December 6

Sunday afternoon, and though it's sunny and quite cold (hovering around freezing) behind the window for December 6, 2009 is a: Frappe, which is a frothy iced Nescafe w/milk, and a little sugar, from the Continental Restaurant and Pastry Shop in Seattle's University District. Address is: 4549 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105(206) 632-4700. They are open Mon-Fri 7 am-10 pm, Sat/Sun 8am-10 pm.



I've been coming here since 1987 when I first moved to the area. They serve my all-time favorite soup in Seattle, the lentil, called "Faki." Back when we were broke (kinda' like now) my sister and I used to treat ourselves to a cup of faki each and split an order of the Greek fries, which are sprinkled with salt and dried oregano, still my favorite thing on the menu. They also have a small mercantile where they sell wine and olive oil soap among other items, as well as a pastry case. I believe that on most nights there is also one of a rotating lists of language groups that meet over drinks and pastries to converse in the language of the evening.

Here is a link to their menu, though I could not find a website for the restaurant: http://www.allmenus.com/wa/seattle/20084-the-continental/menu/

December 5, 2009

And behind the Advent Calendar Window for December 5, 2009 we find...a cream puff from beard papa's fresh and natural cream puffs (http://www.muginohousa.com/index.php). There is a choice between green tea, chocolate or vanilla filling for the puffs, I was feeling basic and had the vanilla, though I'll probably try the green tea at some future point.

They fill the cream puffs to order. The store I went to was at the Uwajimaya shopping center in the Seattle's International District. It's near the terminal southern stop of the bus tunnel, and so on the light rail run as well.

December 2, 2009

Just wanted to add the disclaimer, that I might write about other events happening in the area in addition to the Advent Calendar, and there is no connection between my opinion or view of events, or even with the events themselves, and the treat behind the window in the Advent Calendar.

Today I was downtown and stopped by Monorail Espresso, as a side note, I think this might have been Seattle's first coffee cart, now a store front. The cookie is called the Chubby, basically, it's a golf ball of a chocolate chip cookie and mighty good. It'll set you back $1.75. Monorail Espresso is at 520 Pike Street, Seattle, WA.


I don't have a picture yet, but will post eventually. Cakespy's photostream at flickr has one, also she had a review on her blog.

Dec 1, 2009

I saw this blog from Budget Travel by Meg Zimbeck where she made a virtual Advent Calendar of affordable treats in Paris. I decided to make a virtual Advent Calendar for treats in Seattle. I will include pictures when possible as well as website links if available.

December 1 is more decadent then affordable but today's treat is a Double-Chocolate Calimyrna fig from Fran's Chocolates. Here is a link to their website http://www.franschocolates.com/locations.phpThe retail locations are listed here. You can purchase the figs individually in the stores. I had seen these in a local magazine a while back and then tried them in the store in University Village. These are made from whole, dried Calimyrna figs, filled with a chocolate ganache and dipped in a chocolate coating. Delicious! Probably one could share. If figs aren't youre thing, there are also chocolate apricots (yum!), chocolate-covered ginger, orange peel, nuts, truffles, cups of rich hot chocolate as well as the salted-caramels they are best known for.