In celebration of their anniversary, Dick’s is selling 19-cent burgers through January 25 at select locations. Whether you’re visiting now or planning for a future Dick’s Drive-In experience, we’ve rounded up 19 favorite Visit Seattle staff orders and places to indulge in them. (You might notice there are some fan favorites!)

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Olive oil may sound unexpected, but Starbucks launched a new drink concept that is poised to make olive oil and coffee an everyday pairing. It’s called Oleato and it infuses Starbucks Reserve® coffee with Partanna® extra virgin olive oil from Sicily.

You can order Oleato beverages at select Starbucks across the US, with many located right in Seattle. However, the most unique way to try them is through the Oleato Tasting Experience available at Starbucks Reserve® Roasteries in Seattle and Chicago, plus the Starbucks Reserve® store in NYC’s Empire State Building.

Partanna® extra virgin olive oil that’s used in Oleato beverages at Starbucks. Adria Saracino

This barista-led experience takes about an hour and includes a five-step tasting that breaks down what makes Oleato beverages so velvety smooth and complex. You’ll get to try the coffee and olive oil by itself, followed by:

Oleato Deconstructed

This beverage pairs Starbucks Reserve® Espresso and Partanna® extra virgin olive oil infused with a passion fruit cold foam.

Oleato Iced Cortado

This drink includes Starbucks Reserve® Espresso, demerara syrup, a dash of orange bitters, and oat dairy alternative infused with Partanna® extra virgin olive oil. It is then served over ice and finished with an orange peel, similarly to a cocktail.

Oleato Golden Foam Cold Brew or Oleato Golden Foam Espresso Martini

You get to choose between a cold brew or martini as your last beverage. The Starbucks Reserve® Cold Brew is lightly sweetened with vanilla syrup and finished with a Partanna® extra virgin olive oil infused cold foam. The martini includes Starbucks Reserve® Espresso, vodka, and vanilla bean syrup topped with golden foam—a fusion of fior di latte (sweet cream) and Partanna® extra virgin olive oil.

Starbucks and Visit Seattle invited me to the Oleato Tasting Experience at the Starbucks Reserve® Roastery in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. The experience takes place at the back bar, but still within sight of the machinery that begins roasting around 9 AM daily.

The Starbucks Reserve® Roastery in Capitol Hill where you can try the Oleato Tasting Experience. Adria Saracino

Barista Taylor started the experience stating how Oleato is alchemy aimed at changing how we think of coffee. He explained how Starbucks introduced the world to nitro brew and hopes Oleato will be the next wave of innovation in the industry. Typically, Starbucks takes over a year to introduce new concepts to the world, but Taylor said Oleato came to market in about six months.

It was inspired by one of Howard Schultz’s (the former CEO of Starbucks) trips to Italy. He was drinking a lot of exceptional coffee, taking in the sights while mingling over seemingly endless cups of espresso. He was also visiting farms making some of the best quality olive oil. Schultz noticed that a lot of the same passion and craftsmanship goes into producing both coffee and olive oil. It got him thinking: what if you combined them?

He brought the idea back to his team and half a year later Oleato was available for the world to try. To make it happen, Starbucks partnered with the Asaro family, a fifth-generation Sicilian farming brand that produces Partanna® extra virgin olive oil.

Taylor explained that Asaro’s olive oil uses cold-pressed Castelvetrano olives. They take the first crop of the season and press it in temperatures under 70°F so that it produces a smooth oil that won’t burn the palate. I got to try Partanna® extra virgin olive oil by itself and with Princi bread, the Milanese brand that stocks all Starbucks Reserve® Roasteries. Taylor was right in that it didn’t burn, but just gave off subtle floral and grassy notes.

I also tried the Starbucks Reserve® Ecuador Loja coffee by itself before moving onto the Oleato beverages. It was delicate and sweet with notes of dried apricot and butterscotch. Since Starbucks got its start selling just beans, the roasteries have a lot of beans available for purchase. I liked this coffee so much I took home a bag!

