Here is my third dispatch from the land of sandwiches. I've been exploring new sandwich shops in Tacoma and Bonney Lake. Have a new sandwich shop you want me to scope for you? E-mail tntdiner@thenewstribune.com.

The sched:
Sept. 25: Jimmy John's in Tacoma
Sept. 29: Jersey Mike's in Bonney Lake
Today: Puccini's Venetian Subs in Bonney Lake
Thursday: Midtown Deli & Espresso in Tacoma

Now for today's offering: Puccini's Venetian Subs

The scoop: What? Have I stumbled into Subway? I thought this restaurant was an independently owned outfit? Or at least that's the assumption I made after the way the food was described to me by a reader who phoned in about it. It sounded like a mom-and-pop op. On the surface, it looks all plain and chain. But look below, and you find interesting ingredients and a very non-chain (and very labor intensive) grill that is center stage on the sandwich counter. So what about the chain look? For the record, it is a chain from Italy, but this is the first American location. It opened three months ago. More corporate-owned Puccini's are planned for Lacey, South Hill and Olympia.

Bread choices: White, wheat, cheesy and French, Venetian and rye.

Grill me! Yes, indeed, you get to watch your sandwich meat grilled to order right in front of you. It's stunning proof, this is not microwaved meat. I love non-microwaved meat.

We ate: Son of this here Food Editor ordered about the most basic thing one can get: a kids meal turkey and cheese sandwich with mayo, hold the veggies please ($4.29). It came with his choice of a cookie (chocolate chip or white chocolate macadamia nut) and a beverage. Mom alert: this is a big sandwich, which makes it a bargain. I tucked the other half of his uneaten sandwich into his lunch bag the next day.

I opted for the Philly Cheesesteak ($5.99) and YUM, what a great choice. I watched as the grill guy threw down two slabs of raw beef that he hand chopped with spatulas, and grilled with mushrooms, green peppers and onions and a healthy spoon of garlic. He kept asking me what I wanted, then rattled off a list of add-ins. First, it was cherry peppers (not hot at all), then he seasoned with oregano, a sprinkle of basil and rosemary and paprika. He asked me if I liked spicy. I said yes, he dusted it with a bit of cayenne. Then he scooped the big pile of meat and veggies onto cheesy bread with Swiss cheese and a squirt of steak sauce and garlic mayo and a squeeze of fresh lime. Yum. Philly heaven.

The verdict: Get yourself there for the Philly. Ask for extra peppers and garlic and don't skip the squeeze of lime. Don't say no to the extras.

Menu highlights: All 12-inch subs are $5.99. Anchoring the menu are Hot pastrami, Far East Teriyaki, a Puccini's Melt (with turkey, ham and bacon), a Tuscany (pepperoni and salami) and Earl's Roast Beef. Vegheads and pescetarians have lots of choices: a veggie patty sandwich, grilled salmon patty sandwich, grilled cod sandwich and crab sandwich, just a few offerings.

Next time: You'll find me munching down on an Italian Meatball or Hot Pastrami.

Puccini's Venetian Subs
Where: 21241 Hwy 410 E., Bonney Lake; 253-299-6254.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

Here is another dispatch from the land of sandwiches. I've been exploring new sandwich shops in Tacoma and Bonney Lake. This is day two of my four-day sandwich inquest. Have a new sandwich shop you want me to scope for you? E-mail tntdiner@thenewstribune.com.

The sched:
Sept. 25: Jimmy John's in Tacoma
Today: Jersey Mike's in Bonney Lake
Tuesday: Puccini's Venetian Subs in Bonney Lake
Thursday: Midtown Deli & Espresso in Tacoma

Now for today's offering: Jersey Mike's Subs

The scoop: Clean, friendly chain sandwich shop. It doesn't appear they are trying too hard, but you get the sense that, yes, indeed, uh huh, you've wandered into a chain restaurant. Still, a friendly, clean place is a large improvement over sad and dirty.

Bread choices: White, wheat or wrap it.

MEAT! Man. They love to pile on meat. More meat than I could stomach in one sandwich. If you're looking for meat value, this is your sandwich spot.

We ate: Husband of this here Food Editor ordered a regular Jersey Mike's Famous Philly ($6.49; giant is $9.49) sans grilled onions and peppers and a double dose of meat. Quote from husband: "I don't want the vegetables to detract from my meat sandwich." The sandwich came with a ridiiiiiiculous amount of meat. Note to you: you don't need to order double meat, even if you believe you need double meat.

Still congested and in need of serious comfort food, I ordered the regular Grilled Reuben ($6.29; giant is $9.29). Oh yeah, it did the trick. I felt comfortably stuffed after half. As promised, it came loaded with meat. Not as much as the double meat Philly that husband coveted, but way more meat than I needed. Clearly, this place is doing an admirable job at artery clogging. Swiss cheese, sauerkruat and Thousand Island dressing made it a typical trip down Reuben lane.

The verdict: This is the place to go if you're a confirmed meatavore. Also, for the ratio of meat to bread, I'd say this sandwich shop is a great bargain. A regular sandwich for around $6 is a big lunch. I stretched my Reuben into lunch the next day.

Cool thing: Chips selection. Wow. Lovers of bagged fried potato products will rejoice. A dozen kinds of chips.

Menu highlights: Cold subs, hot subs and wraps and a few soups and salads. The Super Sub ($4.29/$5.99/$8.99) comes with provolone, ham, proscuittini and cappacuolo (now, that is MEAT!). The Chicken Caesar Wrap ($5.89) comes with grilled sliced chicken breast, lettuce, grated cheese and Caesar dressing. The Club Supreme ($4.59/$6.49/$9.49) comes with roast beef, turkey, Swiss cheese, bacon and mayo.

