"The Misunderstood Jew" by Amy-Jill Levine

This book is all about how the New Testament and church has anti-Jewish undertones...and how this makes absolutely no sense given that Jesus himself was a Jew.  Levine is very academic--being a professor of divinity herself at a prestigious university--and cites various sources for all her claims.  Whether readers are misinterpreting biblical verses that are blatantly anti-Semitic or if those lines were posthumously edited into the text is a question for the ages.  Nonetheless, Levine urges readers readers of all faiths to understand the Jewish Jesus and to stop blaming the Jews for Jesus' death.  Jews today are not responsible for Jesus' death, just like Christians today are not responsible for the Crusades.  Levine goes so far as to say that Jesus died a Jewish zealot that the Roman Empire tried for Treason--hence the title of King of the Jews above his cross.  While Jewish, Levine does not seek to show Christianity "bad" and Judaism "good"; she admits there are hateful and sexist verses in both the Old and New Testaments.  Rather, Levine aims to encourage readers to THINK for themselves instead of blindly perpetuating stereotypes handed down to them from their preachers, church fathers, or--worse yet--New Testament scriptures that are blindly accepted as the Word of God without even so much as a hint of scholarly scrutiny.

"Kosher Jesus" by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

After being recommended to read this book, I gave it a go.  My oh my did I learn a lot and get stretched in my thinking!  Before I start, I must say that the author does not intend to convert Christians to Judaism, prove Christians wrong, or in any way try to change Christians' theological beliefs.  Rather, Boteach aims to show readers of all beliefs how Jesus was indeed Jewish and to erase any ideas that Jesus was anti-Semitic.  Boteach goes into history of the first century Jerusalem and asks some very basic questions.  If Roman occupation of Jerusalem was so brutal--on par with modern day genocides--why would the New Testament not make any protest of this?  Would not a messianic ruler in first century Jerusalem speak out against Caesar in the same way that a messianic ruler in 1940s Germany would speak out against Hitler?  Herein starts Boteach's idea that parts of the New Testament may have been edited by those who wanted Rome to not look so bad...due to a political agenda.  Boteach also pinpoints some contradictions within the New Testament itself.  The notion that Paul invented Christianity and changed Jesus into someone Jesus never intended to be is also fascinating.  Then there is the idea that Paul was either not who he claimed to be or that others penned letters in Paul's name.  This concept is bolstered by the fact that someone who claims to be a Pharisee studying under Gamiel (the equivalent of being a Harvard student in Judaism) would likely not make such simple errors in his letters when quoting the Hebrew Bible.  Boteach also touches upon why Jews do not believe in Jesus.  He explains how Jesus only fulfilled some of the messianic prophecies.  While Christians claim Jesus will fulfill the rest of the messianic prophecies when he comes back, Jews say they will acknowledge Jesus as the messiah only when he finishes what he started.  Jesus was not the first Jew in his era to claim to be the messiah and die for it.  Boteach even explains how failing to live up to complete messianic prophecies was seen as noble and in no way blasphemous or deserving of death.  Then there is the segway into how it wasn't the Jews who sought to kill Jesus but rather the Romans who saw Jesus as a zealot looking to overthrow Roman rule.  This is why the title "King of the Jews" was written over Jesus' cross--those executed in Roman times had a parchment written on their cross proclaiming their reason for execution to warn others what happens when someone commits said crime...in this case treason.  Adding to this idea is the ridiculous notion of how Pilate--a man in history so violent that he was removed from his position for excessive cruelty--would even care to ask his conquered Jews why they wanted Jesus crucified.  This would be equivalent to Hitler asking Jews why they wanted one of their teachers killed in the Holocaust.  Hitler wouldn't care or even need to ask permissions of execution--he would just kill the Jew because that's how he is.  Boteach goes even so far as to say the New Testament editors whitewashed Roman involvement in Jesus' crucifixion to blame it on the Jews.  Some scholars don't even think Judas existed but was rather a Jewish scapegoat to prove the Jews were responsible for Jesus' death.  If the Pharisees wanted Jesus dead so badly, why would they tell him to flee from King Herod who sought to kill him?  Many stories in the New Testament don't align with the history of the time it was written in, and this creams foul play.  Finally, Boteach explains Judaism's views on the afterlife, sacrifice, forgiveness, and more, noting how one can have a satisfying relationship with God without the need for a god-man intermediary.

