Fast-forward to 2026, and Santé has been tragically closed for a long time. All is not lost, though, and Pflueger has recently opened her own bakery, Fireweed Baking Company, in Rind and Wheat Bakery’s former locales. When one door closes, a window opens1 and all that.

The space has changed. Gone is the old cheese counter, replaced by a handful of tables. It feels more like a traditional bakery, where you can sit down to enjoy a pastry or a small sandwich. I don’t think it’s intentional, but it reminds me of Norwegian bakeries like Baker Hansen. Quality goods in small, unassuming spaces.

On the menu is a selection of biscuit sandwiches – a bold move, as biscuits tend to be a fickle friend. Often too dense, other times too cake-y, it’s an unforgiving bread, and if it doesn’t hit all the marks, you’ll have a bummer of a sandwich.

Which brings us to…

Fireweed Baking Company’s Ham & Swiss Biscuit Sandwich

Now, this is a proper biscuit, one that passes any reasonable litmus test – a bread that is subtly flavorful, allowing the texture to do most of the talking. Crumbly without falling apart, and a golden crust that gives way to light layers. Not too dense, not too soft. Getting that balance down isn’t easy2, which speaks to the capricious nature of the biscuit. If you get it even slightly wrong, you’re left with a mushy mess or a ham-filled hockey puck. Nobody wants that – and at Fireweed you don’t get it.

The toppings – or the in-the-middles – are of similar restraint. The ham and Swiss cheese are flavorful, but the biscuit isn’t stuffed full with them. Fittingly, the bacon onion jam is the most flavorful component. Think biscuits, and you may very well think jam. Many times in the sweeter sense – Fireweed has a biscuit and jam combo on the menu – so why not kick it up with a savory variety? It pulls the sandwich together into something that is both simple and elevated.

It’s been sixteen years since I had that aforementioned birthday cake, and it has stuck with me – so much that I still have the picture. That you can go to a dedicated bakery for a similar experience is only a good thing.

Fireweed – great stuff.

A Quick P.S. on the No-Bake Cookie

It’s practically a law that a Spokane bakery must feature no-bake cookies, which should upset no one.

Semi-recently, I posted my own recipe, one that captured the baseline cookie reasonably well. Not surprisingly, Fireweed’s stands a step or two above. Maybe even three. The differentiators? Less sugar – which I’ve already updated my recipe with – and the addition of cinnamon3. It doesn’t overpower; instead, it balances the chocolate and sugar into a sublime cookie.

The no-bake will forever be a Spokane staple, and you should unreservedly try Fireweed’s elevated take on it.

Locations: 110 Summit Ave E, Seattle • Map • Web • Instagram

More No-Bake Reads

World Cup Update

Well, I got that one wrong. Norway keeps rolling through the World Cup, handily beating Brazil and advancing to the Quarterfinals, where England awaits. The chances of reaching the Semis should be around fifty-fifty – the one caveat being a flu virus that may or may not plague Norway’s camp. I say “may or may not” as the team’s official response goes something like this…

Even so, I remain optimistic and predict a 2-1 win for Norway – betting sites seem to disagree.

Merch for the People!

Don’t just read Awesomeness – wear it! This distinguished publication proudly features two official shirts – or magnets, stickers, or whatever medium you can think of: The Hallgrrrl and Zune. Why those? For one, the Hallmark channel and Riotgrrrl are, as I’ve said before, the natural combination. And who doesn’t love the Zune?

Go shop at The Better Taster Boutique for only the finest goods.

Luminous Coffee

So, here’s a small roaster with an eccentric twist. Based in Las Vegas since 2019, Luminous is a shop that fully embodies its “always be extra” motto. Their coffee comes in Chinese take-out boxes adorned with colorful, loud illustrations – not garish as such, but right up against the line. I’ve heard the branding compared to “Claire’s in the nineties,” which may be apt, though I can’t say I had the pleasure of visiting that establishment – no piercings from a teenage mall employee for this guy. That said, if it was anything like Luminous’s coffee, I feel like I missed out.

The roaster describes its flavors as “fruity and floral,” which, while true, is also a bit of an understatement. Their presence in “Colombia Washed Pink Champagne Pink Bourbon” is more than just notes – we’re talking full-on flavors, where strawberries and citrus shine through.

Even with that, the funk is what lands like a ton of bricks. You can read the technical description on Luminous’s product page, but in short, they ferment the beans to the high heavens, and the “Colombia, etc.” is a punch and a kick of maximalism. If you prefer pure subtleties, it might not be the coffee for you, but big flavors don’t automatically disqualify a coffee from being complex. It’s impressive how much oomph they managed to pack into the beans.

Pungent flavors aside, Luminous distinguishes itself by using a “dropstore” model instead of an always-available ordering system. What is a “dropstore?” It’s an online outlet with limited availability. Currently, it opens – or drops the merch – around noon Pacific, and stays open for twenty-four hours. The window could change without warning, and signing up for their text messages puts you “first in line,” so to speak. If you miss the drop, you’re out of luck for another week.

It’s not a cheap pleasure, and a two-hundred-gram bag will run you $30, though it comes bundled with extras: A small bag of decaf, a couple of single-serve instants, stickers, candy, and even water purifiers. The appropriately quirky pour-over instruction sheet is a good bonus.

Chalk me down as a fan – Luminous takes the tired “exclusivity” concept and paints it in vibrant colors. And, the end product is a step above its peers.

Find them: Web • Instagram

The World Cup Keeps Rolling

Let’s do a quick World Cup check-in for Norway, because why not?

While 100% of you1 picked Norway to win the championship, I will admit to having doubts. A 4-1 victory over Iraq looks good on paper, but that game was too close for comfort at crucial times. Iraq could easily have had more goals. Still, a win’s a win, and the four goals all but cemented Norway’s spot in the second round (aka, Round of Thirty-Two).

The 3-2 victory against Senegal wasn’t bad when you consider that country’s impressive World Cup lead-up. Lately, though, things haven’t looked too rosy behind the scenes, with unpaid players and dietary issues. Morale wasn’t at an all-time high during the Norway game.

In that sense, it’s hard to say what either of those matches means in the big picture. Norway faces France on Friday – both teams have qualified for the second round, and have indicated they’ll rotate out some of their better players for that match. It’ll be a flawed measuring stick.

If I were a betting man, I’d wager Norway will make it to the Round of Sixteen. They will, in all likelihood, meet either Sweden or the Ivory Coast in the second round – both manageable, albeit one more so than the other. (A Norwegian B-squad beat Sweden 3-1 three weeks ago.) The Round of Sixteen will surely be harder.

And, as it stands, my money is on France to win the whole tournament.

Merch for the People!

Don’t just read Awesomeness – wear it! This distinguished publication proudly features two official shirts – or magnets, stickers, or whatever medium you can think of: The Hallgrrrl and Zune. Why those? For one, the Hallmark channel and Riotgrrrl are, as I’ve said before, the natural combination. And, who doesn’t love the Zune?

Go shop at The Better Taster Boutique for only the finest goods.

Rosette: Pasta Con le Sarde

It’s a hill I’m willing to die on, asserting that Jude’s is one of Seattle’s top casual eateries. The worker-owned cooperative blends Cajun-style cuisine with Northwestern freshness, and it has a distinct laid-back vibe. Now, two doors up, they’ve opened Rosette, a bar that skews heavily toward the non-alcoholic trend. Innovative, booze-free twists on the classics, and cocktails created from scratch – a playground for Jude’s bartenders, where they get to experiment in a creative environment.

I gave “Flower of Youth” a whirl, a potent take on an Old Fashioned. A sipper, and proof that n-a cocktails are more than sugar bombs. The Kentucky ‘74 bourbon dominates, with the Aplós Ease adding a citric accent. It’s a hard-hitting drink, perhaps surprisingly so if you’re used to sweeter alternatives.

Rosette also functions as Jude’s test kitchen. In other words, the menu features various dishes that you won’t see in the “main” restaurant, yet still live within Jude’s flavor profiles. Like the “Pasta Con le Sarde,” a sardine-based dish with a Spanish spin.

A quick aside about sardines, a fish that’s developed a bad rep over the years. Give them a chance, particularly when they’re part of a pasta dish. While pungent, the flavors aren’t overpowering; instead, they add a slightly funky saltiness. The fat works like olive oil, the way it coats the pasta – if you didn’t know any better, you likely wouldn’t know you were eating sardines.

And that’s today’s defense of an underrated fish.

The pasta itself is properly al dente, and Rosette is generous with the saffron. If the sardines add oil, the floral saffron soaks it back up – sea and land, hand in hand, if you so like.

With as many dominant flavors, the palate could have exploded all over the place – vermouth-soaked raisins aren’t exactly understated – but the balance makes for a subtle dish. One evens out the other, and the result is very Jude’s. Or literally Jude’s adjacent.

Rosette is small and welcoming, and the staff friendly. And, if the world allows Jude’s to successfully expand into an experimental creative corner, that’s nothing but a good thing.

9262 57th Ave S, Seattle • Map • Web • Instagram

Related Reading

Let’s go crazy and throw in a new poll today – vote to partake in the democratic process. And as the World Cup starts today, that’s the theme we’re going with.

Merch for the People!

Don’t just read Awesomeness – wear it! This distinguished publication proudly features two official shirts – or magnets, stickers, or whatever medium you can think of: The Hallgrrrl and Zune. Why those? For one, the Hallmark channel and Riotgrrrl are, as I’ve said before, the natural combination. And, who doesn’t love the Zune?

Go shop at The Better Taster Boutique for only the finest goods.

Our Return to Sonora Carne Asada House

First, a quick word on our legacy score chart: The erstwhile-Tortillaphilia ranking we follow at the Digest – originally established in 2007 – goes from zero to five stars, with an important caveat: Only De Leon’s in Spokane was to receive the perfect score.1 Those were the rules, and today, a four-mushroom score remains the de facto ceiling.

Why the need to clarify? Our inbox figuratively blew up after our enthusiastic write-up of Hillman City’s Sonora. Why only a meager four mushrooms, when five were there for the taking? It’s a fair assertion, enough for us to re-evaluate our scoring metrics and return to Sonora earlier than initially planned.

Now, the main takeaway from our last visit remains, and Sonora’s meat-forward focus is demonstrably a step ahead of most. Some may say two steps, and they wouldn’t be incorrect.

