Cap Off the Best Day Ever Skiing the Cascade Mountains with Some Righteous Carb Loading at Tuscano’s — Back in Base Camp Monroe
After a long, fun day playing in the snow, eagle-watching, and soaking up nature in the gorgeously immersive Cascades at Vail-owned Stevens Pass Resort, Jordan and Austin from San Francisco have worked up quite an appetite. They’re feeling like Italian — an awesome way to load up on all the carbs they burned off learning to ski and snowboard.
A tip from Seattle snow bunny friends sent the adventurous couple to the Cascades for the first time to get their ski and snowboard legs and to historic Monroe to settle in and chill for a spell, as their convenient base camp. Set midway, a mere 45 minutes to and from Stevens Pass along picturesque U.S. 2 corridor, Monroe is where all the magic happens.
Tired, spent, and very hungry, Jordan and Austin couldn’t wait to drive back to Monroe for a nice, leisurely, sit-down dining experience, in a warm, comfortable setting.
They turned to Google to find loads of positive reviews centered around a well-established, family-owned, casual Italian restaurant called Tuscano’s on 14919 N. Kelsey Street, just off U.S. 2. Even better, this local gem is known for huge servings of Italian classics — mouth-watering pastas, slow-simmered, saucy meats, and brick-oven pizzas, as well as Northwest-focused, affordably priced wines, 24 rotating craft beers, and spirits.
The restaurant’s setting reminded Jordan and Austin of the rolling hills and golden sunsets of Tuscany painted by Renaissance greats in the art museums they’ve visited in their travels — aglow with starry, confetti lights and woven baskets dangling from the ceiling like cosmic necklaces.
There’s something delicious, global, custom, and even gluten-free for everyone, whether you’re a traditional red-sauce fan, like Austin, or you go for lighter fare, as Jordan tends to do.
Out of curiosity, the two go over to where the wines are to check out the reds and whites, in bold, delicate, mocha, fruity, and floral notes, marveling at the vast selection, especially those grown and fermented locally — one to match every flavor profile on the menu.
Of course, they save room for dessert — wouldn’t you? They decide to share the very Italian Limoncello Mascarpone Cake and Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta.
In between savoring and swooning over each and every bite, they decide to fire off a positive review of their own favorite dishes for a chance to win $500 in a monthly drawing of participating restaurants. Who knows? They might win…
But the night isn’t over, yet. A server recommended they swing by Burnt Barrel Whiskey Bar, another cool neighborhood haunt in Monroe’s historic Doloff-Key Building on 102 E. Main Street to top off a fantastic dinner. With visions of cocktails dancing in their heads, Jordan and Austin drop their car off at their hotel close by, and call an Uber…