pablissima's Profile
Eating Local: Princeton
My family owns this farm (though I'm a west coaster) and the site is up and running, though we're always working on improving it, including updating the high view farm recipes and new photos of the livestock and farm.
Sea - Places you want to hate
Dick's is anything but a food crime. It's like that late night pardon from the governor before the ill-advised gin-champagne-sugar specialty cocktail of execution robs one of relatively painless morning.
Which cooking school or class series to take in the Seattle area?
Ditto on Culinary Communion. I've taken about 60 classes there and eventually did an apprenticeship with the head instructor. Warm, relaxed environment, interesting classes focused on technique, and CIA-trained instructors.
Bottarga in Seattle?
Oy, that's why I was hoping to find it locally. Amazon had it for so much money. Now I really hate myself for not getting some while I was there. Oy.
Bottarga in Seattle?
I am kicking myself for not buying a jar while I was recently in Sicily. Anyone know a local source?
Best Indian restaurants
I second Spice Route and India Bistro. I've spent a fair amount of time in different parts of India and always ate well, so I'm picky about Indian food (though not nearly so much as my Indian friends, who also like both places).
Taste of India, however, I cannot recommend. The menu states that it's spiced to an American palate, which it is. (and when Indians talk about spicing, they mean spices, not necessarily hot stuff). So everything I've ever had there I found bland.
Buying a half hog
You could talk to one of the farmers who go to the farmers' markets in Seattle, like Skagit River farms or Sea Breeze farms. They might be willing to sell you a half, or they might be able to get you cuts you want. You can also call Farmer George's butcher in Port Orchard. They butcher for local farmers and may be able to get you in touch with someone who does this.
Finally, you could contact Future Farmers of America. The kids sometimes sell theirs after the shows or if they don't qualify, and then I believe the cost is actually a tax-deductible donation to a non-profit.
Seattle's Most Touristy, Overrated Restaurants
Hey, lay off Dicks! It may not be gourmet, but those fries and a Dick's deluxe may be one of the best hangover avoidance tools in the city.
Downtown, especially around the hotel and conference center district, caters to to the hotel and conference center attendees. That's why you've got all your chain retail shops as well as restaurants there. Yes, there are some good ones, but for the most part, well, there's a market for PF Changs and Cheesecake Factory, and it's not foodies. In fact, it'speople who have to be here and don't want to be challenged or find food interesting.
The point about the neighborhood places being more interesting is a good one. And that might say something about the diners. We were at Nishino tonight, having a good (not brilliant) meal, but were quite thrilled to have the 10 year old girl next to us order the special with foie gras. (Or my 8 year old friend who regular craves Uni at Mashiko) Those are not the people who eat at cheesecake factory. the people who eat at cheesecake factory are the ones who are going to be appalled that the tempura special at nishino is oysters, hedgehog mushrooms, and shiso leaf.
Outstanding seattle caterers? (for a wedding)
You might want to check out Starry Nights Catering in Kirkland. Matt is awesome, professional, and great to work with. And Dan, his cake man, makes the best wedding cakes, so lovely, so good.
Eating Out in Seattle
Agreed on HV, but they get packed and the space is small. they take a few reservations a night, but you'll want to book a few days in advance. For my money, I would recommend Sitka and Spruce in the Eastlake neighborhood. Also, downtown, Txori Bar, which is a pintxos place run by the Harvest Vine owners is worth an early evening snack.
ISO: Cyrus O'Leary's Fruit Pies (SEA)
I'm pretty sure the bread outlet over on Jackson and 20th(ish) sells them.
Restaurant Recommendations for Visitor to Seattle?
Hmmm...Purple is nice enough, though I don't really get why it's so booked all the time. I'd recommend Palace Kitchen, Brasa, Matt's in the Market, or Txori (brand new tapas place on 2nd and Blanchard).
is there anywhere good in renton to take my out of town aunt tonight?
We went to Melrose Grill, and it was decent. Steak was tasty, but I ordered mine black and blue and was expecting it to be rarer than it was.
Thanks, all, for the suggestions.
is there anywhere good in renton to take my out of town aunt tonight?
I should probably specify that we're not looking for anything family style. My aunt is a cool 40-something semi-foodie, but i know nothing about Renton. So is there anywhere worth it, or should we take her to Seattle proper to find good food and a good atmosphere?
is there anywhere good in renton to take my out of town aunt tonight?
She's staying near where East Valley Highway and 405 meet. Did a Google search, but don't know anything about the most local places. Can anyway give a recomendation on Pabla, Jubilante, or Armondo's? Or is our best bet to take her up to Columbia City? Thanks.
Private Cocktail Party in Seattle?
You could also try the new space at Culinary Communion up on Beacon Hill. the loft space would be a nice comfortable "living room" feel and I'm sure they could work up some option for the catering party.
Best place to buy fish in Seattle?
I work near the Uwajimaya in Bellevue and to be honest, no, go to the ID one. Much larger selection, and I've gotten mussels from the Eastside one with barely any alive. The ID one is generally larger too, so bigger selection.
Batali got the boot (from FN)
Might I amend that statement to: I think the thing with Paula Deen is that she is entertaining and makes food that is accessible to middle america and the home cook who are underweight and whose cholesterol levels are distressingly low.