Do you really need cancer screenings at the doctor?

Below are the results of my research.  I am not a medical professional and make no claims to be.  Here are the recommended cancer screenings for women:

• Breast Cancer Screening - annually for women 40-55, every two years for women over 55 [1]
• Cervical Cancer Screening - every three years for women in their 20s, every five years for women 30-65 years of age, at their discretion for women over 65 years of age [1]

If someone is at risk for cancer, then I certainly think they should get screened.  However, for those not at risk, I do not see the reason for screenings.  Just as a non-smoker would not get a cancer screening for lung cancer, I ask myself why those not at risk for other cancers are being encouraged to get screened.  Why undergo a painful screening that could do immense harm in the event of a false positive?  False positives are when the doctors think you have cancer when you really don't.  This leads to biopsies, surgeries, body parts being removed, and a lot more poking-and-prodding that can have permanent consequences.

Breast Cancer False Positives
"The more mammograms a woman has, the more likely it is she will have a false positive result that requires follow-up tests. The chance of having a false positive result after 1 mammogram ranges from 7%-12%, depending on your age (younger women are more likely to have a false positive results). After 10 yearly mammograms, the chance of having a false positive is about 50%-60%.  The chance of a false positive result is higher among younger women and women with dense breasts. (Most women younger than 50 have dense breasts, so there's overlap among these groups."

Cervical Cancer False Positives
"We need to remember that informed consent is a legal and ethical requirement for all cancer screening, some women will choose not to have pap tests and mammograms. So often women are ordered, pressured and even coerced into testing with no real information on the actual benefits and risks with screening.  I’ve watched other countries and believe the Finns and Dutch are the ones to watch when it comes to cervical screening, they’ve followed the evidence and put women first, all women, the small number who might benefit from cervical screening and the vast majority who can never benefit but can be harmed by false positives, excess biopsies, and over-treatment."[3]

Breast Cancer Risk Factors
"All women are at risk for breast cancer. Increased risk factors include a family history of cancer, atypical hyperplasia, delaying pregnancy until after age 30, no children or no breast-feeding, early menstruation (before age 12) late menopause (after age 55), current use (in the last 10 years) of oral contraceptives, more than 4 years of hormone replacement use, postmenopausal obesity, alcohol consumption, exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke, low physical activity and exposure to radiation." [4]

Cervical Cancer Risk Factors
"Human papillomavirus (HPV) is found in about 99% of cervical cancers....HPV is estimated to be the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States."[5]
While rare, those not at risk for sexually transmitted disease could still get cervical cancer - "When a nun has symptoms suggestive of cervical cancer, that diagnosis should be considered as seriously as for any other woman. Irregular vaginal bleeding, inter-menstrual bleeding or recurrent vaginal discharge, should lead to a full pelvic examination under anesthesia."  [6]

Money, Power, and Greed
"The United States performs screening, particularly for cancer, more commonly than other advanced countries. We spend tens of billions annually on cancer screening, including $8 billion for breast cancer, over $6 billion for cervical cancer, and $3 billion for prostate cancer.  Why do we encourage large numbers of healthy people to undergo testing that may reveal some future problem, without informing them of the efficacy of these tests and their possible harms, while insisting that people who actually need medical intervention give informed consent? The reasons are more political than scientific. Patient-advocacy groups attract donations, gain prestige, and accumulate power by pushing screening for particular diseases. Physician-specialty groups promote screening in their areas of expertise. Most important, politicians of both parties garner support by funding screening programs for important constituent groups. Yet the effectiveness of screening is overrated: many screening programs mislead the public, waste scarce medical resources, and harm the people they are supposed to help." [7]

References
1.  "American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer."  American Cancer Society, 30 May 2018.
2.  "Accuracy of Mammograms." The Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, 26 Jun 2019.
3.  "There's a better way to screen for cervical cancer." Healthy Debate Opinions, 13 Apr 2016.
4.  "Facts and Info."  Breast Cancer Research and Assistance Fund, 1 Jan 2015.
5.  "Cervical Cancer Overview." National Cervical Cancer Coalition, 1 Jan 2019.
6.  "Nuns, virgins, and spinsters. Rioni-Stern and cervical cancer revisited."  Gynecological Oncology, 23 Sep 2011.
7.  "Stop Overscrening for Cancer."  City Journal, 4 Apr 2016.

