WHAT'S A TAKIS?

My boyfriend is the one who has the sweet tooth in our relationship, while I prefer savory food.  Sometimes he calls me as a "Takis monster" because I tend to eat up all the chips.  (Usually the classic ruffled chip or Doritos or Cheetos....mmm!)   But what, exactly, IS a TAKIS?

Urban Dictionary defines them as:
A spicy corn chip snack made by Bimbo. It is best known for the purple bag variety. Also known as: the greatest snack on the plane.

These little snacks first burst onto my radar screen through a very impressive music video by some tweens in the South called "Hot Cheetos and Takis".  (It's very good and catchy, I highly recommend watching! Production value is high, and these little kids are quite talented.  I wish I was that cool when I was that age!  Read more about the kids & video here.)  Here's what the snacks look like sans bag:

The main hook of the song goes:

....hot cheetos & takis
bow
SNACK, SNACK, SNACK... CRUNCH
SNACK, SNACK, SNACK... MUNCH

So what does this all mean for the purpose of this blog? "Takis" has been re-purposed to mean "snacks"  (though more often than not, refers to the savory kind but does not exclude sweet snacks.)  So naming this blog "Takis + Cake" is an ode to my love of food in general, but specifically, my love for snacks! And I also believe that cake goes with everything, thus Takis + Cake was born.

SEATTLE SHENANIGANS

For me, the traveling often centers around food.  When Adam and I went to Seattle for his birthday last September, this was no different.  Here is my list of places you MUST visit. (all images taken by me, except the Pizza one.)

PIKE'S PLACE

 

Full of food stands, the famous fish market where they are literally throwing the fish through the air--this is an exciting place, always busting with people and the lovely colors of each season's food.


Piroshky Piroshky 

 This meat pie was our very first taste of Seattle, and it set the bar very high.  This little place in Pike's Place had a line out the door, and you could see the women making the pastries right in front of you. This is NOT a place to miss.



SALUMI Artistan Cured Meats
Mario Batali's parents own this place, so you know it has to be legit.  They cure all of their own meats and are only open for a very limited time during the day, during the week only.  There will ALWAYS be a line when you go there, but it is worth it.  I recommend ordering as many thing as you can!! Sandwiches travel well.  Even the veggie soup was a delicious choice, and balanced out the richness of the many many meats we ordered.

Once you start heading East, away from the Ocean, maybe you'll need little snack to help you make the journey to Capital Hill.  This well known chef around Seattle named Tom Douglas has a legit pizza place, called Serious Pie. (Just be warned that this place is usually kind of crowded...but maybe it won't be too long of a wait if there's only 2 of you.  There's also a Dave and Buster's close around the corner to kill some time!)

CAPITOL HILL

Pike Street, East of Broadway is where Capiol Hill begins.  This is the area that's great for a lively nightlife and barhopping.  Tons of restaurants and stores.   We ended up at this Mexican restaurant called Poquitos, and it was very tasty, as well as an interesting ambiance.  Fresh margaritas and bacon-guacamole.

SIGHT-SEEING

Now that the food has been covered, time to focus on the culture and design!


Seattle Public Library

Space Needle
(it's worth going to the top and sitting at one of the windows, and maybe finishing up one of those Salumi sandwiches you kept with you! I'm just saying...)

 

Chihuly Glass Garden 

(right next to the Space Needle!)

 

Gas Works Park 

(on the North side of Seattle. We took a bus.)

And while you're up there, it's totally worth visiting the Theo Chocolate Factory and taking a tour (reserve it online first.)

There are a few cute cafes and restaurants around there as well, of course!  We ventured into the Sweet & Savory Pie shop. Comfort food is exactly what you want on a chilly overcast Seattle Day!

(this post originally appeared in a different blog of mine on 5.20.2013, which no longer exists!)