pickledeedee's Profile
SEA: All Purpose Pizza & Ale
Paradize Pizza just South of the PCC is not bad. Not as gourmet as A.P. certainly, the sauce is really garlicky/tangy, but I loved it. They deliver, but are not open on Sundays. A.P. doesn't deliver before 4pm, just FYI (I know most people don't want pizza before those hours but we had a Sunday hangover and no good pizza options due to above!) PS Paradize is affordable with a 3 topping XL pizza delivered costing about $18.
Seattle: BYOB or low corkage restaurants?
I dined at Purple (downtown) recently and I believe their policy is no corkage on the first bottle IF it is not already on their wine list. I think their wine list is quite extensive.
Lunch (to-go) for 100 (Seattle)
organictogo.com
I used them for years downtown as a sales rep. Good variety to the menu and freshness.
Here is their fax menu for Seattle, easy way to order with a lot of variety:
http://www.organictogo.com/Organic_To_Go_Food_Catering_and_Delivery_Print_Menu_WA.pdf
Cuisonart smart hand blender vs. other immersion blenders
I have the Cuisinart stick blender, from Bed Bath and Beyond that comes with the blender, whisk and mini food processor. I really love it and use it often. I have been surprised how many times I have used the food processor, too. I have the big food processor but for small sauces, onions, etc. The mini is great. A friend bought the cuisinart and hated it because the speed was "too high" she felt and splattered everywhere. It is true that you cannot use it in a skillet, you will be fine using it in a big soup pan, or with the big plastic cup that comes with it you can make your smoothie, blended iced coffee, etc. Manual says not to use with whole ice cubes, our fridge has the crushed ice dispenser so works perfectly for cold blended drinks.
Portland pizza dough
I second the Trader Joe's, the wheat crust is incredible, I roll it out over some corn flour and love the end result. I tried the garlic/herb last week and it was good, but I actually prefer the wheat. I am not sure it is WHOLE wheat?
best lamb in seattle
If you're interested, the recipe is:
4 1lb lamb shanks
2 cans Cannellini beans drained
1 can diced tomatoes
1.5 cups dry white wine
1 envelope onion soup mix
2 tspn Italian season
basil
2 cloves crushed garlic,
salt pepper to taste
Trim fat and silver from Lamb (or ask butcher to do)
In slow cooker stir beans, undrained tomatoes, wine, onion soup mix, italian seasoning and garlic, place shanks on top of bean mixture. Cover and cook on low for 10-12 hours. Great easy to make winter dinner.
best lamb in seattle
The best Lamb I have had in the city was at Cremant, in Madrona. It's a braised lamb shank and to die for!
I get Gyro cravings so often, I cross the bridge and go to Factoria Mall (next to the Target there is a Gyro World). There is a gyro/fried chicken place in Rainier Beach down here by us, but I've been a little afraid to try it!
BTW,Lamb Shanks in the slow cooker with cannelini beans is one of my favorite slow cooker recipes, and easy.
Ethiopian Restaurant recommendations in SEA
Okay, I have a great start, and some entree ideas. Thanks, everyone
PS I have seen Dahlak and the windowless part has put me off. It makes me feel like I'm back home in Michigan going to an American Legion hall with the 'rents.
Ethiopian Restaurant recommendations in SEA
While waiting one day for a tow truck at the Wild Ginger parking lot I was graciously invited to share some Ethiopian fare with the attendants who work there. The aroma drew me closer, and I couldn't resist. They showed me how to use the bread to soak up the different piles of food. Now, I have that "taste memory" imbedded in my mind and want to venture out to a good Ethiopian Restaurant.
I've come up with Meskel sp? as one of the top contenders in Seattle and recently in my neighborhood (Mt. Baker) another place called Fana's has opened up.
Any one with any other recommendations and/or specific dishes to try?
Thanks!
Help with real Thai in Seattle
I stumbled upon Bai Tong at Southcenter today when I was selling some books at the Half Price Book store. (That's the same area as Toys R Us off of Southcenter Parkway) Anyhow, didn't even remember it was mentioned here. Another strip mall place that surprises you on the inside very nice and service very attentive. Larb Gai was delish, and the Mango and sticky rice was too die for. Good, sweet fresh Mango?? In Seattle--OK, Tukwila, yes!
going to seattle for the first time
Canlis, snobbery served ala carte. I would recommend The Waterfront at Pier 70, ANYTIME over Canlis. Service is impeccable there. Expensive, yes, but I am frugal, and yet have never regretted one unforgettable evening there. Canlis is so old school, this is not a tradition, just passe. If you are going early evening, take a stroll through the Olympic Sculpture Park right next door before you dine and take in a beautiful Elliott Bay sunset.
