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When you walk into Mama’s Muffins and Bakery, expect the unexpected. Maybe the shelves will be groaning with their loads of huge delectable muffins, specialty sweet bread and other tender pastries and sweets. Or there may be a sampling of goodies left after the crowds sweep down and gobble everything in sight. Whatever there is, Tina Hamilton, the owner, will be happy to describe all the baked goods and help you decide what to buy. Sit down at the big table and have a cup of coffee and a treat.

This is a commercial wholesale bakery that has been providing wonderful sweet things to coffee shops and small restaurants all over Pierce County for years. They opened this retail store and bakery a couple of months ago and found instant customers who were familiar with their wares, and were happy to buy them at the source.

I wanted dessert, so I bought muffins and turnovers. For $2.75 each ($29.95 a dozen), I picked strawberry cheesecake, Dutch chocolate, pumpkin cheesecake, and two flaky turnovers, apple and cheesecake pineapple coconut. These were fresh out of the oven, still warm and so tender and fragrant you wanted to eat them standing at the counter. Since the muffins were five inches across and five inches tall, this would have been a little much, but it would have been fun trying.

Delicious! The chocolate would have been perfect for a little birthday cake, as it was so sweet and good, loaded with chocolate and topped with toasted coconut and sugar crystals. The rich, smooth pumpkin cheesecake tasted of fall and holidays, and the cherry cheesecake just made you smile with sweet flavor. One of these was plenty for two. The turnovers had tender filo style dough that practically floated off the plate and the generous fillings were mouthwatering.

There is plenty of parking, so take a chance and try Mama’s for your next brunch or coffee celebration. Call ahead to reserve your favorites.

No restroom; carryout menu available; service-dog-friendly.

 

2 ½ stars. Very Good.

Mama’s Muffins and Bakery

10518 S. Tacoma Way, Lakewood

253-589-6262

Hours: 7  a.m. to 7 p.m.

Carolyn Augustine by — December 12, 2012 in Food, People

8802 6th Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98465
253 565 4532

11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Weekdays
8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Steamers Café at Titlow Beach, at the far west end of 6th Avenue in Tacoma, presents some accessibility problems, being on the far side of railroad tracks, and up a rise, but they have done everything they can to make it accessible to everyone. There are two handicapped parking spaces right next to the building, a large passenger drop off area right there, and a ramp to the door. There is plenty of parking on the far side of the tracks, and I managed to cross over with my walker with a little care. If the interior is too crowded for you, eat outside at one of the many view tables and relax.

That being said, I had the best salmon dish I have ever had in my life and I have tried a lot of salmon.

We ordered at the counter and food was brought to our table. We had the Smoked Salmon Salad sandwich at $8.99, True Cod and Chips (3 pieces) $7.99, they mixed a bowl of Clams and Mussels for us at $11.99, we had a Caesar side salad at $1.99 and a 6 ounce glass of white wine at $3. Everything came with coleslaw which was very bland and not up to the standard of the excellent main dishes.

The smoked salmon salad had salmon, dressing, and seasonings on rye swirl bread, a heavenly combination, with smoky tangy flavor and flaky texture.  I loved it. The fish and chips were excellent with very crisp breadcrumbs and tender, perfectly cooked fish. Both these dishes came with good fries. The shellfish were tiny, tender, and delicious, and so good right from the shell that they hardly needed the garlic butter. The broth was so well seasoned with herbs that you wanted to drink it. A nice sourdough roll was good for dipping.

Really excellent food, casual dining, medium priced, great view, and worth the visit.

Carolyn Augustine by — August 28, 2012 in Food, People

204 Center Street E
Eatonville, WA 98328
360-832-7866

Sunday to Thursday

8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday and Saturday

8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hours flexible for events.

On a recent trip through the Eatonville area, we stopped in at Bruno’s and it was very interesting.

The restaurant was dirty and rundown. The bathroom was not accessible. The service was terrible.  But, the food was delicious!

It is hard to understand how such amazing food could be produced at a restaurant where there is so little interest in making the patron comfortable.

When we mentioned this, our waitress said this was only her third day, but that did not excuse the dirty carpet or the fact that our appetizer came long after our main dish, or that others were served in a more timely manner than us. Prices range from toast at $1.99 to a 16 oz. rib-eye steak at $24.99.

We had the Fettuccine Alfredo Light Lunch at 7.99,which had homemade Alfredo sauce (wonderful!) on fettuccine noodles topped with shaved Parmesan cheese, served with two pieces of garlic toast, and a piece of grilled chicken breast that I did not order but which added $1.99 to the cost. I don’t like grilled chicken but this was at least tasty. Also, Bruno’s Kibble at $7.99, hand-cut Certified Angus beef steak tenders, cooked chicken-fried steak style, in the original or less spicy style, with delicious aoli dip, also ranch sauce and barbecue sauce, barley soup at $6.99, and a house salad at $3.99. The salad was fresh and the house ranch was very good, but it only had one slice of cucumber and one slice of tomato. The barley soup was very good but tasted like it was mushroom soup from can combined with something else to pick it up.

The appetizer, Kibble, came last and it was wonderful. Crispy, tender, lightly battered beef with great dipping aoli.

A very edible meal in a less than appetizing place.

Carolyn Augustine by — August 10, 2012 in Food, People

4306 Pacific Hwy E
Fife, WA 98424
(253) 922-5599

Open Feb. 1 to Nov. 30
M-Sat: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sun 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On a nice Saturday we were driving down Pacific Highway in Fife when we saw a line of people standing out front of what appeared to be a hot dog stand.  Being a lover of a good frankfurter, in a few minutes I was parked outside of the Pick-Quick Drive-In, a tiny establishment with a big reputation that goes back 63 years. They have a walk up window, a basic menu of hot dogs, hamburgers, shakes and fries, lots of parking and picnic area with about 20 tables. You need a little patience since the line can be two dozen people deep. If they are busy, be sure to check your order before you leave the window because the three women taking orders and cooking are friendly but frazzled.

We had fries two ways, with chili (lots of mild meaty chili) for $3.65, and plain for $2.05. The fries are hand cut, thin, with skins on, and very tasty. We had a Polish Coney dog at $4.40, a plain Polish hot dog and a plain hamburger at $2.65. The Coney dog was a good spicy dog with lots of chili, cheese, and onions on a big soft roll.. The flavors blended in a moment or two as the heat from the hot dog and chili melted the cheese and warmed the onions. The plain hot dog was pretty standard but big. I got the plain hamburger just to see what a basic burger was, and it was a commercial patty on a very good hamburger bun. We had a mountain blackberry shake at $3.01 that was thick and tasted just like blackberries.

If you are in Fife and you are not in a hurry, eating at the Pick Quick is a lot of fun, inexpensive, and pretty tasty. They have a big fancy new restaurant in Auburn, but I like the casual atmosphere of the Fife Store.

Wheel chair accessible, no indoor seating.

Carolyn Augustine by — July 3, 2012 in Food, People