To wit:

I gave the Carmelo a try – simple, pared-back tacos with meat and cheese, where the protein is the differentiator. I have no issues with boilerplate charred carne asada, but Sonora dishes up tender, medium-rare chunks of steak with a generous layer of cheese. A top-quality Philly cheesesteak in taco form is an apt comparison.

The previously mentioned salsa bar comes into play if we continue down that route. If Philly sandwiches come topped with caramelized onions and peppers, Sonora’s bountiful selection of pickled onions, avocado, and salsas allows for a parallel take. The Carmelo is simple in its base form, and it strictly doesn’t need to be more than that. If you want to dress it up, the salsa bar offers options. I believe it was Burger King that crooned “have it your way,” but it might as well have been Sonora.

I’m going to go as far as to say Caramelo is a top-tier taco, good enough that, yes, it’s time to break out…

… the five-out-of-five score. When it feels right, it feels right.

And if you need to cap off the meal with a maximalist sweet horchata, you’ve got the “de Fresa.” The ice cream, cream, and strawberry come in an attached container – dump them into the horchata for a root beer float equivalent. It’s hard to argue with the end result.

Sonora, then. Great food, great service, great experience. A can’t-miss spot for anyone who enjoys protein-forward tacos.

5901 Rainier Ave S, Seattle • Map • Instagram

Victrola Coffee Roasters – Capitol Hill

Switching gears, let’s talk coffee and give Victrola an ever-so-quick glance. Of Seattle’s local chains, Caffe Vita, Ladro, etc., Victrola might be the one that eeks out on top. It’s not necessarily the best coffee in Seattle – it’s awfully hard to top the less chain-y Storyville – but it’s one that holds its own. I’ve heard Victrola mentioned with some reverence by Norwegian baristi, which is a rare accolade.

This is the type of place that takes its coffee seriously. Ask for a cappuccino, and the barista will assume you want a six-ounce cup. A proper cup, at that – you can obviously get coffee to go, but I appreciate how they reached for the non-paper option. The cappuccino is served dry, giving it just the kick the traditional breakfast-time coffee should have. It’s a quality that sets it apart, maybe not by miles, but certainly by a few yards.

If you want a Cap Hill bang-bang, it’s worth hitting up Sugar Bakery. Their chocolate croissants are next level, and it’s just a block away. It technically offers seating, but only minimally so. Expect to take your goods to go.

Victrola: 310 E Pike St, Seattle • Map • Web • Instagram

Sugar Bakery: 320 E Pine St, Seattle • Map • Web

Related Coffee Read

Merch for the People!

Don’t just read Awesomeness – wear it! This distinguished publication proudly features two official shirts – or magnets, stickers, or whatever medium you can think of: The Hallgrrrl and Zune. Why those? For one, the Hallmark channel and Riotgrrrl are, as I’ve said before, the natural combination. And, who doesn’t love the Zune?

Go shop at The Better Taster Boutique for only the finest goods.

The Devil Wears Prada 2

We live in weird times, where a sequel to a twenty-year-old dramedy is close to outcompeting Star Wars at the box office. That is what’s happening, though, and the world is better for it – a decade of high-concept franchises1 dominating the box office was not good for anyone. Many – evidently most – want genres other than superhero movies in their lives.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 isn’t just star-studded counter-programming to IP-driven movies; it’s one of those rare sequels that actually adds something to the original. Here, twenty years later, we pick up at Runway in a world where print magazines are folding on a regular basis, and the fashion press is increasingly losing ground to social platforms. The film, like its predecessor, is as much about journalism as it is about the fashion industry. And, it is a through-and-through well-written comedy.

The film doesn’t fall into the trap of harping loudly on the advent of social media – that serves as an undercurrent, while the film mainly focuses on the characters. And rightly so. With a cast that includes Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci, and Emily Blunt, why wouldn’t you? Justin Theroux is a perfect tech bro.

One could say The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a slick, high-budget Hallmark movie, and I’ll leave it up to you to decide if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Me, I go with the former.

Videoheaven

File Videoheaven – a three-hour documentary on the rise and fall of video stores – under the “for a particular niche audience” category. Its director, Alex Ross Perry, delivered my favorite movie of 2025, Pavements, and while Videoheaven might not hit quite as hard, it’s a fun watch for anyone who obsessively searched for VHS tapes during the stores’ heyday.

Three hours is a commitment, but luckily, the film is divided into chapters. Videoheaven currently streams on Criterion.

Cube

You wake up in a cube-shaped room, no idea where you are, and notice that each wall has a door. You pick one, climb through it, and end up in another identical cube. So it continues until you reach a room with a trap, and you go ashes-to-ashes, dust-to-dust.

Cube is a Canadian sci-fi movie from 1997 that has built up a solid cult following over the years. Why does a group of people end up in the cube? And what exactly is the cube? Why does it exist? It’s a suspenseful movie, one that spawned two sequels. Those are both shaky, but fun nonetheless. Give them all a shot – JustWatch lists your streaming options.

Send Help

Sam Raimi returns with a comedy-horror movie. Send Help follows two people stranded on a remote island as they try to survive not only the environment but also each other. Comedy ensues – darkly funny comedy at that.

Sam Raimi will always be famous for the Evil Dead trilogy, and if you know those films, you’ll have a decent idea of what to expect. Send Help is a slicker movie, but it still has the heart of an eighties slasher. Some excellent performances from Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien elevate the experience.

Send Help is currently on VOD – as it’s a 20th Century Studios title, it’ll presumably hit Hulu in not too long.

Merch for the People!

Don’t just read Awesomeness – wear it! This distinguished publication proudly features two official shirts – or magnets, stickers, or whatever medium you can think of: The Hallgrrrl and Zune. Why those? For one, the Hallmark channel and Riotgrrrl are, as I’ve said before, the natural combination. And, who doesn’t love the Zune?

Go shop at The Better Taster Boutique for only the finest goods.

I couldn’t find any historical documentation on the phenomenon – Norway’s Folk Museum lacks a “squeezable food” section – but I do know it has roots in “Smelteost,” a type of processed cheese invented by Kavli in 1924. “Smelteost,” like most manufactured spreads, has an indefinable texture – smooth, almost slimy, with a gleaming sheen.

Somewhere along the way, Kavli decided it’d be a good idea to add flavors to their product, with “BaconOst” – “Bacon Cheese” – becoming the most iconic of them all. On paper, it makes sense. People love bacon and cheese, so why not combine them into a squeezable form?

Convenient as the packaging may be, the flavor profiles are shakier. BaconOst doesn’t taste like cheese or bacon, but instead melds the two into an uncanny valley draped in an artificial veneer. The best way I can describe it – and bear with me – is in terms of how we see color. The human eye has three receptors, while the Mantis Shrimp has sixteen. It’s impossible for us to describe the colors the Mantis sees – it’s beyond our bounds of understanding. Similarly, no one can truly describe BaconOst’s flavor. It’s just something that is. Kavli’s flavor-profile page goes a long way to prove the point:

Kavli BaconOst is the classic topping on Norwegian sandwiches! The great taste comes from using Norwegian white cheese with tasty bacon bites. [..] Kavli has listened to consumers, and Kavli BaconOst has 50% more bacon for the sake of taste.1

That’s not a flavor profile; that’s just a confirmation that bacon and cheese are, in fact, part of the package.

Setting all of that aside, the real quandary is whether BaconOst is good. Seeing how I was indoctrinated at a young age, I’m probably not the best judge, but… I’ve always been a fan. Toss down a piece of bread, schmear on some BaconOst, and top with Jarlsberg and salami – you’ve got yourself a good, albeit not healthy, sandwich.

See, Kavli likes to present their product as part of a balanced meal, even though the numbers contradict it. There are redeeming qualities – 56 calories in a serving isn’t too bad, and 4 grams of protein is better than nothing – but 270 milligrams of sodium makes it a non-starter for anyone who cares about their blood pressure. Almost 3 grams of saturated fat is not great, and I doubt zero dietary fiber is the baseline of any healthy diet.

Give BaconOst a shot if you’re in search of the bizarre, but I doubt you’ll be as into it as I am. There are things that you grow up with that you can’t escape, and processed cheese in a tube is one of them.

The Sibling Cheeses

Come for the bacon, stay for the jalapeño – Kavli’s website offers a wide array of tubed cheeses.

• RekeOst: Shrimp Cheese. (I guess we got the one up on those insufferable Mantis Shrimp.)

• SkinkeOst: Ham Cheese.

• MagerOst: Lean Cheese.

• JalapeñoOst: Jalapeño Cheese.

• Brie.

• Cheddar & Chili.

• Pepper & Garlic.

Most self-respecting Norwegian-themed stores carry a selection of those products. Scandinavian Specialties is a good pick in Seattle.

Psych – The Pinnacle of Basic Cable Television

Apropos of nothing, let’s throw in a rewatch recommendation for Psych, the USA Network’s mid-aughts comedy-crime series.

For those in need of a refresher, the show follows Shawn Spencer, a “psychic” consultant for the Santa Barbara Police Department. Shawn is, of course, not clairvoyant but rather hyper-observant and good at stitching together clues. Being a “psychic” gives him enough clout to start a detective bureau with his friend Gus, much to the chagrin of his former-cop dad (brilliantly portrayed by Corbin Bernsen – what a pro).

The show is exceptionally funny, stacked with pop-culture references, and rapid-fire dialogue. It also has the best theme song in recent memory – the opening credits show off Psych’s vibes better than any trailer could.

All the show’s eight seasons, plus three made-for-TV movies2, stream on Peacock. For those of you who prefer linear TV, it should come as no surprise that the best network on planet earth, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, got you covered.

A Linguistic Oversight

In the previous issue, I made a mention of the Norwegian idiom, “the day before the day,” but neglected to include the native wording: “dagen før dagen.” The Digest apologizes.

Sources from the Web

Wikipedia: “Smelteost“ (Oct 5, 2023)

Kavli: “BaconOst” (2024)

Related Weird Foods

Merch for the People!

Don’t just read Awesomeness – wear it! This distinguished publication proudly features two official shirts – or magnets, stickers, or whatever medium you can think of: The Hallgrrrl and Zune. Why those? For one, the Hallmark channel and Riotgrrrl are, as I’ve said before, the natural combination. And, who doesn’t love the Zune?

Go shop at The Better Taster Boutique for only the finest goods.

Sonora Carne Asada House: Carne Seca

Sonora Carne Asada House, a new addition to Seattle’s South End, is the sister restaurant to the Auburn original. As the name implies, meat takes center stage – a suitable nod to the eponymous Northwest Mexico region, known as “the land of beef.”

