Janer's Profile
Unpretentious homestyle food downtown?
Right on. And mine is "Light on dark double berry to go."
Translation: All light meat on wheat bread, with mayo, and a double serving of cranberry sauce, to go.
80th Birthday Plan: Building a List of Restaurants to Try - What Would You Add?
My friend and neighbor, a longtime Seattleite, has decided to celebrate her 80th birthday this year by building a list of restaurants to try throughout her birthday year. Some on the draft list are old favorites, others are places she has a hankering to try. She sees no compelling reason to leave Seattle for the suburbs (but you can try to give her one!). Not too noisy (Crow, for example, is out). A bent toward local, fresh ingredents. Someplace to linger for a nice evening out (that is, not looking for quick-bite-places, but rather relaxing-dinner-out places). What would you add to her list?
Txori
Cantinetta
Tavolata
Tilth
Betty
Sitka & Spruce
Corson Building (might be too noisy)
Poppy
How to Cook a Wolf
All the Tom Douglas spots
Nishino
Sambar
Delancy
Spring Hill
Serafina
Matt's in the Market
yikes, really edible Indian food in Ferndale
Our experience at Curry House this weekend was unfortunately not so great. Friendly folks, but rather mediocre food. The chicken in the chicken tika masala was large dry chunks, and the naan was barely done and tasted flourey.
Another day on our visit we hit Luxe Thai, right around the corner on Third Avenue. Really enjoyed it.
Suggestions needed for vegetable-centric dish that travels well and keeps well (for funeral)
For Thanksgiving I made a mess of roasted golden beets, chopped them, tossed them with a vinaigrette (heavy on vinegar, just a touch of oil), and some chopped parsley. Traveled beautifully.
Also made a cabbage slaw (again with lots of vinegar and a touch of buttermilk) and it too traveled well. I added carrots, peppers and parsley as well, so was very nutritious.
Halal or Kosher Meat Market in Puget Sound Area
Have you checked with Continental Spice & Halal Meats? On Aurora at about 78th.
PHX Superstitions Hiking: Lunch Shopping & Post-Hike Dining?
We are heading to Phoenix soon for 3 days of day hiking, staying at hotel in Apache Junction (frig in room). Seeking suggestions for where to get sandwiches or other food for the trail. Based on previous posts, it looks like the Phoenix Ranch Market in Mesa would be a good source and opens at 6 am Any tasty treats you like that would hold up well on a long day hike? Would either shop the day before and keep in our frig room overnight, or go there before we set out. Also looks like Tradiciones might be an option for a post-hike dinner one evening?
Also on my list:
El Nopalito
Barrio Cafe one evening (assuming we can get cleaned up).
One day we also want to head south and hike the Table Top trail which looks to be southwest of Casa Grande. Any suggestions for a post-hike early dinner & margarita in the Maricopa or Casa Grande area - nothing fancy since we will have been hiking. Searched the boards but couldn't come up with much.
Anything worth trying in Apache Junction? Saw a mention of Los Tacos.
Since we are coming from a northern state, you can see my bent is toward Mexican/southwestern cuisine, like so many of your visitors.
Help Me Refine my Seattle picks, please?
Here's another vote for Kisaku for sushi. I used to be a totally devoted 10+ years Shiro's regular, but have to say things haven't been quite the same since his semi-retirement.
And yet another vote for you to consider keeping Dahlia on your list. Popped in for lunch this weekend - I had the bento box, friend had the congee, and we were well-fueled for shopping. And yeah, we splurged and had an order of the doughnuts which were served with a delicious huckleberry jam. Plus, in celebration of their 20-year anniversary, they have the sweetest little 2010 calendar for sale...cool artwork, recipes on the back.
Skip Wild Ginger. MrNelso's advice re: a visit to the ID instead is the way to go!
Lamb Shanks in the Slow Cooker?
Thanks for the ideas everyone. I browned the shanks, then sauteed onion, celery, carrot, garlic - deglazed pan with red wine, beef broth, added some chopped prunes, and put it all in the cooker with a few bay leaves. Cooked them on low for 10 hours. They were falling apart tender and delicious, just as you predicted! Happy dinner guest. Daily unadventures, your tip on cooking them ahead so you can skim the fat is great and I will do that next time. The sauce was just too fatty to use.
Help! My beans don't cook evenly.
I agree with scott123 on this. I have the same problem as you do, barryg, and have long suspected that my source is the culprit -- a mix of old and new beans. I began testing other sources, and found that doing so sometimes resolved the problem. Very frustrating. I think we need to launch bean-cooking campaigns to solve this problem.... I have the best luck when I purchase the beans in bulk from the local co-op, which I think has the highest turnover.
