Prash Gunda - Vancouver, Washington

07/28/2026

That beautiful kitchen could be the reason you fall in love with a home and the reason you become frustrated with it six months later.

Quartz countertops, oversized islands and expensive appliances look great in listing photos. But during a showing, I’m paying attention to something else:

👉🏼 Does the dishwasher block the walkway?
👉🏼 Can the refrigerator doors open fully?
👉🏼 Is there enough room for two people to cook?
👉🏼 Does the hood actually vent outside?
👉🏼 Can someone sit at the island without stopping everyone behind them?
👉🏼 And what does the kitchen look like when all those beautiful lights are turned off?

A dated kitchen with a smart layout and solid cabinetry may be a much better buy than a freshly remodeled kitchen that simply does not work.

I put together a detailed guide on what buyers should actually look for, from island spacing and cabinet quality to ventilation, pantry storage, lighting, appliances and the problems listing photos cannot show.

The full guide releases this Thursday.

Comment “KITCHEN” below and I’ll send the PDF directly to you when it is ready. Even if you are not buying immediately, save it for your next home tour.

07/20/2026

The Couve has been busy, and ETC 19 is back! 👀

This month’s list includes places that recently opened, two getting ready to open this week and several more still making their way toward opening day.

We’re talking dumplings, boba, bingsu, pho, smoked meats, loaded mac and cheese, cocktails, coffee, a cat café, a downtown food-cart pod and a bar with more than 2,000 bottles of whiskey and spirits.

Swipe through for the status and concept behind each place, then save this list for later.

NOW OPEN

Loyal Legion Beer Hall
📍 1109 Washington St, Vancouver, WA 98660

Xin Ding Dumpling House
📍 4720 NE Thurston Way, Vancouver, WA 98662

L&LHawaiianBBQ_Vancouver
📍 8720 NE Centerpointe Dr, Suite 201, Vancouver, WA 98665

Wanpo Tea Shop - Ridgefield
📍 420 N 56th Pl, Suite J-105, Ridgefield, WA 98642

Lil Pig Lil Pig
📍 2014 Main St, Vancouver, WA 98660

Courtney’s Coffee House
📍 210 W Evergreen Blvd, Suite 400, Vancouver, WA 98660

The Savvy Sipper
📍 1113 SE Rasmussen Blvd, Battle Ground, WA 98604

Bunny Bingsu
📍 1817 SE 164th Ave, Vancouver, WA 98683

Lotic Fermentation
📍 1307 NE 78th St, Suite B10, Vancouver, WA 98665

Cheeky Noodles
📍 2209 S Hillhurst Rd, Suite 130, Ridgefield, WA 98642

Pho Hung on 82nd
📍 516 SE Chkalov Dr, Suite 33, Vancouver, WA 98683

OPENING THIS WEEK

simplybeautifulbakery
📍 516 SE Chkalov Dr, Suite 3, Vancouver, WA 98683

Milky & Coco's Kit-Tea Cafe
📍 5000 E Fourth Plain Blvd, Suite E103, Vancouver, WA 98661

COMING SOON AND IN THE PIPELINE

theproofbar
📍 801 Washington St, Vancouver, WA 98660

Niyom Thai Kitchen
📍 536 S Royle Rd, Suite 155, Ridgefield, WA 98642

Couve Carts
📍 W Evergreen Blvd & Daniels St, Vancouver, WA 98660

Fika Coffee
📍 2209 S Hillhurst Rd, Suite 110, Ridgefield, WA 98642

Family Coffee & Bakery
📍 8902 NE 5th Ave, Suite 111, Vancouver, WA 98665

Silk Nife
📍 10722 NW Lakeshore Ave, Vancouver, WA 98685

Opening timelines can always move, so check directly with the business before making a special trip.

Now tell me: which one are you most excited to try?
Also, if you wanna dig deeper into why you should be trying out any of these places, I’ve written a detailed blogpost, linkinbio.

06/30/2026

There are some days where Fort Vancouver feels bigger than just a historic site. July 3rd is one of them.

For America 250, Vancouver is gathering at the Parade Grounds for a full day of history, music, food, family activities, and an outdoor movie under the summer sky.

I put together a July 3rd itinerary that helps you experience the day without just wandering around wondering what to do next.

Start at Fort Vancouver.
Walk through the history.
Spend the afternoon at the celebration.
Then choose your ending:

Stay on the Parade Grounds for the movie
or
walk the Land Bridge down to the Waterfront for dinner and sunset.

The full itinerary is now live on LinkinBio.

Read it before July 3rd and plan the day your way.

06/18/2026

Our HVAC started acting up right as the weather started heating up, so naturally, we went down a rabbit hole looking for the best paddle board getaways near Vancouver, WA.

This is the ETC19 list we ended up with - ranked from breathtaking views to simple, easy escapes:

Blue Lake, Winthrop, WA
Lost Lake, OR
Trillium Lake, OR
Timothy Lake, OR
Beacon Rock, Stevenson, WA
Saddle Dam, Ariel, WA
Merrill Lake, WA
Lake Merwin Reservoir, WA
Promontory Park / North Fork Reservoir, Estacada, OR
Willamette Narrows, West Linn, OR
Willamette Falls, OR
Estacada Lake, OR
Scappoose Bay, OR
Sauvie Island, OR
Bass Lake, North Bonneville, WA
Sellwood Riverfront Park, OR
Horseshoe Lake, Woodland, WA
Fairview Lake, OR
Kress Lake, Kelso/Kalama area, WA

Huge thank you to everyone who helped contribute places, ideas, and pictures for this post. This one came together because people were generous enough to share their favorite water spots.

