I still remember the turkey sandwich. It was from a deli I went to in college around the corner from my shabby, smoke-stale apartment. It was wrapped in plastic: a 6-inch sub roll, shredded pale lettuce, tomato slices not in season, honey-glazed turkey, and, my favorite, Swiss cheese. After eating it that fateful afternoon, I had the severe urge to take a nap.
They say that turkey puts people to sleep, and that may have been the case, but this was not the first meat-infused meal I’d eaten that made me drowsy. But it was the last. Upon waking up from my sandwich stupor, I made a declaration: no more meat. It makes you tired, and feeling tired is antithetical to eating, which is supposed to provide energy!
At the time I was a student aiming to get a 4.0 each semester in college. A philosophy major minoring in creative writing and political science, I was doing good at my goal, sometimes hitting it, sometimes falling just short. But the point is, I didn’t want to waste time in my day napping when I could be reading or working.
Before this, I’d eaten whatever I wanted. I was a chubby kid. I ate Pringles out of the can and gorged on Celeste frozen pepperoni pizza. I looked forward to cheesesteaks with extra meat, extra cheese, and a fried egg. I unabashedly heated up meatball Chef Boyardee and put a slice of Cheddar on top.
In the 10 years since that post-sandwich decision, I’ve remained a vegetarian. Until this year. What was the catalyst? Love, of course!
Two years ago I started seeing a beautiful, articulate, funny, charming woman. She is more into food than anyone I know. She loves sushi, spaghetti, oysters, omelets. She has a refined palate and can detect individual flavors in a single bite. So in the interest of sharing, I started eating meat again. Slowly at first.
It began as a bite of homemade beef meatball in her apartment. “Here, try this?” she said. “Does it have meat in it?” I asked, staring at the steaming spoon. “Well . . . ”
Then it was the day vacation we took to Bow-Edison. “I just love oysters,” she said. “Let’s go to Taylor Shellfish, it’s right down there! They can shuck us an oyster each on the spot!” I loathe oysters. Yet I said, “Great!” The slimy thing fell down my throat, unwanted bits of shell and all.
This is what can happen (cue the Meatloaf song: “I would chew anything for love!”) when you fall for someone who loves food and eats meat. But I have no regrets. My relationship exposed me to new flavors, and opened parts of my palate that had been closed.
I became enchanted by tagliatelle alla carbonara with pancetta from Artusi. A melt-in-your-mouth, creamy, buttery dish, it opened my eyes to just what meat can mean to my taste buds. Glorious. There’s not much better in the city. Ditto venison salumi from Da Pino. Made by Pino himself, this cured meat was salty, chewy, and bright. When people mumble “Mmmm, meat is so good!” while chewing, this is one of the reasons. And don’t even get me started on the curry and bacon fried rice from Ma‘ono Fried Chicken & Whisky. I’m a sucker for fried rice. When I was a kid, my go-to comfort food was pork fried rice from a place called King’s Castle. Ma‘ono’s is somehow even better.
Yet despite these recent dietary shifts, I still don’t order a whole entree of meat for myself—no rotisserie chicken or lamb burger for me (it would still make me tired!). When asked, I still claim I’m a vegetarian, but I do hesitate. The point is not that I’m going to go out and order a huge Fred Flintstone steak, or fundamentally change who I am for another person. The point is this: Food is an amazing way to share what you love about the world—the flavors, the smells, the history and culture packed into each bite. It’s something to be excited about, to look forward to. And it just may benefit a relationship (romantic or otherwise) to be open to trying new things.
Alas, though, I’m a vegetarian at heart. So while I might still accept a spoon-fed bite of meatball from my girlfriend from time to time, armed with these nine great spots, I know I can happily share a meal with her—without compromising my own tastes.
Phinney Market and The Hi-Life: I mention both because they each have amazing black-bean burgers, and P.M. serves theirs with delightful shoestring fries. It also offers bacon Caesar salad and classic lamb meatballs. H.L. serves Penn Cove mussels, barbecue sliders, and braised short ribs.
Marination Ma Kai: You can’t have just one, or two, or even three. Their tofu tacos are tangy but subtle, bite-sized yet bountiful, and will leave you craving the sesame-lime-jalapeno recipe. Marination also serves spam musubi and pork sliders for meat fiends.
Spinasse: Maybe my favorite dish in all of Seattle is their tajarin pasta with butter and sage. It melts in your mouth in its buttery glory. But Spinasse also offers a fine braised veal- and pork-stuffed agnolotti, as well as braised wild boar.
Ridgeback Cafe: Waffles! I highly recommend their Triple B: apple-smoked bacon, brie, and fresh basil on a Belgian waffle. Vegetarians can substitute field roast (a delicious Seattle-made, grain-based meat substitute). R.C. also has a wide assortment of sweet and savory crepes for you Frenchies out there.
Patxi’s Pizza: The newest pizza place in Ballard, Patxi’s offers delicious deep-dish that can be ordered with some of their 11 meats on one half and some of their 16 veggies on the other. There’s even a vegan pizza. Starters include meatballs as well as Brussels sprouts.
Norm’s: I’ve never known a vegetarian slider before I went to Norm’s. But I love theirs: little soft buns with a spicy aioli. Norm’s also serves beef burgers, B.L.A.T.s (bacon, lettuce, avocado, and tomato), and a chicken-and-brie sandwich.
Morsel: One word: biscuits. Try the Fastbreak sandwich at the U District location. Meat eaters: Get it with the savory bacon. Vegetarians who eat eggs: Substitute bacon for their delicious pickled jalapenos. Or if you want to go simple (and eggless), have their cheesy biscuit with the amazesauce tomato jam or traditional biscuits and mushroom gravy. Hit the cowbell on the way out if you’ve loved your experience. It’s tradition!
Seven Stars Pepper: Asian restaurants are perfect spots for vegetarians and carnivores to break bread, or fortune cookies. S.S.P. offers hand-shaved noodles and maybe the city’s best cold sesame noodles (a personal favorite) in addition to their vast meaty menu.
Woman Feeding Hotdog To Man
