Snohomish organic juice bar and bakery

An organic bakery and juice company with pizzaz!  Located very centrally amidst the antique shops and restaurants of the downtown historic district of Snohomish, Grilla Bites is the lovingly tended garden of Annie Dottai, owner and foremost inventor of organic delicacies.  Happily blending her background in holistic nutrition with a love of people and the culinary arts, Annie opened the local Grilla Bites in 2008 and it’s been a local favorite ever since.

Peaceful haven with yummy juice and a great lunch menu

Ask the waitstaff and you will soon hear the Grilla Bites litany of  ”10 reasons to buy (and eat) organic.”  You protect future generations, you prevent soil erosion.  You protect water quality and prevent soil erosion.  You keep chemicals off your plate!  You protect farm worker health, protect biodiversity, help small farmers, support a true economy (well, ask me later if that is a little general) and of course you Taste Better Flavor!  If I may say so, even those who generally make it a point to scoff at the whole organic thing will point out the better flavor if given the food for very long.

I did enjoy the food, but most of all the friendly and welcoming staff made this establishment a winner.

Juicing to order

Owner Annie welcomes her guests.

Just wanted to pop back to this blog and mention we have a great property listed in the Hills of Snohomish, not more than 8 minutes to Grilla Bites and all the other amenities in this great town.  It’s a 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath Executive Craftsman style home but that hardly begins to describe the great floor plan flow, wonderful 3 car garage, grassy fully fenced lot over half an acre, views of the Olympics and Mt. Rainier, three kids’ bedrooms on the top floor with the master…vaulted ceilings, high end finishes, filled with light from the soaring windows and skylight, chef’s kitchen, this is just the start, come see, give me a call!  Photos and details on my blog website, priced at $460,000 for a quick sale.

Apples and berries, fresh, fresh, fresh.

There is a pie shop.  Pie Company.  In Historic Old Snohomish.  Fresh apple, fresh berry, fresh, fresh, fresh. There should be a song about it, in fact maybe there is, but I don’t know it, well, it’s modern times so even historic pie companies have facebook pages.  Check out the chit chat and the fun activities, but most of all make sure you get over here and have some of their great Northwest coffee and the pie flavor of your choice!

Bake em sweet and serve em fresh.

The dining room could be a coffe shop, but it could also almost be a big old country kitchen where sisters, moms, aunts, grandmothers, the kiddies, and the menfolk too, are sitting around for a time having a cup of coffee and a piece of that good old fashioned homemade pie.  If you have 20 minutes, OK.  If you have an hour so much the better.  If you are with a friend and want a breather from antique shopping or a place for a cosy chat, this is the place!  I can definitely recommend the razzleberry and the strawberry rhubarb pies firsthand, and all the rest look as good, let me know which one is your favorite!

The pies have it. And historic Snohomish has the pies.

Dining room or farmhouse kitchen?

If you do stop in and enjoy, you might have renewed energy for more shopping or sight seeing.  Historic Downtown Snohomish is a trove of interesting spots, and here is a walking tourfrom the historical society with the period buildings labeled.  It also has a calendar of events, upcoming in May is the Classic Motorcycle Show on First Street!  And in July to look forward to, the Kla Ha Ya Days, a citywide festival including a parade, a carnival, arts and crafts, and balloon glow.

This quaint river-side towne is famous for its Historic Homes and Gardens. Snohomish architecture contains a delightful variety of styles.  As an example, Blackman House is a must see. A Dutch colonial style with Queen Anne Towers, it is located on the corner of Fourth Street and Avenue D. Snohomish architectural collections reflect Queen Anne Victorians, English Tudors and Dutch Colonials as a testament to the diversity of Snohomish pioneer residents. Historic Homes Tour are offered for those who appreciate a stroll among gorgeous historic homes.

 Snohomish Garden Club held its 25th Annual Snohomish GardenTour on July 26th 2009 featuring gorgeous gardens among Historic Snohomish Homes on a lovely Sunday afternoon.  Do not miss this Summer’s 2010 Garden Tour.

Historic Downtown was a busy hub for milling, timbering and farming in 1860s. Today, there are delightful varieties of charming shops on First Avenue where visitors can take a day and…  

• Discover antiques, collectibles and modern gift shops,
• Explore Native American artifacts and stain art glass shops,
• Recall your parents past with nostalgic vintage and contemporary items at Pegasus Theatre Store
• Relax at Bee Hive Day Spa
• Enjoy a nice selection of brews at Fred’s Rivertown Alehouse,
• Snohomish Bakery will entice and satisfy you with arguably the best European pastries and breads in Washington- my personal favorite! 

The Snohomish and Pilchuk Rivers border the town and provide a long list of recreational activities for the whole family. A natural choice for a scenic route through downtown is the Snohomish Riverfront Trial.

For those with more lofty ambitions or the need for adrenaline try out Airial Ballon Co’s Hot air balloon for stunning views of Snohomish River Valley and Harvey Airfield for Skydiving lessons, helicopter tours and even chartering your own plane.  

Snohomish Farmers Market is available on Thursday Evenings, 3pm until 7:30pm May 14th – Sep 24th. And offers wide varieties of cut flowers, fruit and farm fresh vegetables.

In Snohomish’s Ghost Sightings are common, especially at the Oxford Saloon. You may want to stop by to check out the picture album of ghosts… You may meet Joe, Madame Kathleen and Mr Peterson.

Some of the upcoming events are fun for kids all ages, GrandFrog Day, Easter Parade, Snohomish Festival of Pumpkins, Kla Ha Ya Days… Snohomish activities list is endless…

Snohomish is a strong cohesive community even though many residents commute to Everett, Seattle and Eastside. Snohomish residents take pride in maintaining the historic values of their town and are proud to be Snohomish Residents. The county is also well managed fiscally. Snohomish residents enjoy lower real estate taxes than their King County neighbors

The town of Snohomish is very dear to my heart since one of my best friends lived and owned a business, Casa e Cucina Francesca in town. Local residents are very welcoming and friendly to visitors or to new home owners. If you know anyone who would like to make Snohomish their home, there is a wonderful Victorian is for sale located at 324 Avenue E, Snohomish, WA 98290.

This True Victorian was crafted in 1890 and sits on 1/4 acre lot in Snohomish’s Historic District. The garden boasts 70+ types of Roses and delicious Wine Grapes to eat or make wine. The outdoor pond makes a great place to relax watching the Hot Air Balloons float by from the valley below.

Inside this home the gourmet Kitchen was recently updated with granite counters and elevated maple cabinetry (ideal for taller cooks). The Wood floors were just refinished and are beautiful. Sconces & chandeliers reflect Victorian Era romance! Enjoy the cozy gas fireplace during chilly winter nights. The original 1890′s deed, signed by United States President, US Grant  and the original Heirloom Oil painting of the home make this a truly unique home of historic significance.

This wonderful Victorian is only a short stroll to the shops and restaurants described above.