hungry_moose

Blue Island Sushi (upper scale conveyor belt sushi) in Fed. Way just opened last week. They had a sushi machine that makes the rice balls but not the rolls. They don't use it all the time though. You may want to call them to see the machine in action. This place totally copied Blue C, but it's actually better than Blue C so far. They use Hikari premium rice for their sushi, run by Koreans but good quality sushi, very creative rolls. I saw the sushi roll making robot machine in Paris, at Lo Sushi. Costco also used to have it but it's no more. -Moose

Yup ... Granville will be slow, but a much better alternative ... unless of course you're interested in what the world looks like 50 feet beneath Cambie Street A. ← Thank you Daddy-A. The Granville traffic was better than expected, not bad. Had some bad food, but enjoyed dim sum at Kirin (Alberni) and some good delivery from Hon's (beef chow fun and fish congee for the babies). They really know how to do delivery well, everything was perfectly packed with tight fitting lids, outer plastic bag twist tied so nothing leaked out. I love it that you can get almost any meal delivered in Vancouver. Finished off the trip with some Mondo Gelato and a smokie on Robson. Kids enjoyed the Stanley Park mini train and the Kids Market at Granville Island. Also picked up many boxes of Barilla bread sticks and Tylenol with Codeine from Urban Fare. The 1:1 Can$ ratio was a shocker! -Moose

Greetings. We are headed to Vancouver this weekend and usually take the Marine View to Cambie Bridge into downtown. With the construction, is it better to head in via the main route (Granville bridge)? Want to avoid traffic/wait time as we are travelling with many little toddlers. Our destination is the Sheraton Wall Centre. Thank you. -Moose

Thanks Dave. I'll check it out and the food. -Moose The external atmosphere is "strip mall". On the plus side, parking is no issue. Inside, it's nice. Not fancy, not really "event" level atmosphere, but defnitely a nice restaurant. It will also probably be crowded. --Dave ←

Re: Szechuan Chef What's the atmosphere like there? I'm looking for a place to hold a large function soon and looking for something other than the usual Sea Garden Bellevue. -Moose

Sorry to hear that Kiliki. But, congratulations on your wedding & lovely honeymoon! We went to Paris for our 1st Anniversary and loved going to all the pastry shops. The few times that I went to Canlis was when our CEO picked up the tab or we were entertaining Japanese clients. We ordered rice and tsukemono with everything and they were very accomodating. This was before the remodel and I thought the food was great back then. -Moose

It's September, so it should be safer to eat raw oysters again. I want to eat some Virginica oysters at Union; Seattle Homes magazine has a well written article about oysters this month. Check out their online article here: Seattle Homes - Pearls of Wisdom - Know Your Oysters Try to read the actual magazine if you can, it has a really nice layout of recipes and such. Above article includes the mignonette recipe, regular and frozen. Love the frozen version at Elliott's. -Moose

okay, thanks kiliki. BTW, the next Albert Lee Scratch & Dent Sale is in November. -Moose

DRColby, Old topic, but do you still like your Miele dishwasher? Have you had any problems with it? I'm tired of my kitchenaid appliances breaking down, not to mention my Maytag Neptune washer breaking down twice. p.s. On another topic, I bought some fresh Fluke (my dad's request) at H Mart last week, cost me $50 for one fish. At least they fillet it for sashimi and gave the bones for a spicy fish stew...... -Moose

That would be the clever frozen balsamic vinegar concoction. It is excellent with raw oysters. I too, only eat oysters during months with "R"s in them....... -Moose

You can buy basic kitchen stuff at IKEA for really cheap, but it's a bit of a trek from the U-district if you don't have a car. Cast iron pans can also be purchased from REI (REI.com) or from second hand stores. Pike Place has a cutlery store that sells nice knives like Global. I have some extra drinking glasses and such, PM me when you get to town. Good luck. -Moose

...I agree, I would skip Bellingham and Chuckanut Drive. Alternative suggested route: Seattle-Vancouver (Victoria if time)-Okanagan/Kelowna-down South to Winthrop/Cascade loop-back to Seattle-then, less than 4 interesting hours of driving through Astoria and down to the Oregon Coast to Cannon Beach (Seaside if time allows). Cannon Beach is a terrific/charming small beach town that you will love. If convenient, you can fly right out of Portland (PDX) afterwards. -Moose