Next time: I'd try the Meatball and Cheese ($6.29/$9.29) or the Jersey Shore's Favorite ($4.19/$5.49/$8.49) with provolone, ham and cappacuolo.

Jersey Mike's Subs
Where: 21180 SR 410, Bonney Lake; 253-862-5111
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Editor's note: Here is today's dining report. Drop-In Dining is a report about a new or new-to-us restaurant published in the TNT's Friday GO section. Reporters drop in unannounced and sample the food, on the TNT’s dime, then report to you what the scene and food was like. Have a suggestion for a drop-in dining feature? E-mail us at tntdiner@thenewstribune.com.

The Poppy Seed Cafe
Where: 616 Regents Blvd., Fircrest; 253-460-4101
Hours: 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays
Price Range: $ (entrees under $14)

By Jeffrey P. Mayor
jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com

The scene: The Poppy Seed Cafe cafe reflects the homey feel of the surrounding Fircrest neighborhood. This is an intimate locale, almost like eating in the sunroom at a friend’s house, thanks to the large windows in the front of the cafe that allow light to brighten the interior.

Darin and Shelly Adams, who have owned the cafe for almost three years, have been renovating the interior since it opened. “When we bought it, it needed a fresh look. It’s almost there, we still have some work to do. We’ve learned to do it piece by piece rather than throwing a bunch of money at it.”

The couple previously owned Pub 54 on South Tacoma Way. There was a mix of customers, from the business crowd with limited time to folks who had time to linger and chat.

Type of food: Sandwiches, paninis, salads, homemade side dishes and soups at lunch. There are several vegetarian options on the menu. The breakfast menu is dominated by seven types of egg scrambles and pancakes, including a lemon poppy seed version. Adams said they change some menu items about every six months to keep up with new food trends and as food prices changes.

What we ordered: We started with a bowl of split pea soup. For our lunches, the four of us tried the chicken Caesar salad, the Asian sesame salad, a curry chicken croissant, the Gobbler and the Reuben. Salads are about $9, and sandwiches are about $7 for a half or $9 for a whole one.

Biggest success: The sandwiches, especially the Gobbler and the Reuben. The Gobbler was loaded with turkey, had a thick layer of cream cheese and cranberry chutney. The Reuben had the right mix of corned beef, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing. The fresh-cut french fries were crispy on the edges and soft and warm inside, just the way they should be. The pea salad side dish and the split pea soup were good and definitely homemade, although the soup could have used a few more pieces of ham.

Dessert: We tried the coconut cream meringue pie. The coconut custard filling was thick and tasty, but the crust was a bit soggy, perhaps from sitting in the dessert case a bit too long. The meringue topping was a nice touch.

Service: Our food, and that delivered to other tables, came out quickly. On the day we visited, a single waitress worked the 12-table dining room. But she got help from the kitchen when food was ready or someone came in to pick up an order to go.

Surprise: The homemade cranberry chutney had a cinnamon taste that added a unique twist to the Gobbler. Still, it blended well with the turkey, havarti cheese and cream cheese. It was a great addition to the sandwich, rather than the standard canned cranberry sauce.

Looking ahead: Adams said they would like to complete the cafe experience by adding an espresso machine. “We’re a breakfast and lunch place, that works out well. We’ve talked about adding dinners, but that’s something we’ve opted not to do now.”

Pictured here: Shelly & Darren Adams, owners of The Poppy Seed Cafe, show off three dishes, including Rasberry Spinach Salad, Cafe Scramble, and Curry Chicken Croissant. Dean J. Koepfler / The News Tribune

I'm back from a monster illness that kept me out of the SoundLife pod for the last several days. I ate copious amounts of soup while I was down for the count. So what pairs well with soup? Try sandwiches.

Yes, for you dear readers, I scouted sandwiches at four new sandwich joints in Tacoma and Bonney Lake. I'll post over the next several days what I found

The sched:
Today: Jimmy John's in Tacoma
Monday: Jersey Mike's in Bonney Lake
Tuesday: Puccini's Venetian Subs in Bonney Lake
Thursday: Midtown Deli & Espresso

Now for today's offering: Jimmy John's

The scoop: A loud, cavernous chain concept sandwich shop with OK-slash-decent sandwiches. It feels like they're trying too hard with the quippy little signs and peppy staff. But it's pleasant, very clean (spotless!) and the TNT Sports department swears it's their favorite place for sandwiches. And we trust their gullets. They know a bargain.

Bread choices: French bread or 7-grain bread.

Pork! Pork lover alert. They like their porky products here. The J.J.B.L.T. sounds meaty delish. The Club Lulu comes with sliced turkey breast and bacon. The Pepe comes with applewood smoked ham. Can't go wrong with ham or bacon. Right?

We ate: I dragged Craig Sailor, our A&E editor, along for the sandwich run. He ate a Beach Club ($5.85), a turkey breast sandwich on 7-grain bread with avocado spread, sliced cucumber, sprouts, lettuce, tomato. He smartly held the mayo.

I had the Pepe ($4.85), an applewood smoked ham sandwich on French bread with provolone cheese, tomato, lettuce and WAY WAY WAY too much mayo. Smartly so, ask for a light smear of mayo or get it on the side. Unless you like a mayo bath. Not like I'm judging or anything... some people appreciate a slop of mayo. Edited to add: Would it kill them to put an extra slice of ham on the sandwich? The fillings weren't quite ... filling. Get yourself there if you're on a budget and you aren't overly hungry. If you are, you'll need two sandwiches.

