redbird's Profile
Just Moved to Redmond from Boston -- Food Shopping Help Please!
Wow! A big thank you to all of you for your insights. I'm sure it will be very helpful. I do plan on going into Seattle proper for some of the farmers markets, bakeries, etc. but that will likely only be a couple times of the month. It will take a while to get comfortable with the respective strengths of each market but that is part of what makes this adventure fun.
Hadn't even thought about Costco. I belonged a long time ago in the Boston area but found the quantities were often too large for a two-person household. Will definitely give it another try though. I'll be in Lynnwood today so the timing is perfect.
It's interesting to compare the selection and prices here to what I experienced in Marblehead. Overall, I'd say that produce is better and cheaper here -- probably due to proximity to the source and lower shipping costs. (I found terrific artichokes at Whole Foods Saturday for $1.50 each. That would have been at least $3.50 back east.) On the other hand, staples seem much more expensive. King Arthur Flour was almost $7 at Metropolitan Market and not much better at Fred Meyer, QFC or Safeway. Found it at Target for under $4 which is comparable to the Boston price. (I bake a lot of bread and go through a lot of flour monthly.)
Still underwhelmed by the meat selection at most places. Metropolitan and WF are the most promising but pricey. What is the general opinion on Bill the Butcher? I recall hearing about an independent butcher in Bellevue as well. Does this ring a bell with anyone?
Really looking forward to the farmers markets and the berries. I belonged to a CSA for years in Marblehead so didn't have to source much locally grown produce myself.
Thanks again. Chowhound is the best!
Just Moved to Redmond from Boston -- Food Shopping Help Please!
Hi, My husband and I have just moved to Redmond from the Boston area for sixteen months due to his job. We've settled in a rented house with a fabulous kitchen so I'm anxious to start cooking with as many local ingredients as possible.
Would my fellow chowhounds fill in me on their favorite sources for great ingredients? Who are your preferred local meat producers, dairies, cheese makers, bread and pastry makers? What local stores and markets do you frequent most? Which farmers markets are considered the best? What about stand alone farm stands? Are there websites and blogs that focus on the Eastside food scene? Where do you go for the best prices on the everyday staples?
In my first week I've visited Metropolitan Market (Kirkland) and Whole Foods, TJ, QFC (three of them), Safeway and Albertsons (all in Redmond). Also found Uwajimaya in Bellevue.
Thank you in advance for any and all advice -- I'm looking forward to this culinary adventure!
Last Minute Weekend Visit
Thanks to all for the suggestions thus far. We just got back from Spicy Talk for Friday evening dinner. Fried house special pot stickers --- very very good, whole fish Szechwan (a daily special) -- very good, dry cooked green beans -- very good, soft tofu with black mushrooms -- meh. Picked this restaurant due to proximity to hotel and exhaustion (husband worked extremely long hours all week, my plane left Boston at 6 am).
Still haven't made final decisions about the rest of the weekend. Couldn't get into Anchovies and Olives or Sitka & Spruce at a convenient time but will call tomorrow to check for any cancellations. Have made a reservation at Matt's in the Market (based on the rec of a friend) as a fall back. Thanks in particular for the market suggestions. God, I wish I lived here. I've always loved Seattle and there was the most glorious sunset tonight through the broken clouds. I'm ready to exchange east coast for west coast!
Last Minute Weekend Visit
Hi, My husband is in the Seattle area for several months on a consulting assignment. While I knew I'd be visiting from Boston at some point, I didn't realize it would be this weekend! So my plans to thoroughly research food options are thrown out the window and I'm asking my fellow Chowhounds for guidance.
General thoughts -- Want to keep it low-key (think jeans/khakis) rather than big events. Want to enjoy local fare, particularly seafood and wines. Open to all types of food except sushi (he loves it, I don't). Particularly love authentic Chinese cuisine. Looking for things we can't easily get on the East Coast (like authentic Chinese cuisine and Pacific shellfish). Total food budget for weekend is about $400.
