The next day, after a pretty awesome visit to the Olympia Children’s Museum, we stopped into Pacific Northwest seafood chain Anthony’s. While the dated decor and music said, “no, no and no,” the food said, “we have some hits.” Because Raquel and I like to share a smorgasbord of small bites rather than each get our own plates, we went for a bowl of delicious clam chowder, Hawaiian ahi nachos (poke on taro chips) and oysters grilled, fried and as a shooter. However, the clear star of the meal was the baked Dungeness crab, shrimp and artichoke dip with its creamy, hot-seasoned seafood and crispy French bread transfer vehicles. It had to be my last bite.
Our route back up north to Seattle had a couple of stops along the way, starting with the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. Our hike provided stunning vistas, lush foliage and a horny toad, too. We were then ready for the final push, but not before our last stop in Tacoma by the water for another seafood smorgasbord at Lobster Shop (@LobsterShop, 4015 Ruston Way, www.lobstershop.com).
Perhaps it was sitting on the deck overlooking Commencement Bay that made us go a little overboard with the happy hour menu at Lobster Shop. Lots of seafood again and too many desserts, but the clear winner was fried Beecher’s cheese curds with chili jam. Rest in peace mozzarella sticks! And look for me @BeechersNY!
This is only the first four days of my trip back to Washington State. Visit my blog at www.talkingSCHOP.wordpress.com for more photos and musings and a preview of Part II.