Hi, if you want to visit Okanagan Valley, I recommend Kelowna BC. The Lake is beautiful, and you can visit the Summerhill Winery. The restaurant there has cold smoked pork plate to die for! The whole area is very worth visiting, but the drive can be long. -Moose

I don't know if Chef Kerry Sear actually read this thread (I forwarded to him), but I did receive an e-mail from him thanking me for sending it to him. I hope he has read it. -Moose

That was a nice article. I was able to get some hot buns on my way to the Koolhaas library. Beautiful shop, nice workers, excellent location. I enjoyed the chocolate walnut bun and the classic pecan. I think the oven was having an "off" day, the croissants were all charred, funny that they were still displayed in the case as it made the other buns less appealing. I never had a brioche sticky bun before so it was a very nice treat. Peace in the New Year! -Moose

Oh-oh, this is bad news for Chef Kerry. I had "chilly" service there before and my sister and hubby recently dined there (they ordered off of both full menu and $25 menu) and was not happy with their meal. They are not going back and it was their first experience at Cascadia. I am not in a rush to go back there either, maybe for the sliders and other bar menu, but not for the dining room. I will print out this post and send it to Chef Kerry as an FYI. -Moose

You are like me, I started out in Wallingford, then moved as far north as Vancouver, BC, then kept moving Southwards. -Japanese: There's a pretty good Japanese restaurant (Koharu) in Federal Way off of 320th which is fairly close to Auburn. Stay away from Tokyo Steak House. If you are in the South Center area, check out Miyabi (South of ToysRUs), good bentos, awesome prices. Simply Thai in South Center in the Target Plaza is awesome! -Grocery Store: Top Foods in Fed. Way, Trader Joe's in Fed Way, Metropolitan Market in Dash Point, also Marlene's Natural Market in Fed. Way where the old REI used to be -Thai: Indochine or Indochine Cafe in Fed. Way Italian: Verrazanos in Des Moines, Burien-ish, people like it, but I though it was overpriced for its quality. -Green Valley Meats in Auburn (on the way to the WA Nat'l. Golf Course): Awesome meats and smoked jerkey. Good pig ears for your pets too. Auburn Valley is scary for a foodie, so stay to the West, the Fed. Way side. -Kent: The Kent Station shops & restaurants are starting to open up. Google these restaurants for more info. & directions. Good luck & Enjoy! -Moose

No offense taken thanks. I find that most Canadians are much more polite and well-mannered than other *nationalities*. I received quite a flack (US bashing) when I lived there. Some my fault - for example, I kept referring to Tim Horton's as Tom Horton's which drove my co-workers crazy. My son sticks his finger and other objects into our VCR also -Moose (with an un-trained eye to spot the hockey puck...)

Thanks for all your feedback so far. Need to go back for more curry. Funny, I've been using VCR for so long and no one really commented on it --even when I lived there 8 years ago. -Moose

Just went back last weekend for the special "curry of the day" at the Marriott Pinnacle restaurant - W. Hastings St. (Show Case). I guess the chef there is obsessed with curries? I had his special curry last year and had to go back for more. This time, the special was "Butter Chicken" curry, again served with the delicious cardimon rice. It was delicious. Are curries in VCR always this good or does the chef at the Marriott Pinnacle really that good? I need to try Vij's or other Indian restaurant for their curries to see if they are all this good. -Moose p.s. Curries at the Marriott Pinnacle are served at Lunch only and at Sat. brunch.

I think Noah's NY Bagels (U-village, etc.) is pretty good. Especially the sesame. I stock up and freeze them. Their cream cheese are delicious too. I recently did a comparison with H&H bagels and Noah's was up to par in my opinion. I still ask for a dozen H&H whenever the NY posse comes to visit. -Moose

Do check out maison de France in Bellevue one day, I just talked with the owner and indeed he is still open. He said it's another French place that closed down and not his. It's a lovely, but dangerous store! Fran's Chocolate used to be in the same plaza, but they moved to old Bellevue. maison is very close to Bellevue Square. -moose

Thanks for the gorgeous remodel pictures Kiliki! Your kitchen looks wonderful, bright, sunny and ready for cooking action! Congratulations! -moose

la maison de France in Bellevue has some gorgeous table cloths. They are pricy but super fine. -moose la maison de France 10223 NE 10th St, Bellevue, 98004 - (425) 688-1078

< but with 4 weeks left on our kitchen remodel, I'm really dying for a 'cake.> Oooh please post pictures of your new kitchen when done Killiki! -Moose