The Magic of Maillard (Mr. Gyros)

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Two years ago, my doctor told me that I was at heightened risk for diabetes. My A1C, a measure of my blood sugar, was abnormally high. I was stunned.

So I got to work. While not the only reason I chose to pick up a minor in Nutritional Sciences, it was certainly a significant one. I questioned, and I learned, and I read up using what I learned—like diving into how Asians sit at a higher risk for diabetes at lower BMIs than one might think. Friends going for Slurpees after balling? Nah, maybe next time, guys.

As a result of changes in my diet, I was constantly on the hunt for food that had plenty of veggies, little carbs, but also a tasty x-factor to keep me interested.  One small stop along that quest was this joint: Mr. Gyros.

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Ice Cream or Gelato? (Fainting Goat)

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Times change. As a kid, the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough at Baskin Robbins was the pinnacle of all things dessert. That freezer-burnt, rock-hard scoop of goodness on top of a cheap, crumbly cake cone…

Those were innocent times. Then came college, and ventures into Wallingford, and a little magic something called Fainting Goat Gelato. Embarrassingly, I’ll admit that it first caught my attention through a sweet Groupon deal. But this small, family-owned store had a draw of its own.

Fainting Goat is the dream shop of couple Yalcin and Sevim Ataman, hailing all the way from the faraway city of İzmir, Turkey. In 2009, they brought their talents to Wallingford, with all three of their daughters lending a helping hand. Almost as remarkable as the Atamans’ journey is their signature flavor: Goat Milk Mastic. I know, I know—Goat Milk what? It’s a flavor I would wager can’t be found anywhere else in the state, or even the country.

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A Case for the Unfamiliar (Wann Yen)

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It sounds like a dream circumstance by any measure. Success in the food scene under their belt, they opened up one more little shop for one big reason: to serve the food they loved growing up.

Mark and Picha are two of the kindest people I’ve ever met. They own the bustling Thai Curry Simple in the International District of Seattle, an eatery known for great pricing and great flavor. Just a little over a year ago, they decided to turn to the University District for a brand new project.

This husband-and-wife power duo opened up a dessert store named Wann Yen serving Thai-style shaved ice, a true rarity, and it somehow flew under the radar. Just a few months later, they expanded their menu to serve all sorts of hot foods. The catch? You won’t find your usual Pad Thai or Pad See Ew anywhere on this menu. But take a flight to the homeland, walk into anybody’s kitchen, and this is the sort of Thai you’d find everybody’s grandma cooking.

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