Moving to Seattle? (Vancouver, Republic: apartments, crime, school)

[ChefJeffrey]

Okay, so here's what's going on.

I'm 21 years old and I graduated from culinary school earlier this year in North Carolina (not here by choice.. gah.) For the last year I've been trying to save up so I can move and it's been difficult for me to find a city that fits me.

Wherever I go has to have a very strong restaurant scene.. and should be one of the larger US cities. I haven't really lived in a big city before but I'd prefer it and I think it's the only way I'll get into the food scene I'm looking for.

I don't really like any city on the east coast and I'd prefer it to be a coastal city, so that marks off Chicago and circles the west coast. Texas isn't going to work for me, either.

San Francisco is probably going to be too expensive for me right now... anywhere in California probably would be.

SO that basically leaves Portland and Seattle. At first I was strongly leaning towards Portland but after research I keep coming to the conclusion that Seattle definitely has the superior culinary scene.

I've been looking at apartments in the Belltown area (my planned move is the end of February/beginning of March) mostly because that is smack dab in the middle of the better restaurants in the area so would be a short walk/bike/drive to work. I worry about crime (although I keep hearing that Seattle is one of the safer large cities) but the location to Pike's Place and job would be ideal.

My question, I guess, is whether Seattle seem like a good fit for a young chef or whether Portland or some other city would be a better option. I've read as many comparisons as I can but I haven't been able to find many that take the restaurant/overall food scene into account.

[BostonBorn]

A friend of mine who has been in the restaurant business for almost 20 years lived in Seattle recently before settling in Chicago (he moved back there for a relationship -- and Chicago has a very good restaurant scene, too, by the way) and he found Seattle's restaurant scene to be outstanding.

I think you're on the right track. Obviously, the big 3 restaurant cities -- NYC, LA & SF -- certainly do have world-renowned culinary scenes but they are also the most expensive in the US. I think a city like Seattle or Chicago would be a great fit. You might want to also consider Denver, a relatively affordable city which has evolved lately into a more cosmopolitan city and has a nice restaurant scene.

I currently live in Boston and I'm relocating to Seattle later this year. I would not recommend Boston if you're looking for a relatively affordable city with a vibrant restaurant scene. Boston is a great city, but it's very expensive (cost of living is higher here than Seattle) and the restaurant scene is only okay.

[BostonBorn]

Sorry, Chef, I just re-read your original post and saw your qualifier that you want a coastal city. I'll underscore my recommendation that you consider Seattle as your top choice. Also, if the restaurant scene is well thought of in Vancouver, BC, take a look at that city, too. I don't know how highly regarded the food scene is in Vancouver, but it's an amazing city.

[honest mike]

Hope you like rain because that's all it does there and watch your speed while driving the cop's there are like little nazi's. I filmed them beating a pregnant girl once during the famous Broadway Riots, a march by homeless youth protesting the Seattle cop's taking their backpacks away just to be mean. Try to get a job near the Space Needle that area has some of the better places to eat. Go to the five points and have a Bloody Mary their great there, good luck you little wet one you,hhh. Mike Crow the video guy.

[ChefJeffrey]

Originally Posted by BostonBorn

Sorry, Chef, I just re-read your original post and saw your qualifier that you want a coastal city. I'll underscore my recommendation that you consider Seattle as your top choice. Also, if the restaurant scene is well thought of in Vancouver, BC, take a look at that city, too. I don't know how highly regarded the food scene is in Vancouver, but it's an amazing city.

Thanks for the feedback, BostonBorn! Chicago was one of the last cities I considered but I think it might be a little *too* large for my tastes and it is pretty far away from the ocean. Plus the west coast just fits the style of cooking I enjoy.

I'm not too worried about the weather, I'll probably be thankful to get out of a miserably hot and dry North Carolina (I think we've had rain maybe 10 days over the last year? ...) although the lack of sunshine might take a little getting used to (also have had maybe 10 cloudy days, heh.) But for all the complaining people seem to do, no matter where you go there's good and bad about the weather. I don't mind rain and I'd much rather be in a cool, consistently comfortable climate than somewhere that's very up-and-down (Midwest, until you've lived there you don't realize how hot the short summer can get and how nasty the long winter can be!) or somewhere that is constantly hot, dry and has yellow-brown foliage!

I'm heading out there for a couple days in mid-February to do some job interviews and hopefully check out some apartments.. then, providing that goes well, moving out the following week!

[Fallingwaters]

If you are a good chef, you will be a rock star in Seattle.
Cheaper than San Francisco, but with a dedicated food afficianado crowd.
Multi-cultural food influences make it interesting here as well.

[toughguy]

February is usually pretty gloomy, so it will be a good time to guage if the weather is going to work for you or not.

[Fallingwaters]

Originally Posted by toughguy

February is usually pretty gloomy, so it will be a good time to guage if the weather is going to work for you or not.

I second that -- everyone's opinions (or exaggerations) differ, but I'd say October-March is like this. April-June you start to get more "sun breaks" July-September are usually clear blue skies and you'll notice more things going on outdoors.

Seattle, to me, seems like a city that hibernates.

[FoxyKnox]

What's your specialty? Any particular cuisine?

[aurchid]

hi!!!!i am from Benin Republic in west africa!!i am a student recently admitted to North seattle community college!!i plan to come to the USA by the middle of february and i am looking for a good place to stay!!!could anyone advice me?