There’s a lot going on at Sonora, a spot unlike many other Seattle Mexican restaurants. The menu features regional specialties such as carne seca – a variation on shredded beef jerky – and beef-marrow tacos, and the salsa bar is plentiful. Its creamy avocado, which can serve as the base for your own custom-made guacamole, is a welcome addition. Grab some hard-shell tortillas from the bar, and you have the makings of a decent-sized meal, even before your order is ready.

The “shredded beef jerky burrito,” then. Gotta say – I’m a fan. I wasn’t sure what to expect, seeing jerky is (famously) chewy, but when shredded and chopped, the texture resembles carne asada. The flavors are similar, too, with a smoky veneer functioning as the differentiator. If you’re in the mood for a twist on a classic, it’s the route to go.

I have not tried the burro percherón, so I cannot speak to its quality1, but to give you an idea of what to expect, these tend to measure in at around twenty inches and are stuffed with meat, avocado, cheese, mayo, and tomato. At $27, the percherón is marked as “sharable,” which sounds about right.

Their beverage menu is small, yet varied. The Piña Michel-Agua – a natural pineapple soft drink – was a refreshing companion to the burrito, and on the opposite end, you have Mineragua, with its puckering, spicy palate. Not entirely my thing, but give it a shot if you’re in the mood for an extra oomph.

Beyond sticking my head in for a second, I never did properly visit Fryzone, the address’s previous tenant. Sonora has since renovated the interiors, which now have a muted vibe that’s not oppressively dark. You get an order counter and a couple of tables in front, plus expanded seating in an adjacent room – a simple, no-frills layout.

It’s still early goings for Sonora – its grand opening is tomorrow2 – and I haven’t had a chance to give it the deep dive it deserves3. Consider this a first impression, and a very positive one at that. Not all places show as much promise as Sonora at this stage. And, as it’s different from your average Mexican restaurant, it should be a destination for anyone in search of spots outside the norm. I can only assume you’re one of those.

5901 Rainier Ave S, Seattle • Map • Instagram

Hurra for Syttende Mai!

I’m sure you already marked your calendar for Sunday, May 17th – Norway’s Constitution Day. If you need a reminder of what that actually is, check out my earlier post on it.

So, how do you plan to celebrate this year? If you come up short, here are a couple of suggestions:

Music: “The day before the day” is a common Norwegian expression that simply refers to the eve before any major holiday. Generally, that, too, is a day worth celebrating. This year, the day before the day is arguably bigger than May 17th – it’s the Eurovision Song Contest final! So, start your celebration early, as Norway has already picked itself as a frontrunner. It streams on Peacock at noon, Pacific.

Mystery: Hallmark+ must have mapped this out – Best Served Cold: A Hannah Swenson Mystery streams on the 17th. This is prestige television at its best.4

The Ballard Constitution Day Parade: And the Grand Marshal this year? Norway’s former Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, must have given up on her beloved Bergen and instead decided to celebrate in Seattle. The Ballard Constitution Day parade is huge and is worth checking out if you can tolerate the crowds. The festivities kick off at 11 am at Bergen Place; the parade itself starts at 6 pm from NW 62nd St and 28th Ave NW.

Culture Vulture It: Sentimental Value was nominated for nine Academy Awards this year – it won one – so if you need an excuse to enjoy Norwegian cinema, here you go. More on Apple TV.

Wikipedia: “Sonora Gastronomy“ (May 5, 2026)

Wikipedia: “Flour Tortilla” (April 23, 2026)

Merch for the People!

Don’t just read Awesomeness – wear it! This distinguished publication proudly features two official shirts – or magnets, stickers, or whatever medium you can think of: The Hallgrrrl and Zune. Why those? For one, the Hallmark channel and Riotgrrrl are, as I’ve said before, the natural combination. And, who doesn’t love the Zune?

Go shop at The Better Taster Boutique for only the finest goods.

I was surprised to find the second book, The Wheel of Doll, spending a good chunk of time in Olympia. I’m on the record as being a fan of Washington State’s capital, so the combination matched up with my liking. It also made me crave bread from Oly’s San Francisco Street Bakery.

All this to say, we did as we’re wont to do here at the Digest, and took a trip to Olympia to find fixings for a San Francisco Street Bakery sandwich. Bread, cheese, and lettuce – the simplest of ingredients.

The Bread: San Francisco Street Bakery

Here’s a bakery that suitably lives up to Olympia’s Hallgrrrl aesthetic – the pastry case shows off eye-catching goods, while the building is slightly worn. The latter doesn’t make for an unwelcoming space; rather, it gives off an unapologetically casual vibe. The coffee station even leans into the town’s Riot Grrrl legacy, with some prominent slap tags.

The baked goods, then.

We picked up a generous assortment, ranging from sweet to savory. For the former, the lemon meringue tart was the stand-out. The meringue has the fluffy texture you're looking for, with a smoky bitterness that evens out the sweetness. Zest and sugar balance the curd into something that doesn’t pucker, yet still has a noticeable bright acidity. All is packed into a buttery, ever-so-salty shell. It comes in a size that’s easy to hold in one hand, and it’s not a sickly, overpowering experience.

For the sandwich, we grabbed the sourdough loaf, a perennial San Francisco Street mainstay. The chewy texture and crispy crust are exactly what a hearty sandwich requires, and the bakery has correctly gone the classic route with the bread – just an honest sourdough loaf without any gimmicks or surprises.

You can say that about most of San Francisco Street’s goods. The bakery is all about a consistent delivery of flavors and textures, without any frills. That’s something I can respect.

1320 San Francisco NE, Olympia • Map • Web

The Side Trip: Left Bank Pastry

Think Left Bank Pastry, and “bougie” comes to mind. The Paris-style patisserie has a clean, contemporary vibe, with a more spacious pastry case. That’s not to say it’s better than San Francisco Street, just that it has a different ambiance. Odds of finding slap tags inside Left Bank are right around zero.

We didn’t pick up anything for the sandwich here, but Left Bank’s chocolate/banana tart is, in a word, legit.

Note the aggressive use of banana chunks – Left Bank’s tart isn’t just banana-forward, it’s banana-dominant. The chocolate and cream tame it just enough to avoid a potassium overload, but no one will accuse the tart of being subtle. And I’m OK with that, particularly as it comes in a shell that stands up to what could have been a soggy mess.

Shoutout to their “Swan,” too – a profiterole more similar to a Norwegian fastelavnsbolle than the traditional French version.1

1941 4th Ave E, Olympia • Map • Web

The Vegetables and Cheese: Olympia Farmers Market

Here is one of those places Olympia really should flaunt – and also what undoubtedly would be the heart of any Hallmark movie. The downtown Olympia Farmers Market is the second largest of its kind in Washington State, and it’s open year-round. More than 120 vendors serve 400,000 annual visitors. Those are impressive numbers.

There are plenty of fruit and vegetable vendors at the market, none of which are noticeably better or worse than the other. The quality is consistently high. We went with Stoney Plains Natural Farms, a spot that deserves a special mention for its display alone.

Swiss chard, romaine, cilantro, parsley… we picked up a medley of what looked the freshest. Bonus points awarded for their honey – you really can’t beat the small-batch stuff.

A few stalls down is TUNaWERTH Creamery, with its excellent garlic-and-chives cream cheese. Made up of milk, culture, and rennet, it’s about as pure a cheese as can be. Their Gouda, too, holds a high quality, and as it would be downright impolite to leave it behind, we grabbed both cheeses for the sandwich.

Also worth noting: San Francisco Street Bakery has two stalls at the market. If you want a more compact – albeit less fulfilling – roundup of sandwich fixings, this is your one-stop shop.

700 Capitol Way N, Olympia • Map • Web

The Full Experience: A Bang Bang Bang

San Francisco Street Bakery and Left Bank Pastry are a short distance apart, and Olympia Farmers Market isn’t far off, either. You can make a go of it if you want to hit them all in quick succession.

Here’s the direct link to the Google Maps Route.

The Sandwich Assembly

A good sandwich is often a simple sandwich, so let’s recap the fixings we picked up for our Olympia-centric handheld:

• Sourdough bread from San Francisco Street Bakery.

• TUNaWERTH Creamery’s garlic and chive cream cheese, and Gouda for good measure.

• A melody of salads from Stoney Plains, finely chopped.

  • Additionally, toss the salad in olive oil and lemon juice for an even fresher flavor.

Broil the slices of bread, schmear with cream cheese, and top with Gouda and tossed salad. That’s it – let the flavors do the talking.

Now, you may not have to go to Olympia for this type of sandwich, but seeing how it’s a great town, you probably should.

Further Olympia Reads

Merch for the People!

Don’t just read Awesomeness – wear it! This distinguished publication proudly features two official shirts – or magnets, stickers, or whatever medium you can think of: The Hallgrrrl and Zune. Why those? For one, the Hallmark channel and Riotgrrrl are, as I’ve said before, the natural combination. And, who doesn’t love the Zune?

Go shop at The Better Taster Boutique for only the finest goods.

El Rinconsito: Tacos Al Pastor

PSA: The South End Seattle El Rinconsito does not have a drive-through. It may look like it does, but that’s a mirage caused by a slightly wonky parking lot. You’ll be in for a wait should you try to line up, and a helpful El Rinconsito employee will eventually tell you that they do, in fact, not have a drive-through. I know all this from experience.

Setting my little snafu aside, it’s good to see El Rinconsito’s Martin Luther King, Jr. location open after years of donning a “coming soon” sign – long enough that I had almost given up hope. Here we are, though, and in the year of our lord, 2026, El Rinconsito seems to be doing well. The once-dilapidated building is spruced up with a handful of indoor tables, a quick to-go ordering service1, and outdoor dome seating. The latter blocks out noise and smog from the busy road, making El Rinconsito an unexpected outdoor destination. I imagine it’s a good people-watching spot.

The al pastor tacos are tasty, and while they don’t quite stack up against La Cuadra’s über-succulent offering, they’re still the real deal, with freshly sliced meat from a trompo – a vertical spit. Well-spiced, with a good bite. Four tacos run you $14.01, which, the weird tacked-on cent aside, is fair, seeing they also toss in a Favoritos soda.

