little ms foodie

all great ideas you guys, thank you so much! We have limited time as all she wanted for her birthday was for me to take her shopping! Ahhhh, I'm so proud! We are going to go the pizza route and make some traditional as well as some unique ones....the rest of the ideas are being filed for the next visit!!

no cupcakes aren't too young but her mom might be mad if we have them for dinner!! haha! Suzy, pizza might be good..... then she can make her own toppings! I'll probably skip lasagne this time since we'll be doing italian the night before. I've asked her mom what she like and they are vague..........

my friend and her 9 year old are going to be visiting for the weekend and we'd like to put together a menu that will be fun for her to get involved with. Her mom doesn't cook at all and last time she was here we made mac and cheese, fried dill pickles and ribs....she had a ball. What are some fun things to make with kids? We are taking her out to an Italian restaurant for her bday the night before so I'd like to stay away from noodles....... thanks!

lemon risotto with peas ............ with a nice Sonoma chardonnay

LOL Percy!! I'm just back from vacation and happy to see you blogging, it's about time!

I would say to absolutely make a reservation, they are always full, even at lunch

I love the goat tagine and the assortment of spreads with fresh pita for a starter..........

Della and I had the crispy tongue on Monday night!!! we also had the soup du jour, a butternut with sage and fried squid garnish (YUM!), salad with lentil vinaigrette, chevre and figs and the charcoutrie platter of sausisson, jambon, more tongue, pate and rillettes. no room for dessert but we had a pichet of nice red and our total was around $70 also.

thanks Susan, Lillet blanc is an aperetif and doesn't have a licorice taste but is very herby... I'm just going to have to taste the Strega and you'll have to look for Lillet, it's in the wine section of the stores and is best served on ice with an orange slice.

First, what is Strega... It is a liqueur made from herbs and spices, put together in a "secret recipe," and colored with saffron. I just recalled this topic I started some time ago. It may be one of those drinks, you love it or you hate it. Those glasses are actually liqueur glasses that came in a Strega gift pack! ← hmmm, that sounds like maybe a sort of Lillet blanc but for dessert?? I'll have to look for it!

it is divine! Dayne said it is the only thing he has made in quite a while that he would pay $12 for in a restaurant! haha, I agree

The TI in Occidental Square closes this friday

Susan what is Strega?? I think we have the same dessert glasses? Riedel tulips? Gorgeous duck! Maybe you will think about doing the legs as confit?

my husband made the valoute of bittersweet chocolate with cinnamon stick ice cream the other night......

danm other end of the world!! yes of course, sorry all....... ricotta gnocchi with red sauce, both out of Molto Italiano...

I finally uploaded the picture of the dessert Dayne made for our dinner party on Sunday valoute of bittersweet chocolate with cinnamon stick ice cream (from FL cookbook) YES, I am a very lucky woman! dinner tonight was leftover ricotta gnocchi and red sauce with fresh herbs and a green salad with huckleberries

If you are in Pioneer Square at all, I really like Grand Central also. Great sandwiches and salads and all sorts of baked items to temp you!

Well with summer ending I would actually vote against the paella as it should really be done on an open flame and I don't have a gas stove (yet!) but that is just me.......... fall has me thinking of: chili carnitas/tamalas osso bucco stews braising

Happy birthday prep cook! Wow Susan, I can't believe it's almost been 1 year since your last blog. Always fun to see your excitement and passion!

great pictures Chris!! We made the ricotta gnocchi recipe out of Mario's new book but I served it with sauteed leeks and chanterelles and a brown butter sauce instead of sausage and red sauce. They are good and very rich, I would also call them dumplings vs. gnocchi.

Also isn't there a Dilattante chocolate in the building by the crumpet shop at the market??

Chufi the figs are a big hit...I love them in the salad but I also do them as an app. I stuff a bit of blue cheese in the fig and then wrap a piece of proscuitto around them, drizzle them with EVOO, s&P and roast them for about 10 to 15 mins. then I drizzle them with honey before serving.

Where on QA is it?

friends over for dinner last night... apps of fried squash blossoms, pickled green beans and bruschetta with heirloom tomatoes (red, yellow and green) salad with roasted figs and gorgonzola Thomas Keller's roasted chicken, Mario Batalli's ricotta gnocchi with sauteed chanterelles and leeks and brown butter sauce All served with a 2001 Lange Pinot Noir out of the French Laundry cookbook Dayne made the chocolate Volute (sp?)with cinnamon stick icecream for dessert Too busy chatting to take photos!!

perfect!!! also who do you think has the best bagles?? I'm so excited to get a great bagle for breakfast!