"The Map is not the Journey" by Richard Dahlstrom

There are many popular books about people who have some sort of mid-life crisis, escape to the great outdoors, and find themselves in nature.  This book is similar but with its own twist.  Richard, a pastor, is devastated by grief from the passing of those he loves.  So, he sets off on a journey to hike the Alps with his wife.  He learns many lessons along the way about what it means to know God and be an ambassador of God to others.  Since Richard is Christian, there are many Christian undertones.  However, I would say there is a good balance between the author's personal religious experience, his generic life lessons for people of all faiths, and his descriptions of the Alps he climbs.  Overall, this book was quiet relaxing and made me ponder some great questions of life.

"Ask Deepak about Health & Wellness" by Deepak Chopra

I listened to this book as an audio book CD while driving around in my car.  Various people submit health and wellness questions to Deepak, who then provides his wisdom on the diverse subjects.  Topics covered include diet, exercise, nutrition, meditation, and more.  Deepak doesn't shy away from tough questions.  He provides advice on issues such as mental health, as well, as he tackles issues of jealously, anger, rage, drugs, alcohol, addiction, unforgiveness, cancer, disease, and more.  I learned a lot about health and wellness from this book, particularly the Eastern philosophy of Ayurveda.  Health and wellness is a big job; it is much more than eating a salad once a week.  Healthy living is truly a synchronous dance between mind, body, and spirit.

"Whole-Identity" by Dr. Jerome Lubbe

This book uses neuroscience and psychology to explain how different preferences and personalities make up one's whole identity.  People are shaped by both their genetics and their experiences--nature and nurture.  There is the left brain, the right brain, and the brain stem.  There is emotion, intellect, and instinct.  This book also goes into the famous Enneagram test.  While readers do not need to have taken the Enneagram to learn something from this book, they will get the most out of this book if they take the test.  I had personally never taken this test before and decided to about halfway through the book.  The Enneagram is available free of charge online and takes less than 10 minutes, so I'd say it's a good investment.  Lubbe has some excellent charts and art in this book, which makes it fun.  My only qualm about this book was the incredibly confusing math in it.  Enneagram scores do not add up to 100.  I figured why not just add up all the scores and do percentages that way.  However, Lubbe outlined some very confusing equations that I could not replicate.  In the next version of the book, I need the math needs to be simplified and clarified.  It was not easy to follow at all.

"Ask Deepak about Love and Relationships" by Deepak Chopra

I listened to this book as an audio book CD while driving to and from work.  People submit questions to Deepak, and he provides honest yet loving answers.  There are questions about friends, parents, siblings, significant others, spouses, and more.  Topics such as homosexuality, body shame, family expectations, depression, trauma, abuse, molestation, and more are covered.  While there are many deep insights from Deepak in this book, I would say that it can be at times depressing.  When I want to read or listen to a book, I don't want to be bombarded with everyone else's problems.  

"Mindfulness is better than Chocolate" by David Michie, PhD

I listened to this book as an audio book CD while driving around in my car.  The basic premise is how wonderful mindfulness is and what the practical benefits of the practice are.  Michie discusses how meditation is difficult but, once attained, can produce immense results for mental health.  Meditation can reduce stress, improve relationships, calm anxiety, and lead to a more positive outlook on life.  The latest research on mindfulness is cited, along with several fascinating studies on psychology.  While I don't consider myself a "meditator" per se, I did learn a lot from this book. 

"The Interfaith Family Journal" by Susan Katz Miller

Wow, this journal really blew me away!  At first I thought it was just a nice little workbook, but the more I dove into it, the more important I realized it was.  Miller makes the case that every family is interfaith in some regard.  Among Christians, there are Catholics, Protestants, Baptists, and so on.  Among Jews, there are Reform, Orthodox, Conservative, and so on.  Even for people who share the same denomination, there are often differences in belief, opinion, tradition, custom, and preference.  I must warn readers that this book will make them think on some difficult questions and likely spur hours-long discussions among family members (which I think is a good thing, just make sure you care out enough time for it!).  What I loved about this journal is that it does not focus on who's right vs who's wrong.  Rather, family members take turns sharing about their religious upbringing (or lack thereof), what spirituality means to them, and what traditions they want to carry on into the future.  It aims to respect the faith of all parties while letting each person be heard, understood, and accepted.  I've recommended this journal to countless couples and find it to be an invaluable resource in any stage of relationship.  

