Charles's Profile
Secret, irresistable ingredient used in a local Vietnamese restaurant revealed
You may not be that far off. I have had Cambodian and Thai students tell me about a soup that is made with pot. One even told me her mother was driving around with a bunch of weed in her car because she had no idea that it was illegal.
Awesome Vietnamese in International District (or downtown vicinity)
Greenleaf or Tamarind Tree both discussed extensively here.
Restaurant Zoe
Had dinner at Restaurant Zoe for the second time during Dine Out for Life. This was one of the best meals I have had in Seattle in a while! Even the non-stand outs were above average.
Let me start with service. It was so nice not being treated as if the restaurant was doing us a favor by feeding us. Our server was warm and knowledgeable about both the wine list and the menu. He really helped make the evening lovely.
My Boola cocktail was delicious and refreshing after a hard day. Admittedly the “hyper-locality” of the gin did make me feel a bit like I was in an episode of Portlandia but maybe that was just the company. ;)
We had all “snacks” and small plates and many were great all were better than average. Started with a special duck confit appetizer with cold celeriac pure, and frites with bernaise. YUM I had never had cold celeriac in puree formed before but it was really delicious with the confit, & who doesn’t love fried potatoes!!!!!
2 salads came next one asparagus with a smoked duck egg, although the egg could have used some salt (no salt on the table so…) It was delicious. Roasted endive with apricot was a real stand out; the endive was creamy and paired with the tartness of the apricots. I was one happy boy.
Finally lab ribs w/black lentils and tamarind, probably my favorite dish of the evening and I don’t usually like lentils. Meat was tender, tart, fatty superb. Gnudi (YUM) papradelle with Bolognese was the least interesting dish of the evening but still better then much of what we see in Seattle.
3 desserts a chocolate orb with coco sabl delicious, peanut macaroons (my favorite I could eat them by the dozen) and buttermilk panna cotta. All of which were outstanding!
4 big boys left very satisfied. My dining companions and I had recently eaten at another restaurant on the Hill that is garnering much praise. Which we were VERY unimpressed with, I said to them as we were leaving “that meal was ½ the price of @1=^4@ and none of the attitude.” I really can’t wait to go back.
small chickens
Then there is this http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/opinion/kristof-arsenic-in-our-chicken.html?_r=2
Golfeados: Venezuelan Sticky buns
Many Mexican grocery stores sell the brown sugar cones (a believe they are called matador).
Good luck on the cheese... Im guessing your going to need a "close enough" substitute.
Gabila's knishes
You might be able to find them at uvilliage QFC they have a fairly good selection of kosher frozen products.
I
First Visit to Altura
Not worth the hype, sadly that’s all I can say about Altura. I had been looking forward to this meal for a while, and had a tough week so excited at the idea of feeling pampered for a few hours.
4 of us went last weekend. My husband doesn’t drink and we wanted the “chef’s tasting menu” which is only priced paired with wines. We asked the server and he had to check with “the higher ups” eventually he came back and told us rather disapprovingly that they could do it and would charge us for the 5 course. I have a hard time believing this was the first time a nondrinker has come to the restaurant, for them to make him feel awkward is unconscionable. To top it off he was never asked if he would like something else to drink (and we were never offered sparkling water). I felt like I should remind them that this is the “hospitality industry” and they should at least make an attempt to appear hospitable.
Several of the courses were split with one side of the table getting one dish and the other side getting a different course, each paired with different wines. While I don’t mind this per se, the waiter never told us until we asked what was happening. Because my husband was not drinking I only got to taste the pairing with my dish (the other couple traded plates as well as glasses, these were new friends so sharing a glass felt overly intimate). Additionally the interest and level of the foods were quiet disparate. For instance I got what was the best dish of the evening, beet green gnudi with rabbit ragu (YUM YUM YUM) hubby received potato gnoccini with lamb ragu YAWN.
Of the 7 course most were rather boring, porchetta that was so tough I could barely cut it. Steak with Roasted Turnips and Celery Root Puree well done but another YAWN... Besides the gnudi the only other standout was the amuse of Hamachi crudo and pickled beets a truly delicious bite of fish.
At the end of our meal and nearly $400 later I was still hungry, not feeling restored I must say I see no reason to go back.
