January 28, 2011
The food’s the star at south Everett coffee shop
By Sarah Jackson, Herald Writer
Coffee shops in the Northwest make some of the best drinks in the world.
Food, however, at our beloved espresso haunts, is almost always an afterthought, unless you count the sweets and most of those are prepackaged and just not worth the calories.
Solid Rock Coffee Company in Everett is bucking that trend with freshly made breakfast burritos, wraps and paninis, plus homemade soups and salads.
This cute little gem, tucked into the corner of a two-story office building near south Everett’s Costco, also offers delicious desserts from local bakeries.
I ordered an Americano and the grilled breakfast burrito. Immediately the friendly barista started working on my drink.
Then the owner, longtime chef Barry Snyder, emerged to beat eggs and cook ham for my breakfast in a small kitchen right behind the counter.
That meant, of course, I had to wait for my food to be cooked, but I was happy to sit and sip my tasty coffee — made with Camano Island Coffee Roasters beans — in an overstuffed chair next to the stone fireplace.
White holiday lights wrapped around the exposed metal rafters added a cozy glow to the place, already warmly lighted with cherry-red pendant lights. Though the day was rainy, huge windows let in plenty of natural light.
When my burrito arrived ($3.99), it was hot, crisscrossed with pretty grill lines and cut in half. Filled with a well-balanced scramble of eggs, cheddar and tasty ham, it was satisfying (also available with turkey and Swiss).
It could have used some salt and pepper. That problem, however, was remedied by the fresh, tangy salsa I had ordered on the side, instead of inside, the burrito.
I also tried a piece of lemon coconut coffee cake ($1.95) by Finale’s Gourmet Desserts of Lynnwood. It was a dreamy slice of indulgence with just the right portions of lightly toasted coconut and airy, delicate lemon cake.
Solid Rock also sells desserts by Pinks Original Bakery of Kent, including fresh gourmet pastries and those ubiquitous Uncle Seth’s Original Pink prepackaged cookies.
In a pinch to try everything all at once, I also ordered lunch, a bit early at 8 a.m., to be sure, but Solid Rock was ready to accommodate me with nary a raised eyebrow.
I tried a customer favorite, the Tuscan chicken panini ($5.95), which came with a side of the day’s soup, tomato basil.
Even though I didn’t eat the dishes until hours later, reheated in the microwave, both were excellent.
My panini was, as promised, made with rustic focaccia slices, turned soft-side-out and grilled with provolone, pesto mayonnaise, lunch-meat-style sliced chicken, roasted bell peppers and caramelized onions in between.
Though the sandwich was filled generously with ingredients, it stayed together during eating, always a mark of a sandwich with staying power and integrity, if you ask me.
Tomato soup is not typically my first choice, but I was delighted with my cup of tomato basil.
It smelled delicious, fresh and homemade, like a burst of summer, and it had a bright tomato-parmesan taste with a light note of earthy, herby basil.
I would order it again. And I would also eat here again.
Thank you, Solid Rock, for raising the bar, but not the prices, on coffeehouse fare.
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You can buy Camano Island Coffee directly through us or you can order online.
Currently, we offer:
As interest grows, we will offer additional roasts and varietals. All of our coffee beans are roasted for our order, and are not just sitting on a shelf. Typically, when we order coffee, the beans are roasted the day before delivery.
NOW THAT'S FRESHLY ROASTED!
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425-316-8579
10025 19th Ave. SE
Suite 102
Everett, WA 98208