Help with real Thai in Seattle
If you are doing the mall thing at Southcenter, and want good Thai skip the chain places on Strander and go down to:
Mali Thai Cuisine
17310 Southcenter Pkwy
Tukwila, WA 98188
(206) 575-2408
It's in the plaza with Circuit City and Marshalls, Michaels, etc. It's on the Left side of the plaza. My Thai friends recommended it to me and true enough, I see plenty of Thai customers every time I go, I recommend the Phad See Ew.
Help with real Thai in Seattle
Having lived in BKK for two years I never had a Phad Thai with Ketchup, the first time I had that "pleasure" was in Vancouver, CA. Thought an int'l city like that could hook us up with some good Thai but it was all diluted for the tourists.
Help with real Thai in Seattle
I second Sianwu's Vientthong, We lived in Bangkok for two years, so I like to think I know good Thai. Luckily for us, one of the best Thai/Lao restaurants in Seattle is a little "hole in the wall" called Viengthong Restaurant in Mt. Baker, on MLK between McClellan and Rainier. If you know the Valley, it's in that little plaza just opposite of where the back of the KFC used to be. It's next to a Vietnamese restaurant called Jasmine. You may be put off by the bars on the windows, and the Lao concert posters, but inside it's a charming little space. The owners, I believe, are Laotian so you will find some of your Thai favorites are called different things or served in a slightly diff. version. Try the Phad Lao instead of Phad Thai (even though they do have Phad Thai), and if you like Phad See Ew (the Thai wide noodles in gravy) try their Lard Nar. Viengthong Restaurant 2820 MLK Jr. Way. 725-3884 (I happen to have their takeout menu sitting right here!) They are closed on Mondays .but otherwise 11am -8 pm. The hostess/waitress will give you good guidance on dishes, you can't miss her because she's a tiny little thing with hair to the floor. Word of warning: their "star" system only goes up to 3 stars. We like our Thai spicy, but we only went 2 stars and that was plenty. If you don't like spicy, I would say go somewhere else, because without the garlic chili sauce, the dishes are flavorless ( I found that out the hard way upon ordering some Takeout, she heard my anglo accent and must have assumed I wanted "No stars", had to doctor it up with some Srichaha sauce. Their Tom Yung Goong is great and so is their Larb.
any food UNIQUE to SEATTLE?
If you really want to go Native try "Geoduck" pronounced Gooey Duck. It is in no form a duck! Try the I.D. (International District)
How Important to You is Pronunciation? (vis-a-vis Food)
In my house we regularly refer to the dish Chicken Parma Gee On Ee, as a tribute to my Scottish M-I-L's quirky pronunciations. I'm so afraid it's become habit that I may order that dish someday in a restaurant like that! I also wondered on our last trip to Scotland how in the world she would be preparing liver patties? It was Liver Pate. This is the same woman who says she and her hubby went out for some "chinky" (chinese food), yes, we have been teaching her about the whole concept of racial sensitivity.....
Missing from Costco
Nosey: Thanks, I cooked them last weekend and realized the cooking directions were also written on the clear plastic, I think it was 20 mins at 375. They were delish.
Your choice for Trader Joe's BEST item
LOVES:
Peanut Butter Crack Balls (okay they're malt balls but careful they ARE habit forming)
Thai Chili Lemon Cashews AND Pistachios
Capitola Cashew nut mix with chili and dried fruit and seeds
Balsamic frozen vegie blend (save some of the sauce patties for your meat)
Lava Cakes.......such a great back up for dinner parties. Come in 2 packs
Balsamic Glaze (haven't seen this one on the shelves in a while
Stilton with Apricot or Cranberry
India Relish!! Mix it in soups or try with Apricot Preserves in Meatloaf.
LIKES:
The frozen brown rice is fluffy and nutty. Better than what often comes out of my rice maker
Pineapple or Mango Salsa
Mango Chutney
Tarte D'alsace
Panko breadcrumbs
cuban black beans
DISLIKES:
Orange Chicken, even though others are raving about it, It is dark meat and tastes greasy to me. I prefer Costco's version
The Frozen Indian entrees taste watered down and bland
The frozen Thai bowls..ditto
NON FOOD HAVE TO HAVES:
Chewable Melatonin (for some reason the chewable works better but I double the dose they recommend)
Pine Kitty Litter. Good for the environment (you can use it for mulch) and keeps the odor at bay.
French Lavender Soap bars
Oxi clean granules (aside from laundry,cleans moss off your roof and driveway),
Your choice for Trader Joe's BEST item
Try the peanut butter malt balls, I call them "crack balls" they are so addictive.
Your choice for Trader Joe's BEST item
try adding their India Relish to that soup...Good stuff
Your best cream of tomato soup recipe?
Those all sound beautiful. Once you've had the first round and want to spice things up, add some Trader Joe's India Relish (to taste).
Missing from Costco
They are still listed on the Costco website as of today. I was looking them up because I put them in my freezer without the box and now can't remember what temp/how long to cook them. Does anyone remember? I am thinking they are partially or totally cooked and just need to be basically heated?