Kent/Lynnwood area - Beef
Kent & lynnwood are on opposite sides of Seattle (Kent is South, Lynnwood is North) probably around 30 to 40 miles from each other.
Are you looking for a steak house? Or to buy meat?
wine shop recommendations?
I'm not sure if state liquor laws would allow this. With all the changes coming in the next few months you might want to bide your time and see how things play out.
wine shop recommendations?
I really like 12th & Olive Wine Shop. Steven is Bery knowledgable and always tries to have unusual cases in stock @ good prices
Japanese Chef knife in Seattle
Try Seattle Cutlery or Sur la Table both in the Pike Place Market
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Pike Place Market
1501 Pike Pl, Seattle, WA 98101
Steak tartare?
Dot's Deli in Fremont also has. I havn't tried it yet, but everything else there is so delicious.
French Macarons in Seattle?
Ines Patisserie in Madison Valley. All of her pastries are devine. Had a black currant macaroon there that I still háček dreams about.
Food at the Sea-Tac Airport
Whenever we are leaving on a flight, if we have time to kill we go to Anthony’s and sit at the bar. The food is fine, but we really go there because it is set away a bit from the masses and never a screaming child. I usually have the giant Bloody Marry (sans shrimp) and a small order of the breakfast tacos. I then can often sleep through takeoff ;) .
The food is tasty enough but, really I go there for the “atmosphere” plus if you like you can watch the planes take off.
Foie Gras and Bananas Foster on the same menu
I could imagine Quinn's doing it as a special order if you called ahead and requested it.
Staple and Fancy question -- and more
I would really ask the restaurant this question before you go. Although the tasting menu did included many vegetable plates the highlights of the meal defiantly included either mammals or fish.
Just perusing the online menu every pasta has one of the two. I think you would have a better and probably cheaper time ordering for yourselves.
That being said if they can satisfy your requests the tasting menu is well worth it.
Penang Malaysia Food Court
FYI http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/voracious/2011/04/silver_noodles_and_a_strange_e.php
So Since Thundering Hooves closed...
I love the products at Rainshadow Meats in the Melrose Market.
Where to find fabulous Mexican Food
Ate at Tacos Chukis, the new taqueria above Hana Sushi on Broadway. They are barely open but so far so good.
Currently only serving pork adobada and beef asada, as fillings for the tacos, mullitas, and tortas. Thought the adobada was very tasty, and the beef had a nice char to it. I'll go back in a few weeks when they have gotten on their feet a bit.
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Hana Sushi
10114 Main St, Bothell, WA 98011
Beer Cocktails
Barrio on Cap. Hill used to have some great Michalada style cocktails.
Where to buy sunchokes (jerusalem artichokes)?
I 've seen them at Madison Market/Central Co-Op (15th & Madison) for the last few weeks.
Also Full Circle farms is at the u-district farmer's market.
Macarons
Have you tried Bakery Nuvo in West Seattle? Probably the best I have had in the city.
@firecracker http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaron?wasRedirected=true
Where can I buy dried Ogo in the Seattle area?
Uwajimaya
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Uwajimaya
600 5th Ave S, Seattle, WA
Who has the best bloody mary's in Seattle? and why?
I like the Bloody's at all of the Linda D. restaurants (Linda's, Smith, King's, Odfeellows) they all use the same very tasty mix and a good assortment of pickled vegetables. My friends and I like to refer to them as our alcoholic salads.
Uneeda Burger
Just to say lunchbox lab is closed until it reopens in SLU sometime in the future.
Eltana
First let’s admit that we have very few decent bagels in this city, and none on Capitol Hill.
As my Long Island mother-in-law would say “They-ah’ not like Nu Yawk” (They are not like New York in Long Islandese). And it’s true if you go expecting a New York Bagel you will be disappointed. These bagels are thinner and much less chewy than the bagels I get in Brooklyn, Manhattan or even on Long Island. But they are really good.
The wood firing gives you little almost burnt bits like good Napolitano pizza and they are crispy and delicious. Having never been to Montreal I can’t comment on authenticity but the flavor is good.
I have only tried the feta, green onion spread. It is tasty with a hint of lemon if a bit on the salty side.
The space is very nice modern design but I have always taken them to go.