Even with a to-go order, you get a generous side of pickled vegetables, and while most places around town serve fairly barebones al pastor, El Rinconsito differentiates itself with its toppings. The prerequisite chunk of pineapple is there, along with chopped onions, pickled red onions, beets, and even a charred, blistered jalapeño. A whole caramelized onion adds an additional sweet touch to the palate. It’s a maximalist take on the taco al pastor, and I’m all about that. Having a variety of options in the area is not a bad thing.

It’s definitely worth the stop, El Rinconsito, as long as that stop isn’t in a perceived drive-through line.

2921 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S, Seattle • Map • Web • App(!)

We’re purveyors of art here at the Digest, and have recently undertaken a new project: The Slap Tag Files. The site is, as the name suggests, a gallery of stickers found on street signs and lamp posts, commonly known as “slap tags.” Nothing more, nothing less, and if you find those as weirdly fascinating as I do, the gallery should hopefully hold your interest.

You can toss The Slap Tag Files into an RSS reader to receive live updates, or just visit daily. Because, really, why wouldn’t you?

… but wait, there’s more!

The people spoke, and we listened: Drøbak’s infamous “Santa Crossing” sign is now available from the Better Taster Boutique.

Shirts, stickers, magnets – all the usual suspects can be adorned with your favorite oddball Norwegian road sign.

Nirvanna: The Band – The Show – The Movie

Speaking of art, here’s a highbrow, lowbrow, and in-between-brow movie any fan of quirky humor should check out.

Based on a Canadian series, Nirvanna: The Band – The Show – The Movie is an absurd comedy, partly straight fiction (a self-confessed Back to the Future rip-off), and partly a Borat-style stunt film. The trailer sets it up better than I can.

It’s all very Canadian2, and whatever you may think of the humor, it is a fascinating watch. Director Matt Johnson isn’t too candid about how they get away with filming in public places without permits, but he does suggest that they technically can consider themselves a documentary crew, which allows them certain liberties3. Here’s how they obtained footage from a scene set on top of Toronto’s CN Tower, according to IMDb’s trivia page:

The Skywalk footage at the CN Tower was from a GoPro on top of the tour guide’s helmet. The CN Tower tour guides have a script that they always stick to, and move their heads in the same way each tour, so Matt choreographed their movements based on that.

Liberties aside, that is some complex choreography.

So far, Nirvanna is my favorite movie of 2026 – fans of quirky humor will want to check it out. It’s currently available on VOD.

Merch for the People!

Don’t just read Awesomeness – wear it! This distinguished publication proudly features two official shirts – or magnets, stickers, or whatever medium you can think of: The Hallgrrrl and Zune. Why those? For one, the Hallmark channel and Riotgrrrl are, as I’ve said before, the natural combination. And, who doesn’t love the Zune?

Go shop at The Better Taster Boutique for only the finest goods.

The Home Skillit

There is a corner of South Side Seattle’s S Grattan and Seward Park Ave that serves as a beacon of eclectic food. Some days you’ll find a fruit stand, other times a hot-dog cart – and recently a barbecue tent.

I had not heard of the Home Skillit until stumbling across it a couple of weeks back. Of course, “stumbling.” This is one of those cases where you smell before you see – the smoky barbecue aromas travel for blocks. And while the street corner regularly sees steady traffic, Home Skillit looks to up the ante. For a late-afternoon stop, they were pretty much sold out of their barbecue mainstays. Spare ribs and shredded pork shoulder were all gone, and I had to settle for the Philly. Of course, “settle” is not the proper word in this case – the “Seatown Cheesesteak” more than holds its own.

We’re talking smoked ribeye steak, tender and flavorful. Well-seasoned without hiding the protein – this is the type of steak you’d expect from a high-end restaurant, but instead served in sandwich form from a tent. It’s assembled without fuss, with the addition of sautéed peppers and onions and the requisite provolone cheese. Why mess with a classic when you can just prepare it with high-quality ingredients?

The bread, too, is the real thing – the lightly grilled French roll elevates the game. Top the sandwich with the house BBQ sauce… tent BBQ sauce… and you’ve got yourself a standout sandwich. Each top-shelf ingredient adds up to a suitably casual eat. That’s my kind of thing.

I would like to dive further into Home Skillit, and I will when I can, but as it is now, the spot sells out quickly. Which is great – they deserve it, and I always approve of a quirky eatery.

Find the Home Skillit on the web.

The Life is Strange Soundtracks

The Life is Strange games – specifically, the Max Caulfield trilogy – will give even the most cynical misanthrope “a little something in their eye.” Despite its high-concept sci-fi premise, the characters’ relationships are emotionally grounded and set in realistic situations. The trailer for the (remastered) first game will give you a good idea of what to expect.

The soundtracks – which I’ve had on rotation for the last month – feature original music and previously released earworms1. Here is a lovely performance of Tessa Rose Jackson’s “So, This Is Lonely,” from the Double Exposure OST.

Those Bright Eyes vibes you hear aren’t coincidental – Conor Oberst’s “Lua” was central to the first game.

Dig around, and you can find the soundtracks on vinyl, though streaming is the more realistic option for most of us. The albums cost hundreds of dollars on eBay, so I stick with Apple Music:

• Double Exposure

• Reunion

• Life is Strange – I can’t find this one outside of cover versions, so let me know if you have any leads.

You can grab the games from their official website. Those who prefer less-interactive media can check out a live-action adaptation on Amazon Prime next year.

Nine Inch Nails: Nine Inch Noize

I’ll add a recommendation for Nine Inch Nails and Boys Noize’s Nine Inch Noize, just to prove I’ve retained my infamous edge2. It’s a faux live recording based on their Coachella set – a studio recording with live nuggets tossed in. The version of “Copy of a” is a highlight.

The People Have Spoken!

Last week’s poll asked: “What sign should be on your next t-shirt?” You voted, and 100% of you3 went with The Santa Sign. Our design department is working on it as we speak.

Now Back to the Boutique

Don’t just read Awesomeness – wear it! This distinguished publication proudly features two official shirts – or magnets, stickers, or whatever medium you can think of: The Hallgrrrl and Zune. Why those? For one, the Hallmark channel and Riotgrrrl are, as I’ve said before, the natural combination. And, who doesn’t love the Zune?

Go shop at The Better Taster Boutique for only the finest goods.

Taco Time’s Molly Moon Ice Cream

Here’s an interesting tidbit in the ongoing Taco Time saga: The Seattle-based fast-food chain has joined forces with perennial local favorite, Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream. How the partnership came to be is under wraps, but Taco Time isn’t shy about proclaiming it “a match made in the PNW. [..] At select locations while supplies last.”

The exclusivity. Taco Time plays it coy in a Facebook post, throwing down the “VERY limited time” card, and only serves the dessert at eight locations. It also indicates the colab might continue through summer – which kind of nulls the “limited time” claim – but for now, you can find the flavors in unexpected corners of King County. More on that below.

I get why Taco Time makes a big deal of this. Molly Moon’s is featured in national publications, and their charity work received a 2016 White House Champion of Change Award. It’s a prolific creamery and a bit of a Seattle icon. Taco Time has its cult following, but it doesn’t receive Food & Wine write-ups, nor does it donate ten percent of its profits. This colab is more substantial for Taco Time than it is for Molly Moon’s.

As for the ice cream, they’ve named the “Melted Chocolate” and “Churro” containers “Minimoons.” The churro is fittingly a Taco-Time-exclusive flavor, and is worth the trip if you’re a Molly Moon’s completionist. Much like the creamery’s other products, it tastes natural, and it couldn’t have been easy distilling the cinnamon-forward churro into small-batch ice cream. You don’t get any superfluous notes, just pure churro instead of something like the more common cinnamon ice cream. $3.49 a pop isn’t bad, either.

Here’s the caveat: Taco Time’s freezers are evidently too cold for the ice cream, and the accompanying spoons barely make a dent. In that sense, this is not something you can eat on the spot – instead, you will want to bring it with you so it has time to defrost. It’s not all bad, as there were no signs of frostbite. You won’t need to wait much longer than fifteen to twenty minutes to dig into the Molly Moon’s you know and (presumably) love.

I suppose one could argue you could just go to a Molly Moon’s shop for ice cream, but I, for one, feel that Taco Time’s foray into classy dining should be celebrated. Small-batch ice cream and swanky new interiors could be a well-timed evolutionary step for Taco Time.

The aforementioned Facebook post doesn’t give you maps to locations serving Molly Moon’s, so, for your convenience, here’s where you can go for exclusive churro ice cream:

• Issaquah Gilman - 125 NW Gilman Blvd

• Bellingham Bakerview - 4100 Arctic Ave, Bellingham

• Renton Fairwood - 14006 SE Petrovitsky Rd, Renton

• Seattle Shoreline - 15010 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline

• Puyallup South Hill - 15802 Meridian E, Puyallup

• Redmond - 17140 Redmond Wy, Redmond

• Everett Rucker - 3805 Rucker Ave, Everett

• Stanwood - 26479 72nd Ave NW, Stanwood

Poll: Your Voice Matters

It’s time to update the ol’ Better Taster Boutique, and who better to choose the next t-shirt design than you? The theme this time around will be Norwegian road signs: Santa or Hell.

On the left, you have the “Santa Crossing” sign located in my childhood town of Drøbak. The place fashions itself as a “Christmas Village,” and it managed to finagle a public road sign as promotional material.

Then there’s the “Hell” sign that goes viral ever so often. Hell, which actually means “overhang,” is a town located near Trondheim, where you can also find a railway sign that reads “Gods Expedition” – “freight handling.”

So, the question is: Which one would you like to see on a t-shirt?

Sources from the Web and Related Reads

Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream: “About Us“

Wikipedia: “Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream” (Sep 30, 2025)

Merch for the People!

Don’t just read Awesomeness – wear it! This distinguished publication proudly features two official shirts – or magnets, stickers, or whatever medium you can think of: The Hallgrrrl and Zune. Why those? For one, the Hallmark channel and Riotgrrrl are, as I’ve said before, the natural combination. And, who doesn’t love the Zune?

Go shop at The Better Taster Boutique for only the finest goods.

Hershey said Wednesday it will use classic recipes for all Reese’s products starting next year, a change that comes after the grandson of Reese’s founder criticized the company for shifting to cheaper ingredients.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have always been made with real milk chocolate or dark chocolate and peanut butter. But a small portion of Hershey’s and Reese’s products, like mini Easter eggs, are now made with a coating that contains less chocolate.

Hershey said that in 2027, it will shift those products to “their classic milk chocolate and dark chocolate recipes.”

