Returning to the Pacific Northwest always feels a little like returning home. It was my home after all, for four years of college. The memories made during those formative years will always stay burned into my mind, just like the taste of Popov. I love the familiarity that comes with recognizing old bus routes, street names and bars that were once something else. It is the best form of nostalgia. No longer living in the town I went to school in is like a free pass to return and spend the entire time laughing about things that shouldn’t still be funny. Two weeks ago I was lucky to return to Seattle, with Dave my PNW newbie in tow.
My college confidant, roomie and dear friend Alina picked us up at the airport at 9:00am, an ungodly hour for most Seattleites; I swear the gray weather makes people sleep later. Coffee and food were top of mind for us so as Alina drove and played tour guide for Dave, I checked my trusty Seattle Pinterest board for places we wanted to try. Our culinary adventures in college revolved around the U-District staples like The Continental (now closed), Taco Tuesday and the $10 pizza and bread sticks combo from Pizza A Mart. Maybe I just wasn’t paying attention but the past four years since I left the food scene in Seattle has just exploded. The list of places I want to try are endless and I knew I couldn’t choose wrong so Oddfellows it was.
You enter a massive space but it doesn’t feel empty. It’s as warm and inviting as the sounds of friends chatting. I looked around and everything had my name written all over it. Exposed weathered brick walls, a long marble countertop at the bar and a huge collection of repurposed fixtures, tables and stools. The coffee station was arranged with sliver trays, milk glass and dried lavender. I mean, really? I didn’t even care that I was that girl taking pictures of complete strangers eating their beignets, I had to capture it all. In true, crunchy Seattle fashion the interior, furnishings and fixtures at Oddfellows are 90% salvaged, recycled or repurposed (according to their website).
With our coffee in hand we nestled in amongst the Patagonia wearing crowd and ordered morning cocktails. I ordered the house bloody mary and it was perfect. Dave and Alina got the grapefruit cooler. It was one of those great meals where the waiter has to return several times because you “haven’t even looked at the menu.” We started with the beignets and jam. These pillows of powdered sugar were just the sweet I love with a salty cocktail.
We devoured the beignets between catching up and plotting our next three days in Seattle. This was the first time in almost 3 years that I returned without a jam-packed schedule so I was determined to relish it with close friends. We wanted to show Dave UW, explore new neighborhoods and stuff our faces. And that’s exactly what we did at Oddfellows. It wasn’t a hard choice for me: homemade biscuit and eggs with bacon. Dave and Alina chose the eggs benedict.
Oddfellows was the perfect return to Seattle. It was very reminiscent of a leisurely weekend breakfast in college, though the conversation has changed a bit. 🙂 I’m so thankful to be where I am, living (and eating) in San Francisco, but sometimes you do need to step out of your world and eat someone else’s biscuit.
Oddfellows, 1525 10th Avenue, Seattle, WA, (206) 325-0807, http://oddfellowscafe.com/, Open Everyday, 8 a.m. to Late.
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