The verdict: Decent sandwiches for a pretty good price. This is a cheap lunch.

Best thing: They're fast. Super fast.

How fast is fast? So fast you may get your food before you finish paying. You'll spend more time navigating the parking lot than waiting for your sandwich.

Most surprising moment: On my visit, the manager was standing outside with a bag of sandwiches for some lucky customer who had phoned in an order. Now that is speedy and quality service.

Menu highlights: Low carb lettuce wraps help carb-avoiders navigate their lunch hour. The big John ($4.85) looks like a must-try with medium rare roast beef, mayo, lettuce and tomato. Vegetarians will love their two choices of sandwiches, a regular veggie and a veggie club. Prices for sandwiches range from $3.85-$5.85. Cheap!

Next time: I'll try the Club Tuna on 7-grain. But I would only go there if I was in the neighborhood. Midtown Espresso and Deli (review coming next Thursday) is worth the extra drive.

Jimmy John's
Where: 4027 Tacoma Mall Blvd, Tacoma; 253-471-3000
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

Know of a new sandwich shop we should scout out? Something that's been open less than a year? Let us know at tntdiner@thenewstribune.com

I love being in the right place at the right time. Especially when the right place smells like coffee beans.

The right time was Tuesday afternoon at Tacoma's Satellite Coffee Co. As I slurped my Americano, a gray Stumptown Coffee van pulled up and out clamored a dozen coffee farmers from Costa Rica.

Stumptown, the revered Portland coffee roaster, organizes its "meet the producers" events a few times a year, says Satellite owner Pat Brown. Satellite, in the cat-bird seat above Wright Park at Division and North I Street, is the only Stumptown purveyor between Seattle and Portland. Lucky for us.

While the Costa Ricans got down to the business of ordering their drinks – cries of "cappuccino!" from all corners – several of the farmers talked about how Stumptown's direct trade program has improved the lives of their families. (You can check out more about Stumptown in this article we did back in March.)

Basically, Brown explains, Stumptown sends bean buyers straight to the farms to hone in on the best varietals. Roasting those varietals in microlots preserves their unique flavor. And because the varietals bring higher prices from coffee junkies, the farmers in turn reap the profit. Brown loves the naturally sweet Montes de Oro strain he French-presses in his shop.

"What Stumptown enabled them to do was to experiment," Brown says of the growers. "Trying new varietals, new techniques."

Satellite would like to do more cuppings, or coffee tastings, in the future. I'll let you know the dates and times when I get the word.

Satellite Coffee Co.
817 Division Ave., Tacoma

Editor's note: Here is today's dining report. Drop-In Dining is a report about a new or new-to-us restaurant published in the TNT's Friday GO section. Reporters drop in unannounced and sample the food, on the TNT’s dime, then report to you what the scene and food was like. Have a suggestion for a drop-in dining feature? E-mail us at tntdiner@thenewstribune.com.

Cork! Wine Bar
Where: 3012 Sixth Ave., Tacoma; 253-212-1492; www.corkwinebars.com
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 4 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday hours are listed as “4 p.m. to close.”
Price Range: $ (under $14)

By Niki Sullivan
niki.sullivan@thenewstribune.com

The scene: Cavernous wine bar with candle-lit cafe tables. During our Saturday evening dining visit, Cork! started out nearly empty and, by about 9:30 p.m., was comfortably occupied. Live weekend music can be pleasant or a conversation killer, depending on where you’re seated.

Type of food: Wine, wine, and more wine, complemented by small bites to suit either modest appetites or ample orderers.

Dishes sampled: We sampled several small plates – the only kind of plates at Cork! – and three different wine flights, which include four 2-ounce pours of wine. Small plates range from $4 for a mixed salad to $14 for a five-cheese plate. Most are around $6-$9. Wine flights are $11, and by-the-glass prices vary.

The food: La Brea artisan bread with sun-dried tomato balsamic and basil garlic Parmesan dipping oil for starters. We also ordered the Mediterranean Dip Trio, which has (apparently not homemade) bruschetta, roasted garlic hummus and olive tapenade, and the Antipasti Plate with cured meat, kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, mozzarella and artichoke hearts.

However, the bread-to-toppings ratio was off. In other words, our table didn’t have enough bread to suit the toppings. We ordered additional bread and the six small, toasted slices arrived a few minutes later – for $2.

Biggest mistake: We didn’t order a salad, as it didn’t seem the most shareable thing for a group. They offer a Caprese and green salad, both standard wine bar fare, for $6 and $4, respectively. Next time.

Biggest success: The $8 “signature flatbread” – with goat cheese, kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, pine nuts, artichoke hearts and pesto – was a good call. It was just big enough for each of us to have two 2-inch square pieces of the slimmed down cousin-of-pizza.

Dessert: New York-style cheesecake drizzled with raspberry purée and a slice of chocolate torte. The former was still frozen a bit in the middle, and the latter sated our appetite for a sweet end to the meal.

Wine: Two of us sampled the “Big Red Blends” flight, which includes, well, you can guess. Another ordered the “Forgive Me For I Have Zinned” flight, which had some snappy wines to compensate for the name. The fourth diner ordered “Girl’s Night Out.” Between the group, that was 12 different wines to sample and discuss. Flight pours are served on a piece of paper with a short description of each wine – a real help.

Service: Just like in wine country, the service was a bit slow. But unlike (some places in) wine country, service was very friendly. Cork! bills itself as an unpretentious wine bar, and we saw nothing to dispute that.