Does the shift mean Hershey will produce chocolate of a discerning quality? Almost certainly not, but I choose to believe that this is the beginning of the Big Chocolate Revolution.

Now on to our scheduled programming.

Mashiko Japanese Restaurant

I’m no sushi expert – my chopstick skills are shaky at best – but I do appreciate the craft. Any cuisine anchored in freshness and restraint deserves respect, particularly when it has an aesthetically creative bend. You don’t need to be an expert to appreciate sushi.

Mashiko, then. This West Seattle restaurant has been around since 1994 – a veritable eternity in restaurant years. The spot’s laid-back vibe doesn’t try to outshine the food, though that’s not to say Mashiko lacks personality. Their large cork wall gives off a distinct feel, but there is a subtlety to it. It’s contemporary rather than flashy.

There is an Omakase menu – effectively a chef’s-choice prix fixe2 – that clocks in between $130 to $225 depending on your choice. Not an outrageous proposition3, but as you need two hours to get through it, you’ll want to plan accordingly. Instead, we embraced a little-of-everything strategy, opting for the shareable route. Mashiko has a wide array of choices that don’t feel overwhelming. There are pleasant surprises to be found.

The Yaki Nasu, for example. I’m usually not an eggplant kind of guy, so naming it the evening’s top player feels weird. What set it apart? Maybe it’s something as simple as the grilled texture – soft, with a slight bite – or the pungent garlic sesame sauce. There’s not much more to the dish, and the complexities aren’t immediately apparent. A small selection of ingredients does an impressive amount of work – we even got a second order.

Sticking with vegetarian – or, in this case, vegan – highlights, the Nattō roll was another curveball. Nattō is fermented soybeans, so it probably won’t be everyone’s jam, but if you do like fermented vegetables, you’ll appreciate the kick. The funk really is funky. As an added bonus, it’s good for the stomach, which may be neither here nor there, but gut health is important. Get those probiotics in – you might as well take full advantage of the cuisine you’re enjoying.

Finally, if you want a suitable alternative to Omakase, the Sashimi Assortment gets you there – a smörgåsbord of sashimi and pickled vegetables. For those who believe in eating the whole prawn, head and all, that’s part of this package. (In this man’s opinion, the only proper way to eat shrimp.)

There is a large assortment on the plate, none of which is random. Trout and geoduck may sound like a weird combination, but they complement each other well, and the octopus adds its own je ne sais quoi. The dish is an eclectic melody of seafood and vegetables, all playing in harmony.

Grab a blood-orange shrub, and tack on a variety of rolls and nigiri – they’ll add up to a large meal that doesn’t feel sickingly filling. And that’s the power of clean, fresh flavors.

4725 California Ave SW, Seattle • Map • Web • Instagram

Resplandor’s Rêverie

Speaking of eclectic melodies – once in a while, we all need a bit of shoegaze in our lives. The indie-rock subgenre is dominated by fuzzy guitars with enough reverb and echo to sound like waves. Noise rock for people who don’t actually want too much noise. If you’re familiar with Slowdive, you get the gist of it.

Resplandor, meanwhile, is a Peruvian group that has seen success in Europe without making much of a dent stateside – they don’t even have a Wikipedia page. That is too bad, as their music is quite excellent in an atmospheric kind of way.

Check them out on Apple Music for more.

Merch for the People!

Don’t just read Awesomeness – wear it! This distinguished publication proudly features two official shirts – or magnets, stickers, or whatever medium you can think of: The Hallgrrrl and Zune. Why those? For one, the Hallmark channel and Riotgrrrl are, as I’ve said before, the natural combination. And, who doesn’t love the Zune?

Go shop at The Better Taster Boutique for only the finest goods.

Why does the genre become so ubiquitous at Easter? To find the answer, we need to travel back to the 1900s.

A Marketing Stunt That Still Resonates

A common misconception is that the Easter-crime trend kicked off with the 1923 book, Bergenstoget Plyndret Inat! (The Bergen Train Was Robbed Last Night! – an impossibly good title.) That notion isn’t entirely untrue, but it ignores the previous decade’s Easter-read blitz. During the weeks leading up to the 1912 holiday, publishers began promoting casual literature such as Sherlock Holmes in newspapers. Why Easter? Then, as now, Norway shut down for a week during its extended Easter holiday. Shops? Closed. You needed something to pass the time with.

Back to Bergenstoget Plyndret Inat! As a marketing ploy, publisher Gyldendal bought a headline on the front page of Aftenposten – Norway’s largest newspaper – which simply spelled out the book’s title. For the unassuming reader, it looked like an actual story about a large-scale train robbery. People freaked out – they had friends and relatives on the train! – and inundated Aftenposten with phone calls. For Gyldendal, the campaign was a success1.

In that sense, this was when the Easter-crime concept took off earnestly, though it was still built on earlier marketing campaigns.

Time marched on, and publishers rode on Gyldendal’s success. The number of Easter-time crime novels grew, but it wasn’t until 1965 that the phrase “Easter crime” appeared in an advertisement for Aftenposten’s short story, Crime passionel på Ullabrent gård – a title I couldn’t even try to translate.

I’ll let others dive into the Scandinavian psyche and its fascination with (often violent) crime fiction, but in this case, the genre’s popularity is connected to something more benign: Easter crimes are not too different from the American summer-time beach read. When you have time to kill – no pun intended – whether at a ski cabin or on the beach, a crime novel is always an entertaining way to pass the time.

From Books to the Small Screen

As television sets spread throughout the seventies, the Norwegian state broadcaster, NRK, smelled blood in the water and jumped on the Påskekrim trend. Crime dramas gradually turned into Easter mainstays, and in 1977, Påskekrim serials became annual program posts. These were adaptations of mostly British authors – P.D. James was particularly popular – and the rest, as they say, is history.

These days, NRK and the many commercial channels broadcast multiple Påskekrims every evening. Some may claim they’ve oversaturated the market, but, judging by viewerships, there is no end in sight for the macabre seasonal Easter crime.

Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole

With that, it should come as no surprise that Netflix released Norway’s large-scale crime production, Detective Hole (based on Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole books), during this year’s Easter week. I managed to sit through a bleak, joyless six minutes and forty-three seconds before calling it quits. It’s not poorly made, but yow, it requires you to be in a particular mindset.

Some may also remember The Snowman, the 2017 Hollywood adaptation of the Harry Hole series. The movie contained only 80% of its shooting script and is a baffling, weird watch. Add to that, the director insisted on using the character’s name verbatim, which… Say it out loud, and get ready to snicker like a ten-year-old boy: Harry Hole2.

Additional Easter Crimes Courtesy of NRK

Norway’s state channel, NRK, recently published a list of Easter crimes for your viewing pleasure. Three of them stream in the US: Shetland (BritBox), Lynely (BritBox), and The Marlow Murder Club (PBS).

Web Sources

NRK: “Nordisk noir på full guffe“ (Mar 20, 2026)

Norsk Folkemuseum: “Easter Crime“

Wikipedia: “Påskeferie“ (Mar 31, 2026)

Aftenposten: “Illusjon ble påsketradisjon” (Apr 4, 2023)

Further (Non-Easter) Reads

Catching up on Home-Media Consumption

Hallmark+ Enters Mystery Season With Sugar & Vice

March might seem like a strange time to debut a mystery-movie lineup, yet Easter is traditionally Scandinavia’s crime-show season. I guess Hallmark is just a little more cosmopolitan than its American peers in following that precedent.

The Hannah Swensen mysteries – née Murder, She Baked – have been a mainstay at the network since 2015, and Sugar & Vice is the thirteenth entry in the series. It doesn’t quite reach the lofty heights of the Mystery Island films, but that’s a high bar to climb. Hannah Swensen still holds its own.

As with the other twelve films, Sugar & Vice falls under the “cozy mystery” banner. It’s amusing, pretty clever, and the baked goods – the anchor of the movies – look tasty. At about two million dollars a pop, Hallmark productions aren’t known for large budgets, but the pastries here trump what you see in many high-scale productions.

Come for the baked goods and stay for the red herrings – Sugar & Vice is one for any and all Agatha Christie fans. I’m a sucker for a confined-to-one-building premise, which is what we get with this mystery.

It isn’t the end of Hannah Swensen, either. Hallmark has already completed movie number fourteen, Cooked to Death, which is scheduled to air later this year.

Perhaps more excitingly, Hallmark+ recently picked up all the seasons of Remington Steele, one of the urtexts of the modern crime procedural. A show with pre-Bond Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist as private investigators? A prerequisite 1980s will-they-or-won’t-they romantic subplot? What’s not to love?1

I’m telling you – Hallmark+ is a strong contender for the only streaming service you need.

iZombie – CW’s Sadly Forgotten Cult Favorite

Would there have been an iZombie without Remington Steele? Maybe, but this oddball zombie-themed procedural certainly owes a lot to ’80s network shows.

Debuting on CW in 2015, iZombie follows Liv, a Seattle-based medical resident, who is turned into a zombie during a boat party. We’re not talking your stereotypical undead, either – she still functions like every other human being, but also possesses super-strength when angered, and an appetite for brains. To deal with the latter, she takes a job in the King County morgue, where she feeds on incoming corpses.

With her newfound diet, she inadvertently ingests the victims’ personality traits and experiences flashbacks from their lives. The perfect twist on your traditional comedic murder-mystery, which lasted for five seasons.

Rose McIver portrays Liv well, and Rahul Kohli shows some serious comedic chops as the only person aware of her newfound identity. And, to tie it back to Hallmark, Liv’s ex-fiancé is depicted by one of their premier contract players, Robert Buckley.

Where do you find iZombie, then? This is where it gets tricky. iZombie was one of the last shows of its ilk – quirky, high-concept mysteries with killer soundtracks – to air on a traditional TV network. Rights lapsed – likely music-related – and you can only purchase the first two seasons digitally. One additional season is available on physical media.

I’m willing to bet that the more connected Digest reader will know how to acquire the whole show, but far be it from me to make any suggestions.

SMA5H’s Chicken Sandwich

Look, I get it – chicken sandwiches have fallen out of fashion. After nationwide chains like Popeye’s and Chick-fil-A aggressively spiked the market in a much-publicized chicken battle, the phenomenon plateaued and became a routine joke. I’m not going to rip into all of that, but just because a dish becomes unfashionable doesn’t mean it is bad in and of itself. A well-prepared chicken sandwich can stand up to any traditional burger.

