mamster

I don't think braising temperature matters very much. If you put a pot in the oven at 375, you're cooking at a full boil. That might give you a smaller window between tender and dry, falling-apart mush, and it might be too vigorous for some of your ingredients (edges of the meat might fray, for example), but there's nothing inherently wrong with it. I've read in many otherwise reliable books that braising too hot will cause the meat to seize up and never become tender, or something like that, but that just isn't true in my experience.

phaelon, Chantico is very much in line with the hot chocolates of Paris. It's the same type of beverage, and (based on little experience) it's better than the worst of Paris and worse than the best. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to 7-11 for a 44 oz Chantico Super Big Gulp.

Chantico thread

Thanks, moose. This place really is great; the menu is small, but if you're looking for a Thai restaurant with genuinely different stuff, this is it.

I've been meaning to mention that while I like most of the people on PNW, tighe and Really Nice are total Frangos.

I tried it today, and I was impressed. My benchmark over-the-top hot chocolate is the one I make at home from Pierre Herme's recipe. Chantico was, I'd say, 90% as good. It's missing a bit of the throatiness of really good cocoa powder, and I'd cut the sugar back just a tiny bit, but nothing about it tasted fake or prefab. I also think a 4oz serving would be more appropriate than 6oz, but I guess they couldn't really sell a 4oz drink for $3. edit: also, the name is hard to say and hard to remember. Couldn't they call it 'sweet chocolate lovin' or something similarly inappropriate?

I've found I can always provoke a spirited discussion (i.e., "mamster is such a jerk") by mentioning how much I hate Frangos. Somehow, "I hate those Frederick and Nelson Originals" doesn't have the same ring to it.

Sweet and sour chicken in a baguette? That is a totally unfair characterization of the drunken chicken. It's General Tso's chicken in a baguette. Thank you.

Did the Oceanaire burger go up to $20? Damn. I think it was $15 when I had it. I've gotten it a couple of times and they definitely have trouble cooking it right. The first time, I had to send mine back because it was overdone. The second time, mine was perfect but my friend's was torched. Even at its best, though, it's no better than the Palace burger.

Sorry about the bad experience at Akasaka, WL. I've never tried any Japanese food there. I have no idea about the ownership; I can say that when I've been there both with and without Asian friends, the service has been friendly and quick, so maybe it's improved. I can't blame you for not going back after a nasty experience, though.

One (non-Korean) word: Akasaka. It's in Federal Way, and it rules. mamster's review There's a little backstory that's not in the review, however. I earlier reviewed Kim Chi Bistro on Broadway and liked it. I got a stern email from a Korean-American reader who said she went to Kim Chi Bistro and it was terrible, and clearly I don't know Korean food. I wrote back and said, okay, then why don't you take me to a good Korean place and the Times will pay for it. Laurie and I drove to Federal Way with her whole family and ate at Akasaka, and she was right--it thoroughly blew away Kim Chi Bistro, where I do still go for bibimbap.

I'm working on an article about coffeehouses that also serve beer (and wine, but I'm concentrating on beer). I know of several such places on Capitol Hill (Joe Bar, Red Line, Online Coffee, Capitol Hill Internet Cafe) and at least one in the U District (Solstice). Anyone know of others, especially in other parts of town? West Seattle? Ballard? Columbia City? Thanks!

We get duck legs at USP also. Last time I was in, they gave me a choice of two different varieties: pekin and I missed the other one. Probably Muscovy. Usually they've just had the pekin, but they're great. I try to keep them in my freezer at all times. You will be hearing more from me on this topic in a local publication in February.

Meatball, drunken chicken, and kobe beef are my favorites. The latter only appears occasionally. We once had a pork confit sandwich that was awesome; the braised pork with red wine isn't that great, though.

A Google search doesn't turn up anything, which is indeed too bad.

Heh, I remember the problem of the endless specials you can't keep straight. Jon, my shower curtain continues to be highly political. And this is totally off-topic for this thread, but this morning I went to Don and Joe's and Don boned a lamb shoulder for me, which is currently in the oven. Then I came home and read your story about butchers from yesterday, complete with picture of Don.

Thanks!

The bread at La Spiga is called piadina, and it's from Romagna. It's extremely different from Tuscan bread, more like a tortilla.

Here's my review (registration probably required). I agree that the sandwiches are the best thing they do--the sausage and peppers sandwich was great. Haven't been back since the review, though.

Man, this is going to be so great.

I'd recommend Palace Kitchen or Oceanaire, though the latter has a tendency to overcook.

True to my word, I had lunch today at Pazzo's. I had the Miguel, with pepperoni, red bell peppers, gorgonzola, and fresh basil. It was very nice -- the epitome of good American restaurant pizza, for lack of a better term. It's not what Reinhart calls neo-Neapolitan. My only complaint, really, is that the 10" pizza is too much for one and not enough for two, but I have a small appetite. I'd definitely go back.

Wow, that Pazzo's pizza looks really good. I need to get down there.

It's in the back of the Sanitary Market, which also houses Three Girls, a cheese shop, Frank's, and a bunch of other stuff.

Michael is the chef at Hopvine pub on 15th. I hate to admit this, but I've never eaten there.