The Economy Takes Its Toll on Local Eateries

RIP Boss Tweed restaurant, Burger Me, and Speak Ez's BBQ

Restaurants and businesses come and go, I know.  The economic downturn has (using that Italian N'awlins chef's phrase) "kicked it up a notch."  For me, this means the loss of some particular dining out experiences that I am sorry are gone.  It remains to be seen how or if these will be replaced:

When I came to interview at WWU, during the extra day I added to the trip to see how I liked Bellingham, before heading to Fairhaven, I took myself to lunch at Boss Tweed.  I had some delicious fish and chips there.  And when I moved here, in those first couple of months I ate at Boss Tweed's a few more times.  I liked the fried clams and fried oysters as well.  The cole slaw worked for me too, and I can be picky about cole slaw. Before I made it back to try the Friday night grilled salmon, Boss Tweed's closed.  One can still get Boss Tweed catering, and that is good to know, but no more drop in lunches or dinners.  Bye, bye Boss Tweed, 400 W Holly St (cod and chips, halibut and chips, Friday night grilled salmon, fried clams and fried oysters - order at the counter ... no more.)

Right after the bottom dropped out of the economy, within days, the Burger Me eatery and drive-thru closed its doors.  All the burgers were called "something" me.  Like my favorite was the Olive Me, a burger with lettuce, tomato, onion, chopped green olives, mustard and ketchup.  A greasy burger joint, kinda like the In-n-Out Burger in Gainesville, FL (no relation to the California, Las Vegas drive through) which had the most delicious burgers with grilled onions, fries done to perfection, and a great shake or malt.  Burger Me wasn't quite there, but I could get a craving for that Olive Me, and joy of joys, Burger Me carried frozen custard, vanilla, chocolate, and the flavor of the month.  Scrumptious. The place definitely didn't have the amount of clientele or financial float to survive what happened in our economy, so it was one of the first businesses to hit the dust. Bye, bye Burger Me, 1220 Lakaway.

Spending most of my adult life in the South, BBQ becomes a very special thing.  Between Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina, I could get a range of BBQ - Florida white BBQ, Florida black BBQ, Kansas City BBQ, North Carolina BBQ, Memphis BBQ, and a few in between.  I love BBQ and when that craving comes, look out!  What a surprise and delight that Bellingham has had a great little BBQ joint called Speak Ez's.  Let me just name a few of the items and see what happens in your mouth as you read:  smoked plate including pork spare ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket and a quarter of chicken, topped with BBQ sauce and served with sides, hush puppies, baked beans, okra, collards, spicy potato salad, onion rings, Texas toast, complimentary jalapeno cornbread muffins with honey butter, seafood gumbo, fried catfish, sweet potato pie, pecan pie. Most recent casualty to the economy or induced into an attractive retirement for Rosie and Dennis Rayborn (Diamond Jim's to move to Fountain District), I'm not sure. I think I'll have to look long and hard to find something to replace the calibre of this one! Bye, bye Speak Ez's BBQ, 2400 Meridian Street (heart of the fountain district).