Story by Dominique Sabins, special to the Blog
The Bite of PhinneyWood is entering its third year this upcoming September! The event showcases 20 of the amazing restaurants, bars, and cafes across the Phinney-Greenwood neighborhood. Your ticket to the Bite of PhinneyWood gets you a bite (or two) of food from every vendor so you can take a tour of our incredibly diverse and intricate food scene. Located outside the Phinney Center in the lower parking lot, this event allows guests to enjoy Seattle’s sunshine, chat with fellow neighbors, and explore our local businesses. It also features a beer and wine garden to pair with your food. Run, don’t walk to get your tickets because this event has sold out every year!
The PNA is releasing VIP Tickets (which get you into the event an hour early) to go on sale today – you can buy your tickets here. General Admission tickets (2-5pm, $50/$55) will go on sale starting at 10am on July 1st.
Last year’s event rolled out a new tradition: The Bite of PhinneyWood Passport. This passport was given to attendees as a way to visit participating restaurants after the event and create a friendly competition. The first 10 people to turn in their completed passport got free tickets to this year’s event.
A little about Joan and Mike: Both have lived in the Phinney-Greenwood neighborhood on-and-off for the last 10 years. Three years ago they moved in together in North Greenwood.
“For a neighborhood of its size, PhinneyWood really feels like a small town in the best ways.”
How was your experience at the Bite of PhinneyWood last year?
“Terrific! We have been every single year since it started and have always had a great time. This year we brought some friends and really enjoyed trying all the booths and talking about our favorites. The lower lot was a great space, and it felt so much warmer this year too!”
Did any particular vendors stand out?
“Well, of course Petite Pierre was excellent, and did earn some of our votes. But we also really enjoyed Kozmo Kitchen, the North Star (who went out of their way to accommodate a dietary restriction for two years in a row), and whoever had the gazpacho – we remember loving it but can’t remember who had it. Both years we have been blown away by Coffeeholics’ drinks. We’ve been long-time fans of the Wild Mountain cinnamon rolls and were thrilled to have the mini versions at the Bite.”
Can you share a little bit about the passport?
“We are what you might call competitive people, and when we saw there was a challenge to be amongst the first 10 people to use every coupon, we hit the ground running. Before we even left the Bite we started planning what dates and times we could visit each participating restaurant.
Our best streak was hitting 7 establishments in a single day: Petite Pierre for coffee, Ben’s Breads for pastries, Mainstay Provisions for a small breakfast, and later to Valhalla Sandwiches for a late lunch followed by wine tasting at Doe Bay, happy hour at Blue Glass, and ice cream at Bluebird. Needless to say, we were very full that day! Everywhere was so great, but one of our favorite experiences was getting our very last stamp at Thaiku. It’s been a neighborhood staple for so long, and we had never been together, but it was an immediate favorite. The drinks, entrees, and zesty peanut snacks were all so delicious, and it was a proud day for us both to take our passports to the PNA right across the street after finishing up dinner.”
What are you looking forward to for this year’s event?
Being VIPs! I am sure we will be using that extra time to get in early and take more time to enjoy all the local spots! We also look forward to getting t-shirts this year, as we missed the boat on buying shirts the first 2 years. We’re eager to show off our PhinneyWood pride!
This year’s event will be hosted on September 15th, 2024 from 1-5pm outside in the Phinney Center parking lot. Come join us to support our local businesses and connect over a delicious tour of our community’s food scene!
You will also get a chance to participate in the passport competition and win tickets to next year’s event like Joan and Mike! It’s the perfect excuse to get out and support our local businesses.
Interested in volunteering at the Bite of PhinneyWood? The Phinney Neighborhood Association invites anyone who would like to be a part of this event to sign up. To get involved, fill out the PNA’s volunteer application form and indicate your interest in volunteering for the Bite of PhinneyWood.
The PNA is a non-profit organization committed to building an inclusive community in Northwest Seattle, and beyond. Tickets sales help fund a diverse range of programs, services, and events dedicated to forging meaningful connections, nurturing a sense of belonging, supporting our local businesses, and making positive changes in our area.
