Shopping- A Picket Fence Sumner, WA

1006 Main Street Sumner, WA 98390
Look for them on FB and www.picketfence.com


I just adore this shop.  I wish I would have taken more pics- missed showing any of their fabulous jewelry and all their watches!

First of all, they sell coffee (which is always nice- every store should do it just for my convenience!) and they sell bulk style candy so will be walking out that door with at least a treat!

Lots of items for gift giving- the cards at the front door were hilarious!

Large line of Vera Bradley handbags and accessories 

There are many holiday items already on display

OF COURSE- I adore any apron!  Wish I would have purchased this one :)

Sure there's a story behind this guy hanging out in the back LOL

TONS of purses!  No matter what your style, I'm sure you'll find something to your taste.

At first glance, I wasn't sure if I liked their website (needs more pics and first page doesn't grab your attention) but the "about us" tab is cute and their "specials" tab is clever (like the question part!) so make sure to check it out.  There is so much to look at- perfect place for unique Fall decorations and you can get a jump on your Christmas shopping!

Eatin' Out 'N' About at Sorci ~ Sumner, WA

Weekday summer afternoon
1012 Ryan Avenue, Sumner, WA 98390
www.sorcisitaliancafe.com


I always call this "MY Italian Restaurant".  It is a little off the Main Road with nothing but a sandwich sign on the corner so it seems that nobody knows about it!  Can't remember when I first came here- sure it was with the girlfriends out shopping. I've been here for birthdays, lunches with friends, and even during a quiet-argument-filled-anniversary-lunch with my hubby!

The place is definetly small but cozy- I can see big groups eating here (in fact- check their website about cooking classes and movie nights).  Since it's such a nice day, my friend Dawn and I opt to sit outside though it's crowded (we're happy as long as there is an umbrella seat available!).
The outdoor seating is tiny, tiny, but perfect for dining in small groups.  They have attempted charm with a couple of statues....but it could use a  touch of polish.  The inside, though, is exactly what you would expect from a quaint Italian cafe- lots of greenery and structure style designs on the walls.

The last few times here I have eaten the Caprese (my FAV thing- order it!) but I wanted to try something new so I ordered the Spinach, Feta & Sun Dried Tomatoes Panini (which came with a regular tomato too...by mistake?).  It's regularly $6.95 but I got the Lunch Special of 1/2 a Panini with a small cup of Asparagus Soup for $7.00 (side choices were the soup, Caesar salad or Misto).  The sandwich was really good- though at first I was afraid there was no feta (was placed mostly in the center), and I enjoyed the Asparagus Soup after I added salt.

Dawn decided on a beer and the Tuscano Panini but she opted for the side Misto Salad.  The Tuscano is not normally a part of the Lunch Special but the waitress made an exception (cause Dawn is cool like that).  When her lunch came, she was a little dismayed by the portion sizes since she was starving but she said, "The salad had just the right amount of dressing (usually orders that on the side, but forgot), and it was zesty- but not too spicy.  My sandwich was also delicious.  I love Italian Sausage so it definitely hit the spot.  Once I was finished, I'd realized the portion was actually just the right size.  Filling me up but leaving just enough room ice cream later.  I was satisfied, but not over full."

Usually their food case is filled on one side with food items you can take home like prosciutto wrapped asparagus and on the other little desserts but it was sparse today.  Also, the gelato case was completely empty, too...hmmm.  But since we weren't taking anything home, it didn't seem to matter to us- we hit McDonald's for an inexpensive Snack Size McFlurry instead!

Overall we had a great lunch date. Dawn summed it up the best:  "All in all, good food and fun with a great friend!  Definitely recommend to friends and would go there again- even if just to have a drink with appy and enjoy the ambiance".  Thanks Dawn for lunching with me!

Eatin' Out 'N' About at Windmill Bistro ~Sumner

Windmill Bistro August 2010 on a Tuesday for lunch

16009 60th St E Sumner, WA 98390

www.windmillbistro.com 

To celebrate a birthday for one of "The Hungry Housewives", we decided to head down the hill to the Windmill Bistro.  Originally a private residence built during the turn of the 20th century, this building has been recreated into a charming little restaurant.  Though this was the birthday girl's first time eating here, I had been here before a few times- once while I was a coordinator during a wedding, again for another birthday lunch, and I've attended one of their tea events.  Our goal was to sit outside but it was a little overcast when we first arrived so we sat in the cozy main seating area.  

