Syttende Mai in Seattle

Being a Norwegian-American living in Seattle, I always look forward to Syttende Mai, or 17th of Mai, Norwegian Constitution Day. With its rich Scandinavian heritage, Seattle boasts one of the largest Syttende Mai festivals outside of Norway, and this year’s celebration was no exception.

The streets of Ballard were packed with people who turned out to enjoy the parade, which is always the centerpiece of the festival. A few years ago while I was writing an article about the parade for a local news site, I learned that the Syttende Mai celebrations in Washington began taking place in 1889, the year our state was admitted to the union. Talk about longevity!

If you missed the festivities this year, mark your calendar for 2014 and watch the official website for details leading up to the events. Syttende Mai is one of those times of the year when Seattle’s Scandinavian roots really shine. And whether you’re Norwegian or not, there’s plenty of fun to be had.

We’ve been writing a lot about restaurants this month, so in support of local economies I want to put in a good word for neighborhood restaurants. Some of the best places to eat may be right down the street from where you live.

To personalize this, here are four places where I enjoy eating, all of which are within a couple miles of our house:

Brier Pizza & Family Restaurant: This Italian and Greek restaurant has the best food ever. They make their own salad dressings, for Pete’s sake! Every dish is made when you order, so it’s fresh and delicious; they take special orders; and I’ve never eaten anything here I didn’t like. The bonus is that lots of neighbors eat there, so it’s a great hang out spot. My son and his trio play jazz there every first and third Sunday night of each month and they make way more tips than they do when gigging on the Eastside. The food not only tastes fabulous, it’s not too pricey.

Sorelli’s Pizza: Located in Mountlake Terrace, this place serves the most amazing 2-inch thick pizza. It is seriously to die for. The prices seem high, but one piece of their pies is plenty to fill you up, so one pizza does it for a whole tribe. Yum!

Voula’s: I chose Voula’s over a fancier restaurant with a better view for Mother’s Day brunch. This eatery is run by Voula herself, with her family making up part of the staff. If you like the personal touch, this is the place to go—Voula’s son seated us and, with his hand on my shoulder, warmly wished me a Happy Mother’s Day. Later, Voula came by and we talked about our kids together. The food and atmosphere has a Greek flair and is super tasty, as well as reasonably priced. I love the omelets and gyros, but I bet everything on the menu is delicious.

Red Onion Burgers: Another spot located in Mountlake Terrace, if you’re headed north from Seattle you can easily hop off I-5 at the 44th Street exit, take a right to drive up a hill, turn left into the shopping center near the top, eat a burger or salad at Red Onion, and be on your way in no time at all—and it would be well worth your time. The owners are super friendly, as with many neighborhood eateries, and the burgers, fries and milkshakes are scrumptious.

Now it’s your turn! Tell us all about your favorite local eatery—include the neighborhood, the name of the place, and what you like most about it.

We here at the Flying Salmon must be hungry these days. For the last month we’ve been showcasing some fantastic Seattle-area restaurants, and we have another one for you today.

Located in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood, The Corson Building dwells among a playfield, highway overpass, and an assortment of bars, restaurants, and shops housed in buildings with an historic feel. Despite its bustling and somewhat-industrial surroundings, this charming little restaurant feels set apart, like an urban retreat. Matthew Dillon—the chef behind Seattle establishments such as Sitka & Spruce and Bar Sajor—has created an experience that pleases without fail.

While The Corson Building typically serves dinner on weekend evenings, it occasionally opens for a Sunday brunch, as it did for Mother’s Day yesterday. As my mom, son, and I took our seats at one of the long community tables, we dined on scones and homemade yogurt as we met our table guests. Rhubarb kir washed down an assortment of dishes that followed, each served family style for the table. The halibut lox with toothpick-thin beet sticks and slices of radish on a bed of tahini and sprinkled with dukkah and fresh dill was one of the highlights of morning’s courses, though the feta and ramp tart served with a salad of cauliflower was also notable.

I’ve celebrated multiple special events at The Corson Building, and each time I leave I find myself trying to dream up another excuse to return soon. Whether for a birthday or another special occasion, The Corson Building and its innovative and creative food would be a perfect fit.