lala

As mentioned, Three Sisters in the Market makes great sandwiches. Fresh, made to order, and HUGE. For regular apetites, one may satisfy two eaters. My favorite is the Meatloaf with special sauce. Just like Mom made for lunches.

Sorry you had this experience. My guess in saying that you're the only one to complain was to cover their a**. If they admitted, in any way that they were at fault, it would, in their eyes open the door to possible lawsuits from your group. Having worked in restaurants and retail, I know that the lawyers coach the management staff thusly: First, and foremost, do not admit fault, even if other customers have the same complaint. Just offer apologies, even say that no one else reported it, and do whatever your refund policy is. I'm in Seattle, and I have an idea of which place you went to, and if I'm right, their corporate Manager training has been influenced by the lawyers. If ya really want to rattle their chains, report them to the Health Department.

Thanks for the info, Placebo! I realize that ya'll are constricted by the space, just know that that first display really bottles things up. That said, I'm thrilled that this place is there! I love the folks who actually produce food in the market (Jack's smokes their own fish there...), so it's great to be able to view the cheese making process, and try the results. Friends and I found several good cheeses over the holidays, and look forward to a lunch of grilled cheese sarnies this weekend.

Well, as Busboy mentioned with philippics, from Athens on down, the two have never been mutually exclusive. In fact you could say that historically, civilization has been defined by the very bitchiness - whether against restaurants or in the hands of Demosthenes - that you hold to be uncivilised. Having said that, A A Gill from the Times (who you mention) has few friends in my neighborhood.

Restaurant reviews in England are as much a blood sport as hunting. While living there, I read the guy in the Times on Sunday, who was incredibly mean spirited. While the Brits pretend to be civilized, they do indulge in the nastiest journalism I've ever seen. Many types of reviews are all about inventing new, bitchy things to say about restaurants, plays, concerts, etc. It's appalling.

Thanks for the reassurances and encouragement, everyone! I shall continue with my research and planning. I do remain cautious about asking servers about the heat factor. I always ask in Asian restaurants, and often wind up with head-exploding heat in my food, despite the waiter's assurances of mildness...ah, well, ya pays yer dime, ya takes your chances... Thanks!

hey tsquare... Mekong Grill (pork) at Noodle Ranch Corned Beef Hash at Ettas 7 flavor beef at Lee's Baguette and butter from Dahlia Bakery Sesame Scallops at Uptown China (not on the menu, special request) chocolate fudge cake at Chinooks

While living in a shared house, with a seperate fridge on each floor, the guy across the hall would 'shop' in my groceries - actually take food, then leave money! Not only was my food missing, he never paid enough.

I have always wanted to visit NOLA, but I have a problem. As I understand it, all of the local food is traditionally very spicy, and I'm a wuss when it comes to heat. Worse, I will most likely be visiting with BF, who's an even bigger wuss. Did I also mention that I'm not a fan of green peppers? While I know that NOLA has many food options, I want to eat the regional foods - without the heat blowing my head off. Am I foolhardy to try? Are there heat options, or does the food just come in one scolville factor? I do so want to visit and explore the culture and history of the region. I just don't want to starve while I do it! Help?!

What is your favorite dish/menu item in the Seattle Area? What dish haunts you until you have to go and get it?

yes, it's the same company as Pasta & Co... I find it crowded, too, and usually leave before I can even get in far enough to buy anything. If they removed the freestanding display that's smack dab in the middle of the floor, it'd be easier to actually get in to see the cheese sales area.

Avoid Ponzi Winebar like the plague...friend and I had a terrible meal there. Waitservice was surly and very, very slow. Food was awful...I had ordered a pizza, friend, a burger. Kitchen timing was really bad...I watched as my pizza was done, and set out on a plate on the bar for 10 minutes ( I timed it), while friend's burger was being cooked. Cold, clammy, no flavor pizza (no sauce, even though it did not say this on the menu), greasy overdone burger. Response to complaint was a shrug of the shoulders. Please, go elsewhere...

