After getting my coffee this morning, I walked back to my car along 24th Ave NW in Ballard and made a very sad discovery.

Dandelion, a bustling little bistro that served fresh, local, and partially organic meals such as roasted dates stuffed with blue cheese and wrapped with bacon and the best half roasted chicken I’ve ever had in my entire life, closed last week after 3 years in business.

Dandelion was owned by Carol Nockold and Connie Palmore, business and life partners who ran the restaurant with a friendly, laid back atmosphere and truly excellent food. A short year after opening Dandelion, Carol Nockold, the chef and co-owner, was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS). This degenerative disease robs it’s victims of the ability to use their muscles, gradually rendering them unable to move, or even breathe. Carol Nockold died last December. For a time, Nockold’s partner continued to run Dandelion with the help of Kristy Scott, but last week, they closed their doors forever.

The new owner is currently renovating the space and will re-open the restaurant as a Tex-Mex cafe and bar.

I will truly miss Dandelion and I wish I had known about their closing sooner so I could have eaten there one last time. My condolences go out to Connie Palmore and Kristy Scott for the loss of Carol Nockold and Dandelion.