After trying the olive oil and coffee separately, Taylor moved us onto the Oleato Deconstructed beverage. We built it together, first trying the passion fruit foam by itself. I loved how zippy and acidic the foam was alone, but I couldn’t imagine how it’d taste with olive oil and coffee added.

Next Taylor had us drizzle in the olive oil and emulsify it with vigorous stirring. The olive oil tones down the passion fruit and adds an earthiness to the otherwise sweet foam.

Lastly, he had us pour in Starbucks Nespresso, and wow this really changed everything. The passion fruit became less acidic while the dark roast became less bitter. The olive oil was present with subtle grassy undernotes that tickled the back of my throat in the most exciting way.

The Oleato Iced Cortado beverage that’s part of the Oleato Tasting Experience at the Starbucks Reserve® Roastery in Capitol Hill. Adria Saracino

Next Taylor moved us onto the Oleato Iced Cortado. It was fun watching him make the drink almost as if he was a bartender. He shook martini shakers, stirred ice, and squeezed orange peel juices onto the drink as if it was a non-alcoholic Old Fashioned. The citrus is a nod to the age-old Italian tradition of serving espresso with lemon and, I gotta say, it adds so much brightness to the beverage. Acid and grassiness from the olive oil bounced off my palate to create a complex drinking sensation far superior to what I experience with my daily morning coffee.

For my last drink I chose the Oleato Golden Foam Cold Brew. This ended up being my favorite drink of the experience. The cold brew was so smooth and the Oleato foam gave it the slightest bit of sweetness. I loved how you could taste the extra virgin olive oil, but it wasn’t as grassy as the Oleato Deconstructed or Oleato Iced Cortado.

A barista pouring foam into the Oleato Golden Foam Cold Brew beverage available at Starbucks. Adria Saracino

I didn’t want the Oleato Tasting Experience to end, but Taylor left me with some helpful tips. He mentioned that the experience can be customized to include decaf coffee for kids and those that don’t drink caffeine. He also mentioned that the Oleato Deconstructed beverage with passion fruit is only available at the tasting experience, but the other drinks he served are available at select Starbucks. Lastly, he  said the Oleato foam is incredible with mocha if I wanted to try something new.

A barista pouring foam over the Oleato Golden Foam Espresso Martini available at Starbucks. Adria Saracino

All in all the Oleato Tasting Experience was the perfect excuse to visit the Starbucks Reserve® Roastery in Capitol Hill. If you haven’t been yet, the space is set up like a theater with a lot of warm wood and “stages,” or bar areas where baristas and roasters can put on a show.

After your experience you can grab more beverages and food to enjoy in one of the roastery’s many cozy nooks, or shop the store to take home Partanna® extra virgin olive oil, coffee, and gifts. Many of the items in the store are from small lot farmers and women-owned or community-based makers, so you can expect something unique to take home as a reminder of your experience.

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Jordan Nicholson, @jordanloves.life

We invited Seattle photographer, illustrator and designer Jordan Nicholson to share some of his favorite spots and insider tips with us. Tag along on his Seattle adventure and discover more at iknowaplace.org. Then be sure to share your own Seattle favorites by tagging #IKnowSeattle.

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Our guest room at The Sound Hotel had stunning views of the city. Carolyn Yuen Marino

Last weekend, we played tourist in our own city and had a lovely staycation downtown at The Sound Hotel, courtesy of Visit Seattle! Safety protocols in the city were top notch and everyone was masked indoors, so we felt safe while still being able to have fun. Read on for where we stayed, what to do, where to eat/drink, and more!

WHERE TO STAY

The guest rooms at The Sound Hotel showcase the modern aesthetic with unique accent pieces. Carolyn Yuen Marino

We stayed at The Sound Hotel; its name is a play on the word “sound”: it is located right by the Puget Sound, an homage to Seattle’s musical legacy seen throughout the hotel’s decor, and walking distance to concert venues like Jazz Alley and The Crocodile.

Decor and art in the hotel reference Puget Sound and Seattle’s musical history. Carolyn Yuen Marino

Enjoying the views with some local beers at the hotel. Carolyn Yuen Marino

The modern Sound Hotel in Belltown has sweeping city views and is only blocks away from Pike Place Market, downtown shopping, Amazon Spheres, Seattle Center, and more. Yet it’s removed from the hustle and bustle just enough to feel like an urban retreat, as we’d wind down nightly with some beers from Cloudburst Brewing on the terrace overlooking the Space Needle.