SMA5H2 is one of the spots that gets it right and even adds a small twist of its own. The burger – I’m not getting in the middle of the is-a-chicken-sandwich-a-burger debate – is made up of multiple chicken tenders, fried but not greasy, which give a proper crackle of a bite. Nicely seasoned, too, and the brioche bun adds a sweet contrast.

I don’t know, I feel like I’m supposed to vax poetically, but a good chicken sandwich should be simple, and there isn’t a lot more to SMA5H’s handheld. That is a good thing – clean flavors are not something you often see in chicken sandwiches, at least not from the big players. You’re not going to mistake it for health food, but then, you won’t feel overly heavy after the meal, either. Just a good overall package.

7101 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Seattle (Map) • Web

203 S 2nd St, Renton (Map)

The Peanut Butter Omission

While writing the “Reese’s vs. Trader Joe’s” peanut butter cup post, I straight out forgot that I previously published a related piece: The Plant-Based vs. Organic Reese’s showdown.

Hershey’s has since discontinued the Organic Reese’s, and I don’t think that bothered anyone too badly. It wasn’t great. The oatmilk version is still around and is probably the best option if you, for whatever reason, want a Reese’s Cup.

More egregiously, I called the now-defunct Olympia nut-butter king, Cobb’s, by the wrong name in the Trader Joe’s post. That has since been fixed, and our editorial department apologizes for the oversight.

The Sedona Hike Snaffoo

Meanwhile, in the Sedona-hikes post, I claimed Oak Creek Trail #108 had nine stream crossings. The correct number is thirteen.

I should also have mentioned that you can burn an additional twenty percent of calories by using hiking poles – further proof that they’re made for a young buck like me.

Merch for the People!

Don’t just read Awesomeness – wear it! This distinguished publication proudly features two official shirts – or magnets, stickers, or whatever medium you can think of: The Hallgrrrl and Zune. Why those? For one, the Hallmark channel and Riotgrrrl are, as I’ve said before, the natural combination. And, who doesn’t love the Zune?

Go shop at The Better Taster Boutique for only the finest goods.

The town didn’t incorporate until 1988, after seeing an influx of neo-hippies who, presumably, were pilgrimaging to Sedona’s many vortexes – more about those below. As the town grew, it became increasingly known for its hiking, with more than 200 trails spanning 300+ miles of terrain. During its high seasons – March through May and September through November – almost three million tourists visit the town. Calling the actual town of Sedona serene would be an overstatement, but you can easily find some solitude out in the red rocks if you stay away from trails like Devil’s Bridge1.

We aren’t much into golf here at the Digest, but we quite enjoy a good hike – and a good restaurant. Here are a couple of treks and eateries we vetted during a recent Sedona fact-finding mission.

Soldier Pass Trail:

4.8 miles long with a 823 ft gain – out and back. More on AllTrails.

There is a handful of “must-try” hikes in Sedona, and one of them is Soldier Pass. This is the type of trail where parking lots fill up early, and you’ll likely have to take a shuttle to get to the trailhead. Alternatively, you can hike an extra mile from a remote lot.

Crowded as it is, Soldier Pass is a bit more strenuous than the popularity would suggest. When the sun hits, the gradual incline starts feeling particularly steep – I clocked it at 39% toward the end.

Those are minor caveats, and it is still a very worthy trek, with sights like the Devil’s Kitchen Sinkhole and some amazing views from Soldier Pass Cave. The colors are a mix of Martian reds and a unique green-and-blue-hued flora.

Soldier Pass is not a loop, but rather an out-and-back hike – one that is more varied than you might expect. You will see a whole lot more on the way down than on the way up. Additionally, you can tack on the Brins Mesa Trail on top of the pass. That one measures in as a healthy four-mile addition.

As for Soldier’s Pass itself – or any trail – come equipped with plenty of water and a first-aid kit. We witnessed an unprepared hiker with cactus needles in their hand, and it looked painful. (They also refused to accept help from passers-by – seriously, don’t let pride get in the way of your wellbeing.) And, speaking of essentials…

The Ten Essentials’ Three Companions.

You may know the “Ten Essentials” – the basic list of equipment to bring on a hike – but there are a few additions you should consider to make your treks more bearable:

Gummy Bears: On a longer hike, you’ll want to microdose on energy, and gummy candies bring a quick, sugary boost. Be it the Haribo original or one of the many artisanal alternatives, they will both keep you going and – importantly – reduce grumpiness. The latter stands to benefit everyone.

Hiking Poles: Unfairly stereotyped as the mature person’s accessory, hiking poles don’t just provide good knee support; they give you an extra oomph while traversing bumpier trails. When you cross a stream, they help you balance while wading over rocks and logs, too. Poles don’t slow you down – they let you move faster.

AllTrails: There aren’t many apps I swear by, but AllTrails is one any hiker should consider. Not only is it a database of practically all trails in the US and beyond, but it also includes the information you need to properly plan your trek. And, as you get walking, the map is a lifesaver – it quickly alerted us when we took a wrong turn on “Oak Creek Trail.” The Apple Watch integration works well, too.

The Energy Center of a Vortex

Sedona is well known for its vortexes – sites with highly concentrated energy that bring inner peace, inspiration, and healing. Apparently, the town itself is one giant vortex, but there are four hyper-concentrated conduits: Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and Boynton Canyon.

You can’t actually see these vortexes, but if I were a betting man, I would say the one at Airport Mesa was right about here:

There is no scientific proof that vortices are real, but as there is no proof they’re not, either, you should make up your own mind. What I can say is that the smooth Airport Mesa rock felt soothing on my bare feet, and the view was magnificent. In that sense, even the most hardened of cynics will find something to enjoy at a vortex.

Visit Sedona has more information on the (alleged) phenomenon.

Pyramid-to-Scorpion Trail Loop:

2.2 miles long with a 288 ft gain. More on AllTrails.

I’m not sure if there’s such a thing as a secret trail in Sedona, but the Pyramid-to-Scorpion Loop is less crowded than many others and is also quite tranquil. You maintain a view of Cathedral Rock – the home of another vortex – for the majority of the trek, and there’s a short detour you can take for a better vantage point.

This was the easiest trail we tried, and walking it counterclockwise makes for a painless-ish climb. Keep an eye out for Junipers and prickly-pear cacti – I wouldn’t go as far as to say the flora is overly different from many other Sedona trails, but here you get a closer look at them.

The parking lot is tiny, but we had no trouble finding a spot late in the morning. Further into the high season, you probably want to get there earlier.

… and Schuerman Mountain Lookout:

1.8 miles long with a 367 ft gain – out and back. More on AllTrails.

The Schuerman trail is connected to the Pyramid-to-Scorpion loop, so you can easily go from one to the other. We chose to drive between the two because of the rapidly increasing temperature – it’s just a mile up the road. It’s worth noting that you likely will be mapped to a high-school parking lot where you, not surprisingly, are not allowed to park. Instead, look across the road and you’ll find a couple of spaces.

Now, a three-hundred-and-sixty-seven-foot gain might not sound too bad, but the consistent climb is deceivingly hard when the sun beats down. It’s not overly difficult in and of itself, just very sweaty, and the gummy bears come in handy.

The trek is more than worth it when you arrive at a pastoral lookout of West Sedona. This trail was relatively empty during our visit, allowing for a peaceful rest at the top of the hill.

Elote Café

Having been featured in publications like The Chicago Tribune and Fodor’s, Elote has garnered more attention than many Sedona restaurants, and well deserved so.

Particularly their eponymous elote is a must-try appetizer – the corn is served off the cob, drenched in a smoky mayo and paired with juicy limes. The spice-and-zest combination suits the Sedona climate.

Personally, I found the sweet corn bisque even better, and the truffle particularly added a good, earthy contrast to the sweetness. That the server suggested we skip the salad and instead order a full bowl of soup says a lot about its quality.

Add the brisket enchiladas – smoked for thirteen hours – as a main, and you get yourself quite the decent meal. I’d wholeheartedly go back.

It’s a popular spot, Elote. We managed to sneak in a spot at the community table, but reservations are generally required, so plan ahead.

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Oak Creek Trail #108:

6.6 miles long with a 574 ft gain – out and back. $4 per person. More on AllTrails.

The 15-mile Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive from Sedona to Flagstaff comes recommended, as does the Oak Creek Trail #108 hike. Unless you get to the lot early, you likely will have to park alongside Highway 89A – a somewhat treacherous proposition, but hey… Live dangerously.

The main part of the hike has only a very gradual incline, and the thirteen stream crossings are the trickiest part. My best advice is not to go Frogger on it, but rather scope out the most logical rocks and logs to skip across. Poles are helpful here – we saw multiple people slip and step into the (shallow) ice-cold water, and it looked miserable.

There’s a decent shading from the trees along the way, so the trek feels a lot more doable than those further south. No scorching sun beating against the red rocks here.

To complement the drive and trail, you might want to check out Indian Gardens, a nice little restaurant and market. All their breads and pastries are freshly baked, and the flavors are suitably clean.

Teacup Trail to Coffeepot Rock

2.6 miles long with a 269 ft gain – out and back. More on AllTrails.

The Digest’s other favorite trek, the Teacup Trail, is also fairly desolate and has a nice, quiet vibe. It’s one of those hikes that compacts all of Sedona’s desert vibes into one location – the red rocks feel a smidgen more red and the plants just a little more blue than green.

A large portion of the trail features panoramic views, though it’s worth noting a few semi-tricky climbs. Some of the debris can be slippery, and proper footwear will get you a long way.

The views make it all worth it, though, with an overlook of what feels like most of Sedona.

While on the way, check out the Rose Vortex Café. It does – not unexpectedly – have a hippie vibe, and some of the clientele looks to have taken that a bit too well to heart. A paisley-clad gentleman’s “I hope to see you on the path, sister” pickup line didn’t work too well with the barista, at least. Imagine Dennis in the third-season opener of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and you get the general idea.

The spot is located on 162 Coffee Pot Dr, and both their flat white and Island Green smoothie were good.

Reese’s vs. Trader Joe’s: An Unlikely Public Battle

How has it come to this? The heir to the Reese’s legacy, toe-to-toe with Hershey. On the sideline, Trader Joe’s tosses fuel on the fire. How can the peanut butter cup cause so much drama in the chocolate world?

Let’s have a look at where it started.

Brad Reese, grandson of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups’ inventor, posted a public letter on LinkedIn, lambasting Hershey for moving away from pure ingredients. In his words, milk chocolate and peanut butter have given way to compound coatings and peanut‑butter‑style crèmes – going by the comments, many agree.

