My action-packed trip to Redmond included so many foodie destinations, meetings with old friends from Santa Barbara, dinner with extended family, and apartment preparation.
Day 1: Wednesday evening
When I arrived in Seattle, my significant other picked me up at the airport after work, so we headed out for cocktails and a late dinner. Matador (in Redmond) had an incredible collection of spirits. Since the tequila bar served as a centerpiece of the restaurant, the appetizers, and the entrees paired with the spicy cocktails beautifully.
Day 2: Thursday
The following afternoon I ordered an Uber (ride share) and met my friend Lily at the university bookstore. The commute into the city was smooth as silk. The gigantic lush pine trees lined the highways and I marveled at the bridges as I crossed Lake Washington.
When I arrived at the university bookstore and I was blown away by the 2 stories of treasures. The items were so neatly organized. I felt like a kid in a candy store with all the great titles, vibrant illustrations, novelty gifts, University of Washington swag wear, and fancy pop-up greeting cards. As I browsed through the journals and the pens, I spotted my dear friend Lily walking through the double doors! Although she and I kept in touch via text, phone, and zoom, it was the first time I interacted with her in person in over 2 years.
University of Washington (Seattle campus)
After exploring the aisles at the bookstore, we wandered through campus and looked for a place to eat lunch. We decided to visit an outdoor shopping area called the University Village.
Din Tai Fung at the University Village
When we arrived at the village, we took the escalator to the Taiwanese dumpling house Din Tai Fung. The first Din Tai Fung dumpling house was established Taipei (the capital city of Taiwan) and has expanded to over 170 locations around the world. The Hong Kong location was awarded 1 Michelin star. At the University Village location, dumplings were pressed and shaped in-house and the open kitchen showcased the production line. These delicate soup dumplings were filled with scrumptious fillings and delicate broths, then sealed with 18 folds.
When we finished our delicious lunch, Lily and I strolled around the outdoor shopping center and pondered over the stationary at Paper Source. We sat at Starbucks with our pumpkin spice lattes in hand and continued sharing about university projects. After Lily left for more errands, I stayed at Starbucks to do some planning and journal writing.
My partner and I caught up over dinner after a long day. One thing I love about living by a port city is sampling the fresh seafood! Duke’s Seafood has been in business for over 40 years. We had our salmon dinners and shared the rich clam chowder. The chowder consisted ocean treasures like whole clams, heavy cream, supple potatoes chunks, zingy celery slices, and cracked black pepper.
The salmon was as fresh as they come. The filets were perfectly paired with roasted Yukon potatoes
We continued the mid-week date night with an evening movie. On the way home from Duke’s we drove to the local Cinemark at Totem Lake watched the newly-released film Candy Man (2021).
Day 3: Friday
Friday was the first rainy day during my stay. Since the Pacific Northwest is known for precipitation all year, I purchased some fall/winter rain gear such as a waterproof anorak and a matching rugby shirt. I also stashed my magenta umbrella in my carry-on baggage just in case.
I had a lunch meeting with my former research assistant in Redmond and it was the first time I met with her in-person since March 2020 in Santa Barbara. It was the best feeling reconnecting with an old friend in a new environment after being separated for almost two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We wanted something small, but filling. Rocky’s empanadas were the tastiest savory pastries. At Rocky’s, these traditional Argentinean turnovers had perfectly golden shells and were stuffed with rich, hearty fillings such as, steak, classic beef, caprese, as well as mushroom and cheese.
I enjoyed being cozy at home when rain occurs. Some of my favorite self-care activities included: relaxing at home with music or a podcast, making tea, and finding a place for household items. With the delicious empanadas in my belly, I stayed warmed inside the apartment and reorganized the bedroom closet.
After work, my partner and I met with extended family in Ballard. Ballard had remnants of its industrial roots with all cranes, canaries, and fisheries. Recently the neighborhood evolved into a waterfront community with many trendy bars, restaurants, and shops by the local marina.
The three of us had dinner at Sen Noodle Bar. This eatery offered so many different types of noodles, flavorful sauces, and fresh vegetables, and lean protein. I ordered the spicy vegetarian noodles with pan seared tofu. Then my partner and I drove up to visit Kerry Park to watch the sunset. I heard about the legendary city views from Kerry Park in movies and YouTube videos. The drive up the hill filled me with anticipation and wonder. The view at Kerry Park reminded me of what I love about Seattle and how Redmond is becoming my home away from home.
Day 4: Saturday
The weekend was perfect for shopping and errands. I was experimenting with the Chemex and made café Americano at home in our new place during the week. Saturday started with a couple’s gym session and the gourmet coffee pick-up.
Before we began the shopping tour, we popped into a local coffee shop to grab breakfast on the go. I read positive reviews for Mercury Coffee and I always strive to support local businesses rather than national chains. Of all the coffee shops I visited around the world, the offerings at Mercury coffee were hidden gems. The modest storefront and the friendly barista resonated with the outdoor spirit. The fresh coffee and almond croissants were local treasures.
During our lunch break, my partner and I strolled through the Bellevue Downtown Park and explored the local neighborhood. We admired all the boutiques, art galleries, luxurious home decorations, antiques shops, and interior design exemplars.
Then, we worked up an appetite for a healthy lunch and sampled the local fish at I love sushi in Bellevue. We were offered great seating by the sushi bar and had gorgeous, succulent rolls with hot sake.
Since it was my first stay at the new apartment in Redmond, I assessed which home organization containers my partner and I wanted to use. We created systems for keeping the apartment tidy, and found strategies for making our household items accessible when needed. We stocked up on kitchen supplies at Ikea, bargain hunted at Ross, and treasure hunted at Target.
As much as I enjoy eating out and sampling the local fare, I actually find magic when I take on the role of the chef. We stopped by Whole Foods to find fresh ingredients on the way back and we gathered supplies for gourmet eats at home. As soon as I stepped into the apartment, I felt so relieved in our redesigned kitchen.
I believe the kitchen is the heart and soul of every home, especially since it is the central gathering place for friends and friends. We opened a bottle of local red wine and paired it with a semi-hard cheese. I heated the whole wheat garlic naan, then diced the bell peppers and red onions for the chicken bowls.
As we watched a movie, we also heated up carrot ginger soup as a late-night snack.
Day 5: Sunday
Sunday was a special day since my significant took the diced peppers, a bit of the cheese, and whooped up an incredible scramble. Seeing him take the lead in the kitchen and prepare breakfast for us was such a treat. We had our scramble with the whole wheat garlic naan, and orange juice before heading to the gym.
After our gym session, and hot yoga class, I finished packing before we grabbed a light lunch on the way to the airport.
Once I boarded the airplane, I finally had a chance to reflect on my adventure. I realized how fortunate I am to have a seasonal home in such a gorgeous location and meet so many dear friends I missed from Santa Barbara. I was reminded home is not just the location, but it is the people and the sense of belonging.
Lilly C. Lew Ph.D. 