little ms foodie

Just wanted to post that my husband and I had dinner at Serafina last Friday night and as always it was so nice. Serafina is on Eastlake for those of you who haven't been there. Chef John Neumark is such a dedicated chef, his food is wonderful! We've been here before, in fact we had our wedding reception here as the setting is so romantic, but we don't get back often enough. On the weekends live jazz starts up around 9pm and the outdoor patio is open for dining whenever the weather is nice. We had a wonderful bruschetta with EVOO and fresh mozzerella, pasta with morels, peas and pea shoots in a porcini cream sauce, pork scallopini in a dijon mustard sauce with cornichons and seared tuna done perfectly! They also pick a wine of the week which ususually is a fantastic value. John told us they are also doing Sunday brunch now which we will try out soon.

Went to Cascadia for HH last night, how nice! We sat outside and LOVED those Alpine Martini's. they were quite busy and kept running out of martini glasses so our 2nd round wasn't very cold. The serve staff was a bit flustered but nothing too bad. We also had the mini burgers (good, nothing to rave about but who doesn't like mini things??) and the calamari (not as hot as it should have been but the breading was great) and a bucket of fries.....ok 2 buckets of fries! haha! Great little dinner and fab martinis...will definately be adding this to the list of good HH's in Seattle. Cheers!

agree, agree, agree.... I hate supersize anything...Cheesecake factory is a perfect example! I love to have apps, first and second course....and don't forget wine! Even if the price was lowered say at Palace on the pie I probably wouln't know as I don't usually look at the price I guess. I just knew it was smaller. I honestly do hope that more restaurants bring the portion size down. It would certainly help to downsize some waistlines!!

I have loved receiving flowers in vases, home grown herbs, candles, chocolates and wines, especially dessert wines! I also hate having to stop and fix up flowers in a vase. Yes the gesture is great but I'm busy. I actually think sending flowers (I like orchids) is really nice. That way they arrive the day before, or that day or even the day after as a thank you. Another great idea for cooks and grillers are spice rubs. I especially love the Tom Douglass Rub with Love ones.

Can we call Oregon California then, they make wine too! Champagne is Champagne, Cava is Cava, Prosecco is Prosecco...... What California SHOULD do is market a unique name for theirs..... nothing irks me more than asking for a glass of CHAMPAGNE in a restaurant only to get a glass of Chandon. Well actually there is one thing...it's when I ask for a glass of Zin and they say "White Zin???" like it's the same. Ok, that is a different topic! grrrrr.....

JPH is one of my favorites in the Willamette but I also really love Tina's! A newer, more casual but still fantastic restaurant in McMinville is Maison something or another??? grrr... can't remember but it's a great French bistro... oh wait..... Bistro Maison I think is the name!

You know, my husband and I went to Palace Kitchen with his folks last week and when we ordered that amazing coconut cream pie for dessert I KNOW it was a smaller slice than what I've had in the past. Not that we needed more but it's the principle right???

Wow, dining there sounds laughable. Think I'll spend my money elsewhere....

Hello! This is great information. I was unsure of the exact difference in the 2 events so I just called and spoke to someone about it: Reception at Opus - 322 Davie Street Ticketed event Friday, November 5, 5:00 to 7:00 pm $95 includes a copy of the book This includes hordy derves and cocktail in the price "Les Halles" after hours at Bar None - 1222 Hamilton Street Ticketed event Friday, November 5, 8:00 to 10:00 pm $50 includes a copy of the book This does not include any cocktails, you can buy them yourself, but your mainly just buying the book.

You probably had arroz al caldero, where caldero refers to the original recipient where this dish was cooked (you can still find places where the caldero is used to cook rice). This is exactly what we had, thanks Pedro!

If I'm not mistaken, you were also in Paris and New York last month. No wonder. Correct, and of course we really thought that prices all over Spain were fantastic!

I saw a flyer that said Contour on 1st had Happy Hour until 8pm. With a $1.50 food menu and drink specials. Anyone been there? Maybe we should plan a Happy Hour get together and try to check out some new places!

We just had dinner here last month. My husband and I had the caldron (?), a cross between paella and lobster bisque. It was very good. We also thought that the prices here were great on both food and wine/liquor.

