Driving down from BC--where to stop? veg friendly, cheap

[1newyorkguy]

Any tips? I'll have my dog too, so casual and/or quick would be good too.

Interested in stops along the way to Seattle. Heard about a place in Bow: Rhody Cafe. And a tulip festival in Skagit Valley..are they worth it?

[PAO]

Downtown Mount Vernon, the Co-Op. They have a very nice deli there, with salads, sandwiches, soups, hot food. Quick, veg friendly and reasonably priced.

[firecracker]

If you haven't done the Tulip Festival, you should do it, 1newyork. That being said avoid going through the Skagit Valley on a weekend. It's insane traffic. As to food, the Calico Cupboard in La Connor has great breakfasts and terrific bakery goods. The Cupboard in LaConnor is much better than the one in Mt Vernon IMHO.

There is also a nice little lounge at a local hotel just up the hill from the main drag (sorry I don't remember the name), A brie burger is served and it is second to none. I'm salivating now just thinking about it.

Something closer to Bham and Vancouver? Try the many eateries along Chuckanut Drive. Enjoy!

[paulj]

Coming from Seattle I like to make the loop that includes La Connor and Whidbey Island, taking the ferry at the south end. Coupeville has mussels and 'bread and feed' sandwich shop, but I don't know about vegetarian options.

[JohnnyT]

It's the "Knead and Feed" in Coupeville.

[LotusRapper]

+1

CC, either in Mt. Vernon or La Conner has veggie options:

http://www.calicocupboardcafe.com/men...

I've not eaten them myself (I'm meatatarian) but CC has good food nevertheless.

[kaleokahu]

Meat-eater here, too, but CC's banana-coconut pancakes and cinnamon rolls are dakine.

What, no love for The Breadfarm and Padilla Bay Bakery in Edison?

[LotusRapper]

Haven't been to those two. Do tell :-)

[kaleokahu]

Oh, I was giving some counterpoise to the adulation heaped on Calico Cupboard. Tiny Edison (population <500 on a good day) has a number of rewarding places.

Breadfarm and Padilla Bay are big-city quality bakeries at opposite ends of Edison's short main street. The former is takeaway only, and the latter has seating and coffee/espresso. PB also does really good pizza, on Thursday nights if I remember.

In between the bakeries, there are:

1. Slough Foods--a *very* good cheese shop with wines and charcuterie and a hidden deck.

2. Edison Tavern--a classic PNW roadhouse/tavern featuring local Blau oysters, burgers and some fancier fare.

3. Tweets--the hippyish coffeehouse/cafe conjoined twin of an art gallery. Have had only coffee there, but the food looks and smells good.

"Outside town" (like maybe 150 yards) there is the Edison Cafe, which is great for diner breakfasts. In past springs/summers, they do high-end price fix multicourse dinners with local ingredients one night a week.

I should also mention the Longhorn Saloon, which for reasons that baffle me, some people like. It's popular with the "Hell's Rotarian" pseudo-biker crowd, but the food is decidedly mediocre. It's the one and only place in Edison I'd avoid.

Aloha,
Kaleo

[LotusRapper]

Cover all the bases, eh ? ;-)

Ya might as well check the Pacific NW board too:

http://chowhound.chow.com/boards/4