Most unexpected moment: Our dinner company’s months-old son slept through the amplified musical guest for the night. The lesson: Children are allowed in the restaurant, but on live music nights, don’t sit near the front unless you’re really into smooth jazz (or whatever is playing).

Nice surprise: Cork! offers bottles of wine at take-home prices, so the party can continue at home, which suited us well.

Pictured here: Shana Zimmerman, a co-owner of Cork! Wine Bar, displays some of the new cafe’s food offerings. Photo by Craig Sailor/The News Tribune

Geoff from Tacoma wrote us to ask what restaurant has the best breakfast burrito in the area. Now be warned -- Geoff and I both worked in New Mexico for a while, so we've got high expectations of the early-morning hangover cure.

The Tacoma Farmers Market had its first Harvest Feast dinner Saturday. The event was at Terry's Berries and was a multiple-course buffet prepared by top Tacoma toques.

Sadly, I missed it. I was stuck in the newsroom working the night editor shift.

In a small way, on my Saturday night, it was delightful watching wire editor Kathleen Cooper George pull together a tremendous Hurricane Ike news package for Sunday's paper. But would I rather have been eating cheese from Estrella and pork prepared by Charlie McManus? You bet.

Were you there, at the Harvest Feast? Comment and tell us what you liked, or didn't. Would you go again?

Here, a few photos from market manager Laura Edwards:

Pictured above, cheese from Estrella and Blue Rose Dairy.

White linen tablecloth dining on a working farm.

People eating! And having fun! Wish that was me Saturday night.

Students from Tacoma's School of the Arts are serving up Italian food at Joeseppi's Italian Ristorante tonight to fund an upcoming service and study tour to China.

From 4 to 8 p.m. tonight, 25 percent of all food profits benefit SOTA. Joeseppi's is at 2207 N. Pearl St., Tacoma. Call 253-761-5555.

I was trolling West Main in downtown Puyallup a few Saturdays ago looking for parking for the Puyallup Farmers Market when a sign caught my attention: Lucky's Hot Dog Diner. Instant joy. A hot dog diner? What's not to love? I heart hot dogs. Red Hot on Sixth in Tacoma, Hot Rod Dog on Pacific, Klem's Hot Dog Diner in Auburn. I love 'em all.

I looked in, but the tiny place was packed with seven or eight people, an hour before prime lunch time. The diner looked promising, though, so I vowed a dog in my near future. And return I did Saturday. It's easy to be charmed by Lucky's. It's smallish, and the place is fresh and kitschy diner cute with aqua colored walls and two bright yellow booths. A fun kind of joint.

The football game was on the flat screen and a dad and two kids munched down in one of the two booths. On the sidewalk, a party of four chowed chili dogs at a cafe table.

"What's good?" I asked Brian Britton, owner along with his "should be" (his words) wife Ruby and parents Rex and Linda Britton. "Everything is good," said Brian. Besides the half dozen or so hot dogs, he suggests the "giant meatball sandwiches." He recommends washing it all down with a root beer float.

But I was in the mood for a dog. I ordered the most popular: Big Al's Combo ($4.39). It was a snappy dog, with the casing on, snuggled into a poppy seed bun and dressed with the usual mustard-onion-pickle relish trifecta of hot dog perfection. A dash of celery salt, a few slices of tomatoes and a few peppers finished the dog. I ordered a side of potato salad, but they were out. The coleslaw was a decent stand-in. It was a delicious lunch for under five bucks on the TNT's dime.

Lucky's Diner opened in February and the owners already have hopes to expand if a neighboring business moves. "We're a real Chicago style place," said Brian when I asked him about the background of the diner. "It comes with a little bit of attitude," he joked. Clearly, he was kidding, he and his dad were patient and answered all my questions and didn't even roll their eyes at me when I grilled them about their dogs.

I'll be back to try the sandwiches, and the potato salad.

Location, location, location:

Lucky's Hot Dog Diner: 106 W. Main, Puyallup; 253-445-4191; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Menu highlights: Lucky's Combo ($2.85), a skinless Vienna hot dog with mustard, onion, relish, tomatoes, peppers, dill pickle and celery salt; Pitt Bull ($3.75), a Polish fire dog with mustard, onions, sauerkraut and Italian Beef Sandwich ($6.99), a slow-roasted beef sandwich on Italian bread.

Other favorite hot dog joints:
Klem's Hot Dog Diner: 1015 Auburn Way S., Auburn; 253-334-7264. Web site here.
Red Hot: 2914 Sixth Ave., Tacoma; 253-779-0229. Web site here.
Hot Rod Dog: 1742 Pacific Ave., Tacoma; 253-593-6030

Where else do you like to get your dogs?

Readers of this blog, at times, have blasted South Sound restaurants for truly terrible service. We've all been there, done that, and have been bitter about it (the lack of an apology for a used bandaid in my food at a Bonney Lake Chinese restaurant comes to mind...)

Today, I flip to the better side of service, the gracious kind.

A reader sent us a letter about a dining experience in Orting that ended with a great moment of honesty. Here:

This afternoon my wife and I were bicycling on the Foothills Trail from South Prairie to Orting. We stopped at the Shell Station in Orting which is home to CC’s Grill. They have a comfortable spot in the Shell station with a great assortment of books, magazines and newspapers for kids and adults. After splitting the best burger and fries that we had eaten in years I left a couple of dollars in the tip jar to show our appreciation.

We gathered our cycling clothes and walked our tandem bicycle back out to the trail. Just as we were getting back on the bicycle, a young lady came running up to us. She said she had noticed that one of the bills I had left in the tip jars was a $20. She was worried that this was unintentional.

