emmelle's Profile
Where to find masa preparada para tamales? Seattle area
the spot you're referring to usually carries the masa, but not sure if they carry the prepared stuff on a daily basis. and the puerco lloron gets their masa from the spot in white center which was mentioned earlier (la mexicana). although it is nice to have the prepared masa, i'm a big fan of preparing it myself either works great!
A Cook, A Birthday, A Restaurant?
Hello everyone! I'm a cook at an Italian spot in Seattle and will be in town for my birthday (Jan. 8th) and need some guidance as I have not explored LA (although I am familiar with a few from afar). I am usually drawn to "rustic" food but that's also what I cook on a daily basis, so I'm looking for refinement and possibly something completely different? This dinner is with my boyfriend and I want to stay under 200. Something romantic but does not need to be over the top, my concern is really with the food than the atmosphere but it would be nice to dress up! Thanks in advance, I'm excited to hear everyone's ideas. I hope it's not too ambiguous of a post!
Visiting Seattle - Looking for Bakeries
trophy does have a better crumb, but cr has more interesting frosting/batter combos, methinks. oh and i need to try yellow leaf, i have not been! thanks for that. :)
In Seattle for Three Days, need recs
Brunch - Campagne, a staple, and easy to get to as it's downtown and in the Market. Monsoon, a little Vietnamese/American/French. Lovely and simple, and they have dim sum as well but it's on North Capitol Hill, bus route available though. Now, if you're looking for something that is superlative try The Corson Building. They just started Brunch and it's super fresh super local stuff with a gorgeous setting. You need a car to get there, Georgetown is not easy most other ways. Cafe Besalu if you can get to Ballard, it's a trek but the pastries are excellent and the coffee very good.
Lunch - Le Pichet (downtown) is tasty french food, not bad on the wallet, and near everything with french fries made right. Whenever I get downtown I go to Pichet, it's good always and at any time. They're open late just in case you need some food to go with your drinks. Paseo's (fremont) a little out of the way and if you're in the U-District try Thai Tom, a bit of a wait as it's small but worth it. Matt's in the Market is a good choice but will be busy and packed, call ahead of time. Pizza at Serious Pie can be a gamble, as they sometimes burn the bottoms. They started a $5 happy hour menu and that might be a good reason to stop in. Salumi a Seattle staple in Pioneer Square, make their own cured meats and the owner is Mario Batali's father. Tasty sandos albeit a small space, good prices. The SAM has a restaurant inside and worth checking out as is the Dahlia Bakery.
Dinner - Sitka & Spruce is on Eastlake and easy to get to on a bus from downtown. I can't say enough about this place, just go if you can. It's small, they don't take reservations, and have an excellent wine list and menu. I'm also on a weird kick with Kabob House (Greenwood), and Jack's Tapas Cafe Mostly Chinese -yeah, don't rack your brain on that name, no one gets it (U-District). They're out of the way and you would need a car or some buss navigational skills. The food at the brew pubs here is the usual burger and fried stuffs, and not good. Stick to the beer at these places. Capitol Hill is a night life hipster hot bed, unlike Belltown which is more of a night club "bridge & tunnel" type crowd, and Pioneer Square is like girls gone wild coupled with the dudes that love them and the homeless that live there and all are crowded on any Saturday night and difficult to drive through. You are warned.