Here's the schedule --
Friday -- Arrive late afternoon. Husband's hotel is in Redmond. Due to the ridiculously early hour I'll be getting up in Boston, we'd like to keep dinner relatively casual and nearby. Maybe Din Tai Fung or Black Bottle Postern in Bellevue? Any killer Chinese or small plates places nearby to consider?
Saturday -- Take mid-morning ferry to Bainbridge Island (have to go to Churchmouse Yarns). Will spend a couple of hours on island. Lunch on the island ideas? Hitchcock doesn't seem to serve lunch at this time of year. Looking for an inventive meal with a couple of glasses of wine. If there's a view, all the better. Take ferry back to Seattle late afternoon and hit a couple of places in downtown Seattle for oysters. (Found a lot of good ideas for oysters in other recent threads!) Follow this with a bit of poking around the downtown area. Then an early dinner (7ish). Keep in mind that we'll be in casually dressed but would like this to be the signature meal of the weekend. Local seafood and wine with a fun vibe is ideal. We will have a car so location is less important than quality.
Sunday -- Not sure about this day's events yet. We would like to explore any mid-century modern furniture stores and other antiques shops but don't know yet if there is a cluster of such shops in any particular area. So we are thinking about a late morning brunch, followed by hitting shops and a bit of exploring. Then some mid-afternoon oysters and wine. We'd also like to find a great prepared food/charcuterie type place to pick up a few things. I have another ridiculously early flight on Monday morning (getting up at 3:30) so we'll do a picnic dinner in the hotel room Sunday evening with our finds.
Any guidance you can suggest is much appreciated!
Lunch/Dinner Near Olana -- Recs Please!
Many thanks for the help! Our current thought is to stop in Rhinebeck on our way up from NYC. We'll explore that town and have lunch. Then on to Hudson for two nights. We've booked a room at an inn there. So now I'm exploring the suggested restaurants' websites and Chowhound posts to determine where to have our dinners. Will look into all the suggestions you both made. Thank you again! Cheers, LP
Lunch/Dinner Near Olana -- Recs Please!
Hi all, We're spending several days in Manhattan at the end of August. Our return trip to Boston will include a side trip up to the Hudson River Valley to visit Olana. While in the area, we also hope to hit a lot of shops and antique stores (particularly those that focus on vintage garden furniture / Federal furniture / mid-century modern furniture (yes, I know this is a weird combo!)). And of course, we need two fabulous lunches and dinners. We'll be doing a lot of over the top meals in NYC so prefer to keep this more low key but still high quality. Particularly would like to focus on locally sourced ingredients. Any suggestions as to restaurants and/or towns to stay in? All input is appreciated! Cheers, LP
Hot Weather Meals
Oooh, I didn't even think about the crockpot. I always associate it with winter. Thanks for the idea! Right now I have beets roasting in the oven, hard boiled eggs in process. Tomorrow morning before work I'll blanch grean beans and snap peas, simmer some lentils, and poach shrimp. Off to look at my crockpot recipes . . .
Hot Weather Meals
We're about to get hammered with a series of near 100 degree days here in the Boston area so I'm thinking about hot weather foods that can be prepped totally ahead of time (no air conditioning). So far, gazpacho, the makings for salade nicoise, real homemade chicken salad, and Thai fresh rolls with shrimp are on the list. What is on your list for when the temperature soars yet you want to eat at home?
Looking for recipe using Maine shrimp & cod
Purchased two pounds of Maine shrimp today -- the season is over and this is our last shot until next December. Going to use about a pound for shrimp and grits tonight. Trying to decide what to do with the remainder. Have about 1/3 pound of gorgeous cod filet also. Thinking about some sort of shrimp/cod cakes that I can prep today and panfry tomorrow evening. Have looked to no avail for an inspirational recipe to get me going. Does anyone have a suggested recipe or alternative use for the seafood? TIA.