It had been a mistake. But we were very surprised. How often does one encounter this level of honesty and concern in today’s society, especially among young people? I understood then why the food we had just eaten was so delicious. It was made by people who really do care about others and the job that they are doing.

We encourage everyone to visit Orting, a place where small town values are still alive and well. While you are there stop at the Shell station and check out CC’s Grill. They have a big menu and the burger and fries we split today were absolutely the best.

Sincerely,
Steven & Alice Miller, Tacoma

So, readers, anyone done anything similar for you? Comment and tell us who it was and what they did.

Editor’s note: Here is today's dining report. Drop-In Dining is a report about a new or new-to-us restaurant published in the TNT's Friday GO section. Reporters drop in unannounced and sample the food, on the TNT’s dime, then report to you what the scene and food was like. Have a suggestion for a drop-in dining feature? E-mail us at tntdiner@thenewstribune.com.

The Hometown Restaurant
Where: 760 Main St., Buckley; 360-829-1228
Hours: 6 a.m.-3 p.m. daily
Price range: $ (under $14)

By Debbie Cafazzo
debbie.cafazzo@thenewstribune.com

The Scene: The 100-year-old brick building was gutted for the June 3 opening of The Hometown. The interior walls are a comforting honey-gold, decorated with photos of Buckley from a bygone era. The wood beams and burnished wood floors recall Buckley’s timber-town past.

Type of food: Old-fashioned breakfasts feature three-egg omelets, meat-and-potatoes scrambles, pancakes and waffles from the griddle. Portions are large, but you can finish them in a single sitting if you come hungry.

Traditional lunches offer fried seafood, six kinds of burgers, sandwiches (BLT, club, deli and hot) along with soup, salad and sandwich combos. Most breakfast and lunch items are served all day long.

Menu highlights: The “From the Henhouse” portion of the menu features five chicken dishes.

There’s a nice selection of simple dishes for kids for both breakfast and lunch – from a single biscuit with gravy and single egg, to macaroni and cheese.

Desserts, including four-berry pie, are homemade. The Hometown cooks and slices its own turkey and roast beef.

People in the kitchen: Co-owner Mary Mueller-Toney does the baking, while Sandra Troy is head cook. Dianne Koens, also a co-owner, doubles as a member of the wait staff. All three women have years of experience in other Buckley restaurants.
“Our main thing is customer service and good food,” says Koens.

Dishes sampled: A tasty three-egg vegetarian omelet came with lots of fresh tomatoes and other veggies, along with just enough cheddar cheese.

A house specialty, the Hometown Hobo Scramble, was a delicious merging of potatoes, bacon, ham, sausage, onions, green peppers and eggs, topped with cheddar cheese.

A third dish, chicken-fried steak and eggs with biscuits and gravy, needed a little more attention from the kitchen. While the gravy and biscuits were good, and the freezer jam for biscuits flavorful, the chicken-fried steak could have been a little crispier and the sunny-side-up eggs needed another minute on the griddle.

Service: Fast and friendly, with a bottomless coffee pot at the ready.

Most unexpected moment: Buckley, which was named a Washington State Heritage Community in 2003, has a lot going on along historic Main Street. It’s packed with restaurants and shops.

Wild card: The menu boasts a few unusual creations from the griddle. The malted waffle is a hearty alternative to light and fluffy breakfast fare. There’s also a bacon waffle – with bacon cooked right in.

Pictured here: Mary Mueller-Toney and Dianne Koens opened The Hometown Restaurant three months ago on Main Street in Buckley. Koens is holding the restaurnats specialty of home style potatoes. Photo by Darren Breen/The News Tribune.

Add Italy to the international mix of restaurants on that stretch of Pacific Avenue between South Ninth and South Seventh streets in downtown Tacoma.

Il Trattoria di Merende (merende means "small bite") is planning a soft opening Sept. 21. It will join India Mahal, Irish pub Paddy Coyne's and Tex-Mex restaurant Matador in what Merende co-owner Julia Lombardi calls a pocket neighborhood with "real European flair."

"I think we've all tried to engender that," Lombardi says. "This whole area has changed dramatically."

Lombardi, husband Kenneth and son Ian are co-owners of the new venture. Local favorite Jeff Bishop, formerly of Il Fiasco, will be doing his thing in the kitchen. Ian will be managing the restaurant, though he did his own chef training in Florence, Italy.

Merende will focus on small plates, priced between $10 and $12, along with larger entrées, small pizzas and a full bar. Said bar – of deep gray slate – was curing under fans Wednesday afternoon when I poked my head in.

The old Vin Grotto space has been transformed with exposed brick walls, slate floors, recycled-glass tile and industrial-style exposed ductwork overhead. (Pictures below.)

The Lombardis are shooting for an upscale feel that's still relaxed enough for families. By staying open until 11 p.m. or later, they'll offer a spot for theatergoers and UWT students looking for a late-night bite.

Check back for updates here when Merende opens its doors at 813 Pacific Ave.

UPDATE: Pat Nagel reminds me of another one: The Harmon Brewery and Restaurant will celebrate its 11th Anniversary and Oktoberfest the week of Sept. 22-26 with specials and events. Highlights include the debut of this year's Killer Brew fall seasonal and a five course/five beer brewmaster's dinner hosted by award-winning brewer Mike Davis. More here.

Here's something to take the sting out of fall. This weekend marks the beginning of Oktoberfest season. You don't have to be German by any means to enjoy the harvest celebration, but it sure helps if you: A) love beer, B) like sausage, C) can tolerate oompah music. (Tip: B and C go down a lot easier with A.)

Here in the Northwest, we can enjoy a month-long circuit of Oktoberfests, ranging from traditional to extreme. Here's a rundown. Comment to add your own impressions of the events.