"A Field Guide to Relationships" by Christopher T. Rogers

While this book is a field guide for relationships in general, I would say that the bulk of its use is for those in romantic relationships.  Drawing from years of experience as a family and marriage counselor, the author goes over ten ways to improve relationships.  Much advice is aimed towards better communication.  For example, it is better to say "I miss you" instead of "you don't spend enough time with me".  Rogers explains how to start with love, make the other person feel accepted, say how you are feeling with I (instead of you) phrases, and so on.  From a psychological view, there is even a section of the book going into childcare and the impact of childhood on one's adulthood.  Rogers is patient with readers as he walks them thru his ten steps of improving relationships.  I liked how short and to-the-point this book was.  If I'm having a relationship issue, I don't have time to read a 600 page thesis--I just want a quick reference for how to help the situation.  And that's exactly what this book is.

Grazie Ristorante Italiano - 23207 Bothell Everett Hwy, Bothell, WA 98021 - 5/5 stars

I had the delight of visiting this Italian Restaurant in Canyon Park just south of I-405 on the Bothell-Everett Highway back in September 2018.

To my pleasant surprise, Grazie Ristorante had caprese ($10), which is a traditional Italian dish comprised of tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, olive oil, and vinegar. It was very fresh and tasty, I devoured it in minutes.

Afterwards, I had a spinach salad ($12). My salad had onions, cheese, oil, vinegar, and dried berries. The spinach was a vibrant green and was very fresh. It had just the right amount of salad dressing and just the right amount of crispness.

For dessert, I had tiramisu ($8). The waitress said it was homemade, of which I have no doubt. It was delicious and had perfect consistency.

The service and atmosphere in this restaurant is fabulous. It is very clean, and the art on the walls is classy. I felt like the owner of the restaurant really put a lot of effort into the ambiance. The Italian art was fitting yet not too in-your-face. I'm not sure how to put it into words, but even the tables and chairs felt elegant in some Italian way. The booths are very comfortable with nice soft back support, while the chairs are more stiff.

There was faint jazz music in the background when I was eating, which I found to be relaxing. I understand they have live jazz on the weekends.

I would come back here in a heartbeat.  Ciao!

http://www.grazierestaurant.com/

Thai Rhapsody - 15021 Main St I, Mill Creek, WA 98012 - 4/5 stars

For lunch, I ordered sweet and sour vegetables with chicken.  Included were pepper, onion, cucumber, tomato, celery, and pineapple.  Brown rice came on the side.  For dessert, I ordered fried banana with coconut ice cream for dessert.  The entree was $11.99, the side of rice was $1.50, and the dessert was $5.99.

Lunch was served hot and steaming.  Dessert was served cold (ice cream) and warm (fried banana).  The lunch entree was fresh, and the veggies had a good crunch to them.  Vegetables included squash, peppers, and onions.  There were also a few pineapple chunks thrown in.  The brown rice was cooked to a good soft consistency.  The chicken was cooked just right and had just enough of chewiness without being gamey.  The ice cream dessert was textured with tasty little coconut flakes, while the friend banana dessert was crispy thin on the outside and chewy soft on the inside.  It appeared as if the meal was fresh from scratch with the exception of the pineapple which seemed to be from a can but tasty nonetheless.  Everything tasted excellent with the exception of the tomatoes, which were a bit sour as if they were on the verge of spoiling.  Portions were generous, and while I ate the entire dessert, I only ate half the lunch; I took the rest home to go.  

Very clean and spacious, I was impressed with the restaurant interior.  There were many booths with windows to choose from.  I was immediately greeted when I entered the establishment and quickly seated.  I was not kept waiting to order or for the food, which came in 10 minutes (lunch) and 5 minutes (dessert) from the time of ordering.  Parking at the restaurant is not the best but as long as one does not mind walking, there is plenty of free parking within a few blocks.

http://thairhapsody.com/

Meowtropolitan Cafe - 1225 N 45th St, Seattle, WA 98103 Seattle - 4/5 stars

I got a strawberry Italian soda at the Meowtropolitan Cafe. It was $13 and included a 50 minute session with the cats.  The session was not private but rather had about 10 other people in the large room of close to a dozen cats.  The fee paid for any drink of my choosing, and any size up to 16 oz.  My pink strawberry beverage was topped with luscious whipped cream and adorned with a fun blue and yellow pinstriped straw.  It was very tasty and refreshing.  There were many coffees, teas, and other beverages to choose from. 