The Hill - You can get anywhere by taking a bus from downtown (or walking, it's not far) and then wandering around. It's hipster central but growing in the restaurant dept. I second the Poppy desserts, but not the dinner. It's a little too much going on with little very little cohesiveness on one plate. Lark is usually a very good rec, romantic, and in your price range and very seldom a letdown, my number one as an alone time kind of spot. Skip Anchovies and Olives, not good and overpriced. Spinasse is a good, if not a little loud (communal tables), overall a bit pricey but have THE best pasta in town, still in your range though. Cafe Presse for late night drinks and food, also good at any time. And super cheap. Via Tribunali for pizza on the hill that's dark and cool looking, and there's also Pagliacci's, not special but a good delivery sorta chain-y but only in Seattle type place. There's Elysian brewery on the hill, but the food is sub-par. Stick to the beer if anything and get food at Quinns if you're looking for some gastro pub grub that will make you want to explode at the waistline. They have beers on tap but don't make their own. Don't forget the icecream treat though! There's a new spot called Bluebird and also Molly Moon's. Molly moons doesn't make their own base but still good. Just go for the kid's size scoop, the flavors are restauranty and a little much when on their own and regular size. The sundae options are yummy. Beware- it can get crowded! Can't rec bluebird though, it just opened a few days ago. Now don't ask for who makes the best coffee, you might get into a fist fight. But a few places to check out - Victrola, Caffe Vita, Vivace (my fave), and Stumptown (although not local, they're from PDX).
The Markets - You won't find too much "real Seattle" in the Pike Place Market, it's a little bit of a tourist trap, fun, yet CROWDED. Try the U-District Market on Saturday and the Cap. Hill market on Sunday if you miss the U-District, you'll can't get more local than those.
Intl District (formally known as Chinatown) is an interesting area and a lively spot for late night eateries. My fave for late night is HoHo Seafood, and I'm sure you could get into a lively debate about pho in Seattle but my rec is a place called Pho So 1. I second the Greenleaf spot for Vietnamese (pho is also good there, but not as um divey as the other spot). Maneki is a good spot for sushi but for both sushi and other japanese kitchen treats that deliver the goods on both ends try Tsukushinbo. It's a hidden gem of a place and accessible from downtown with a brisk walk or short bus ride and around the corner from Maneki. Of course, you can't miss out on Uwajimaya. A mecca of sorts for all things Asian.
I'm sure I missed a few spots, let me know if you want any more info. Enjoy your time!
Visiting Seattle - Looking for Bakeries
Cafe Besalu for sure on the pastries they're excellent, though their quiche has gone a little on the downhill slide lately. Good baristas (tasty coffee) but is usually crowded. Bakery Nouveau is tasty in the pastry dept but not even worth it on the coffee scale. Haven't tried the Wallingford spot, so no comment but now I need to get my butt over there. Le Fournil, don't bother. Dahlia is worth the trip, a little touristy but not a trap. Macrina is overhyped and not too special. If you find yourself on Capitol Hill, take a side trip to North Hill bakery, they have some fun stuff sometimes but it's really only worth the trip if you're on the Hill already.
Le Panier, classic when it comes to Seattle bread spots, but will be crowded because it's in the market and it's summertime. Essential Bakery has a few locations and makes a Raisin Pecan bread that is perfect as toast and a vehicle for butter. Agree on Tallgrass and maybe try to make it to one of the Farmers Markets, you'll find a few jems there. Recs- Ballard Market, Columbia City Market (a bit out of the way, but worth it) and U-District Market. Times and dates are on their website www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org
For excellent quiche try Le Pichet, they also make their own croissants and brioche that rival the first two bakeries. And if you want to throw in a cupcake or two, Cupcake Royale and Trophy Cupcakes are yummy with Royale being the more interesting of the two and they have good baristas.
-----
Dahlia Bakery
2001 4th Ave, Seattle, WA
Essential Baking Co
1604 N 34th St, Seattle, WA
Le Pichet
1933 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Cafe Besalu
5909 24th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
Bakery Nouveau
4737 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
Cupcake Royale
2052 NW Market St, Seattle, WA
North Hill Bakery
518 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA
SF three day trip...eats?
The little cutesy handwriting on the website, it looks like a booklet from Olympia, Wa bands in the early 2000's, not because of the menu, it looks cute! Would rather eat elsewhere though :)
SF three day trip...eats?