Newburyport? Soup, salad, sandwich type place? Veggie friendly? {Not a requiement}
The Purple Onion on Inn Street
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Purple Onion
44 Inn St, Newburyport, MA 01950
Canning bible?
Blue Ribbon PReserves by Linda J. Amendt is my go-to source -- great technical background and innovative recipes.
I just ordered Preserving Summer's Bounty from Amazon and was greatly disappointed, Now I know why - I got the Rodale book, not the one by Marylin Kluger. Back to amazon for another order . . .
Where to buy canning supplies, preferably on North Shore
Yep, a lot of jars -- my CSA is very productive this year!
I tried Essex County Co-op tonight. I found two useful tools -- a metal wide mouth funnel (hate the plastic ones) and a jelly bag. The jar selection was a bit sparse today so, on a whim, I stopped at Wal-mart (:-() in Danvers and hit pay dirt -- good selection of Ball jars at good prices. Just no pickling salt . . . I just have this fantasy of a place with a wide assortment of jar styles and sizes, coupled with good quality tools. Will try both Dawson's hardware as well as a few other hardware stores this weekend. I'll report back of any good sources. Off now to buy a pressure canner on Amazon . . .
Where to buy canning supplies, preferably on North Shore
Thank you for all of the suggestions. I'll try Essex County Coop on my way home tomorrow evening and report back. I've been getting jars at Stop and Shop but find the selection limited at best. I need at least 100 more jars for the upcoming season, plus pectin, etc. I'm going to order a pressure canner tomorrow from amazon unless the coop has the size I'm interested in (All American - 10.5 quart). Cheers, LP
Local Farm Eggs - North Shore
Hi threedogs, I work in Newburyport and live in Marblehead. I'd be happy to pick up eggs for you at Tendercrop if you like. You'd just need to come by my house to pick them up. Wednesday night and Friday night are the two nights that would work with my schedule.
Email my alternate address -- paschbama@yahoo.com - if you're interested.
Where to buy canning supplies, preferably on North Shore
Thanks to an overabundance of produce from my CSA (Colby Farm in Newburyport), I am knee deeping in canning and pickling. Does anyone know of a good source that has a large selection of canning supplies on the North Shore? So far, I've been picking up a box of jars here and there. I'd love to find a place that really focuses on canning supplies, including pressure canners. I need a one-stop shopping place for jars, bands, lids, pectin, etc. Thanks in advance!
what are you canning this year?
Hi, I found the recipe on epicurious from a July 1991 Gourmet recipe (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Summer-Squash-Bread-and-Butter-Pickles-105242). Be aware though that the directions are sketchy at best. After making the pickling liquid, I simmered it for three minutes and then added the drained (and rinsed) squash for five minutes. Also increased th pickling liquid by about 30% based on other reviewers. I'm letting them sit for a few weeks before trying them so I can't testify as to the results yet. Hope you enjoy them!
what are you canning this year?
Many thanks! I'll try it with this week's CSA delivery. And it does feel like that my head is bobbing up and down in a pool of squash . . . !
what are you canning this year?
I'm drowning in zucchini from my CSA -- would you mind sharing your zucchini relish recipe? So far I've done lots of bread-and-butter pickles, maple summer squash pickles, and dilly beans. Pickled beets are on today's agenda.
Need Sauce Ideas for Roasted Corn & Brie Ravioli
Thanks for the replies -- here's what we did. Sauteed several slices of bacon, removed most of the drippings, added butter, browned. Tossed cooked ravioli in browned butter and bacon drippings, topped with bacon and roasted cherry tomatoes. Finished with slivered basil. Yummy! Thanks in particular for the bacon inspiration - the dish really benefited from the smokiness.
Need Sauce Ideas for Roasted Corn & Brie Ravioli
Just picked up some roasted corn and brie ravioli at our local farmer's market and am contemplating what type of sauce to make to accompany the pasta. One thought is to saute additional corn kernels in brown butter with a basil chiffonade. Due to the brie, I think I want to stay away from cream-based saues. Any one with a creative thought regarding other sauces? Many thanks in advance.
best place to buy corned beef? (a market, not a restaurant).