The food options at the cafe were pretty slim and not very appetizing to me (ordinary sandwiches and cookies with feline themes).  There were white-bread sandwiches and sugary macaroons with layers of colored frosting that I did not try.  Still, I daresay the majority of folks do not come to the cafe for the food--they come for the cats.

My favorite part of the whole experience was admiring the cats.  Several cats came up to me purring and wanting pets.  Some cat were shy or napping.  Not every cat was social, but every cat was a joy to be around.  They were all so cute and fluffy and downright adorable.  One even let me get right up next to her for a photo.  This is definitely a great place to go when you need a pick-me-up or a stress reliever.  Had a bad day at work or just a bad week?  Take in some kitty therapy with your beverage of choice!

The parking near the cafe is very reasonable with plenty of nearby street and suburban spots a quick walk away.  The cats come from a local shelter and most are available for adoption.  I had such a fun time here that I would come back.  Treat this place as somewhere to get a snack but not a hearty meal.  Be prepared for cuddles from the kitties!

https://seattlemeowtropolitan.com/

Kosta's Mediterranean Cuisine - 8306 Mukilteo Speedway, Mukilteo, WA 98275 - 4/5 stars

I came in for lunch and ordered the $10.95 lunch special of spinach calzone.  I know this was made fresh and not some microwave meal because I was able to request no olives in the calzone and my request was accommodated. Had the calzone been premade, excluding olives would have been near impossible.  The Greek salad on the side was very fresh and crisp.  I had vibrant greens (not bland iceberg lettuce) with orange, feta, pepper, and cucumbers.  The orange citrus paired well with the opposing feta cheese flavor.  As for the calzone itself, it was a very generous portion. I could not finish the entire delicacy and had to take half of it home.  The exterior was very flaky and doughy, cooked to perfection.  There were no burnt pieces or flour chunks left over.  The calzone interior was also very fresh and scrumptious.  Inside the calzone itself, baby spinach leaves danced perfectly with seared red onions in a sea of mozzarella cheese.  Some calzones are all cheese and bread, but this one had a decent amount of vegetables inside, which I liked.

 The service at Kosta's was top notch.  I was greeted by a friendly hostess and seated at a comfortable booth with a window.  All of Kosta's has a snazzy fancy feeling, so I'm sure any seat would have done, but I digress.  Service was surprisingly fast for a homemade calzone.  As an added bonus, I was thrilled at the hospitality.  When the check came, I realized I forgot my wallet at home (this was real, not some food reviewer test!).  I explained my situation to the hostess who waited patiently with me as I called a friend for help.  She even suggested I leave the restaurant and come back or simply pay another day.  Such trust and courtesy in a stressful situation was well appreciated. 

http://www.kostascuisine.com/

Girardi's Osteria - 504 5th Ave S, Edmonds, WA 98020 - 5/5 stars

 

I got lunch in downtown at downtown Edmonds at one of my all-time favorite Italian restaurants.  I ordered a $6 beet salad, $5 bruschetta, and $8 ravioli.  

The beet salad came with beets, onions, greens (spinach and arugula), feta, walnuts, carrots, and balsamic.  It was very tasty and fresh.  I liked how the vegetables were generous.  Some places have salads where it is 90% leaves and 10% veggies--not the case here.  I felt very healthy and satisfied as I got a plethora of veggies on my plate and on my palate.  The sauce was also very delicious while not being overpowering or drowning the veggies.  

For the bruschetta, that came with Italian bread, tomatoes, basil, shaved cheese, balsamic, and even a mini salad in the middle.  The tomatoes on the bread were overflowing and not skimpy.  The tomatoes were cut very thick and the salad in the middle was quite generous.  It wasn’t just plain iceberg lettuce but actually had peppers, carrots, onions, and mixed greens.  Again, everything was very fresh and made to order delicious.  

As for the pumpkin ravioli, that was delightful.  I was excited to see a pumpkin flavored food outside of the fall timeframe.  The pasta was cooked to perfection in a sea of cranberries, spinach, tomatoes, and feta.  When I bit into the ravioli, I felt the filling dance in my mouth.  It was very creamy yet dense at the same time.  Did I mention the buttery sauce that made my day?  This was very light yet still filling, which is a plus.     

