It was my friend’s birthday today so we went for an extended lunch at Cafe Bengodi, a cute little Italian restaurant in Pioneer Square. It was a beautiful day so we sat outside (it’s so nice when you actually get to sit outside in Seattle!) We started off with the Caprese Salad which I liked even though I don’t normally like tomatoes. Maybe I’m finally growing up. We also had garlic bread which was really good. The thick, crusty bread was smothered with roasted garlic, parmesan cheese and parsley. For my lunch, I ordered the Pasta Vongole (clams) which was great. The clams were tiny and delectable and the pasta was bathed in a garlicky butter sauce. I know that I will stink of garlic during our hike tomorrow which I’m not looking forward to. It was worth it though. We ended the meal with tiramisu which was good and boozy.

This evening, Robert and I had to get gas so, since we were already in the car, we decided to drive somewhere for dinner. Shocking, I know, we actually went somewhere not within walking distance! We headed down to Malay Satay Hut in the international district, about a mile or so away from our apartment. We always hear great things about the place but never seem to make it there. It’s in a cramped little strip mall but is actually very clean and airy inside. The menu is quite lengthy, featuring helpful photos for many of the dishes. We started with the Roti Canai, which had been recommended in a couple of reviews online. It consists of homemade roti bread that has been lightly fried and it is served with a thick, hearty potato curry for dipping. For our main course, we had the Jumbo Prawns in Chili Sauce. They really were jumbo, too. Huge. The prawns were halved and served in the shell which presented some challenges for those of us that are less than skilled with chopsticks. The sauce was good but a bit on the sweet side for me. We also shared an order of Kang Kung Bechalan which is swamp spinach stir-fried with shrimp paste. It was nice and flavorful without being overpowering. I found a couple of cardamom pods in mine which was unexpected but certainly reflects the Indian influence in Malaysian cuisine. It was a good dinner and it was fun to try some completely new dishes. I really want to go back with a bigger group of people so that we can try more items. Robert and I just have to remember that, even though it is outside our bubble, it does exist and is good and therefore, we should go back. Next time we go, I swear I am going to try the avocado shake!