Your beautifully curated list of what’s worth eating, seeing + doing around Washington. Jen is one of those people who creates the vibe.
She married into a family my husband and I have known for a long time, and over the years I’ve seen just how thoughtful and intentional she is. She lives in the cutest Craftsman in Central Tacoma, hosts the warmest gingerbread competition Christmas party, and her wedding week in the San Juan Islands was one of the most beautiful celebrations.
She has an eye for the details that make something feel special.
So it makes perfect sense that she’s completely immersed herself in the local scene with @eatinwashington.
I love knowing what’s new, fun, and delicious around here. But with two kids, it’s nearly impossible to actually keep up with all of it. Jen does the heavy lifting for us.
Through her lens, Eat in Washington has become a beautifully curated highlight reel of Washington’s must-eat, must-see and must-do. The new restaurant worth making a reservation for. The coffee shop you haven’t tried. A special dinner happening for one weekend. A day trip, market or stay that deserves a spot on your list.
And because Jen herself is so intentional, her recommendations feel intentional too. She notices more than whether the food is good. It’s the space, service, story, lighting, people, and all the little details that create an experience.
We asked Jen to give us the list.
FROM CAMERA ROLL TO COMMUNITY GUIDE
Jen started Eatin Washington in November 2020 with a much simpler idea: she had a camera roll full of food photos and finally decided to do something with them. A firm believer that the phone eats first, she initially treated the account as a digital scrapbook for remembering her best bites.
After taking some time away from posting, she returned in 2025. Then, at a vision board party in 2026, Jen decided to get more intentional about the page and see what she could build.
Less than a year later, Eatin Washington has evolved well beyond food. Restaurants are still a big part of it, but now you’ll find coffee shops, breweries, markets, unique stays, day trips, experiences and little pieces of Jen’s own life and style mixed in.
And she wants it to keep evolving.
“I hope that what my account looks like today doesn’t look exactly the same a year from now, either. Change is good and I never want to become stagnant in what I'm posting.”
WHAT ACTUALLY MAKES THE LIST?
Good food helps, obviously. But Jen doesn't think somewhere has to check every box to be worth talking about.
Sometimes there’s one incredible dish she can't stop thinking about. Sometimes it’s exceptional service, a beautiful atmosphere, an interesting concept or simply the feeling that you’re somewhere special.
She especially loves an experience — a ticketed dinner, limited-time menu, pop-up, seasonal offering or something that gives you a reason to get your friends together and actually make the plan.
Then there are the details. The music. The lighting. The plating. The way the staff talks about the food. The personality of the space. Jen says some of her favorites are the restaurants where she walks in and immediately thinks, “Wow, I want to move in here.”
Nelle’s, Bar Cantinetta and San Fermo are a few that come to mind.
For Jen, the best places are the ones where the food, atmosphere, service, and overall experience feel like they were designed to belong together.
TACOMA + SEATTLE: WE DON’T HAVE TO CHOOSE
Seattle has endless options. There’s always another restaurant, neighborhood, artist or experience to discover. Tacoma offers something a little different.
“Tacoma has such a strong sense of community. There aren’t a ton of chains, and there’s this amazing mix of unique, independent small businesses.”
Jen doesn't believe the two cities need to compete. She loves them for different reasons.
But she does think Tacoma can get overshadowed — which makes sharing what’s happening here particularly fun. As people who also love this community and the small businesses that give it personality, we couldn’t agree more.
SO, WHERE ARE WE GOING?
We asked Jen where she’s actually going in Tacoma. Save this part.
Date night: Field Bar + Bottle Shop or Corbeau
Girls’ night: Chez Lafayette
Cocktails: Boom Boom Room
Brunch: Side Piece Kitchen, Le Sel Bistro or Hob Nob—a classic
Taking out-of-towners: Wooden City
And one very important local PSA: Frankie & Jo’s at Howdy Bagel on the weekends.
For years, Jen wished she could get Frankie & Jo’s in Tacoma. Now that dream is a reality, and in her words, more people should know about it. Consider the message delivered.
AND SINCE WE’RE TALKING FOOD...
Jen will always order a soft pretzel when she sees one on the menu.
One requirement: cheese, not mustard.
Beets? Hard pass.
ONE EXPERIENCE FOR THE BUCKET LIST
Of everything Jen has experienced through Eat in Washington, two of her most memorable meals have been Outstanding in the Field dinners.
The traveling dinner series partners with local chefs, farms, wineries and producers to create dinners deeply connected to the places where they're hosted. Guests gather around one long table, and you don't know who you'll be sitting beside until you arrive and choose your seat.
Both times Jen attended, she ended up beside wonderful people. For someone who loves food as much for the people and memories surrounding it as the meal itself, it checks every box.
Now she wants to experience one on the East Coast, and eventually internationally.
Her recommendation is simple:
“If I influence you to do one thing from following my page, let it be adding an Outstanding in the Field dinner to your bucket list.” Added.
WHAT’S NEXT
Jen is excited to share more experiences and continue working with restaurants and brands in ways that still feel authentically her.
Eat in Washington has become a creative outlet — and she’s giving herself permission to experiment with it.
Her sister is also campaigning for more Jen on camera because, as she tells her, people connect with a person and not just a page. We vote yes (!!!)
In the meantime, we’ll happily keep letting Jen do the research while we add things to our saved folders.
Follow Eat in Washington:
@eatinwashington on
Instagram + TikTok
Contact: eatinwashington@gmail.com
Madison Bingham
RM Home Specialists
Windermere West Campus | Realtors®
Tacoma Real Estate | South Sound Living | Tacoma Restaurants | Things to Do in Tacoma | Tacoma Small Business | Tacoma Community | Washington Local Guide | Pierce County Real Estate | Living in Tacoma | Regina and Madison | RM Home Specialists | Windermere
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