SOY VIVO – The Personal Blog of Phillip Roman!

I loved Barrio in Capitol Hill and I love Barrio’s new location in Bellevue! Suzanne and I went last night before going to see the September Issue (btw: a really great film).

We ordered guacamole, ceviche and crudo sampler, chicken tacos, mexican chopped salad with flank steak, short ribs, tres leches cake with pears, cafe y leche creme brulee, and salted caramel chocolates. Oh and we had watermelon agua fresca and Caffe Vita in a french press to drink.

The food is great, but the prices are ridiculous. Don’t get me wrong I love gourmet mexican food and I have no problem paying “gourmet” prices. However, when it comes to mexican food, my grandma can always make it way better and for free!!! Sadly for me, my grandma is back home in California and I have to eat; plus a good restaurant is way more than great food.

Just like its Capitol Hill location, Barrio is really happening. Their bar was packed and every table was filled. This may be because it is a newer restaurant, it was a friday, or that we were in the middle of Bellevue Fashion Week. Either way the energy was great. Suzanne and I went for a early dinner (we usually go to a restaurant’s last seating but we both forgot to eat all day and were starving) so the place was a bit brighter than I would have liked but it darkened up a bit. The service was good and management was friendly. Barrio is owned by Heavy Restaurant Group. HRG also owns the legendary Purple Cafe (which I have still not had the pleasure of dinning at) which is also opening a Bellevue location right next door to Barrio on Tuesday (Oct 6).

We gave ourselves a little more than two hours to make the film and by the time we knew it, we were late! We walked in to the theatre just moments before they title popped up and had to sit in the second row. Tardiness is always a good sign of a great restaurant.

MMM….cupcakes.

My fiancé is a semiprofessional cupcake (and the occasional muffin and regular sized cake – oh and she makes good lemon bars – so does that make her a semipro baker?? I don’t know.) baker. When we heard that Trophy Cupcakes was opening their first shop on the Eastside, we were excited to try it out. Trophy’s Bellevue location is in newly built luxury shopping center, The Bravern (FYI: ridiculously expensive parking if you do not validate). After enjoying a red velvet cupcake and hot chocolate, I questioned Suzanne which cupcake shop did she like more, Trophy Cupcakes or Cupcake Royale?

She said that she liked Trophy’s cupcakes and decor. Trophy does have a princess-esque style, which I obviously do not care about. The Bellevue location is small and is not set up for lounging (we had to eat outside). Their cupcakes were good but the highlight of the experience was the hot chocolate (they use homemade marshmallows). Cupcake Royale also has great cupcakes but a very urban coffee shop feel. Cupcake Royale also have free wifi!!! (I am actually writing this post from Cupcake Royale in Capitol Hill.) Since both places have great cupcakes and espresso, I am going to have to call Cupcake Royale the winner. I cannot pass up an opportunity to set up a mobile office and load up on carbs and caffeine.

The last few weeks Suzanne and I have been hanging out at Top Pot doughnuts in Bellevue. We have only really gone to Top Pot a few times when we lived in Capitol Hill but we have both recently discovered the emotional qualities of a daily doughnuts (and hopefully will never discover the physical qualities). Top Pot offers free wifi, which is great! Free wifi really provides the idea that you can still “go out” and be productive. I often forget that when you go to a cafe or in this case a doughnut shop, there are many distractions such as people watching or just staring out the window into the city.

Anywho, Top Pot doughnuts are obviously the best ever and because of their partnership with Starbucks, they are even available back in Porterville, CA. Their Bellevue shop is really cool. Besides an awesome doughnut and free wifi, there are a few more perks: the employees are really friendly, there is plenty of space to set up a telecommute office, the employees do not care if you set up office there, and a location is conveniently located in Washington Square. Now the only really bad things are they are only open until 7pm and also Washington Square’s parking is $2/hour with a $10 max and 1 hour free with validation. There are a few 20 minute parking spots out front but no readily available free long term parking. However, the new location is great and will probably remain my office for some time.

2 lb Cactus Leaf

2 Whole Onion

4 Cloves of Garlic

5 Tomatoes

1 Can of Pickled Jalapenos (with carrots)

Salt and Pepper

Cilantro

De-thorn cactus leaf by running knife down the side and remove all of the thorn bumps.

Half onions and peel garlic.

Add a bit of salt and boil for about ten minutes.

Dice cactus, onion, garlic, tomato, carrots and jalapeno.

Mix with a bit of the juice from the jalapeno can and cilantro.

Fridge and enjoy!

I am adding a new emphasis to SOY VIVO, food. Since I no longer have regular access to cable news, I have disappointingly fallen off of the current events scene and my blog has suffered. The addition of food to SOY VIVO will serve as an attempt to revitalize my posts. Although I will critic my meal, the food category will not convert SOY VIVO to the typical food blog, because it will have an atmospheric twist. It will allow me to write about my experiences at my already favorite restaurants, my soon to be favorite restaurants and the ones that I would advise all to avoid.

I look forward to sharing my ventures out into restaurants in my new home on the Eastside and also back to the place I called home for four years, Seattle.