Lamb Shanks in the Slow Cooker?
I have four lovely lamb shanks that I purchased at the farmer's market, and a new slow cooker, and a guest coming for dinner on a work night. I am still slightly suspicious of the slow cooker, not having had much experience with it. So, what tips and suggestions do you have to help me have a successful and tasty lamb shank experience? Any way of preparing them you especially like?
Seattle's Most Underrrated Restaurants
I'm a fan of Piroshki as well...the son handles the one on Madison, and the mother their new location on 3rd Ave downtown. When you have a busy day ahead, you can pop in there in the morning to get a lunch piroshki to heat up in the microwave later. The son was the one who instructed me "one minute in the microwave. "
Thanksgiving sides that can be served room temperature?
How about some nice roasted golden beets tossed with a vinaigrette?
No Stumbling at the Stumbling Goat
New owners, with a somewhat modified space. Also a new menu - you can check it out online - but looks like they still have a roast chicken dish. I appreciated that the bowls of soup and the tomato salad on the "small plate" menu were not too tiny. Starters around $7, entrees around $24. Yes, it's still a bit pricey but given their high quality purveyors I can understand why.
http://www.stumblinggoat.com/gourmet-dining-menu.html
No Stumbling at the Stumbling Goat
I have enjoyed this neighborhood bistro well enough over the years, through some ups and downs, but never had such a delightful meal as the one last night with its new crew.
The soups (I had the oxtail and farro, a friend had the white corn bisque) were steaming hot and truly delicious - the seasonings so on target you tell a lot of care went into them. The halibut was amazing -- perfect crust - served with cherry tomatoes, pickled walla wallas, and parsley...it made a delightful little salad when you mixed it all up with a bite of the perfectly cooked fish. So yummy, I want it again.
For dessert I had the huckleberry sorbet -- you cannot believe the color (so, so deep) and the taste was nothing short of standing in the mountains with your mouth full of huckleberries, intense, intense. Run don't walk to get some of that stuff. The berries came from Foraged and Found, I was told, so who knows if they will still have it, but it seems that huckleberry season is just starting.
I wasn't tracking that the place was changing hands. I will now be finding it difficult to stay away. My only complaint is that the lighting is still just a few notches too low for my aging eyes. As needed, take your reading glasses and an itty bitty flashlight for the menu and the bill, and you'll be fine.
Food in San Miguel de Allende
Ole Ole doesn't appear to me to be in a little house - it's at Loreta 66, about 3 blocks north of the Jardin. There's a little black bull you can see hanging above the doorway, and the place is covered in bullfighting posters.
Ah, enjoy those taco stands...we are going to miss them back in Seattle.
Food in San Miguel de Allende
Geoff,
I'm in SMA now, just finishing up a lovely visit. Looks like you have done some good research. Here's my 2 cents
- La Posadita has a lovely rooftop setting, don't miss it. We went about 2 p.m. and enjoyed comida there. Tasty cactus salad, aztec soup, pibil, margaritas all good.
- Tio Lucas was my least favorite--okay, but wouldn't return.
- Bugambilia has nice courtyard for a leisurely comida or dinner - I tried chiles en nogada and enjoyed them
- Comida at El Ten Ten Pie - keep on your list - was my favorite! 100 pesos.
- San Augustin Cafe - chocolate & churros a must. Never had a churro like that before.
- El Correro - liked the sopes, soup.
- El Buen Cafe & Cafe La Parroquia - both were great. The avena (oatmeal) with berries at El Buen really hit the spot one morning, as did the scrambled eggs in tortilla w/bean sauce another morning.
- Tuesday Market--yum. We hit the fried fish place.
- El Pegaso - very pleasant. Good if you are in the mood for a salad or sandwich. Or shark tacos.
Anything missing? I would add:
- Ole Ole for fajitas. The Arrachera (flank steak) were my fav.
- Now let's get on to the important info. After 7 pm there is a taco truck that sets up on Mesones, behind the San Francisco church. We had a few of the tacos al pastor and, at about 50 cents each, they were the BEST bites of the entire trip. Belly up to the bar with the locals until you make eye contact. So many people eating there you can feel just fine about it. I shall attempt to attach my photo!
- In the mercado that is behind the civic plaza you will find a row of fondas - at Fonda Rosarita I had an amazing chili relleno--simple, hot, not smothered in heavy sauce and covered with cheese. I watched the cook stuff the chili with cheese, dip in flour & egg white batter, and fry it right there. Some they pre-cook and reheat but it does not suffer for it. Also tried the chilaquiles there--wow!!! And with a can of cervaza...I was in heaven. No other gringos in sight.
Enjoy!