Hershey quickly hit back in what can only be called a half-hearted PR swirl:

As we’ve grown and expanded the Reese’s product line, we make product recipe adjustments that allow us to make new shapes, sizes and innovations that Reese’s fans have come to love and ask for, while always protecting the essence of what makes Reese’s unique and special: the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter.

The strategic placement of “essence” suggests that Hershey has a fairly loose definition of “chocolate” and “peanut butter.”

This is where Trader Joe’s decided to jump in, with an update to their peanut butter cup product descriptions:

Other purveyors of peanut butter cups fill theirs with all kinds of “extraneous” ingredients. Ours are free of such things. We eschew artificial flavors and preservatives, as well as colors other than those derived from natural sources. We’re quite certain they taste better our way.

Them’s fighting words, and I can only think of one way to squash the beef…

A Taste Test

For a one-to-one comparison, we pinned the miniature milk chocolate cups against each other. A quick visit to Safeway proved that Hershey wasn’t exaggerating when they talked about their “expanded” Reese’s product line. The picture below shows about a quarter of Reese’s varieties, and that does not include the seasonal picks. There were no fewer than four types of miniatures to pick from. In the larger shelves, there were even more.

Trader Joe’s – TJ amongst friends – has two: miniature milk chocolate and dark chocolate cups.

How do they compare, then, TJ and Reese’s? Let’s break it down, start to finish.

TJ’s cups look like chocolate. They’re smooth but imperfect, giving them a hand-dipped veneer. Not that they are hand-dipped, but y’know – at least they put in an effort.

Reese’s cups fare, for the lack of a better word, poorly. The color is vaguely gray-tinted, and the top looks to be collapsing. Note how the wax is peeling off, too. It’s the uncanny valley of chocolate.

Slice the cups open, and Reese’s falls apart, figuratively and literally.

TJ looks like what you’d want a peanut butter cup to look like. The chocolate is uniformly draped, and the filling has the color and consistency of peanut butter. That shouldn’t be a cause for celebration – it should be the lowest common denominator. Compared to Reese’s, though, it’s night and day.

I don’t even know… Reese’s cups actually do collapse into themselves, and the dried-out peanut butter has a weird beige hue.

Flavor-wise, it’s a quick knockout. TJ tastes like it’s advertised: chocolate and peanut butter, and that’s it. Maybe not the best chocolate and peanut butter I’ve ever had, but quite good for something mass-produced. Reese’s tastes as artificial as Brad Reese claimed. Dry and old.

The Winner!

Trader Joe’s! But you already knew that.

What Should Have Been the Winner!

In a fair world, Cobb’s Cups – a nut-free peanut butter cup alternative from Olympia – would take it home. They rocked. They also went out of business a little while ago, so alas…

Justin’s isn’t a bad substitute, though it’s also worth checking out your local chocolatier, who likely has something that surplants all of the aforementioned picks.

Carmelo’s Tacos’ Quesadilla

There is a widely held misconception that a quesadilla is a taco’s banal sibling, one often relegated to the kids’ menu or placed next to the burger. A dish that many restaurants do very little with, opting instead to toss some cheese between a couple of tortillas and then call it the day – child’s play.

That quick-and-dirty method might be prevalent, but look no further than Carmelo’s Tacos for proof that it’s not the be-all and end-all. Here you can find how elaborate a quesadilla can be, even in its simplest form.

It comes down to the basics, and Carmelo’s doesn’t toss in cheese willy-nilly; instead, they sear it on the grill before folding it into a tortilla. It gives the palate a sweeter, caramelized zest, embellished by the accompanying avocado-forward salsa verde.

The campechano – asada, chrizo, and potatoes – is a good protein-forward pick, though I’m partial to the mushrooms, mixed with guajillo chile and garlic. A flavor bomb and a half that’s slightly spicy, but not overwhelmingly so – more of a tickle than a kick. Worth noting, too, is how finely and uniformly the vegetables are cut. You’re not going to get a three-inch pepper slice mixed with a tiny dice of onion. I know that sounds minor, but it’s not. We might not talk a lot about the quesadilla’s mouthfeel, yet Carmelo’s makes it a necessary point of topic. Consistent prep work creates consistent flavors – that’s my drop of philosophy for today.

Finally, the tortillas themselves: Go to one of Carmelo’s locations, and you can watch them prepare the masa right in front of you: flattened and grilled for ten seconds to give the tortillas a slightly crispy bite. It doesn’t get much fresher than that.

Package it all together, and this is a quesadilla that can stand up to any burrito and taco. Lest there be any doubt, when you get a quesadilla that is made with this care, it will be anything but banal.

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Merch for the People!

Don’t just read Awesomeness – wear it! This distinguished publication proudly features two official shirts – or magnets, stickers, or whatever medium you can think of: The Hallgrrrl and Zune. Why those? For one, the Hallmark channel and Riotgrrrl are, as I’ve said before, the natural combination. And, who doesn’t love the Zune?

Go shop at The Better Taster Boutique for only the finest goods.

Secret Burger Kitchen’s Smash Burger and Sauce in a Syringe

That’s right, Secret Burger Kitchen serves its sauces in syringes. It’s baffling. But, before I put on my snark pants, I must, in all fairness, say that SBK makes quite decent burgers. Flavorful, pepper-y, well-charred, the whole gamut. They’re tasty, and that’s about all one needs to say about them. There aren’t too many nuances to a good smash burger, and that’s fine. Not everything needs to be complex.

Maybe that’s why I’m flummoxed about the syringe, or, as it’s called, The Drip. Two ounces of a sauce of your choosing, filled in a heavy-duty plastic injector. I have no idea why they chose this needlessly convoluted method. It’s not like you can inject anything into a smashed patty, so it has to go on top of something. Why not serve the sauce right on the burger or on the bottom bun, as that’s where it’ll end up anyway?

In what can only be called a rebellious act of defiance, I squirted the garlic sauce over the fries and, you know – it worked pretty well. It’s a pungent, flavorful, and very stinky sauce. The type of garlic sauce I’m a fan of. The thick-cut fries are good on their own, too, with a nice bite. Not too greasy or soggy.

Is this all “old man yelling at cloud?” It sure is, though I don’t know why Secret Burger Kitchen wants to overshadow a good burger with an “experience.”

Now, get off my lawn.

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Spiveavore: The Pinnacle of Food Injection

During the first half of the 2010s, we ran a trilogy of “Spiceavore” events, which were exactly what they sound like: spicy food contests. The most intense round was the Peeps challenge, where Dave’s Insanity Hot Sauce was injected into sickeningly sweet Easter candy. It’s what nightmares are made of.

For the reader with a strong stomach, witness a contestant falling victim to injected Peeps. (Warning: This is a very graphic video.)

I didn’t fare much better and have since retired from spicy-food contests. (Warning, yet again: That link is not for the faint of heart.)

Giallo: Italy’s Very Yellow Crime Genre

Hollywood has film noir; Italy has giallo, a word that literally translates to “yellow.” This is a sub-genre of the thriller and often centers on a masked, knife-wielding killer. Typically, the films are also very stylish, cinematically speaking.

The giallo has been considered a violent genre, but compared to the “true crimes” Netflix churns out these days, the films now feel fairly tame. The gialli are graphic, certainly, but few would call them realistic. Connoisseurs will frame the genre as “expressionistic”; detractors may call it “incoherent.” It is an acquired taste, the giallo, which had its heyday during the seventies.

The first proper entry in the genre was Mario Bava’s The Girl Who Knew Too Much, a 1963 “whodunnit.” In 1964, he would release the more influential Blood and Black Lace, which became the blueprint for gialli going forward: a masked murderer with black gloves and a knife has remained a staple of the genre, as have the deeply saturated colors.

And why is it called giallo – yellow? During the late 1920s, Mondadori published a series of Italian pulp novels with distinct yellow covers. Other publishers adopted the style that soon became synonymous with the genre. You can draw a straight line from these types of books to giallo films.

A Handful of Recommended Gialli

There are literally hundreds of 1970s gialli – likely more – and many of them are excellent. Eccentric, sure, but tense, and well-made. You will also notice the titles are very dramatic. To wit:

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)

Dario Argento – often dubbed “the Master of Horror” – can rightfully be credited with bringing giallo to the mainstream. This murder mystery, which literally features all the giallo tropes, is his first entry in the “Animal Trilogy” and is notable for its Ennio Morricone1 score.

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage currently streams on Kanopy and Prime. Check JustWatch for the full, up-to-date list.

A Bay of Blood (1971)

Mario Bava’s A Bay of Blood is the blueprint for the American “slasher” genre – without it, you likely wouldn’t have Scream, or I Know What You Did Last Summer. The basic plot follows a group of (let’s be honest, not-the-brightest) kids stuck on an island where they get taken down one by one by an unknown assailant.

Even the trailer is more artistic than most modern horror movies. You can find the movie on Prime and Shudder. Again, check JustWatch for other options.

Short Night of Glass Dolls (1971)

I’d count Aldo Lado’s Short Night of Glass Dolls as one of the classier entries on the fringes of the genre. The movie features some giallo tropes, but is more of a political thriller framed around a kidnapping. It stars Bergman-player Ingrid Thulin, and Ennio Morricone here, too, provides the score. I’m not going to go as far as to say Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut was inspired by Glass Dolls, but there are thematic similarities between the two.

Fans of Murder, She Wrote – and who isn’t?! – will notice that a shot used in its opening is a straight remix of one in the trailer.

Short Night of Glass Dolls – which has one of the most tense endings I can think of – keeps jumping between streaming services, so, yet again, check JustWatch for the latest updates, or just get a physical copy.

Deep Red (1975)

Many will call it the best giallo, and probably correctly so. Argento’s Deep Red stars David Hemmings and Daria Nicolodi, and while there isn’t much of a plot – the two are on the hunt for a psychic’s killer – their banter is spitfire, and the movie looks gorgeous. Truly, it sounds even better, and this is the first collaboration between Argento and the Italian prog band, Goblin.

The killer’s reveal stands as one of the more clever gotchas, too, one worthy of Hitchcock at his best.

As for streaming… this is where it gets tricky. You can find Deep Red on Shudder, Prime, AMC+, etc., but there are three different cuts of the movie. The original American version makes no sense, as half an hour or so is missing. It’s no wonder the New York Times called Argento “a director of incomparable incompetence” in their 1976 review. Therefore, look for the 126-minute cut – the two others are not worth your time. Your best bet is probably to use Arrow’s streaming service or buy their 4K physical copy. You can find both over on Arrow’s website.

