Laurie Sanders-Polen knows some peculiar things about the eating habits of Puyallupites. They like cheddar cheese. A lot. And chevre, too. Buffalo mozzarella? That’s a big no thanks. Burrata was another that didn’t sell well with the locals. And what about stinky blues? “I thought there’d be more blue lovers,” said Sanders-Polen.

If Sanders-Polen has her way, local eaters soon will be spreading crusty baguettes with Italian butter and French butter flavored with sea salt. She’ll also introduce them to fig preserves, hand-made toffee and pungent cheeses from the far reaches of the world that cost as little as a few bucks for a small wedge at My Cheese Shoppe, which Sanders-Polen opened in downtown Puyallup in June.

Sanders-Polen is a self-proclaimed cheesemonger who never intended to sell cheese. Read more »

When Twisted Kilt Irish Pub and Eatery opened in Puyallup in late June, owner Bryan Purdy said the pub would be to Puyallup what Doyle’s Public House is to Tacoma: a headquarters for soccer fans. Judging by the flat-panel screens tuned to soccer here and abroad, I’d say they’ve kicked that goal (sorry about that lousy pun, couldn’t resist). Read more »

Puyallup diners will have to wait at least another week for Irish food. The new bar Twisted Kilt Pub & Irish Eatery downtown is open for soccer viewing, beer and sandwiches, but the full Irish menu is on hold until the owners can fix a venting hood in the kitchen. Repairs should take about a week longer, said owner Bryan Purdy. Click here to read more about the pub and menu.

While South Hill is the place for forgettable chain restaurants, downtown Puyallup is really becoming a diner’s destination with the recent additions of Crockett’s, Northwest Vintage and It’s Greek to Me. Click “more” to read about two restaurants I recently sampled – the newer Savory and Sweet Café and Kanpai, a downtown institution. Read more »

The Twisted Kilt Irish Pub had a soft opening over the weekend, but the owners don’t expect they’ll fully be in business until later this week or possibly next week. The holdup is an inspection of a venting hood in the kitchen. I wrote about the downtown Irish pub and restaurant last week.

Owner Bryan Purdy told me by phone this morning Read more »

The Twisted Kilt Irish Pub and Eatery wants to be to Puyallup what Doyle’s Public House is to Tacoma: a headquarters for soccer fans.

Owners Bryan Purdy and Jason Pingrey expect to open the Twisted Kilt this weekend or next week at 109 S. Meridian, the location that formerly housed Bagel Boyz Bakery. They hoped to be open by Friday for the beginning of the Meeker Days Festival, but that was contingent upon inspections from the health department. Keep checking back for more updates.

The pub will pour 14 beer taps. Food will be American pub food with an Irish twist. Read more »

Another cupcake shop?

Yes. Another cupcake shop. This is the third Pierce County cupcake shop to open in the past few months. In case you missed it, last month I wrote about Yummers 2 the 3rd Power near Pacific Lutheran University and Blazing Cupcakes on Sixth Avenue in Tacoma.

Now the Proctor cupcake store Jubilee has opened a second outpost on Puyallup’s South Hill. The bakery opened Monday adjacent to Regal Longston Place cinemas.

With three new cupcake bakeries this year, the question has to be asked: Haven’t we reached max capacity for cupcake bakeries? Read more »

When the wine bar and restaurant Northwest Vintage opened the first week of April in South Hill’s Sunrise Village Shopping Center, the response was overwhelming.

The crush of diners confirmed what owner Nicola McDonald had guessed about the neighborhood notoriously short on non-chain dining choices: Diners would welcome a wine bar.

In fact, the response was too overwhelming. Read more »

This just in my inbox: Ivar’s has set an opening for its Puyallup store: May 24. The Seattle-based company announced in February that it would open its newest seafood bar at 13101 Meridian Ave. E., the former location for Del Taco. The Northwest homegrown chain of fish and chips restaurants will introduce a new menu at the Puyallup location: A mix of healthier grilled fish sandwiches, tacos and salads, in addition to the regular menu of fried stuff. Click “more” to see the new menu, and to find out about the free fish for a year give-away for the first customers on opening day. Read more »