What: Washington Beer Commission 2nd Annual Oktoberfest.
When: Friday, 4-10 p.m.; Saturday, 1-10 p.m.
Where: Pyramid Alehouse parking lot, 1201 1st Ave. S., Seattle
How much: $25, includes mug and tokens
The scene: As you would expect, a very beer-oriented event, with samplings from 30-some Washington state craft brewers. Many styles represented, but an emphasis on fall seasonals, including Leavenworth Oktoberfest from Fish Brewing, Harvest Ale from Boundary Bay and a variety of pumpkin-infused ales.
Tip: Limited food on site, but you're right next door to the Alehouse restaurant. No kids.

What: Mount Angel Oktoberfest
When: Sept. 11-14
Where: Mount Angel, Oregon (southeast of Portland)
How much: Free admission
The scene: With its big German population and a backdrop of hop fields and foothills, sleepy Mount Angel transforms into a Bavarian town every year. Expect a big, family-friendly outdoor festival with something for everyone: traditional music, reasonably priced food, bier and wine gartens.
Tip: Mount Angel is a bit off the beaten path. I'd recommend staying in Salem or Oregon City and getting an early start. Bring a designated driver.

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With a craving for dumplings and a curious notice on the liquor control board web site, A&E editor Craig Sailor and I took to South Tacoma Way Friday.

We drove up to Hong Sheng Fung, ready and hoping for dumplings aplenty, but, sadly, the empty storefront was a punch in our gullets. I suspected it might have closed after seeing the restaurant's liquor license had expired. But it truly was sucktastic to confirm.

Here, look for yourself at the empty restaurant. (photo by Craig Sailor, I'm not capable of such photographic artistry).

What happened? Anyone know where chef-owner Jennifer Chang might be cooking? We came to adore her delicious dumplings, served fried or steamed. The Korean-born chef doled out delicious little dishes of the Korean appetizer banchan, too. The menu was limited, but well done. I've been to more than one party where Hong Sheng Fung dumplings were the main attraction (you could buy a bag of frozen dumplings for about $20).

Curious now, too... where should Craig and I go for dumplings? Comment and tell us, pretty please.

Click this link to read a review we published in our GO entertainment section last August after Hong Sheng Fung opened in July 2007. Sort of mean to post it, considering you can't eat there anymore, but it's a nice little eulogy for the restaurant. Rest in peace, Hong Sheng Fung.

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Reaching into the TNT Diner e-mail grab bag, I pulled out a restaurant request from a Fort Lewis solider. Can anyone answer his question? I am at a loss.

Hi All,

Just wondering if you were aware of any Iraqi cuisine restaurants in the area? As an Iraq veteran, I look forward to the day that someone does open a restaurant near Ft Lewis. I would think that with all the tens of thousands of soldiers returning from Iraq, that someone would have capitalized on it by now.

There are other cuisines that are similar, like Greek. But it's not quite the same.

I'm curious, what is Iraqi cuisine like?

I found it.

The place to go at the fair.

Forget the fried food and funnel cakes. The rodeo and music artists are afterthoughts now. When you make it out to the fairgrounds look for a small, out of the way place with a black roof and no line. On the roof they advertise the “fresh strawberry mega shake.”

Emphasis on mega.

But let me warn you, the price is steep. The mega shake costs $7. But for fair prices, it’s worth it. After ordering (apparently the sign on the roof is the menu) I watch the kind woman behind the counter slowly ladle real strawberries from a bucket into a real blender and fill it with real soft serve. It got so thick that she repeatedly had to intervene with a spatula during the blending and make sure it was all mixed up.

It is absolutely massive. It is delicious. And somehow I drank the whole thing.

I need a nap.

Diner note: This is a live report from the Puyallup Fair. TNT Reporters Scott Fontaine and Brian Everstine eat their way around the fair today.

They advertise that their Snowball is “better than a Blizzard.”

It’s tough to argue.

The stand inside the stadium titled "Soft Ice Cream - Root Beer Float" (I couldn't find its actual name written anywhere) sells its answer to Dairy Queen’s iconic treat. For $4.50, they mix a cup full of ice cream with crumbled candy. I opted for Butterfinger.

It tasted very similar to the DQ product, but the candy bar seemed like it was crumbled up even more finely. That all of the ice cream taste like Butterfinger. And that’s not a bad thing at all.

It was noticibly smoother and not nearly as thick as a Blizzard. I’m the last guy to crack on a Blizzard, but this seemed like an upgrade. And a great way to cool down and finish off a day of gorging on food.

Next stop: the gym. I knew I should have brought some ipecac with me.

Diner note: This is a live report from the Puyallup Fair. TNT Reporters Scott Fontaine and Brian Everstine eat their way around the fair today.

Brian and I have been telling you where is good to eat. Well, allow me a second to let me tell you where not go buy a drink.

The Sausage Shack.

The price seemed reasonable (by fair standards): $3.25 for a 24-ounce Diet Coke. The kid with my cup fills it about halfway with ice and begins to pour the drink. He’s about three-fourths of the way finished when the woman at the register stops him and snaps at him. “You’re not doing it right,” she said. “You gotta fill it all the way with ice.”

She puts even more ice cubes in my drink, making my 24-ounce cup able to hold about 2 or 3 drops.

That ain’t customer service, and I sure ain’t gonna eat at the Sausage Shack ever again.

Diner note: This is a live report from the Puyallup Fair. TNT Reporters Scott Fontaine and Brian Everstine eat their way around the fair today.

I’ve always had a fascination with Russia and Soviet history. I am embarrassed to admit, I even know the words to the English version of “He Must Be Like Putin.”

