Caribbean Eats and a Menacing Troll

Fremont boasts art, oddities, and culture. This eccentric community, also known as “The Center of the Universe,” contains an eclectic assortment of eateries, sculptures, and shops. My mission today was not to completely unearth this multifaceted wonder, but to dabble a bit in several of Fremont’s many offerings.

When I picture Seattle, I imagine the beautiful skyline with Mt. Rainier resting peacefully in the background, the Space Needle jutting up out of the landscape, and beautiful, bustling Puget Sound. I never thought a massive, concrete troll residing under the Aurora Bridge would symbolize Seattle for so many. When I started my blog, I asked family and friends about their favorite Seattle destinations that I should check out. Was it Pike Place Market? No. How about the Experience Music Project? Nope. Well, maybe the University of Washington? Nada. Everyone unanimously pointed me in the direction of a nasty looking troll crunching up a VW Beetle in his fist…not exactly what I had imagined. So with the troll fans cheering me on, I headed over to Troll Ave. N. just under Hwy-99 in Fremont to check out what all the hype was about. Who would have thought a giant, two story sculpture of a troll would attract so many visitors? Within the five minutes I visited, two tour buses pulled up with cameras pressed against the glass, flashes illuminating. Children climbed the troll’s back and dangled from his arms, hugging him with the affection normally reserved for fluffy teddy bears and puppy dogs. Fremont is definitely unconventional, but this was a little weird. As I stood on the side of the road taking photos I was almost crushed like the VW Beetle in the troll’s hand as passing cars, distracted with cameras and guide books, came inches away from smashing into me. That was about all I could take, my next stop, lunch.

Paseo is a Caribbean/Cuban inspired sandwich joint with locations in Fremont and Ballard. I had great expectations as I have heard amazing reviews and read several A+ write ups in local publications. Most importantly, Trip Advisor members rank Paseo as the number one restaurant in Seattle. Ok, umm… really? I have to say, I wasn’t too impressed. As I waited for my food to be served, another customer was berating the joint for finding the loop holes in the health department standards in order to pass inspections. When our food arrived I was pleased with the large portions (I like food!), sensible prices, and reasonable wait time. On the other hand I was disappointed by the limited seating, cash only register, and unfortunately, the food was, well, lacking. Maybe for my carnivorous comrades, Paseo might fit the bill, but I felt it was average at best. By the way, I looked up Paseo’s last inspection report online – and found that they were faulted in several areas, including improper hand washing…Yuck!

My journey through Fremont is nowhere near complete, and there are many other great places to check out. I would love your suggestions – feel free to leave your comments.