Hilltop Kitchen Food and Drink Menus

I visited the newly opened Hilltop Kitchen for a little weeknight cocktails and dinner. What I found was a fantastic Latin-inspired menu that is mostly vegetarian…and has a good amount of vegan options, or items that can easily be made vegan.

Craft cocktails are all priced $10, and are divided between Goes Down Easy and Boozy and Odd. Everything we ate and drank was excellent, as was the service.

The photos of the menus are below — they’re not great, but they give you an idea of what Hilltop Kitchen has going on (click to enlarge).

Co-owner Chris Keil says they will soon offer lunch, and now have a happy hour with $6 drinks from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. daily.

Look for my full feature on Hilltop Kitchen in the Weekly Volcano/Ranger/Airlifter next week.

Their address is a bit hard to find online, so I have it for you below, as well as their current hours. Happy drinking!

Hilltop Kitchen | 913 Martin Luther King Way, Tacoma | Open Monday-Wednesday 3 p.m.- last call at 12 a.m., Thursday-Saturday 3 p.m.- last call at 1:15 a.m. Closed Sunday. Happy hour is 3 p.m.-7 p.m. daily.

Made in Tacoma: Sevierly Good Gluten Free

There’s a Tacoma company making allergen-free baking mixes that are free of gluten, dairy, nuts, beans, soy, corn, and most are free of potato. Covering the gamut of food allergens for many people, Sevierly Good Gluten Free is bringing homemade pizza dough, waffles, muffins, biscuits and more to everyone for whom these foods aren’t able to be eaten when traditionally made. Add to it that their products are kosher, non-GMO, predominately certified organic, are made in an allergen-free facility, and can be made vegan, well, they are truly able to be eaten by all.

Sound too good to be true? I promise, they’re real! These mixes are a godsend for people with food allergies. Having a pre-packaged mix with easy to follow instructions, each of Sevierly Good’s products turns out deliciously, and with textures pretty darn close to traditionally made foods. To top it off, they use as many local products in the mixes that they can.

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Pho 701 Becomes Orange Door + Menu Update

Walking around Downtown Tacoma this weekend, I noticed a change at Pho 701 Bistro and Bar. There were new signs in the window, and a new name, the Orange Door. Immediately, I hoped Pho 701 had not gone out of business. There had been quite a few business changes in that space before, and I’d hate to see it happen again.

I talked with the owner, Toan Pham, and he informed me it was just an update to the business, not a new owner. “The name change was more to fit our demographics of an downtown location,” Pham said. “Ownership and chef did not change. Our clientele are more diversified, and we as restaurant grew with the changes.”

Pham also explained to me there is an updated menu, but the pho is still present. New items include wok stir-fried drunken noodles, Shanghai noodles (wok fried lo mein noodles), chow mein, provincial clay pot pork  and eggs, crab rangoon, wonton soup, as well as more vegan items.

I haven’t eaten there in a few months, but previous visits have included friendly service, clean decor, a relaxed atmosphere, decent prices and tasty food.

Orange Door | 701 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, WA | 253-627-9225 | Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Eat your Quinoa at Marrow

Last night I found myself having a quinoa-themed dinner at Marrow Kitchen and Bar. How did this happen? Pure coincidence. Out with my brother Jeff, and my husband Casey, the quinoa was calling. And why not? Quinoa is healthy and flavorful, and a great thing to incorporate more into your diet.

My brother and I both ordered the special, which was a quinoa-crusted cod with crisp roasted potatoes and a spicy aioli. I’ve never had quinoa-crusted anything…but it’s a genius idea.  The quinoa gets perfectly crunchy, and imparts a nutty flavor. Fantastic take on fish and chips.

The wild mushroom quinoa burger is a staple on Marrow’s Arrow, vegetarian menu. According to my husband, the best veggie burger he’s ever had. With fried fennel and tomato jam on a brioche bun, I’d have to agree with him.

Marrow mushroom quinoa burger

If you’re looking for more great quinoa dishes in Tacoma, check out Choripan by Asado’s quinoa bowls — with your choice of tofu, pork, steak, chicken, chorizo or sausage. Seriously flavorful.

Marrow Kitchen and Bar, 2717 6th Avenue, Tacoma. 253-267-5299. Tues.-Sat. 4 p.m.-2 a.m., 21+.

Galanga Thai Cuisine

My husband and I have a Friday night Thai food ritual. Each week, like clockwork, our cravings for Thai lead us around town, trying new places and revisiting old standbys.

Galanga Thai Cuisine is a favorite of downtown Tacoma dwellers and workers. Its central location and consistently quality, flavorful food brings customers back again and again. A recent visit to Galanga sealed the deal as one of my favorite Thai restaurants in Tacoma.

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