The Bite of Seattle 2012 and the new Ferris Wheel!

Pictured above, clockwise from top left:  German Bread Dumplings, also known as Semmelknoedel, with Rye Bread, Parsley, Onions and Garlic (Belltown Pub), Mini Strawberry Cupcake (PinkaBella Cupcakes), Taiwan’s Famous Hand-Made Steamed Juicy Pork Dumplings Filled with Soup (Din Tai Fung), Mini Salmon Braut with Fennel Kraut and Walla Walla Onion Mustard Served in a House Made Brioche Bun (Salty's), Flat Iron Steak with Tomato Salad and Blueberry Vinaigrette (Palace Kitchen), Bruschetta con la Muffoletta with Olive Salsa (Al Boccalino), and Pulled Pork Slider (Fremont Fire Pit).

It has been sunny for a few weeks now in the Seattle area, so when I woke up to pouring rain yesterday, I was concerned that it might last the whole weekend.  My favorite weekend of the year has got to be The Bite of Seattle weekend.  Pouring rain would not have stopped me, but I checked the weather just to see what day might be best.  Fortunately, it was today, the day I planned to go.

The menu for The Alley, hosted by Tom Douglas again, looked especially good for today.  I have to say, everything on my plate tasted equally good this year.  The flat iron steak was cooked to perfection.  The salmon brat was subtle in flavor, but tasty.  The pulled pork slider complimented the rest of the meal nicely.  The pork dumpling was surprisingly flavorful, I really liked it.  The German bread dumpling, had a very unique flavor.  When I first looked at it, I thought it was some kind of meatball, but it was made from rye bread, parsley, onions and garlic.  Then there was the Bruschetta con la Muffoletta with Olive Salsa.  Normally I do not like the taste of green olives.  However, with the other flavors combined, that too, tasted really good, and unique.  If I had to pick a favorite this year, it would be the Mini Strawberry Cupcake, though everything else was a very close second.  It's textures and flavors just made it so.... mouthwatering. 

After eating at The Alley, I decided to look around for awhile.  I sat down in the shade.  A band started playing.  A guy with zebra spandex and hot pink accessories started singing.  They were playing covers of Hair Metal bands from the 80's.  They were doing a good job, so I stayed.  The band's name is called Platinum Spandex.  The main guy was really hamming it up for anyone trying to take a photo.  He even got off the stage and started running around and singing to the audience.  He was also posing with quite a few girls who ran up to him to get their photo taken with him.  It was quite entertaining.

I walked to another stage after Platinum Spandex was finished.  This band, called Verlee for Ransom started playing shortly after.  They are an alternative band from Seattle.  They have a nice sound.  It is unfortunate that on stage, the music drowned out the vocals a bit, but listening to samples online, the balance is much better.

Being curious to see what else was going on at the Bite, I decided to get up and look around a bit.  I came across this place, that basically has fried everything!  Deep Fried Twinkies (okay, I have had those before, somewhere else, the first ones were good, the second ones were disappointing), Deep Fried Double Stuffed Oreos (I hear those are really good), Deep Fried Pizza (isn't pizza oily enough?), Deep Fried Pickle Chips (I think I have that recipe pinned to Pinterest), Deep Fried Pepsi Float (...What????)  I guess if I were to try just one, my curiosity would go for the Deep Fried Pepsi Float, but the line was long and the cost was $5.  Maybe next time.  We shall see.

If there was any day to go into the International Fountain, this would have been a good day.... I was quite envious of these people today.

There were some fun things set up for kids, too.  If I were a kid, I would like to slide on the one that goes from King Kong and then under the dinosaur!

Another thing going on in Seattle, is the new Ferris Wheel!  At 175 feet high, is a little taller than the one I rode on in Chicago (which is 150 ft), and it has air conditioning (and heat for the winter). 

It is well under half the size of The London Eye (443 ft), which I also hope to ride someday.  I rode this great wheel last week with my sister.  We also went and saw The Amazing Spider-Man.  Good movie!  Lots of action. 

Needless to say, July has been a busy month, as it always is.  The Bite of Seattle is still going tomorrow till 8pm, in case you missed it.  The Alley is $10 and closes at 6pm (which is really the reason I go every year).  I will not be going tomorrow, but if you do, you may want to check the weather to be prepared.  Have fun!