink – a decaf double short americano. Good, strong decaf espresso that is not acidic or watered down is so difficult to find. We were pleased with the drink that we got, although I have to admit I’ve had better. It was rich and smooth, which is good, but there was still an aspect to the flavor that was lacking. It tasted a bit hollow almost, and it didn’t seem to hit all the tastebuds in my mouth like a good cup of coffee should. However, it was not acidic, just mild. I’ll take mild over acidic any day. It tasted better after a bite of the croissant. The pastry was delicious – fresh and flaky, just like a classic croissant should taste. It was filled with marionberry preserves and a sweet cheese, then dusted with powdered sugar. Well worth the mess we made polishing it off!

Decaf Double Short Americano and a Marionberry Croissant

The first time we came here, I discovered the joys of Spinach Feta Croissant, grilled on a panini grill. Amazing…. If you’re in the area, stop in and sample their coffee and a pastry. Be sure to give yourself enough time to enjoy the atmosphere as well! You can also visit their website atwww.zeitgeistcoffee.com

Outside of Zeitgeist Coffee

[where: 171 South Jackson St., Seattle WA 98104]

Interior of Sip

Josh and I are admitted coffee snobs. While we were on our honeymoon in Oregon, we learned that it is almost impossible to find a decent cup of coffee (yes, even at Starbucks) outside of Seattle. Sip Coffee, however, is one of those rare places…

Sip Coffee Logo

Located in Lynnwood, it’s north enough for those of us that don’t want to drive all the way into Seattle for decent coffee. Not only are we coffee snobs in general, but we’re also decaf drinkers. Twice the challenge! Most decaf is sour and acidic. Sip serves Caffe Vita, which has an amazing decaf called Novacella Decaf. It’s smooth and rich and doesn’t turn acidic as it cools off. We drink decaf quad tall americanos – strong, smooth and rich. We’ve never been disappointed at Sip.

Located in Newberry Square, Sip is a recent addition to the development along Ash Way. They offer a drive through, but because of the layout of the parking lot, it’s a little tricky to navigate at times.

Interior of Sip

Interior of Sip

The staff has always been friendly and very helpful. Once we brought in a bag of Caffe Vita coffee that we had purchased online, and they ground it for us. Another time, we walked in and didn’t realize they were closing. We were there to buy coffee beans and have them ground, and they were very gracious and still helped us out. We were so grateful, because we live 20 minutes away!

Their pastry selection is good too – it’s limited, but fresh and delicious. Josh likes their scones and I am a fan of the white chocolate cranberry coconut muffins… Mmmm…

We’re so hooked on americanos, we haven’t discovered if they do latte art or not. We will have to go back with the intention of finding out. We’ll let you know!

[where: 16108 Ash Way Lynnwood WA 98087]