So I was obviously excited when I saw the Kaleenka Piroshky booth at the fair. After the fried abomination I just ate, I thought a nice, traditional pastry would hit the spot.

The nice people working the booth were speaking some language I didn’t understand, so I figured it would be traditional. I forked over the $10.50 for a vegetable piroshky and a strawberry lemonade. Upon first glance, I wasn’t that excited. It was fried (I thought they were baked, but hey, it is the fair). And it came wrapped in napkins.

To my surprise, it was pretty good. Through the thick bread were hashbrown-like potatoes, peas and sunflower seeds.

I enjoyed myself for the couple minutes while I was eating. It took me away from the teenagers with no shirts on and the screaming kids in strollers.

But now I am going to be humming Dschinghis Khan’s "Moskau" for the rest of the day.

Diner note: This is a live report from the Puyallup Fair. TNT Reporters Scott Fontaine and Brian Everstine eat their way around the fair today.

It was greasy. It was big. It had cheese.

The Cheesequake Burger was basically the perfect lunch.

Scott Oberstaller, a designer on our sports desk, once told me that the Earthquake Burger (and its American cheese-topped cousin, the Cheesequake) was larger than my head. That’s a big statement. I have a size 8 hatband, meaning Barry Bonds looks like a pinhead compared to me.

But bigger than my head the burger was not. Tasty it was. If you’re expecting restaurant-style lean ground sirloin, you’ll be upset. But if you know that thin, fatty meat favored by a lot of fair vendors, then realize it’s on par with that. It’s also no frills: the bun, the patty and some onions. Condiments are on a cart next to the red, white and blue stand.

But it’s its size that makes the Cheesequake ($9.95) stick out. It’s the size of a small plate. And it made me want to stretch out on one of the brown picnic tables next to the stand for a nap.

Diner note: This is a live report from the Puyallup Fair. TNT Reporters Scott Fontaine and Brian Everstine eat their way around the fair today.

I didn’t want to try anything that conventional.

So I walked up to the catch-all stand – fried veggies and korn fritters along with shaved ice. I saw “cheese sticks” and I thought a bit. Obviously, it wouldn’t be like a normal mozzarella stick because it would be called a mozzarella stick, and that wouldn’t be fair enough. I thought maybe cheddar, or American, which would likely make me hurl.

I took the plunge, and obviously they were mozzarella sticks. I think. It tasted like cheap pieces of string cheese dropped in a deep fryer for about a half an hour and topped with some phantom seasoning that I couldn’t taste.

Hey it was edible, and other than the streak of hot grease, not bad. Though it did cost $6.25.

Though I am unclear about why the woman at the booth told me to get ketchup.

Diner note: This is a live report from the Puyallup Fair. TNT Reporters Scott Fontaine and Brian Everstine eat their way around the fair today.

My neighbor raves about Krusty Pups, so I made the corndog stand my first stop after Brian and I arrived at the fair. There are a few places to get the treats, including a funky ‘50sish silver building.

My pup cost $4. For an extra $6, I could add fries and a drink. (I passed.)

The first bite revealed something I suspected before I bought it: the corn dog was more corn (batter) than dog. That that there’s anything wrong with that. I’m of the belief that a good crab cake has more cake than crab, and ditto for a corndog – especially when most hot dogs can be safely described as “slaughterhouse leavings.”

I didn’t mind that deep-fried batter outdid the dog. The batter was crunchy (krusty?) on the outside and sweet on the inside. The dog was unremarkable – think what’s served at a company barbecue – but the overall taste worked. It’s fair food, after all.

Diner note: This is a live report from the Puyallup Fair. TNT Reporters Scott Fontaine and Brian Everstine eat their way around the fair today.

Here is the Drop-In Dining report from today's GO section. Drop-In Dining is a continuing series where a TNT staffer drops in unannounced and eats on the TNT's dime, then writes up a report about the experience. Have a restaurant you would like us to check out? Email tntdiner@thenewstribune.com.

El Pulgarcito Salvadoran Restaurant
Where: 12134 Pacific Highway S.W., Lakewood; 253-582-5173 (Additional location at 4509 Lacey Blvd. S.E., Lacey; 360-491-4068)
Hours: 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 10:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Fridays-Sundays
Price range: $ (under $14)

By Sue Kidd
sue.kidd@thenewstribune.com

The Scene: Small, clean, cute and clearly a Salvadoran restaurant – the maps and photos of El Salvador plastered on the walls are a giveaway. A few booths for sit-down service, or take-out at the counter. Not a quiet restaurant – expect to hear Telemundo on the television. We watched a Spanish-speaking version of Judge Judy, “Caso Cerrado,” on our visit.

Type of food: Salvadoran cuisine. The bulk of the menu seems to be traditional Salvadoran dishes of stewed and slow-cooked meats paired with some kind of starch – a Salvadoran equivalent of Midwestern meat and potatoes heartland eats. Salvadoran food is flavorful but not spicy. But a tongue-tingling salsa is provided for heat seekers.

Menu highlights: Naturally, pupusas ($1.95 each) are a staple of the menu, as they are a staple in El Salvador home kitchens. Pupusas are a very traditional dish that can be traced to ancient villages in what is now El Salvador. They are thick discs, sort of beefed up corn pancakes, stuffed with all kinds of meats or cheeses and served hot off a griddle. El Pulgarcito makes six kinds of pupusas: chicharron (pork), queso (cheese), loroco con queso (cheese and veggies), revuelta (pork, cheese and beans), calabazita (zucchini and cheese) and espinaca (spinach and cheese).
Looking beyond these savory and inexpensive little delights, there are a dozen Salvadoran entrees – among them two interesting sounding dishes that we did not sample: sopa de res ($9.99), a combination of beef ribs, yuca, cabbage, zucchini and tortillas; and mojarrita frita ($10.95), a whole fried tilapia fish with accompaniments.