Fresh Cranberry beans
I buy these often at the market as well. Simmer them until tender -- sometimes I thow in some fresh herbs. When tender, I take them off heat and add salt to the water and let them hang out in that for a bit. Then I drain the beans, make a simple mustard vinaigrette and toss them with that. Serve with anything...a sandwich, roasted meats, on top of green salad, whatever. Love this time of year.
beanless chili
Our standby is this one from a 1981 issue of Gourmet. We use olive or vegetable oil instead of suet, and also cook up some rice to serve with it. So delicious.
http://www.recipesource.com/soups/chili/01/rec0190.html
How to feed many people cheaply
I second the suggestion of a french toast casserole (so easy for a group!), or perhaps a breakfast strata -- similar concept but with more savory elements. Two 13 x 9 pans of the stuff and you're ready to roll. You can search the web, or check out a Cook's Illustrated recipe.
Lunch - make your own sandwich spread seems like a great option.
For dinner, there's a terrific old Gourmet chili recipe you might consider (link is below). I skip the suet and just use olive oil. We make this every year for a neighborhood party, and it's great because you can make it all in advance, and then the informality of people fixin' up their dish the way they want is part of the fun. We serve with pinto beans and rice -- cooked separately -- so that vegetarians can still fix up a bowl with whatever they wish. For some reason we always serve this with shredded carrots, too. Not traditional, but it adds a cool and sweet element. Of course, I see that goodhealthgourmet has much more virtuous recommendations, so audience consideration is key here.
http://www.recipesource.com/soups/chili/01/rec0190.html
Favourite Casserole cookbooks?
Check out Cook's Illustrated "The Best Make Ahead Recipe." Lots of excellent recipes for stews, slow cookers, casseroles, etc.
whats your fave mac and cheese recipe
Ahh....Spicy Macaroni & Cheese from a 1991 issue of Gourmet.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/SPICY-MACARONI-AND-CHEESE-12786
Recipes for Cancer
What a difficult time, and what a wonderful daughter you are. Cooking is such a tangible and satisfying way of making a difference. You might also want to lurk on the cooking thread on breastcancer.org (a terrific web site!) , although CH's are a particularly great source for ideas throughout various phases of treatment!!
http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/86
Don't forget to plan a few of your own favorite comfort foods for yourself....
Recipes for Cancer
Hi Jacquelines,
I'm currently the primary caregiver & cook for my partner who is going through chemo for breast cancer. I love to cook, and I have to say that chemo has presented some mighty interesting challenges. As Nemo points out, there are such variations from day to day, and from person to person. I have been making great use of my freezer (like never before) so that I am ready to respond to the digestive track du jour, appetite level du jour, and taste bud situation du jour. Here's what tops my list:
1. Pureed Soups: Potato-leek soup, tomato soup, zucchini-watercress soup (Silver Palate), butternut squash-pear-ginger soup. Use chicken broth for added nutrition, and throw in a piece of kombu while the soup simmers, for added minerals. They all freeze beautifully, and are the ultimate comfort food.
2. Granola. I make my own -- a great source of fiber, protein, texture. Add plenty of raisins or other dried fruits. Many of the chemo anti-nausea meds as well as painkillers cause constipation.
3. Roasted chicken and roasted turkey breast. So versatile - I am shocked at how many simple sandwiches I am making, so having these on hand in the fridge is a necessity. I also can toss the meat into a tortilla, or make chicken salad. Protein is so, so important while going through chemo, as I am sure you have read. This Jamie Oliver chicken dish is also one of my favorites--so easy, so good.
http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/meat-recipes/tender-chicken-legs-with-tomatoes
4. Things with mint, cilantro, basil, lemon, ginger . . . Some days, when her sense of taste is ka-put, it's Indian & Mexican food that she craves. Tonight we had an indian dal soup (red lentils, onion, garlic, various spices, ginger, chicken broth) served over brown rice, topped with cilantro and yogurt. Mexican has also fit the bill now and then. Pesto was a hit (and yes, I have some in the freezer now!) Rice salad with extra mint went over well. This whole line of requests really surprised me. I'll never forget that, after a day of refusing simple things like watermelon she woke up the next day and declared "I want Indian food." I had whiplash.
5. A few meals brought over by friends that we have appreciated include a roasted chicken with side dish of lentils. I added more vinegar to the lentils to give them some zing. I also was brought a nice pot of bolognese sauce, which went over well. Now I make it and freeze it. Cook's Illustrated's "The Best Make Ahead Recipe" has a good complement of recipes that have come in very handy, in part because many of them involve hefty levels of protein.
6. You might check out the New York Times Recipes for Health section. I found some great things to do with squash and tomatoes in their recipes, all of which went over well.