I like the Mario Batalli sauces that I get at Trader Joes. The Fennel and roasted garlic one is great - not all sweet and tomato past-y like most American bottled pasta sauces.

While I enjoy free samples, I fear for the germ factor. I'm trying an experiment this winter...washing my hands often, and not eating any sample foods in stores. Amazingly enough, I haven't been sick at all! (No, I didn't have a flu shot, either). This is a change from previous winters, so I'm sticking with it.

While I absolutely enjoy loose teas, in the morning, when I'm stumbling into the kitchen, it's all I can do to put a bag into a mug. If you can get it, PG Tips is a good strong tea. If you can't, try Tetley's British Blend. My friends and family who used to drink Lipton's, Red Rose, etc now use these bags and love them. Still strong tea, but a fuller flavor, and less bite.

Oh, those are horrible! But I understand the issue. As a tea person, I get unuseable tea things, including silly, tiny teapots that are smaller than the mug I use to drink it!

While I have some trepidation about boxed wines, based on what I've had, but I'd like to see this happen. As a single person, I know when I open a bottle that I'm not going to finish it. I've had to weight the benefits of buying half bottles (overpriced), or full bottles and not finishing them. It's actually cheaper to buy the normal bottles and not finish them. Don't tell anyone, but I've begun to freeze the last glass or two, and use this frozen wine in my cooking. Works great!

olive oil, garlic, onion (always knew dinner was on when we smelled this combo) garlic, butter, parmesan chocolate, raspberry, champagne fennel, orange, sherry vinegar bread, peanut butter, raspberry jam smoked salmon, cream cheese, pumpernickle bread poached egg, toast, butter (fresh ground pepper, salt...does that make it 5?)

whoopsie, ludja, you're right! Essensia is from Quady... it's a bit richer than a Beaumes de Venise, and that orange flavor is great with any mild dessert (sponge cakes, etc.), or berries. but the Vin de Glaciere from Bonny Doon is terrific, too!

Irwin, with great respect, bearing in mind that you said that you don't really drink wine... surely you know that wines vary in prices and qualities? For anyone who's ever had a Bonnie Doon wine, they know that $30.00 is a good price for the quality. They are a terrific, small winery, and if you want to spend that kind of money, theirs are good wines to consider. Myself, I'm hooked on their Essensia, their Orange Muscat dessert wine. Use it in the summer to make a Zabaglione to serve with berries and peaches...heaven! And, no, I do not regularly spend $30.00 on a bottle of wine...$10.00 is more in my budget, unfortunately!

I fondly remember 'Who's killing the Great Chefs of Europe'. It's from the late 70's, when I began to get serious about cooking. Lots of great scenes in European cities, kitchens, food, lots of over the top hysterical chefs. Even then, it was unbelievable that Jacquiline Bisset (as a Pastry Chef) could waltz onto an airplane, carrying her knife kit. (heck, I had problems checking mine in my luggage at that time.). And watching her try to make a large Bombe is just too funny, as she patted away at this massive thing with a palette knife. Funny, funny movie. See it if you can.

Here in Seattle, it's 3 buck chuck...and it makes me upchuck... nasty, nasty wine. There are so many decent bottles for $8-10! The aussie wines are a good mainstay, and don't corrode the enamel on your teeth like Chuckie does.

Chocolate is bad for you...what? it's Good for you? Wine is bad for you...what? it's Good for you? Chinese food is bad for you...no, that's just the fatty dishes... I know that most everyone I know pays very little attention to these proclamations. Just eat a varied diet, in moderation, and enjoy it. That way, you won't eat too much of the latest 'bad' food, and maybe you'll be ahead in the end!

I live in Seattle, and enjoyed making a delicious pot roast last week!

I used to watch Emeril and throw things at the tv because he's such an idiot. Now I do this with Sandra Lee. Not only is her food scary as hell, her 'decorating' ideas look like what we did in my college dorm!