The House with Laughing Windows (1976)

After Deep Red, the giallo heyday began to wane, and its tropes were mixed into other genres. Argento’s follow-up to Deep Red, Suspiria, might be the best example of that.

Pupu Avati’s The House with Laughing Windows is another example, though it is at its core more of a conventional thriller. An art restorer working in a church finds that the town harbors a dark secret related to the fresco he is restoring.

While there are no one-to-one comparisons to The Silence of the Lambs, Laughing Windows still reminds me of that film. Maybe it’s the oppressive tone of them both? Either way – Avati’s magnum opus finally streams in the US after being out of print for well more than a decade.

The House with Laughing Windows can be rented or bought from your favorite VOD purveyors. Arrow also has a nice-looking 4K/Blu-ray limited edition.

Source

Wikipedia. “Giallo” (Jan 26, 2026)

Merch for the People!

Don’t just read Awesomeness – wear it! This distinguished publication proudly features two official shirts – or magnets, stickers, or whatever medium you can think of: The Hallgrrrl and Zune. Why those? For one, the Hallmark channel and Riotgrrrl are, as I’ve previously stated, the natural combination. And, who doesn’t love the Zune?

Go shop at The Better Taster Boutique for only the finest goods.

The Bang Bang Kitchen’s Chile Relleno

Think New Mexico cuisine, and chances are that peppers spring to mind. Hatch, Anaheim, poblano… they’re typically not too spicy, but often distinctly smoky and earthy. So, when Bang Bang Kitchen – a New Mexico-style restaurant – advertises a “New Recipe!!” for its poblano-powered chile relleno, it makes all the sense in the world to try it.

I can’t say I’ve ever seen a take like this on the chile relleno – changes to traditional dishes can often feel like they’re made solely for the sake of change, but Bang Bang has brought in net-positive differentiators. Maybe it’s the generous coating of tortilla chips that ups the game. It gives the pepper a solid and unexpected crunch. Or, while the pepitas – pumpkin seeds – initially sound like an insignificant addition, they do bring a nuttiness to the palate.

On paper, those are small modifications, but details add up. Bang Bang’s O.G. chile relleno was already lighter than many of its ilk – moderately cheesy and not over-fried – and it didn’t strictly need a new recipe. It could hold its own with the best of them.

Time moves on, though, and so do chile rellenos. What Bang Bang brought to the table feels fully in line with the New Mexico way. Nutty pumpkin seeds are a natural companion to smoky peppers. If a more modern take is a positive evolution, then who am I to stand in the way of progress?

And, that’s about as philosophical as I’ve ever been about a chile relleno.

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Stop Making Sense

It’s been called both the perfect concert movie and the perfect movie, period1. With a 100% Tomatometer rating, Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense made a significant cultural impact in 1984 and has since remained the music feature to beat.

The question, then, is how, in this age of immersive 3D concert movies, is a small indie production still unsurpassable? In my mind, it simply comes down to how hyper-focused it is.

While many concert movies lean on tropes – backstage jitters, crowd shots, etc. – Stop Making Sense propels straight into weirdness. David Byrne walks onstage with an acoustic guitar and a cassette player and performs Talking Heads’ enduring hit, “Psycho Killer,” solo. Next, bassplayer Tina Weymouth joins in on fan-favorite, “Heaven.” And so it goes: One band member after another walks on until they break into a high-octane version of “Life During Wartime.”

If you didn’t watch that video, stop what you’re doing and do so right now – it’ll be the best six minutes you spend today outside of reading this post.

The concert is one of those performances where everything clicks into place. David Byrne’s bizarre choreography lends itself perfectly to cinema, and director Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs) has the technical gravitas to capture it on film without distracting from the performances. Too many concert films are preoccupied with showcasing clever technologies, forgetting what you’re actually there for: live music. Demme does not make that mistake.

And – Talking Heads is an incredibly talented and compelling band. That goes outside of Byrne – Weymouth’s bass lines slap – and you’d have to be in a coma not to bop along to “Burning Down the House” and a cover version of Al Green’s “Take Me to the River.“

You can find Stop Making Sense on all the regular VOD services and on physical media.

You can also listen to the soundtrack on Apple Music and on vinyl.

Merch for the People!

Don’t just read Awesomeness – wear it! This distinguished publication proudly features two official shirts – or magnets, stickers, or whatever medium you can think of: The Hallgrrrl and Zune. Why those? For one, the Hallmark channel and Riotgrrrl are, as I’ve previously stated, the natural combination. And, who doesn’t love the Zune?

Go shop at The Better Taster Boutique for only the finest goods.

I waxed poetically about the Norwegian banana cake – more of a banana bread than cake – but I get it… That recipe is perhaps too sweet for some. So, in the name of fair and balanced, here is one for a more conventional banana bread. It’s loosely based on America’s Test Kitchen’s recipe and should take no more than an hour to bake, prep time included.

The bake should come out like this:

You can avoid the banana clusters if you mash the mixture more smoothly, but, really, you don’t want to cheat yourself out of that pungent potassium punch.

Metric has released a new single from their upcoming album, Romanticize The Dive, and it’s a banger.

Meanwhile, Sébastien Tellier’s latest album, Kiss the Beast, is out. You know you’re in for a treat when critics say, “the album feels so haphazard, so bizarre, so deranged that the lack of verbal comprehension becomes the least of your worries.” That’s Tellier at his best for ya.

A couple of weeks ago, I went cross-country skiing for the first time since 2011. Before that, my previous trek was in 1996, so a pattern seems to be emerging. We’ll see how good my technique is in 2041.

Much like bicycling, you don’t forget how to cross-country ski. It’s an acquired skill that requires both coordination and balance, but after you get over the initial hump, it sticks with you. And like many Norwegian children, I learned to ski before I could walk. It’s not for nothing that “born with skis on our feet” is an oft-used Norwegian aphorism.

Now, the intention of this post is not to gloat about how awesome a skier I am1 – I managed to pull a muscle the day after the trip – but I do feel cross-country deserves a better rep here in the U.S. Why fight people in ski lifts and get run over by adrenaline-fueled fifteen-year-old snowboarders when you can instead leisurely glide through the woods? It’s a good workout, too.

So, to start with the beginning…

A Brief History

Cross-country skiing has been around as long as the wheel, and can be traced back more than five thousand years. During winter, skis were used throughout Northern Europe for hunting and migration.

The most “photographic” evidence of this is a four-thousand-year-old petroglyph depicting a skier, since dubbed “Rødøymannen.” The name refers to the island of Rødøy, where it was discovered. In later years, some archaeologists claim the petroglyph is not of a skier but rather a boater, so make up your own mind. The 1994 Olympic Committee chose to interpret it as a skier for its commemorative coin, and I’m not sure we’ll ever know what this rudimentary art really portrays. The point is that Norwegians have skied for a long time.

During the 1675–1679 war between Sweden and Denmark-Norway2, Norway formed a cross-country ski battalion that, in 1732, would become a mainstay of the Norwegian military. It was also around then that most skiers switched to using two poles; previously, skiers typically used a single long pole or a spear for balance.

During Roald Amundsen and Robert Scott’s 1911 race to the South Pole, many credit the Norwegian’s use of skis as a decisive factor in the outcome – Amundsen not only won, but also returned without a scratch. Scott and his crew died on the way back.

The Art of Cross-Country Skiing

Today, there are two forms of cross-country skiing: Skating and classic Nordic. While the former is the more common competitive style, the latter is easier and, in this handsome man’s opinion, more fun. One objectively true thing: the “crawl before you walk” adage applies to cross-country. Learn the classic style before you try to skate. During our aforementioned ski trip, there were a lot of beginners who were flailing around, frustrated that they were not making any headway with their skating.

With classic, you mostly stay in groomed trails, which is easier for balance and, unless you’re a skating demigod, also faster.

And, if you insist on skating, for heaven’s sake, do it outside of the groomed trails. Don’t ruin it for the rest of us. Sheesh.

Plowing and Herringbones

Going forward through groomed trails is easy enough as soon as you get the technique down – you just kick yourself forward, using your poles for balance and for an extra oomph. But, how about the hills? How do you climb up without sliding back and glide down without running into a tree?

This is where plowing and herringbones come in.

Unless you’re a pro, you likely will want to use herringbones to get up steeper hills. It, much like skating, should be done outside the groomed trail – you place your feet and skis in a V formation, with the inner edges of the skis digging into the snow. Like I have expertly illustrated:

From there, you “walk” by lifting the right ski in front of the left, the left in front of the right, and so on and so forth. The poles push you along.

Plowing downhill – sometimes known as “pizza” – is harder. You point the front of your skis toward the center while keeping your leg muscles and core flexed, so you don’t cross your skis. Keep your knees slightly bent and the poles even with your body for balance. Like this:

You’ll have to shift your balance left and right to make sure you move forward and not in circles. It’s not a particularly difficult technique, but it works the muscles. Hard. Frankly, if you can keep your balance in the groomed trail without plowing, that’s probably going to be easier.

Books and videos have been published on how to cross-country ski, but there’s not too much more to it than the basic movements. Lean slightly forward and move without falling; herringbone and plow if need be. You’ll be a champ before you know it.

The Olympics

It’ll come as little surprise that Norway stands with more Olympic cross-country medals than any other country. Hundred-and-twenty-nine in total, fifty-two of which are gold.

Marit Bjørgen holds the record for the most Olympic cross-country medals, with a total of fifteen, including eight golds. Close behind is Bjørn Dæhlie, with twelve medals, eight of which are gold. Norway takes its cross-country skiing seriously.

We will see if the streak continues – the Winter Olympics start this Friday, February 6th. Here in the U.S., it streams on Peacock.

The Alien Skier

I was curious what Google Gemini would make of the petroglyph and, well…

… maybe the alien conspiracists have a point after all.

Merch for the People!

Don’t just read Awesomeness – wear it! This distinguished publication proudly features two official shirts, magnets, stickers, or whatever medium you can think of: The Hallgrrrl and the Zune. Why those? For one, the Hallmark channel and Riotgrrrl are, as I’ve previously stated, the natural combination. And, who didn’t love the Zune?

Go shopping at The Better Taster Boutique for only the finest goods.

The “Rødøymannen” photo (CC BY-SA 4.0) and various factoids come courtesy of Wikipedia’s “Langrenn” article.