Morsel

If you have been Roadfooding as long as we have you get vibes that a place will be good or bad before you have even eaten anything. Morsel is one of the places that lights up the “good” receptors in our brain.

Morsel, aka Morsel and Bean, is a small eatery, specializing in biscuits and coffee (which is truth be told are two of my favorite food groups) so I may have been slightly predisposed to enjoy it. What I was not prepared for was the excellence of everything on the table before me. If I could take any Roadfood place and magically transport it next to my house, Morsel might be my choice.

How smart they are to limit the types of biscuits here. There is no need to offer 97 types of anything, but Buttermilk, Cheddar Chive and a rotating list of seasonal ones fill the bill. The biscuits themselves are perfect, high, airy and beautifully composed. You can taste the excellence of the butter in every bite. A plain biscuit with butter and a cup of locally roasted Conduit coffee are all one really needs, but I cannot stress strongly enough DO NOT MISS THE “FIXINS”!!

Fixins is Morsels term for stuff you slather on the biscuit. There are around ten choices and not a bad one in the bunch. Strawberry Balsamic Jam is sensational as is the elegant tomato jam and the rip roaring chocolate hazelnut butter. The most sensational is the trio of Fig Honey, Herbed Goat Cheese, and Bacon Jam, which elevates the humble biscuit to unimagined heights.

Morsel will also split a biscuit for you and make a sandwich out of it. This is a popular breakfast option. Many on-their-way-to-work people waited in line to get a fresh biscuit with eggs, bacon, cheddar cheese and tomato jam. I can’t think of a more perfect way to start the day.

A second Morsel is located in Ballard at 5905 15th Ave. NW. 206-457-5735. It has a drive-through window.