Now I need your help: what’s your favorite place to paddle board around Vancouver, the Gorge, Oregon, or anywhere in the PNW?
It can be on this list or completely different. I’m always looking for the next best one.

Save this for Juneteenth, Independence Day weekend, or the next hot day when staying inside is not an option.

06/01/2026

06/01/2026

ETC19 is something that Maria and I’ve been thinking about for a while now.

19 places around Clark County that we’re loving right now, restaurants, coffee shops, breweries, and food cart spots that make Vancouver feel like home.

The number 19 is personal to us. Maria and I were both born on the 19th, so we wanted to create something that felt personal, local, and worth sharing this Summer 2026.

This list is not about chasing hype just for the sake of it. These are places people are talking about, places we keep hearing about, places we personally love, and places that add real flavor to Clark County.

From Cecelia to Dediko, Kafiex Roasters to Carino, Oak Tree Station to Vancouver Station Food Carts, this is our summer ETC19 list.

List












coffeehouse





Save this post for your next coffee run, date night, lunch plan, or “where should we go?” moment.

And if there’s a place you think should make the next ETC19, drop it in the comments.

Explore more at ExploreTheCouve.com

05/29/2026

Patio season is finally doing its thing in Vancouver.

This week’s Explore The Couve newsletter was all about the spots, bites, and little seasonal things that make this time of year feel so good around here.

We talked about Lil Pig Lil Pig, the new smokehouse, rotisserie, and pour house from the Thirsty Sasquatch crew opening in Uptown Vancouver.

Maria and I stopped by Loyal Legion multiple times already, and yeah, it’s already giving Vancouver exactly what it needed. Great room, strong patio flow, and the kind of place you walk into once and immediately start planning your next visit.

Then there’s Kitanda Coffee downtown, which was simple, clean, warm, and easy to add into the downtown coffee rotation.

And if you’ve seen those viral fruit-shaped desserts online, Home Macaron is doing them locally. They look good, they photograph well, and thankfully, they actually taste good too.

We also shared a little from Maria’s kitchen, including brown butter black sesame chocolate chip cookies with orange zest and a savory s’mores idea for your next cookout. Because apparently regular snacks were not dramatic enough.

This is exactly why we started the newsletter. New places, good food, local finds, and small things around Vancouver worth paying attention to before everyone is talking about them.

Featured spots:





If you want these local finds sent straight to you, sign up for the Explore The Couve newsletter through the link in bio or visit explorethecouve.com.

05/19/2026

On May 16th, my father, Dr. Justice G. Chandraiah, passed away after fighting for his life with everything he had.

His body gave up, but his mind never did.

Even in his most difficult moments, he fought with strength, dignity, and courage. That is who he was. A fighter. A man of discipline. A man of principles. A man who lived a life of purpose.

To the world, he was Dr. Justice G. Chandraiah, who served as a Judge in the High Court for the State of Telangana and later as Chairman of the Human Rights Commission. He dedicated his life to justice, public service, and helping people who needed a voice.

But to me, he was my father.

He raised me with values that I will carry for the rest of my life. He taught me to stand tall, to treat people with respect, to work hard, to stay grounded, and to never forget where I came from. He showed me what it means to live with integrity, not just through words, but through the way he lived every single day.

His loss is irreplaceable.

We are heartbroken, but I am also incredibly proud. Proud of the life he lived. Proud of the impact he made. Proud of the fight he fought until the very end.

I am proud to be his son.

Rest in peace, Dad. Your legacy will live through all of us. 🙏🏽

04/10/2026

If you’ve been looking in Camas, you already know, homes like this don’t come around often.

This custom-built home sits on a private greenbelt lot with peaceful surroundings and territorial views that just make you pause for a second. From the moment you walk in, it feels intentional, wide foyer, high ceilings, and finishes that actually feel high-end, not just “builder grade.”

The kitchen is the heart here, large island, gas appliances, custom cabinetry and it flows right into a warm, inviting great room with built-ins and a gas fireplace. It’s the kind of space where people naturally gather.

The primary suite? That’s your reset button. Sliding door to the backyard, soaking tub, walk-in shower, it’s set up to actually feel like a retreat.

And the layout just makes sense, 4 bedrooms, dedicated office, a private ensuite for guests, plus a lower-level bonus space you can turn into a gym, theater, or both (no judgment).

All of this on a ~10,000 sq ft lot, tucked into one of Camas’ most desirable areas with top-rated schools and that quiet, elevated lifestyle people move here for.

Address: 806 NW 35th Ave, Camas
List Price: $1,250,000
4 BD | 4.5 BA | 3804 sqft | 2010 Built | 0.24 Acres
Open House: Tomorrow 12:30 – 2:30 PM
Listing by Janet LeBlanc
Hosted by Prash Gunda

Come by, say hi, and see if this one feels like home.