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/series/recipes_for_health/index.html
One other cookbook to look at is "One Bite at a Time." It has many good recipes that would meet your criteria,and some helpful narrative sections. I remember one bit of advice was something like 'the usual rules of eating just don't apply." I think I might use it more after chemo, actually, because during chemo it's all about trying to balance nutrition-protein-taste-calories...and making the most of every bite...whenever she wants to eat! Lke I said, I have learned to love my freezer.
Best wishes.
Oregon Coast Fish & Chips/Oysters
You might check out the Waldport Seafood Company.
http://www.waldport-seafood-co.com/
But if you have the time to venture 20 or so more miles north of Nehalem, Ecola Seafood in Cannon Beach would be my top pick.
Both of these are seafood markets that also do chowder, fish & chips, etc. Definitely no ambiance - but good stuff.
SEA: Bakeman's
In addition to the turkey, meatloaf, and egg salad sandwiches, don't miss their soups. They always have the delicious classic turkey noodle. Navy bean, and turkey with wild rice are also often on the menu and they are great. No nasty after-taste of chemicals like every other soup place in town.
Mixed-on-dark-double-berry forever! [aka mixed light & dark turkey meat, on dark bread (which really isn't very dark), with a double portion of cranberry sauce. Yum.]
Dynamite Lunch "Dynamic Dish" (Atlanta)
Am visiting from Seattle and discovered "Dynamic Dish" today in Atlanta. I really liked this place and had some truly memorable vegetarian bites in their bright dining room.
The menu (on a blackboard) was small - four items - so our group of four tasted everything. After one bite of the lentil-walnut pate I was scheming on how to get the recipe for the holidays. My quiche--with spinach and squash, and a garbanzo bean crust - was piping hot, perfectly salted ummm so good on a cold day. Served with perfect roasted potato chunks. I also tasted the toasted brie-pear sandwich on raisin-nut bread...served with a fresh arugula salad. And finally greens -- collards and kale. Can't come to town without scarfing down as many greens as I possibly can. Still bright green yet tender and yummy. Really, every bite at this place was on target. Didn't see any alcohol on the menu but a nice cup of cool green tea was just fine for lunch. I'll be back on my next trip to Atlanta.
Martha Stewart’s Hors d’Oeuvres Handbook: Tea Sandwiches, Classic Canapés, and Simple Crostini; Skewered and Threaded; & Bites and Pieces (Chapters 4, 5, & 6)
On two instances I have built entire parties around the recipes in this cookbook--including one wedding reception I handled for a friend! Most of my items came from these chapters. A few recipes I keep returning to:
Although I made many varities of her canapes for the wedding reception, the shrimp, cucumber, and dill canapes (with shallot butter) really stood out. I have made them on many occasions since, and find that it's a perfect bite. Although I bought a pullman pan with the intention of making my own bread -- "yeah, right" -- I ended up purchasing cocktail loaves and cutting off the crusts...drying them a bit in a slow oven...and it worked out just fine.
Now, I store my little tartlet shells in the pullman loaf pan. Now, those were a lot of work. I have fond memories of the parmesan-pepper tartlets with wild mushrooms but the PTSD hasn't worn off yet from the long night spent messing with them.
Gotta love those little piped crudites. Often I do just the pea pods, the carrots, and radish slices for color variation to keep life simple. A platter of those before a heavy holiday meal is always a hit.
Like Rubee, this is my preferred recipe for the Puff Pastry Straws. I prefer them over the "vegetable quick sticks." The quick sticks were lovely but not so tasty that I've been inclined to make them again. One of the guests at the wedding reception, spying glasses of them of them around room, declared "those are pretty enough to eat" but didn't realize they were meant to be eaten. Sigh.
The sausage platter is another (obvious) crowd-pleaser. Everyone had such fun contemplating the sausage and mustard choices. Spent time selecting high quality sausages at the market, and it paid off. We made little signs by the mustards to let guests know if it was hot, sweet, etc. I love to take this platter to neighborhood gatherings because it's a treat yet does fine at room temp, very forgiving.
Poppyseed Cake at Bavarian Meats (SEA)
While paying for my bockwurst and jar of mustard today at Bavarian Meats at Pike Place Markert, I picked up a piece of their poppyseed cake, innocently sitting there on the counter, wrapped in plastic. The nice lady behind the counter gave me the look, you know the look -- the "yes my dear that IS good" look and mmmm she was right. I forgot to ask who is their source -- anyone know?
Such a perfect day at the Market -- I braved the crowds to pick up Holmquist hazelnuts and Stewart beef jerky as holiday gifts for out-of-towners, then enjoyed an absolutely perfect bowl of hot and sour chicken soup at Saigon restaurant.