Thanks for giving me a good giggle!

So my friends and I ate at AJR on July6th. We went to dinner early but were only able to get the table that faces away from the open kitchen/counter seating. To wait to sit at the counter was another hour and 1/2. We started with glasses of champagne and started pouring over the menu. Let me just say that the interior design, decor and place settings are fantastic. However our service SUCKED! It was really bad. And 90% of the diners in the restaurant were English/American. Hmmmm...I think the Parisians know something we don't. Well we weren't impressed. The food portions were amazingly small, much small than a tasting portion or even a tapas portion! The menu is way overpriced for the the serving size. The food was very good but it's just not worth it. You can get the same wonderful cuisine at a number of Paris' best for better prices and service. I'm glad we tried it but we won't be back. It really seems a tourist destination, not that that is always bad but when the locals are dining there you know it's for a reason!

Yes it definately had a french influence but the taste of the confit and morels reminded me of Thanksgiving turkey! It had a fantastic roasted taste when eaten together. And the breast with cherries wasn't as rich as a french dish would be, no butter in the reduction.

My husband and I were in NYC for one night on Sat. We had reservations at Babbo which I was very excited about. But since we had just flown in from 3 weeks in Spain we were exhausted. We went but were prepared for an overhyped restaurant with mediocre food and service after having so many fantastic meals in the Basque region. From the moment we walked in we were thrilled! The service here is top notch all the way. We were seated upstairs which I was happy about. The music upstairs seemed just the right level while downstairs seemed very loud. We started with cocktails, after 3 weeks without a dirty martini I was in heaven! Caprese Salad was gorgeous and very tasty with a variety of tomatoes and amazing mozzerella. We also had the squash blossoms which were sauteed. Yum!! On the advice of the sommelier my husband ordered a 97 Bruno Rocca Barbaresco. It was fantastic. The only thing I'll say that was a bit off was when he asked for a few suggestions on wine the sommelier was great at describing this wine, but normally a good S will also suggest one bottle up and one down in price, he never did this. Next we shared the lambs tongue vinegrette. Really delicious!! My husband had the pork chop which was HUGE and beautifully presented with a drizzle of thick balsamic. I had the duck which was done two ways: confit with morrels and breast with cherry sauce. I went back and forth trying to decide which was the best. Still trying to figure it out- it will have to remain a draw. We wanted dessert but were just to full. Had a glass of dessert wine (moscat?) and left very happy. Being from Seattle we of course were excited to try Babbo (MB is from Seattle) but so many "famous" chef restaurants read much better than they execute IMHO (Bolo). We were really impressed with everything here and will absolutely plan on dining again at Babbo next time we are in town!

I'm back! Well we stumbled upon the Leon chain while out and about one day so decided to give it a try. I am hugely against chains especially when in other countries but decided to give it a fair shake. My husband and I both had the mussels and fries. He had a wine broth and I had the cream. Mine was much better. We had tons of mussels, almost all were opened and neither of us could finish our lunch. We both liked that the mussels came in their out Le Crueset crock. The fries were not good though...limp and not much flavor. All in all it was fine for lunch, missing the ambiance of a true cafe I wouldn't go again but I'm not sorry I tried it. Thanks for all the info!!

We will be in Paris on Tuesday and I love moules frites! Where is the best place to have these for lunch??

Does anyone have the hours for lunch and dinner at AJR?

Our favorites include Erath, Domaine Droughin, Lange and JK Carriere. http://www.yamhillwine.com/

I think Matador in Ballard has a great selection of happy hour priced items! And the nachos are HUGE!!!

Since I live 2 blocks from the U Dist market we go every Sat. bright and early. I use to go to the Ballard market and I can say this is way better. The vendors are really varied and the market changes dramatically with the season. I'm always sad in the fall when I don't get to go any more. I think this Thurs I might check out the Lake City Market.

origamicrane that was REALLY good! Thank you.....I literally am salivating! 12 days till I'm in Paris eating frest macaroons!!!

Uh, over cooked ANYTHING!!!! veggies that are grey, meat that doesn't bleed a bit, lamb that isn't really pink. I hate overcooked stuff!! I'm with the oversaucing too! I like pasta....let me taste it!!