My plus one and I are flying in from Seattle to SF for Wed/Thurs/Fri of this week, we get in Wednesday at 11am and leave Friday at 830pm. I'm not picky when it comes to food and although this is a quick trip, I want to check out some local faves, a couple of must-eat-legends, a spot or two in the tenderloin and a morning breakfast. So far the list of possibilities include a bite at Turtle Tower (rec from a vietnamese friend in Seattle) and/or Lahore Karahi, a drink at Absinthe, a bite at Bar Jules, dinner at Zuni? The list is not set in stone and would love some recs from you SF chowhounders. Where should we go? What is SF food right now? Thanks and can't wait!
Flagstaff Dining
Had an overpriced, light-handed-on the-salt, mediocre dinner at Heartline. The menu looked average (Yavapai was closed at Enchantment Resort) so we went but could barely want to get through half our meal. So far, food in Az have been less than good, non-salted, super-sized portions, and overall I give it a...meh... And as far as Mexican goes, might as well make your own by picking up some items at the super cool Rancho Market on 16th in Phoenix. I'm excited that there might be a good cup of coffee in Az; heading to Macy's in the morn.
And what's with the restaurants doing the "Hi, I'm (fill in the blank), I'll be you're sever today, can I get you a drink?!?" routine, along with the corporate logo shirts?
Sorry to sound so down in the, um, tummy? But I like good, tasty, local, seasonal food. Granted Yavapai and Elote were closed, but I am begging for a good rec.
Car Trip! - Phoenix to Sedona to Flagstaff to Santa Fe
UPDATE: as spread out as phoenix was, the food was not as interesting as I had hoped BUT the Rancho Market on 16th was AMAZING! It's like the Uwajimaya in Seattle but with hispanic foods. Actually, I think it beats it; Uwajimaya doesn't have fire roasted chickens outside or an awesome and great bakery. The quantity and beautiful variety of produce, dried chilies, fresh cheese, and super tasty chorizo was enough to say I would come back if had the chance. Couple that with the El Dorado hot springs (so relaxing and a great atmosphere) and that makes for a perfect day trip for anyone from around. I'll post photos soon!
-----
Phoenix Ranch Market III
1602 E Roosevelt St, Phoenix, AZ 85006
El Dorado Hot Spring
41225 W Indian School Rd, Tonopah, AZ
Car Trip! - Phoenix to Sedona to Flagstaff to Santa Fe
thanks, this is great and we are super stoked to have at least a cup of good coffee. i think i'm making an assumption but seattle has a pretty good rep for drinking and making some tasty cups, it's hard to think of other areas as being so available.
Car Trip! - Phoenix to Sedona to Flagstaff to Santa Fe
we'll be in downtown phoenix, but that's all tentative. we have yet to make a res at a hotel as we want to make a stay near yummy food, but we do have a car.
thanks themis, those are great recommendations!
Car Trip! - Phoenix to Sedona to Flagstaff to Santa Fe
So as my first time in the Southwest, I have decided to make it fun with a splash of epic-ness.
My boyfriend and I fly into Phoenix (from Seattle) on the morning of the 8th of March and will drive our way to Albuquerque and fly out of there on the late evening of the 12th. So in that short time we are driving from (& staying) Phoenix the 8th, Sedona the 9th, Flagstaff the 10th, Santa Fe the 11th & 12th. We don't want to feel too hurried so if we skip a town and stay elsewhere, no prob, we just need to make it to Albuquerque by the evening of the 12th.
We have a vague idea of where we are staying but no idea where to eat and have some fun. Especially eat. And we are trying to not spend too much as we are spending a bit of monies at a Sedona resort and restaurant. I'm a lover of street food, coffee (we are Seattleites...), and really everything tasty in between. We're not too keen on shopping and are mainly looking for more of an experience of the southwest via food/culture/scenery. Tips on where to go and what goes on in this lovely area we about to explore would be super helpful! Are there any hot springs on this route? Cool road side diners or food trucks anyone swears by? A local hot spot? What makes and shapes these areas?
Thanks for reading and I hope we are given some guidance!
