SeaGal

Ok, this thread inspired me. I was sauteeing my chicken thighs for arroz con pollo last night and after I'd browned the skin side, I flipped them and removed the skin. Finished browning the thighs and used them in the casserole (the skin usually gets soft when cooke with the rice, so we didn't miss it). I took those skins and continued sauteeing them until I had cracklings and then salted them. Served them with side cars and my husband and I were in crackling heaven.

And luckily, Ezell's has opened an outpost in Woodinville, in a strip mall near a McDonalds and, ironically, a KFC . I second and third the Union recommendation for the pricier meal and the early or late happy hours allow you to sample a good portion of the dinner menu at reduced prices. In the ID, banh mi is a great deal (usually only about 2.00 - 3.00 for a loaded, tasty sandwich). There are many Vietnamese delis selling banh mi and other goodies in the 12th and Jackson area, but my favorite is Saigon Deli (there are several) located on the NE corner of 12th and Jackson in a strip mall. Just up the street (North) is Malay Satay Hut which is commented on in the ID thread that Kiliki referred you to. Also, I seem to remember you being a cheese lover, so you may want to check out The Cheese Cellar. It's across the street from Seattle Center and the Space Needle, so you could drop in while sight seeing if you're planning to do that anyway, although they're not open on Sundays. The owners are lovely people and the selection is fabulous. Do let us know if you're looking for dining companions or need advice while you're in town. Hope you enjoy Seattle!

I think chili is a great idea. Or, how about chili verde for a twist on the regular chili. The ribs above sound good or pork shoulder, roasted or BBQ'd the night before, shred and add BBQ sauce to the crockpot for bringing to work and bring buns to make BBQ pork sandwiches. (Not culinairily PC in terms of real BBQ, but it works for a potluck). Or how about cold sides, such as a bean or pasta salad?

Wendy: I've bought hanger/onglet from both Whole Foods and Don & Joe's. They don't always have it, but I try to grab it when I see it. It's really tasty! Jan

Unfortunately, I often just "refer" to the recipes, so can't say I've actually made some of them. That said, I've "made" the maple brined pork chops with the polenta side, the corn bread pudding, the sauteed lemon chard side, the mashed potatoes (sooooo good!) and the winter salad has become a staple recipe for me...love the lemony, bitter, truffley goodness! *edited to add: Oops!, sorry, forgot to say I was referring to the Tom Douglas' Seattle Kitchen cookbook.

1. John D Rockefeller, Sr., American industrialist and philanthropist, was the father of JDR, Jr., 2. Together, they formed the Rockefeller Foundation (RF) a large philanthropic organization. 3. Recently, the RF joined forces to fight hunger in Africa with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, 4. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, gave a grant to the Honolulu Public Library. 5. In Honolulu, the luau is a popular and traditional celebratory feast. 6. Roast pig is served at a luau. Cheers! Jan John Cusack and uni

I'm with you on this, especially with strongly flavored or very large oysters. (But the cocktail sauce can't be sweet--it must have good doses of lemon, horseradish and worstershire sauce). And definitely with beer and oyster crackers. Now, if the oysters are petite and/or more delicately flavored, a bit of lemon, a slice of buttered brown bread, and a Chablis or Muscadet are all that's required.

I've also cooked out of both of Tom Douglas's cookbooks and especially love his first book. I've also used a few of Caprial's recipes and enjoyed them. Another book that's great is "West Coast Seafood: The Complete Cookbook" by Jay Harlow. It has almost everything you'd want to know about seafood (although it's the entire west coast, not just the PNW).

I'll add my 2 cents worth. When I stayed with a family in Morelia, the mother made pozole (spelled with the "z", but pronounced just like posole--when I pronounced it with the "z", I was laughed at by the children in the family and made to repeat it over and over.) It was a soupy concoction of dried red chiles, soaked and pureed and added to a porky broth (made with various fatty, meaty, boney cuts of pork that had been stewed for several hours) and prepared hominy (nixtamal) that had been purchased in a grocery store in a cryovac container. It was much fresher, firmer tasting than the hominy I buy in cans here. The soup was served with limes, dried oregano, chunks of iceberg lettuce and radish slices. I went to the Mexican market in Pike Place Mkt and asked the ladies what chiles they recommend and they said to use a mix of guajillo and anchos. I tried that, and it was very good. I added a pigs foot to the pork broth and it gave a rich, porky flavor to the soup. I used canned hominy, because I didn't want to go to the work of pinching the pedicels off the hominy grains manually, per Diana Kennedy's method. I really need to try some of Rancho's dried hominy--it sounds wonderful. I've also seen recipes for green (using tomatillos) and white pozole, and some that use both chicken and pork. I think the Southwest version is thicker and more stew-like than the Mexican version.

They have Vya vermouth at U-Village QFC. Last spotted on the shelf with the ports and dessert wines, next to the room with the premium wines.