Don't feed your kids (well, rats) diet food
Didn't sign up to access the link, but the gist seems to support the philosophy I was raised with, and which I dont really understand why has fallen out of fashion--kids should eat what their parents eat, if in smaller portions. I recently had a wedding where there were two kids under twelve and was asked if I wanted to have chicken fingers nad fries for them (whereas everyone else would have their choice of seared duck breast, filet mignon, or cumin crusted ahi. As I find the entire notion of "children's menus" offensive, we said no. The kids ordered happily from the menu (one went for beef, the other duck) and they were just half portions.
I used to date a guy (not my husband) who had two kids, 9 and 12. They lived with their mother, but when they spent time with us, complained about dinner all the time. Mainly because I believe in eating at the table with the TV off, and I follow my cook's training of 1 protein, 1 starch, 2 veg. They didn't seem to get why we couldnt just get KFC, and somehow I couldn't get through to them that that wasn't food and certainly not stuff that was brought into my house. I haven't eaten fast food in seven years, and if I think something is dangerous to put in my body, I'm certainly not going to put it into vulnerable growing bodies.
On the other hand, I don't think diet foods would be the least bit necessary if people justcooked properly proportioned meals for their kids.
wedding cakes in SEA
Starry Nights catering in Kirkland has a cake man named Dan who does absolutely amazing cakes.
Indian Seafood in Seattle
I was in Mumbai a few years ago, and although almost everything we ate was great (why is Indian Chinese food soooooo good?) my favorite were the seafood dishes. Tandoori pomfret, lobster with butter, garlic, and black pepper, Goan-style prawns. That sort of thing. We must have gone to half a dozen excellent places in downtown Mumbai that specialized in seafood. Anyone know a good place in Seattle we can find something even close?
As a side note, for those who haven't been, my Indian friends have been taking me to Spice Route in Bellevue a lot. They say the spicing is more authentic, and I've really loved it. Plus they have butter daal, which might be one of those things you can use as evidence of the existence of a benevolent deity (along with good taco trucks and manhattan clam chowder). So I highly recommend Spice Route. Also, the grocery store next door sells the best shampoo I've ever used with henna and almond.
Anyway, favorites on the Indian seafood front would be much appreciated.
Jeffrey Chodorow Has Lost His Marbles [moved from Manhattan board]
I haven't been to Wild Salmon, but I have been to some of his other place, and as a Seattlite, I have been Ray's Boat House (where Wild Salmon's chef comes from) many times, and the reviews Chodorow links to seem to suggest that the restaurant hits the nail on the head of what an upscale Northwest fish house would be like. Many of them do offer the options of different cooking methods and some offer different sauces. We like our salmon cooked the way we like it, and with the flavors we like.
I also have to agree with Chodorow that any restaurant critic who can't taste the difference between sockeye and king has no business writing about food.
Cooking class recommendations - Seattle
I'll third the recommendation on Culinary Communion. The classes are varied, and are very hands on, and both main instructors are CIA-trained chefs and excellent teachers.
Why are eggs so satisfying?
Why is it that, when you're feeling all down with the flu and nothing else sounds remotely edible, eggs seem so completely satisfying and safe? Why is it that eggs for dinner feels so warming and comfortable, and yet, a quick scramble or sunny side up fry takes only a couple of minutes?
And why is it that so many people these days seem not to like eggs?
One more egg query--do you refrigerate yours?
Ultimate Resturants 2006 (SEA)
1. Sitka and Spruce
2. elemental@gasworks
3. Lark
4. Harvest Vine
5. Barolo
Good books with food as a key element?
I'll second the recommendations on Madhur Jaffrey's latest, anything by Calvin Trillin, and Debt to Pleasure. i'll add to the list: The Basque History of the World, by Mark Kurlansky (he of Cod and Salt), the Whole World Over by Julia Glass, Michael Ruhlman's books (the Making of a Chef, the Soul of a Chef, and the Reach of a Chef), any number of books by MFK Fisher (especially The Gastronominal Me and Serve if Forth), Ruth Reichl's books, and Mort Rosenbaum's books. (can you tell i'm a bit of an addict?)
Barolo - New Seattle restaurant?
Ate there a few weeks ago and loved everything. We actually went based on the recommendation of a friend from Italy who said it's his favorite Italian restaurant in Seattle.
Seven Star Pepper (Seattle)
They have a dish with the handcut noodles with pork and pickled cabbage--that's by far my favorite. Also, the cumin lamb dish is interesting, in a good way.
Capitol Hill (Seattle) short notice weekend dining
Monsoon was a good suggestion, but I do think that the rest of the posts were a bit harsh on the hill. There are a fair number of good places, depending on what you're in the mood for. Tango and Rosebud are good places for a small group, and the food is generally pretty good, if not brilliant. The Garage has decent food, as odes 22 Doors up on 15th. La Spiga is great, as is Via Tribunale for excellent pizza. There's also Galerias for decent Mexican in a pretty setting. And there's always Broadway Grill, which, if you're interested in a place where a group of six can hang out and have a decent burger or salad, is not a horrible choice.