Overall, I really enjoyed Girardi's.  I feel like they have a fun menu of fresh Italian dishes that are the perfect portion and perfect price.  The tables and chairs were all in excellent condition, and I even got a wonderful seat right by the window.  I'd come back here in a heartbeat.

http://www.girardis-osteria.com/

Mukilteo's Speedway Cafe - 11707 Mukilteo Speedway, Mukilteo, WA 98275 - 5/5 stars

I invited my friend to come with me to the Mukilteo cafe.  It was very clean and felt like being on a boat with all the fun nautical decorations.  I ordered the special of the day, which was the $11 veggie hash.  It came with two slices of toast of my choice.  While I chose rye, I also had the option of white, wheat, pumpernickel, and English muffin.  I was offered various flavors of jam ranging from strawberry to raspberry to blackberry to grape.  I sampled all of them and found the blackberry to be my favorite.  For the eggs, I was given a choice of how I'd like them, and I decided upon scrambled with cheese.  The main star of the show was the hash itself.  Veggies were mixed with hash browns.  Vegetables included onions, peppers, zucchini, squash, and cauliflower.  There was a good balance between the veggies and the potatoes.  The potatoes were a bit bland, but once mixed in with the rest of the dish and complimented with ketchup, their taste was much improved.  All the veggies were well-cooked, although some a bit too well-cooked.  There were a few pieces of charred vegetables, which is unfortunate, but the dish was tasty overall.  I ate half of this and took the rest home. 

The interior was nautical themed with lots of ship-related memorabilia.  I literally felt like I was in a boat when I sat in my comfortable booth.  Even the windows looking into the kitchen are circles like they are on boats - how fun!  In terms of cleanliness, the place was spotless.  The table and seats and waiting area were all clean.  There weren't any old spills or crumbs from prior parties.  The wait staff here really do a good job of cleaning up the tables.  Mukilteo Cafe is a fun place to eat, and I look forward to coming back again.

 http://mukilteospeedway.cafesinc.com/

The Kitty Catfe- 9695 Firdale Ave, Edmonds, WA 98020 - 4/5 stars

On a rainy day, what's a better thing to do than get some nice beverage and play with cats?  I don't have a clue!  I went to the Kitty Catfe and had a blast.  It was $5 entry fee without beverage or $7 entry fee with beverage.  I ordered an Italian soda in pumpkin flavor with whipped cream, which was very delicious.  I was surprised to see pumpkin being offered in August but was thrilled nonetheless.  The drink was not too sweet.  It was yummy but did taste a bit artificial.  I can’t say I’m surprised since I saw various flavor bottles that were used to make drinks.  While I was in the mood for a cool drink, they also had hot coffees, teas, and hot cocoas for me to try.  My drink was offered to me in a cup without any covering or straw.  It’s a good thing I didn’t spill on myself.

There were so many cats, about close to twenty, I'd say.  Ages ranged from kitten to fully grown feline.  It was fun to cuddle with the cats, play with the cats, pet the cats, and just enjoy the cats.  There were plenty of toys and wands available for customers to use.  I personally liked making the cats chase feathers around while we played a game of “catch the bird”.  The cats seemed to be enjoying themselves almost as much as the humans were enjoying themselves. There were lots of structures for the cats to climb and perch atom.  They seemed very well-loved as if the cats had used them quite a lot.  This cat cafe is not as clean or have the best odor compared to other cat cafes, but for the price and beverages, I think it is a steal of a deal.  I think if this place charged more, they could offer better beverages and make some interior updates.

 https://www.thekittycatfe.org/

Curries - 7318 Evergreen Way #101, Everett, WA 98204 - 5/5 stars

I went out to lunch with my Boeing coworkers at Curries Indian Restaurant on Evergreen Way in Everett and we all got the lunch buffet special for $12 each.

The buffet was self-service and included various types of curries, all of which were kept hot by the buffet setup.  I am not an expert on curries, but I will say they looked homemade and tasted great. The meat curries I sampled were the goat curry, the chicken curry, and the lamb curry.

I’m not sure what all spices there were but they were extremely flavorful without being spicy.
As for vegetable curries, I sampled the eggplant curry, the chickpea curry, the green bean curry, and the spinach curry. They were all very creamy and smooth with kicks of flavor. All of the curries had some sort of vegetables mixed in.

While it was hard to decipher which vegetables were which through the thick sauces, I did detect traces of potato, pea, lentils, cauliflower, and broccoli. Some curries also had a milky consistency and flavor, which I assume means there was milk or cream mixed in.

