By 4:50 on a Wednesday night, the line stretched down the block and around the corner at JuneBaby. Whispers of turkey legs fried in oxtail fat spread from patron to patron. When the door finally opened at 5:01, the street was flooded with the savory scent of braised meat.

The line wasn’t new. It’s a regular occurrence in Seattle’s quaint Ravenna neighborhood. After all, Chef Edouardo Jordan won not one, but two James Beard Awards in 2018 — Best Chef: Northwest for his nearby restaurant Salare and Best New Restaurant for JuneBaby....

Review originally published in GrnTea February 2019

In my humble opinion, a good lunch salad needs a few key components: hearty greens that’ll stay fresh through the week, crisp veggies for plenty of texture, grains to give it some stick-with-you fullness, and a tasty dressing.

This combo of kale, barley, and veggies meets the mark perfectly! It even had a creamy chipotle dressing to give it some zing. And the best part is, it’s easy to make — whether you’re great at buying socks or not.

Victoria, the ‘city’ where the locals say “cheers” and drivers stop for pedestrians, seems to almost ooze with small-town charm. While the majority of joints near the Inner Harbour cater to tourists, the practically flat downtown is also home to a variety of gems even the locals love.

Discover the best place to 'urban hike,' indulge your inner foodie, and much more!

I grew up in a meat and potatoes house. Dinners were served in generous protein, starch, and vegetable portions. We had soup from time-to-time, but it was of the chowder and stew variety. Brothy pho and hearty ramen bowls weren’t even on my radar.

Eight years ago that changed. And man, am I happy about it.

It’s possible to buy pockets of love. Homer proved it one warm, puffy pitta at a time.

Even a blustery, wet sidewalk couldn’t deter a dozen-plus shuffling patrons from claiming their spot in line. Because while the former yoga-studio was anything but roomy, the promise of hand-rolled, wood-fired pita was just steps away.