What do you do when you have a long layover in Seattle while on your way to the Wine Bloggers Conference in Walla Walla? Well, you rent a car, eat a snack at Von’s 1000Spirits, go wine tasting at SODO Urbanworks (Washington State Wine) then make your way to JuneBaby.
You may be asking yourself, what is JuneBaby? JuneBaby has multiple meanings but I love this one – a historical journey of the migration from Africa to Northern America told through the story of food. Which means Southern Food with African Roots. The Owner & Chef of JuneBaby, Edouardo Jordan is the first African American to win the James Beard Award for “Best New Restaurant.” If you check out their menu online, there is an Encyclopedia that will help you navigate the menu (click on an item) and give history on some of the Black Diaspora.
I started my meal with crunchy, fried green tomatoes served with an herbed shrimp salad and romaine lettuce. This is a must order appetizer! Fantastic!! My friend, A Tasty Journey, decided to be adventurous and start with a side of Grandmother’s Chitlins (served with broth over rice). She thought it was a yummy dish. The rice adding an interesting texture.
Now, it’s Entree time. ATJ ordered Oxtails made from Chef Jordan’s Momma’s recipe with a side of Collard Greens & Ham Hocks. Tender. Filling. Like a hug. I decided to try the juicy Smoked Turkey Breast with corn, cabbage, potatoes and a fabulous broth. Not one bad decision. Okay, there was the decision not to order dessert. We still had a plane to catch and could not eat one more bite. Looking around at other tables, the Pecan Toffee Bread Pudding seemed like the way to go.
JuneBaby does not take reservations. So to get a table when they open at 5:00, you have to queue up around 4:30. This stop totally made the long layover worth it.
Cocktails at Von’s 1000Spirits
Beet Salad from Von’s 1000Spirits
Wine Tasting at SODO Urbanworks
JuneBaby
Manhattan (my fav cocktail)
Grandmother’s Chitlins
Mother Jordan’s Oxtails – 📷: A Tasty Journey
Smoked Turkey Breast