Henry's Market in Beverly. They cure their own and have both the gray and red varieties. Wouldn't buy it anywhere else.
Wayne NJ-area inquiry
Thanks to all who replied but, unfotunately, it appears that another individual got the job. Very, very distressing given the current job market and his present lack of employment, Best, ---
Wayne NJ-area inquiry
Thank you bot h so much for the leads. I had already targeted Ridgewood when I did a search for a Whole Foods. I had no idea that a Fairway was in the area -- great news! I'll start digging into the other communities you mentioned. Keep your fingers crossed!
Wayne NJ-area inquiry
Hi, We live north of Boston; however, my husband is a finalist for a new position in Wayne, NJ. For a variety of reasons, we would maintain two households for at least two years (my job, difficulty of selling this house in current market, etc.). The plan is to rent/buy a nice two-bedroom townhouse for that period. I would be down there about fifty percent of the weekends, he'll be here the rest. So here's the question -- from a foodie perspective, what community should we look in for a townhouse? Keys are: no more than a twenty-minute commute to Wayne; access to a wide variety of non-chain restaurants; access to good food and wine markets; and hopefully a CSA or good farmers' market. Any insights you can give or links to good area websites are greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Arrowhead Farm CSA
I'm new to the Newburyport food scene and am thinking about joining the Arrowhead Farm CSA for the 2009 season. Does anyone out there have any experience with them? Thanks in advance.
All I did was buy it, and I already screwed up the turkey...what now?
Hi, I'm from the other thread on smoking a turkey. I actually misspoke in my original post. I'm grilling the turkey over indirect heat in a covered grill with the average temp around 300-325. Hence, the 3 1/2 hour estimate for a 12 -14 pound bird. Smoking, which it sounds like what you're interested in, is much slower and at a lower temperature. Not sure if I would want to sign up for ten hours on Thansgiving. Here's a link to the recipe I'm using in case you want to give it a try. http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/recipes/maple-brined-wood-smoked-grilled-turkey.aspx
I made it ages ago and it was delicious. But I'm still unsure what time to shoot for with a larger bird! Anyone have any thoughts?
How long to smoke an 18 pound turkey?
For Thanksgiving, I plan to use a recipe I clipped years ago -- John Ash's maple and soy-brined turkey that is smoked over an indirect fire on a covered grill. My question is how long to smoke the bird. The recipe says 3 1/2 hours for a 12 to 14 pound turkey; however, I'll have an 18 pound turkey. My husband thinks we should do a strict mathematical extrapolation which would mean 4 1/2 to 5 1/4 hours. Does this sound reasonable? After all of this effort, I don't want to end up with a dried up bird! Thanks in advance.
Two women, three nights
Thanks for the suggestions thus far. Keep them coming! Am considering Telepan or Picholine for the lower key French evening. are we on the right track?
Any thoughts for innovative lunches are also appreciated. Will be spending most of our time in museums (Met, NYHS, MOMA. LES Tenement, Frick, Morgan Library, Guggenheim) but hope to avoid the museum cafes when possible.
Cheers.
Two women, three nights
Two Boston women are heading to NYC in mid-May for our semi-annual museum, gallery, shopping trek and solicit your help. Three nights -- here's what we have in mind.:
One over the top blow out meal -- EMP gourmand menu already reserved. Pretty set on our opinion here but should we entertain other possibilities?
One fun/hip/chic place -- Momufuku Ssam, assuming we can get reservations. If not, what do you suggest?
One French dinner with great wine -- Friend is requesting French; don't want it to be as formal as a Daniel expereince. Veriatas is booked. Any thoughts?
Last lunch on our way home will be Bar Boulud.
Thanks in advance for all help. Cheers.
