Copper RIver is a rite of Spring here in the Northwest with the first flight of fish from Alaska receiving great fanfare and chefs in competition to be the first to serve it.

Copper River Salmon is a unique taste sensation.  This fish, from the ice cold water of the Copper River in Alaska is high in oil and Omega-3s, so heart healthy  It has a deep red color and unique flavor and lends itself well to the grill. 

Several restaurants in the area brag about their Copper River recipes, and we invite you to check out one or two of these during your stay in Seattle. 

Ray's Boathouse

SeaStar

Salty's in Alki

Aqua

Etta's

If you are here in Seattle, as a guest or as a local, between now and January 6, do not pass go without stopping by Seattle's Pacific Science Center to view the soon-to-be-gone Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs.

This exhibit has touring North America over the last few years, and Seattle is the last stop before these artifacts head home.  Eygptian officials say these items will never leave their country again, so this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 

I recently got a chance to see it, and was very impressed.  Not only are artifacts from Tut's tomb highlighted (and truly the star of the show) but history of Eygpt duirng Tut's time, and directly prior to his reign, was presented in an engaging way, included information about Tut's father, a renagade as Phaoroh's go.  Multi-media supplements the exhibits, the most interesting to me the one about extracting the DNA from Tut's mummy.  A ten foot piece of a statue of Tut, apparently from a funeral temple, was awe inspiring.  

Remaining dates are starting to sell out, and the Seattle Times did a great article about the exhibit and extended hours available.  Don't let this pass you by.

Wow. Seattle Oasis Vacation Rentals does not have an official Philly Cheesesteak place on our list of restaurant recommendations, and rarely direct our guests to locations away from our restaurant-dense Belltown stomping grounds. But when my husband invited me for a quick bite to eat on a recent rainy early afternoon, I had no idea I was walking into cheesesteak nirvana.

Calozzi’s is a Pioneer Square fixture since 2010 that has recently branched out to the industrial Georgetown neighborhood, which is where I found myself (pictured above). Both locations are holes-in-the-wall, but don’t be fooled by the less than luxurious digs. The food here is FOR REAL.

I’ve never been to Philly, so completely unqualified to chime in on the Whiz-No Whiz (that would be Cheese Whiz for the uninitiated) debate. My love for the namesake sandwich comes from its perfect marriage of meat and cheese. That being said, I was excited to try Calozzi’s.

My family ordered a Pepper Steak with American, a Donnie’s (mushrooms) with Whiz, and a Pizza, and passed them around. Not a loser in the bunch. The meat is diced fine, and meat and onions are evenly disbursed with the peppers or mushrooms. The Pizza has a hearty red sauce. The roll soaks up the juices as best it can, and is robust enough to not fall apart, but these are messy sandwiches in the best sense of the word. Flavors are exactly what I was wishing for; savory meat and gooey cheese. All were hearty and filling, with that warm ember of coal in the tummy, food-coma fullness that makes for a cozy afternoon on the couch this time of year.

Prices are a fair $10 per foot long sandwich, $1 more for the Donnie. Menu is limited but this is good, real (well maybe discounting the Whiz—won’t start that fight) food done right. They have fries (which I did not partake in on our recent visit, and didn’t need as the sandwich filled me up), also with or without Whiz, and bottled pops. Location closest to the condos is at 115 Occidental Ave S in Pioneer Square. Closed Sundays, open late night on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

The Pike Place Market is bigger than you think.  Much, much bigger, in fact.  Many of our guests remark that they didn't realize the expansiveness of the area.  A casual day could easily be spent at the Market, exploring the Down Under, the adjacent buildings and the main arcade with a sit down lunch, or noshing along the way.

This is why I am excited to tell you about Edibly, a smart phone app that will help you organize your Market visit (or visits).  Edibly will help you find products or vendors on a market map, organize your visit with a shopping list, see what's new at the market, and more.  From the website, key features include:

Key features include:

• Vendor information (hours, practices, contact info, etc.)
• Product search/browse – to help you determine what’s best for you and discover new products.
• Product information (price, description, photo, availability, etc.)
• Market information (what’s new, hours, parking, etc.)
• Shopping List – to prepare for your visit to the Market and save you time
• Market Map – to find vendors at the Market or map what’s on your shopping list and save you time.

While this app is written, I think, with regular shoppers in mind, it will also be a useful tool for Market tourists.  The Market map itself will be invaluable, and being able to determine the best seasonal produce for visitors who are not familiar with our produce will showcase our Washington-grown items to their best effect. 

Download the app at the iTunes store.