Bellingham knows just how to throw a proper end-of-the-summer bash. Start with tasty food and drinks, add a dash of variety, a pinch of rain, a heaping spoonful of hungry locals and visitors – and it’s on.
The Bite of Bellingham is just that; a conglomeration of booths and food trucks representing the diverse food culture throughout the city and surrounding area. The big draw is the bite – size portions, all served up for little more than pocket change. The finger-licking festivities fittingly take place at the Depot Market Square, right in the heart of downtown.
Once a year, we locals and lucky visitors flock downtown to sample restaurants we may not otherwise seek out, and get the opportunity to discover new favorites or get re-acquainted with vendors we may have not visited for a while.
Meanwhile, the vendors have the opportunity to strut their scrumptious stuff and gain some new regulars.
This year, a nice mix of traditional Bellingham gems like Boundary Bay Brewery and Casa Que Pasa – and establishments a little newer to town, like Leaf and Ladle and the Rock and Rye Oyster House combined to provide an eclectic and satisfying experience.
Notable dishes included Deli’cious Mischief’s Pesto Chicken Melt — a delightful mess of cheese, buttery grilled sourdough and big flavors — and Simmering Tava’s generous portions of Tangy Vindaloo made with succulent bites of chicken and beef topping a fluffy pile of rice, all under a blanket of rich, spicy sauce.
After enjoying the savory side of the city, and maybe spoiling ourselves with a few locally-brewed beer breaks in the adjacent beer garden (my personal go-to being Kulshan’s refreshing Bastard Kat IPA), attendees had to pick and choose through tempting dessert options like Pure Bliss‘ Bellingham-famous Caramel Turtle Wedge and Alice’s Pies’ divine Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie. Look at the complete list of the restaurants here.
Lucky for Bellingham-dwellers, it looks like the Bite will be sticking around for a while yet. The event is ten years strong; if you missed out this year, look forward to Bite of Bellingham 2016.
