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Root Table opens its doors to the public Friday night, and after a soft opening performance Wednesday that won chef/owner Kalan Intawong a prolonged round of applause, the menu seems to be promising.

The Asian fusion offerings are heavy on Thai influence, light on the portion size, and always under $10. The crowd pleasers were the Ménage à Thai, a trio of yellow, green and red curries with jasmine rice and choice of meat for dipping; the Roasted Duck Spring Rolls with spicy peanut sauce; and the Spicy Sausage Capellini with fresh Thai basil. Everyone just felt sorry for Double-Fisted Duck, a poor creature whose time spent marinating in dark beer and Chinese wine should endow it with great glory, but couldn’t escape the giggles brought on by its less than fortunate name.

There’s a full bar with a brief cocktail menu, a well-selected wine list with ample choices from local producers, and a gloriously large 22-ounce bottle of Thailand’s famous Chang beer, which is a $4.50 no-brainer.

And if you feel inspired by the woodsy décor, there’s lots more where that came from at Intawong’s adjoining home furnishings store, Enlighten.

Root Table

2213 N.W. Market St.

I think it must be some new inverse law of the universe: every time a Scandinavian in Ballard dies, he is reincarnated as a pizza joint. There’s no doubt that the atomic-grade bomb of pizza restaurants exploding in the neighborhood lately has left every Ballardite scratching their heads trying to figure out just how all this Italian-ness has gotten into the water, not to mention trying to figure out how they all these new places expect to distinguish themselves from one another.

So here’s what’s different about the one opening today, ‘Zaw, at Leary and Market: the pizza here, at least for today and tomorrow, is FREE. And, instead of ordering it up all hot and melty, what you get here is a made-to-order unbaked pie that you take home and cook yourself.

On Monday, December 22nd and Tuesday, December 23rd, the first 100 people in the door after 4:30 p.m.  will get a free half-size pizza and Jones Soda to take home. The Seattle based mini-chain (with two other locations on Capitol Hill and South Lake Union), boasts 100 percent organic crust made from Bob’s Red Mill flours, in traditional, whole wheat or gluten-free versions. The signature sauce is made from organic ruby red tomatoes, and the beverages run the local gamut from Fish Tale Organic Ales to Snoqualmie organic wines and take-home six packs of other microbrews.

You can even order your pie online and have it delivered by bicycle. Just remember you still have to tip the delivery guy when it shows up cold.

Perched beneath the shadows of the Ballard Bridge like an anchored looming pirate ship, is the Jolly Rogers Taproom, adorned with skull and cross bone flags and a fortified iron-gate patio for the summer patrons. When we spotted a lively bunch of Ballardians enjoying the summer evening out on the terrace, we knew we would fit in well here. 

Home of the Jolly Rogers Winter Ale, loaded with 9% alcohol and guaranteed to make your eyes drift in opposite directions and snarl at strangers, the Taproom hosts 14 freshly brewed uniquely Northwest Maritime ales and lagers. Also fresh is all the produce in the menu; the onions and pickles are chopped in the Taproom’s kitchen before they’re drowned in deep-fried deliciousness. We recommend the onion rings; they’re so huge and thick you could plop one on your head and it’d pass for a yarmulke.  

Even though we were the obnoxious drunk girls talking too loud on our cell phones, no one punched us out, and to us, that is good service and good people.

Jolly Rogers Taproom

1514 NW Leary Way

Ballard WA 98127

www.maritimebrewery.ypguides.net

I’m really bad with accents. Call it ignorance, call it American, call me hard of hearing – it’s something I struggle with. Especially at Thai restaurants, when I typically resort to pointing at menu items instead of insulting a beautiful language with my ugly attempts at pronunciations.

One such case where this is not necessary is Mae Ploy on 15th Ave and 65th. This little rinky-dink Thai assemble just passed its annual and seems to be holding down the fort as far as Thai goes in Ballard, despite their handful of tables that are rarely full even during peak rush hours. 

