I really like Britt's pickles. I'm really hoping his black garlic kimchi gets approved by the WA state food board or whomever he's waiting for approval on.

Daniel really does the best job of anyone i've found in the greater Seattle area. That would be my suggestion.

If you are going to Antwerp you should definitely check out Chocolate Line IMO the best and most interesting Chocolates in Belgium.

I'll be in Amsterdam next week for a convention at the RAI and i'm hoping to find some good places to eat near the RAI.

I'm also looking for general recommendations about some of the best places in general to eat in Amsterdam. Thai, Indonesian and whatever else Amsterdam does well. I'm not picky and will eat just about anything.

The butcher in the ferry building has wild boar shoulder which is assume what you are looking for if you are making sauce etc.

Sushi Ran has really gone downhill over the last few years. They used to be great with both their cooked dishes and their sushi being very good, but both have declined greatly in quality and I wouldn't exactly say its moderate to moderately high price point, I've never gotten out of there for under $100 a person when actually ordering a decent meal and some basic sake.

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Sushi Ran
107 Caledonia St., Sausalito, CA 94965

I'd suggest checking out Smart and Final and possibly ordering it from them. They were selling the 1ld red wax paper wrapped blocks for something like $3 or $3.50 a ld for a long time. There was only a few Smart and Finals in Los Angeles area that carried it while many others did not. You might want to try calling around to see if certain stores up here have it.

I highly recommend Epicurean Edge as well not only for knife sharpening but for any of your knife needs. This is one if not the best knife shop i've ever been into. He has a huge selection and will do almost anything that you may ask about. I find his ability to help you select a knife is fantastic as well.

There is a place on Pico called Marty's thats the home of the Combo that makes the best Chili Dogs in Los Angeles. They use vienna beef dogs which are perfectly snappy.

sadly that lambic is sweetened with a ton of extra sugar.

Yes it probably is a cultural difference either way though doesn't help the high end dining scene. Too me though i look to somewhere like San Jose or even San Francisco to see where tech money likes to do there. They have much higher end places and many more of them. I'm not quite sure what the deal is but its certainly odd/interesting.

there really isn't anything like that up here that i've found. I too like Machiavelli's atmosphere pricing and food quality, but its not the same as Joe's.

Do they make mashed potatoes on the same level as Joel's? if so i'll have to go and order a bunch.

While that is true. Having lived in LA for almost 4 years I can certainly say that a large portion of the high end dining scene is supported locally there whether it is steakhouse type places like Cut, Mastro's, etc or something like Spago, Urasawa, Providence Water Grill, etc

Certainly vegas has a huge tourist based economy, my point was more that for the size of city seattle is and the amount of money that is based here, M$FT, Amazon, Starbucks etc the high end dining scene is comparably weak. There are a couple places yes, but no where near the depth or variety that you'd find in some other major cities.

Yeah there isn't going to be anything remotely approaching that level of dining. Seattle tends to be cheap and doesn't really value a high value dining experience like your referring too. I find Joel Roubochun stuffy but the L'Atelier is very very good for what it is. There isn't a high end dining scene really in Seattle. Its much more mid level to mid high, nothing truly on the high end world class level, at least that I've been to or in comparison with the cities I've lived in previously.

Most of this is due to the fact that the people in Seattle who have money don't tend to spend it on food in a public place. They might host private events at their houses but they aren't going out for elaborate dinners.

I find Bill the Butcher to be among the best local butchers other than the Swinery for certain things. I go to the Magnolia store and both of the guys there are very knowledgeable and helpful. They also work on sourcing the things that I want.

The other places i've been to are

A&J Meats on Queen Anne which is just a total joke, very very overpriced the seafood place stinks and the meat is of a poor quality not to mention after about 10 requests for a few specific cuts etc that were repeatedly ignored.

Rainshadow Meats I found the beef here to be pretty good but the attitude and we are so superior message was just uneeded. In addition when I asked about certain cuts and sourcing certain game meats I was told that they didn't do that.

Swinery is great and has probably the best bacon in seattle.

The meat place down by de laurenti in pike's place pretty good but not really grass fed etc.

Overall the ability to request certain cuts of beef and game and actually have anyone deliver on it is terrible in Seattle. Its funny because in LA i have 5 places that I could go to easily and they would stock a lot of the stuff that I wanted. To me it doesnt' seem hard to have Venison Rack's, Wild Boar Shoulder, duck etc as a regular item.

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Queen Anne Cafe
2121 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109

The Swinery
3207 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116

i have heard that there are some around Seattle and the east side. unfortunately i have been unable to get an invite or find out any more information other than that they happen. I'd love to find some as the private supper club thing is very cool and interesting and to me would seem to perfectly fit the Seattle environment.

I think that Salumi is very good for what it is. It seems like a lot of you don't really like the vibe there, which is great because it means shorter lines for those of us who do. There really aren't very many places like Salumi in the United States. Yes it is a little cramped compared to having huge comfy chairs but its a Sandwhich shop. Their Porchetta and Meatball are great. I like the Muffo as well. The gnocchi are great when they have those. The counter people other than being somewhat impatient from time to time are generally great and friendly and as long as you treat them with respect generally return it.

The salumi based sandwhiches are simple so that you can appreciate the cured meat rather than 35 other things piled onto them.

I have taken probably 30 people there in the 8 months I've lived in Seattle and everyone has loved it. Its probably one of the only things that I've encountered that Seattle does on anything close to a world class level.

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Salumi
309 3rd Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104

really interested in this as well.

i'll be checking this place out.

That sounds really good. I'll have to lobby the guy I know who works there then.

yeah i just flipped through their asian thing. I'm not sure how much to trust it as they listed samurai noodle as great ramen. its mediocre at best.

yeah I should have recommended too especially since my wifes friend is one of the cooks there. The food is actually quite good.

I second this and even though you didn't ask about their sausages in general, I find the bacon sausage to be just crazy good. both Italians are quite good as well as their bangers. I'd definitely suggest this place.

I find that most Dim Sum in Seattle, doesn't compare very well with Vancouver or even LA/SF both in terms of quality and in terms of selection. Having tried a few places like Jade Garden and Harbor City i've been disappointed. Anything int he greater Seattle area that I'm missing?

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Jade Garden Restaurant
7th S King S, Seattle, WA 98101

Yeah people are entitled to their opinions and you should post yours if you feel differently.

I'd definitely avoid Pike. Elysian will be much better both in terms of beer and in terms of food. My suggestion would be to hit one of the two Elysian places. You could also hit Naked CIty though I found the food options to be lacking there. There is also Brouwer's in Fremont which if he's big into craft beer he'll probably lose it over, they have like 50 taps plus 300 or so bottles.

I like where ya at matt for his New Orleans food though not sure it would hit your craving.

Sosio's in Pike's Place has them for like $4 a ld as well.

i second this recommendation.