WHAT TO DO

Our trip up to the top of the Space Needle was complete with blue skies and views of Mt. Rainier. Carolyn Yuen Marino

The Space Needle has floor-to-ceiling glass walls and the world’s first, and only, revolving glass floor. Carolyn Yuen Marino

What better way to admire stunning views of Seattle than from the Space Needle? I brought my Dad, who is visiting from Hong Kong, and we got free photos included with our tickets, which made for a sweet keepsake. There are two levels: the upper level has floor-to-ceiling glass and the lower level has a revolving, all-glass floor. It was an epic and thrilling way to sightsee! Currently, masks are required indoors so everyone can stay safe.

Sitting beneath the Persian Ceiling in a gallery at Chihuly Garden and Glass. Photo: Carolyn Yuen Marino | Art: Dale Chihuly

Mille Fiori and the Glasshouse at Chihuly Garden and Glass. Photo: Carolyn Yuen Marino | Art: Dale Chihuly

Chihuly Garden and Glass is conveniently located next to the Space Needle, so we wandered over to explore the incredible glass exhibits created by Tacoma-native Dale Chihuly. We took our time appreciating the galleries, strolling through the whimsical garden, and sitting in the Glasshouse, a 40-foot tall structure that is flooded with light and features a suspended 100-foot long glass sculpture.

As for my outfit details, other than tying my hair up, I’ve been using headbands to keep hair out of my face during the hot days of summer and airy linen shorts to stay cool!

WHERE TO EAT/DRINK

Dining at Currant Bistro located within The Sound Hotel. Carolyn Yuen Marino

We popped downstairs from our hotel to Currant Bistro for a delicious dinner. All the food is regionally sourced and the drink menu is full of Seattle craft beers and Washington wines. In the morning, there’s also coffee, freshly baked goods, hot breakfast sandwiches, and more offerings.

Pence Orchard peaches salad & queso dip with chips. Carolyn Yuen Marino

Buttery scallops & prosciutto fig flatbread. Carolyn Yuen Marino

We started with a Pence Orchard peaches salad, which was perfect for summer, and also an addictively tasty queso dip. For the entrees, Husband and I shared the buttery scallops and prosciutto fig flatbread.

I changed for the evening but kept with the hair accessories, opting for a satin headband that paired with this fun polka dot blouse.

HOW TO SUPPORT SEATTLE BUSINESSES

A collection of goodies from local Seattle companies. Carolyn Yuen Marino

• Stamp Act Coffee – in THE city of coffee, this small batch roaster stands out! We’ve been enjoying coffee from their Old School Seasonal Espresso Medium Roast beans all this week.
• Lady Yum – macarons and more. My favorite flavors were Circus Animal, Toasted Coconut, and Lemon!
• Cone & Steiner General – a great neighborhood market that stocks local products like Intrigue Chocolate Co., Estrella all natural bar soap, Girl Meets Dirt rhubarb lavender preserves, and more.
• Bite Society – handmade and delicious treats like these Vanilla Polka Dot cookies.
• Chukar Cherries – the classic dark chocolate cherries were soo good! Loved them with a glass of red wine.
• Pinky Up – love their teas (Earl Grey Macaron is a fave) and accessories (like the Infuser and Travel Infuser Mug).

As we’re still in this ongoing pandemic, it’s even more important to support local businesses as much as we can in order to all get through this difficult time together. Thank you to The Sound Hotel and Visit Seattle for a wonderful time this weekend highlighting our beautiful city!

View the original post by Carolyn Yuen Marino on Hey Pretty Thing.

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Gurneha Neggi, @espressoandmartini

We invited travel and fashion enthusiast Gurneha Naggi to share some of her favorite spots and insider tips with us. Tag along on their Seattle adventure and discover more at iknowaplace.org. Then be sure to share your own Seattle favorites by tagging #IKnowSeattle.

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