Alisa (me!) and Tamie  (far right is a friend of mine Diane who works here)

Birthday Girl Stephanie and Tari

Soup Of The Day- Broccoli Cheese 

Dungeness Crab Melt and Caprese Sandwich- both with Coleslaw with an Arnold Palmer

The soup I had was creamy with bits of brocoli and carrots and I absolutely ADORED my Caprese Sandwich!  Caprese is one of my favorite dishes but I've never had it on bread- and this one included a large red grilled pepper.  I was worried that the moisture of the insides would make the bread soggy but it was toasted just enough.  YUM.  One of the gals tasted my coleslaw and suggested salt and I really liked it....not too tart.  Tamie also liked her lunch saying that her Dungeness Crab Melt was just as good as when she had it the last time she ate here.

Steph's Side Salad (she substituted that over fries or coleslaw) was a tad over ripe so it was a little bitter, but she thought her "Our Favorite Gyro" was excellent.  She said it was "warm, with the pita being perfect- not too dry.  The beef was a good texture... nicely cooked".  Unfortunately Tari's Chicken Walnut Salad Sandwich was just "OK" but her Bistro Salad was "Fabulous!".  She said that the combo of the candied walnuts with red onions, tomatoes, and blue cheese was tasty (in fact, after she had this dish before, she tried to recreate it at home!).

OF COURSE, as we were leaving the sun came out and people were now eating outside.  Oh well, we'll just have to come another day!!!  Happy Birthday Miss Stephanie!!!  Love you! 

Eatin' Out 'N' About at KC's Caboose ~Sumner

Casey's Engine House (or KC's Caboose) in Sumner at 1012 Main St
Sumner, WA 98390 on Sunday, June 13th about 2 pm. 

Though we thought we'd still be hitting the after-church-crowd, the restaurant had customers but wasn't really busy. May have to do with Sumner is pretty much shut down on Sundays.

Supposedly a bakery/German Restaurant, at first glance you wonder why it's classified as such since there was NO bakery items in the display case (maybe a no bake day?), and the German items- schnitzel and braut/knockwurst were at the bottom of the menu on the 3rd page. Filled with mainly breakfast items, sandwiches, and salads, I was disappointed in no actual "entrees" to choose from so I usually order that over salads/sandwiches. The prices seemed a little high, but after we got our generous sized portions, that part made sense.

The main dishes came with your choice of hot or cold potato salad, fries, salads, fries, or soup of the day. My husband Dave decided to get an open-face home-made chili burger with fries along with a cup of coffee, the 4 yr old just got a sprite (hit McDonald's on the way over- was no kid's items as far as we could tell), and I got the schnitzel chicken cordon-blue sandwich with the hot potato salad and a diet coke. 

The Chili Burger was a beef patty on a toasted bun with home-made chili topped with onion and cheese. The burger was average but the chili was good- had big chunks of peppers. Fries that came on the side were nice and crispy. Very generous portion! Condiments did not come on the table.

Schnitzel Chicken Sandwich looked to be about 6-9". Served open, the chicken had two large thin pieces of chicken overlapping on one side and lettuce, tomato, onions and 3 pickles on the other. Never "having" schnitzel before (when I looked it up, it's definition is just meat coated in breadcrumbs and fried), I wasn't sure what it would be like but it didn't look very "cordon-bluey" and after asking, the chef had made a mistake and just made the regular chicken schnitzel sandwich. Since it was tasty, I told them it didn't matter. Chicken was not dry but wasn't soggy either and only thing I would have changed was more pickles and wish I would have passed on the mayo since warm mayo kinda grosses me out. The side dish of warm potato salad was like it sounds and had been cooked in sauerkraut juice by the taste of it. There was a tiny bit of onions and bacon...wish it would of had more of both. 

The waitress was OK though not overly friendly. They did refill my soda without me asking but they forgot to charge us for child's soda which we had to point out. Also, a different waitress handled our issue with the wrong sandwich- our own never asked us about it though she knew. Girl's bathroom was passable though it wasn't clear where it was- had to ask. Clean, but no bags in the small garbage cans. There's a stall for one toilet but if you need the handicapped, you have to lock the entire bathroom. 

As far as seating, there's an awkward looking table in the front but you have a fun view of the street. We were down the hall on the bottom floor which had an unattractive view of servers area. There was additional seating upstairs, and when Dave poked his head up there, he said it looked cleaner and there was more seating choices. Since it's supposed to remind you of an "engine", I guess that would explain the low, dark seating...we liked the funky old newsprint style tablecloth- gave you something to read while waiting for your food.

We will for sure be eating there again to try something else. Customers that were there seemed to be regulars (one said he didn't even need a menu) so that says a lot about it! Sumner is one of my favorite places to window shop, and all the houses are so charming so it was nice to be able to take a walk afterwards to work off the food :)