Inexpensive, fast, flavorful and above all friendly to non-Thai speakers, Mae Ploy offers family-style eats in not only the portion sizes of their entrees but in the way that the family owned restaurant is ran every minute their doors are open by every member of the family. Not once have I been there – be it Saturday night or Wednesday for lunch – when at least three members of the family also have not been there. I hope they love their jobs. 

The Fam also allows you choose “Thai spice,” something us sensitive-palated people have never done nor plan to but for those of you who load up your Saracha, going with the under-the-table double spices is advised. 

As far as the food goes, three words – Tom Kah Soup. The coconut based delicacy goes down like water. Toss some brown rice in there (available with no additional cost, surprisingly) and you’ve got a coconut-curried- meat of your choice bowl of amazingness. A couple other words to remember – Swimming Rama, any of the satay appetizers, the classic Phad Thai and any of the available curries (my favorite is the red but it’s hotter than you’d expect). 

One thing to ignore – the horrible, 90′s cover music of popular songs from your past (e.g. “Unchained Melodies” and “Sweet Caroline”) blare from a retro boombox that makes even the original i-Pod cringe. The aesthetics of the restaurants look like the children of the family just got back from arts and crafts camp and there wasn’t enough room on the fridge for their creativity. The restaurants was then punished with the decor. 

A final word of advice – come hungry or don’t come at all. The Mae Ploy Fam is not joking around with their platters but will happily box it up for you to take home. 

It’s unfortunate that Ballard doesn’t have nearly the same amount of dessert places as it does pizza and pasta places and neighborhood bars. But the places to get dessert are great nonetheless.

For ice cream, try The Scoop at Walter’s ( 6408 32nd Ave NW). Their ice cream is probably some of the best ice cream I have tasted. My favorite is Lavendar Honey, but they have other chocolate and fruit flavors. The Scoop also has donuts and coffee. Beware, they do close up shop early at 7pm.

For cupcakes, try Cupcake Royale (2052 NW Market Street). They have everything from chocolate to peppermint to orange to red velvet. Cupcake Royale also has mini cupcakes for the kiddies, or if you just want a small treat. You can eat in or take out, and they have good coffee, too.

For frozen yogurt, try Mooberry ( 2019 NW Market St). Mooberry just opened up this spring and it is quite good. They have a variety of different flavors and add-ins.

For ice cream, try Little Coney (8003 Seaview Ave NW). Its a great little place to stop on your way to Golden Gardens to grab some ice cream or burgers.

When we approached the super chic, super crowded bar, Ocho, 24^th and Market, our Ballardian defenses immediately set in. We were a little intimidated and skeptical of the latest bar and restaurant to open in the historic neighborhood of Ballard. But with usual Ballard congeniality and sincerity, we were greeted with friendly smiles from the staff and a complex, savory and smokey aroma from the tapas roasting in the back. We came for the margaritas, and stayed for the margaritas… and the sangria, shrimp, chorizo and grilled peppers. This Spanish-styled restaurant serves authentic tapas without the Euro price. The average dish (from 4pm-2am) is $4.00.

 But they don’t mess around with the booze. The cocktails are quirky and artistic. The Picador, a vodka or gin based cocktail with cucumber and maraschino liquor, is garnished with a stick of rosemary with a skewered beet. Their margaritas are $10 and it’s even named “The $10 Margarita” in the menu. The popular pint-sized drink is not Patron based, as one might suspect with the price, rather El Tesoro—a liquor that’s considered a work of art among Tequila epicureans. And the sangria, $8, is based more with a generous serving of Brandy rather than cheap wine. Which explains why we were loaded after only one round—even with our livers of steel.