There was also a fried dumpling of sorts with spices, potatoes, carrots, and peas inside. It had a nice crunch to it and felt like a healthy treat.

To complement the entrees, there was a big tub of jasmine rice to scoop out, as well as a heated container full of authentic Indian naan bread for dipping.

There was also a salad with generous portions of tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers. Most salads at restaurants are oceans of iceberg lettuce with a few vegetables, but not so here. This is a real salad at Curries.

For dessert, there was fresh fruit including cantaloupe, honeydew, and orange slices. There was also mango mousse that was the best fruit-based dessert I have ever eaten!

The restaurant was very nice and clean inside, and we often saw the owners walk around to tidy up or say hello.  Everything on the buffet line was clearly labeled, which was nice. There was also a sneeze-guard for extra hygiene. I really enjoyed this place and the food was top of the line.

http://curriesineverett.com/

Mongolian Grill - 11700 Mukilteo Speedway, Mukilteo, WA 98275 - 5/5 stars

My friend took me to this restaurant, and I had a lot of fun.  It is a mix between fast food and fancy food.  You get a bowl and fill up on what type of veggies and noodles you want.  All of this is raw and uncooked when you are filling your bowl up.  Then you take that bowl to the counter where an attendant will ask what type of protein you'd like (beef, chicken, tofu, etc).  Then they cook everything up on a big Mongolian grill.  From there, you are asked what type of rice you'd like (white, brown, fried, etc) and what sauces you'd like.  I’ve never had the white or brown rice here but the fried rice is so tasty.  It even has little pieces of peas, egg, corn, and carrots mixed in.  I had a bunch of vegetables with fried rice, chicken, and plum sauce.  Other sauces available that I did not try included peanut sauce, Mongolian sauce, spicy sauce, coconut sauce, pineapple sauce, and curry sauce.  All of this was about $14, which is not bad at all.  The portions are huge, so you will have enough food for two or leftovers the next day. 

This is one of the healthier restaurants due to all the vegetables and the customization.  You can get all the broccoli, carrots, bean sprouts, cabbage, spinach, and more that you'd like.  Other options include celery, pineapple, string beans, kale, baby corn, and whatever else is the special of the day.  The food tasted amazing and I took some home in a to-go box.  The inside of the restaurant was clean and quaint with plenty of window seating available.  With the plethora of options available for customizing one’s meal, I feel I could eat here for a year straight and never eat the same meal twice!  I should note that the options I listed as available to me when I went there may not be the same available when you go.  I suspect the vegetables are seasonal and that the sauces may also rotate. 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Restaurant/Mongolian-Grill-Mukilteo-264118377563392/

Bahama Breeze- 15700 Southcenter Pkwy, Tukwila, WA 98188 - 5/5 stars

Being in the southcenter area, I decided to grab dinner at one of my favorite spots that I haven't been to in a few years (it's a bit of a drive from where I live).  I ordered the $12 chicken quesadillas, which came with a side of sour cream and pico de gallo tomatoes.  The sour cream was creamy like a dream and the pico de gallo was crisp like summertime.  Inside the quesadillas were chicken, onions, pepper, cheese, and some sort of greens that I assume was spinach.  The entire meal was very fresh and felt homemade, not microwaved.  I liked how the chicken was not fried or breaded but left plain inside the tortillas.  The consistency of the entire quesadillas was perfect.  Some places make it so the quesadillas are so stiff it feels like one is eating cardboard, while some places make it so the quesadillas are so soft they fall apart when one tries to pick them up.  No so at Bahama breeze.  The quesadillas were hard enough to hold their shape but soft enough to feel the individual consistencies of the chicken, cheese, and vegetables all melting together in a delicious whirlwind.

I was amazed at the speed with which my order arrived.  It was like I told the waitress what I wanted and--poof!--there is was in front of me.  The ambiance of bahama breeze is very fun.  There are palm trees and Jamaican style paintings that give it a very tropical feeling.  The coloring in the restaurant is very fun with bright oranges, greens, yellows, and blues.  It's funny to say, but I almost felt like I was on vacation in the Bahamas when I was eating here.  The large establishment was also crowded, which means I am not the only on who enjoys Bahama Breeze!

https://www.bahamabreeze.com/locations/wa/tukwila/seattle-tukwila/