The menu also includes Mexican-style burritos ($6.50-$8.95) and Mexican entrees, such as chicken carnitas ($9.50), pollo ranchero ($9.50) and steak fajitas ($9.95). But at a Salvadoran restaurant, why order a Mexican entrée? Stick to the left side of the menu where the Salvadoran specialties are listed.

People in the kitchen: Owners are Celina Ramos and Elio Flores. The restaurant opened in 2006. There is another location in Lacey.

Dishes sampled: Pupusas! Need we say more? These tasty Salvadoran appetizers easily can become habit-forming. The chicharron pupusa ($1.95) was stuffed with savory pork and the calabazita pupusa was steaming hot and gooey with cheese (a little light on the zucchini). Served with a side of Salvadoran cabbage – curtido, a puckery Salvadoran salad that tastes a bit like a very crunchy, fresh sauerkraut – two pupusas can make a very cheap and delicious meal. Tip: If also ordering one of the Salvadoran meat entrees, save some of the curtido cabbage to fold into a handmade tortilla with some of the meat.

Bistek Encebollado ($9.95) was a hearty slab of marinated steak covered with grilled onions and peppers and a side of fragrant, yet mild, rice and portion of black beans. Definitely ask for the handmade corn tortillas to accompany the entrée. The tortillas were thick and chewy. So was the meat, so cut the pieces small before assembling into a Salvadoran-style taco.
Pollo Guisado ($9.50) is a slow-cooked chicken-style pot roast, also served with rice, salad and the handmade tortillas. The chicken in this dish was much more pliable than the bistek, and the chicken reheated nicely as a leftover lunch.

Yuca al Vapor ($6.50) is a bargain of a meal and enough to feed two easily. Yuca root – sort of like a really starchy white sweet potato – is served steamed (or fried, just order it “frita”) and covered with a side of the cabbage curtido and drizzled with a tomato-based sauce. On the side, chunks of fried pork (watch out for a bit of chewy gristle). Again, these things go well tucked inside handmade tortillas.

Service: Our server answered 20 or so of our questions with patience. She steered us to menu items that were Salvadoran specialties and provided reference for ingredients with which we were unfamiliar. We appreciated the navigation.

Most unexpected moment: Our server asked if we wanted handmade tortillas with our meal (as opposed to prepackaged). We look at our server, stunned. Given a choice … is there really a choice? We went with the handmade, naturally. They were thick, fragrant and deliciously hearty hand-pressed corn tortillas. These are more dense and toothsome than typical thin tortillas at Mexican restaurants. In short, a delicious Salvadoran treat. Lesson: If your server asks if you want them made “a mano,” say “¡Sí!”

Wild card: Beverage selection extravaganza. Try a “cola champagne,” a bottle of Salvadoran soda. Or try bottled jarritos and glasses of horchata and chocolate mexicano.

Pictured here: Celina Ramos and Elio Flores, owners of El Pulgarcito. Peter Haley / The News Tribune

A new restaurant will be coming to St. Helens this month -- if all construction goes as planned, that is.

Joel Cummings and his brother Glenn Cummings and sister-in-law Lori Cummings leased the Stadium neighborhood space that formerly housed Cafe By The Bay at the end of July. By the end of September, they hope to open a 40-seat restaurant at 229 St. Helens Ave. The restaurant will be called Bayview.

Joel Cummings is the former kitchen manager of The Spar. "I was leery about opening a restaurant now," said Cummings. He wanted a small space in a good neighborhood, like Stadium. He and his partners looked at the same spot 18 months ago, but took a pass because the terms were too high. When it came back on the market with better terms, they jumped.

The menu will be something like comfort American food said Cummings. "It's good food that I like. It’s going to be fresh soups, salads, pastas, seafood, lots of specials during the week -- good home food, like pot roast and meatloaf. Fresh stuff and healthy stuff, no fried stuff except (French) fries. It will be good food for a good price," said Cummings.

He said the 40-seat restaurant will be open daily, except Sunday, for lunch and dinner. He's hopeful foot traffic will mean the success of his place. That, and the deck. "Nobody knows this and the previous owners didn't market it, but I've got a deck that I'll push in the summer time. Easily 40 people could sit out there comfortably and it has a great view," Cummings said.

If all goes as planned (and it rarely does), look for the restaurant's soft opening in late September.

Details:
Bayview, 229 St. Helens Ave.
Hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sundays.

Caveat: I initially identified Bayview as a Stadium restaurant when I posted this. TNT Diner reader Jacob says it should be identified as the St. Helens district. I've considered that neighborhood Stadium or at least Stadium annexed for the 30 something years I've lived here. Ahem. Maybe an old timer thing. What do you call that little area of restaurants where Bayview, The Hub, Doyle's are? Stadium? St. Helens?

The rumors of Brix 25's sale are not true. At least not anymore.

I spoke with Jason Winniford, general manager, of Brix 25 in Gig Harbor and he confirmed that there had been someone interested in buying the restaurant. They got so far as to apply for some licensing, which is probably why all the rumors have been circulating of the impending sale, Winniford noted.

But, no more.

"We have no intentions of selling the restaurant," said Winniford.

So what happened to the potential owner? "She couldn't afford it," said Winniford. They asked her to make a decision and her decision was to walk away.

Carry on people, nothing to see here.