Name: The Old Town Ale House

Age: 13 Years

Actual of the Physical Bar: 110 Years

Beers: Belgium features with a hint of Washington flavor
 
Why Flemish? The people of Belgium have created a reputation for themselves as pint professionals, boasting more than 120 breweries in the nation, producing 1000 odd brewskis that are tagged with the Flemish name. Belgium is to beer as France is to wine as Spain is to soccer as New York is to cabs. The beer is as native as the people.
 
Why the Ale House? A wide range of bottlenecks are offered, varying from pilsners with 5% alcohol per volume to 10% triple imperials. The Belgium draft (along side of the Washington tapped beers) fluctuates on its beer handouts but is currently sporting the classic Hoegaarden White, Chimay “White Label” Triple and Lindeman’s Lambic (also with its own rotating flavors). The beers stand alone as a meal and the purpose of “eating and drinking together” is lost in the Flemish translation of the beverage.
 
Standout Bar Decor: Former taps from the list trim the wall that closes in the kitchen and gives a promise from libations past that more great beer is to come. And they have free post cards so when you get too full from the Flemish delicacies to leave, you can send your mother a letter informing her of your move to Belgium. 
 
photo courtesy of Old Town Ale House

Chili-man, Mike Semandiris, contacted Ballardblog and asked us to inform our loyal readers that the Chili Parlor will be closed this week due to intense construction interference, but will be up and ready to cater to your chili and beer desires by Friday night (July 11th) and onward.

And to make up for the temporary closure, the Parlor will offer a “Construction Special” all next week: $1.00 Miller High Life Pints 4pm-7pm Monday through Friday.

Thanks, Mike! We will see you soon..

Edith Macefield (1922-2008), Ballard’s most famous “hold-out”, brought national attention to the community when she refused to sell her property of almost six decades to commercial real estate developers. Just around the corner, Mike’s Chili Parlor is Edith’s retail equivalent.

Crossing the Ballard Bridge, you can see the words “MIKE’S” and “CHILI TO GO” on painted plywood and flickering neon signs, circa 1955, modestly promoting the Parlor’s existence off of 15th and Ballard Way. The same construction monstrosity that bordered Edith’s home also casts a shadow on its north-end over the dusty brick bar. Like two rebel bookends nestled against a bourgeoisie mega-center, the two properties are remnants of Old Ballard, representing a similar struggle against gentrification.

We visited the the Parlor because we’ve heard that it is the home of Seattle’s best chili. And we were thirsty. In the short time that we were there, we immediately felt at home; the bartender was boisterous but called us “honey” and little touches of the “old country” graced the interior of the building.

We ordered the “Big Ass Bowl” of chili (seriously, that’s the name of the size) with onions, cheese and jalapeños, and the chili pasta. The sauce was peppery and not too thick or floury, like the junk that comes in a can. This stuff is definitely homemade, with generous meat portions and greasy-deliciousness. And the chili pasta is pretty much sheer- genius. Two of the best things known to man (chili soup and spaghetti noodles) are harmoniously united for the ultimate sense of satisfaction. The Parlor is obviously on to something, considering that they were featured on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” with Guy Fieri, www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfCMw28qXAU.

As we finished our meals, eyes crossed and hands on our bellies, a pack of middle-aged rabble-rousers came parading through the door, sporting softball t-shirts with the sponsor’s name, “Mike’s Chili” on the chest; clearly, this place is home to some. I discovered that fourth-generation Chili Parlor owner, Mike Semandiris, was right in the middle of all the softball raucous and I wanted to meet the man behind the chili.

The Parlor was originally a residential home to Mike’s great grandfather, who emigrated from Greece to the States with a vision and a mission. Grandpa Mike opened shop in 1922 and they’ve served generations of industrial Ballardians with fulfilling lunch specials and a trusty menu of various chili creations ever since.