Gary and I just got back from Portland and we also stopped at Burgerville (I believe it was in Chehalis?). I have to say a big ditto to what LMF said above. Dry, tasteless, gut-bomb of a burger, fries and sweet potato fries were average and the shake was not cold enough so tasted like chocolate froth. Yuck! (also, no onion rings in the winter for some reason??) RE: Carl's Jr. - I'd say they've gotten worse, although I've only eaten at the Visalia one recently, not the Bay area ones I used to haunt. Still like the fried zucchini with ranch dressing, though, and the super-star was not bad. Gary always loved the Western Bacon Cheeseburger with the onion ring on it. Jan

I'd suggest Union after the concert, an easy cab ride away, they have a late night happy hour that starts at 10:00 with a lovely selection of menu items for 8.00 each (these are mostly off the regular dinner menu, so you get to sample some really great food). They also usually have a great selection of cheeses, good wine, beer and cocktails. They also have the same deal earlier in the evening, (I think 5:00-7:00 or so??) but it's not walking distance to Key Arena.

I quite like Bengal Tiger which is just north of there on Roosevelt and 65th but I'll definately give Taste of India a try and compare. ← Please let us know what you think. We were unimpressed (by Taste of India) and wishing for better Indian. So far our best is Masala, by Northgate. Don't even think of Sahib, in Edmonds, as their service is the worst. We live in Edmonds, and our last 4 experiences have been terrible. ← I've had good meals at Bengal Tiger. It's fairly close to home so we get take-out from them from time to time. Really good rack of lamb tandoori. I've also had the lunch buffet at Masala and enjoyed it. I am not a fan of Taste of India--one time we tried it, several years ago, we found the food kind of bland and underspiced. Maybe in all fairness, I should try it again, since many others seem to like it.

I love this place too. Try the siu kau (sp?) dumplings instead of the wontons--they are really good. When there's two of us, we also like to get a side of the veggies with oyster sauce and one of the fried crullers/chinese donuts for dipping. I really like the pork congee too--it tastes like carnitas porridge .

Eden, what an interesting blog. You are very lucky to have Bill's ice cream around (I and several other eG'ers have been lucky enough to taste his ice creams and they're really good.) I'm not a ferret fan, but that's a really cute ferret.

Welcome! I live nearby, too. It's a great area, as you said, close to U-district, Greenlake, Wallingford, Maple Leaf, and Lake City; all of which have interesting places to shop and eat. Better than the fruit stand are the U-District farmer's market (Saturdays) and the Lake City farmer's market (Thursday afternoons).

I really like the food at Green Leaf. We had a similar salad the other day, but with lotus root instead of green papaya. It really rocked. Loved the grilled shrimp with the heads on. Enjoying the blog--especially the "after hours" post

I'm in agreement with LEdlund here, it's not the quality (read clean vs polluted) that's a problem with Seattle water, it's that horrid chlorine smell/taste. I have a very large, Costco-purchased, filterer which seems to get rid of the chlorine so I don't need to purchase bottled water at home. I do love San Pellegrino or other sparkling water when I'm out.

While I heartily agree that In-N-Out's burgers are way superior to Dick's (albeit having enjoyed several of Dick's Deluxes while in altered state of consciousness at 1:30 am); I have to say unequivocally, that In-N-Out's fries are truly the worst I've ever eaten. I went for the first time recently, and while the burger was quite tasty (extra pickles, thank you!), the fries tasted like eating styrofoam. I kept trying another, hoping that I was wrong, and trying to figure out just how they managed to be so bad....blech!

Shrimp de Jonghe, Chicken Divan, Ambrosia salad, Veal Prince Orloff, Oysters Rockefeller, Cherries Jubiliee......the list goes on and on.

Thanks, Abra and Rocky, for posting great pictures of the charcuterie spree. So far, I've enjoyed a yummy duck sausage and egg breakfast and some really lovely bacon. I've frozen the chorizo, merguez, garlic and chicken sausages and a couple of others and am planning on some good pastrami sandwiches soon. Abra's lamb prosciutto was a thing of beauty and tasted really good. Making the pate was quite an involved process and a real learining experience for me, as I'd never done one before. Luckily, thanks to Little Ms Foodie, it was saved from disaster in the great table colapse by a quick swoop and the 10-second rule!!

Union has amazing food and I'd recommend Marjorie as well.

Useful info on Gernot Katzer's site: Epazote and information on both types of oregano as well (move down to the "origins" section): Oregano - Mexican and European

shouldn't you disclose that you worked at Mistral and have personal ties to them before trashing other restaurants/chefs and suggesting that it is the end all be all? ← shouldn't you also disclose that you are an extremely talented chef who has worked in some of the most prestigious kitchens in the world. Which would make you more qualified to speak about what happens behind the scenes than your average restaurant matchbook collector (Which I fully disclose to being.) ← Wendy brings up a legitimate request for disclosure of ties to the restaurant. I don't believe eG requires credentials or qualifications to post opinions and comments regarding restaurant quality and technique.

That place always smells sort of foul (as opposed to fowl) when I walk by. ← You know, though, they really have pretty tasty fried chicken and the livers aren't bad either if you get them when they're just out of the fryer. (Unfortunately, the gizzards are pretty gristly--they need slower cooking to make them tender). It makes a great snack to take down to the waterfront/overlook when you're in the mood for comfort food.