Kate’s fresh ingredients, eclectic menu make for great meals

  • By Meredith Munk Special to The Herald
  • Wednesday, March 19, 2014 6:27pm
  • LifeGo-See-Do

Wouldn’t it be great if you could have your favorite specialty coffee beverage all ready for you during your trip to work? Well, you can, in Stanwood, at Kate’s.

If you buy a special card, you can text the word “usual” to a phone number they provide and your double half-caff latte and buttered bagel will be ready when you drive through.

Kate’s has breakfast options convenient for travel, like a breakfast burrito, a breakfast sandwich and an egg muffin ($3.75 to $4.99).

Open just a short time, Kate’s has expanded its drive-through to a small dining room with lots of small tables and chairs and a large counter. The counter tempts you with a variety of homemade muffins, scones and cookies. Other choices include oatmeal, yogurt with fruit and granola and eggs with a choice of meat ($3.75 to $5.50).

Place your order at this counter from the eclectic menu, pick your table and your food will be brought to you. A large rack holds self-serve flatware and napkins.

I stopped at Kate’s with a friend on a rainy day earlier this week and ordered their lunch special, a BLT and a cup of homemade soup ($9.95). The sandwich was good: nicely toasted with delicious, good-quality bacon, a perfectly ripe tomato and fresh lettuce. But it was the chicken noodle soup that hit it out of the park. The deep, rich chicken broth held traditional chicken noodle soup ingredients. With a modest amount of chicken, the carrots, celery and noodles added to the deep homemade flavor. It was made on the premises that very morning and will make you dread that red and white can of chicken noodle soup.

There is also a soup of the day and salad combination; the soup rotation includes clam chowder, salmon and corn chowder, Greek Avgolemono (lemon rice) soup, navy bean, carrot and tomato bisque.

My friend ordered a Greek plate ($9.99), feta, Greek olives, grape leaves and tomatoes with warm pita wedges and garlic olive oil. A bite of the creamy, flavorful feta, the sweet tomato and the salty olives on a pita wedge was a winning combination.

As we finished our meal, the owner and chef Kate Kypuros came out to our table to chat. She mentioned how much she believed in the importance of good ingredients and we believe her. The quality of the bacon, the feta, the tomatoes and the grape leaves stood out.

I mentioned that the menu was eclectic: How about Thai style mint and beef salad wraps, Mediterranean vegetable dip, white bean dip and a Spanish plate that included quince paste and manchego cheese. This smallish menu labels vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan options.

What a great place to grab your early morning drink of choice and a nice hot breakfast, stop for an anytime pick me up and snack or enjoy a light lunch or supper.

Kate’s plans to offer a special Greek tasting menu from 5 to 7 p.m. March 21 and 22, with Greek foods, wines and Kate’s cheese cake.

Kate’s

9809 Highway 532, Stanwood; 360-629-5283

Specialty: Coffee drinks, eclectic menu

Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday; 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday

www.katescasualgourmet.com/

Vegetarian options: yes

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