 We inevitably discussed the giant commercial retail structure surrounding the Parlor’s western and northern walls. Mike had a lot to say about his experience watching Ballard develop. “It used to be a lot sunnier out here on the patio, and the ongoing construction, which was supposed to conclude in 14 months, has very much impacted the business. The entire road [Ballard Way] to enter is closed, so people have to circle around and come through the back side, and half of our parking is gone [temporarily].” Two year’s later, the construction is far from finished. Apparently the developer that had offered Edith $1 million for her home also encountered a cold response from the Chili proprietors. “My dad and I were here when one of the developers walked into ‘talk’; my dad just put his hand up and said ‘we’re not selling’ and they’ve never come back.” Damn straight.

“You know, I love that people care about Old Ballard and keeping it from becoming Bellevue, but if you really value local businesses, you have to frequent them. You might pay an extra dime or two, but that’s what it takes these days to compete against the chain stores.”

ahh…Dining in Ballard.  Ballard has become a popular hot spot for a wide variety of restaurants and other eating establishments.  9 times out of 10 my friends want to “meet at my place and walk over to said restaurant.”  Lucky for me, I do not have to get in my car, fight traffic and hunt down a parking spot.  After living in Ballard for 2 years, I have discovered my favorite hot spots for food at all times of the day.

For breakfast, check out Vera’s (map).  It’s a 50s diner/greasy spoon.  Looks may be deceiving but the food is yummy!  Plus, the service is friendly and efficient.  Two perks for early morning eats.

While waiting for the oh-so-popular Ballard Ave stores to open up, why not travel a bit east for your mid-morning coffee.  You would never know that Sip n Ship has some of the best coffee beverages.  I tend to get their soy chai but I’ve had their other beverages and they were great!  They even have a cute store with cards, stationery, and gift wrap.  I find myself buying the majority of my cards at this shop!  Plus you can address, purchase a stamp, and send out your cards at the mail center.  They have plenty of postage deals and a nice, helpful staff.

For your picnic lunch to take to the Locks, I recommend the Great Harvest Bread Company.  Their bread is made fresh two times daily, ingredients are fresh, and their sandwiches are more than filling.  You’ll find me eating a turkey sandwich on whole wheat and a peanut butter/chocolate chip cookie.  YUM!!  And you can stuff yourself even before you take your first bite of that to-die-for sandwich with a sampling of their bread.  My favorites happen to be the cinnamon chip bread and occasionally they have a rosemary bread of some sort.

I quite often get ravenous in the late afternoon.  It’s too early for dinner, but man, am I starved.  For a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, cross 15th and check out the Ballard Market produce department.  They have a large variety of produce, including both organic and non-organic produce.  It’s usually packed with the neighborhood shoppers, so try to get there before the rush hour.  I like to nosh on their carrots, grapes, and apples, to name a few.  While you are there, check out their cheese selection.

For Dinner, you can never go wrong with Lombardi’s.  Their hosts are friendly, their staff are very friendly, and their food is delicious.  Start off with a lemon drop….you practically get 2 drinks for one.  For appetizers, you must try the Angel of Death.  It is to die for, no pun intended.  Lombardi’s usually has entrees that coincide with the seasons/months.  And they change their specials frequently.  You can go to Lombardi’s monthly and always have a different meal, or the same meal like me.    If you can, save room for their Gelato.  It is delightful and completely refreshing after a carbo-heavy meal.  I tend to go with the chocolate gelato, it comes with a few cookies as if the gelato is not enough.

Or if you need a few minutes to digest your food, take a stroll around Ballard and then head over to Cupcake Royale.  I know some people would much rather head over to Trophy Cupcakes in Wallingford, but try the Lavender cupcake.  Yeah, I know, so the cake portion is a bit dry, but the frosting makes up for it.  If I wasn’t watching what I ate, I would eat a Lavender cupcake every day…

No with the heartache and sadness since Denny’s closed, I’ve had to explore other places for a late night snack.  Most bars in Ballard offer food but not one place has called to me.  I guess I will leave it to the folks of Ballard to let me in on the secrets…

That said, maybe I’ll see you around Ballard at one of these fine eats!