MsRamsey

Thanks again. The suggestions are very helpful. On t'other board, someone claims that Pastaworks "has what [is] likely is the best selection of Italian wines in North America. The best Italian wine vineyard owners, consultants, who visit Pastaworks say they have not seen it's equal in selection in Italy." Confirm or deny?

Here's a link to the Leson article: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/rest...69_taste30.html As for lines out the door on a Sunday, that's every Sunday on Capitol Hill.

I'm helping her retool the godawful menu she came up with, the centerpiece of which was Costco lasagne (no, really). I told her that serving gooey lasagne from a foil pan just isn't festive. Hey, she asked for my opinion and I was happy to help her come up with a better plan. She's completely against hiring a caterer; her mom and many sisters want to do the preparation. So, I suggested a couscous salad I've made and liked. I suggested whole poached salmon. Thank you for all of the great suggestions. It looks as though Zupan's will probably fit the bill for breads, meats, and cheeses. Kathy

In Portland, where can one find a good Italian or European deli that carries a good variety of sliced meats and cheeses? I'm thinking something along the lines of DiLaurenti's in Seattle. I'm helping someone plan a reception, and Portland is much closer to where she will be having her party. Any help is greatly appreciated!

According to The Stranger, the chef-owner used to work at Ragin' Cajun and Southern Hospitality, but Seattle Times mentions that he worked at Blazin' Cajun. Maybe somebody's confused. I really liked the place. The room is so pretty and comfortable. While the service was a little spotty (I think they were a little understaffed), everyone was so gracious. I also had the Barn Yard Pimp. I had the cornbread side and really liked it. It was springy and somewhat cake-like. My husband had an okra stew that contained lots of spicy sausage and flavorful small shrimp (or maybe crawfish), served with rice. The leftovers were very tasty the next day. And I would definitely order that bread pudding again (but maybe keep it all to myself!). I wish the City of Seattle would expedite their liquor license! It's apparently been in the works for 6 months.

The Nov/Dec Cook's Illustrated has a baking chocolate comparison. They tested it in brownies and chocolate sauce. On the Recommended list were: Scharffen Berger Unsweetened Pure Dark Chocolate Callebaut Unsweetened Chocolate Ghirardelli Unsweetened Chocolate Baking Bar Valrhona Cacao Pate Extra Nestle Unsweetened Baking Chocolate Bars Not recommended were, unsurprisingly: Baker's Unsweetened Baking Chocolate Squares Hershey's Unsweetened Baking Chocolate The tasters really liked the Ghirardelli. The least expensive of the Recommended bunch was Nestle ($3.98/lb), followed by Callebaut ($5.43/lb). Ghirardelli was $8.76/lb. I've always thought the Ghirardelli candy bars tasted really great, if maybe a bit too sweet. If your baked goods taste good, why not use it? I think your friend is incorrect. The whole article is worth reading, though, in regard to the "flavor profiles" the companies are going for, where and how they get their beans, and how secretive the companies are about the whole thing.

That *is* surprising. They're owned by Applebee's -- wouldn't that preclude them from participating in the 25 for $25 thing?

I didn't realize Wordsworth, Wittgenstein and Peter Cook were 17th century, but then I haven't an Oxford education. Uh no. Wordsworth lived 18th to 19th C., and Wittgenstein 19th to 20th C.

I like Beefeater's, but it's a very salty gin.

malarkey, don't you mean 6 glasses? I ordered some. We actually need them pretty badly at my house.

Okay, so I guess I prefer a mint party. I tend to use a fair amount of mint in mine.

Thanks for the review, klink! I just took a look through their very kooky website, mojitocafe.com. I wonder if they'd take reservations if we got a big group together, hmmm . . . The best mojitos I've had are here at home, at Tango (Capitol Hill), and at Oliver's (downtown Seattle). Tango has a great happy hour in the bar; I think the mojitos are $3.50, and they are excellent. To get picky for a second about the advice from the owner of Mojito's Cafe: Really, the mint and lime do need to be muddled quite vigorously (along with some ice). Otherwise, you don't get as much mint flavor as you need. If it's too bitter, you just add a little more simple syrup and see how it tastes. Beware of those places that make mojitos with Rose's Lime Juice. Shudder!

No, that's okay, really.

HOW did you manage that? You are so lucky. The service is always just absolute shit when I go there. So bad that it makes me angry. Oh, and I tried to tried to take my husband to Simply Paradise on Sunday at 11:30 AM. They weren't open. By the time we walked by at 12:30, they were open. I suggest they get with the program and open their doors by 11:00, fer chrissakes.

They are doing mieng kahm at the new place on Capitol Hill, Simply Paradise, but they're using lettuce leaves instead of the cha plu leaves (which I say is a pity). I haven't had it there, though. I have to second Royal Palm. It seems to be far better at dinner; a recent lunch was really disappointing.

I couldn't find anything on the Times or P-I websites at all. Guess I'll have to buy a Sunday paper.

Hey look! The P-I reviewed it not long ago. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/food/88711_eat27.shtml

Yep, the Sichuanese place at 15005 NE 24th (in Redmond) is owned by the same people as the one on 12th and Jackson. I hear that it's very popular (i.e., crowded) and a bit bigger than the one in the I.D. I asked my friend about prices, and she said the Redmond restaurant's prices are a little higher. She also said that she never orders off the menu, but instead orders from the specials written on the board. Now if you can get someone to translate the board, that would be nice . . .

Its official English name is Sichuanese Cuisine Restaurant. My Chinese friends call it "Lo Sichuan," but I'm guessing at the spelling. Since you liked the green beans, next time get the "Dried-cooked String Beans" under the Chicken section. It's the same beans, but with -- you guessed it -- chicken. To answer your question about how the beans get that way: They are deep-fried. One of my favorites is their Mandarin Spicy Chicken. The pieces of chicken are fried, and are in a spicy, slightly sweet, vinegary sauce. It's true, it's astoundingly inexpensive. They have a branch on the east side somewhere with a bigger menu. I can find out more about that for you -- I haven't been.

Man, I was just there a couple of days ago. It wasn't The Parting Glass, was it? (I hope!) How recent was this? Businesses tend to open and close pretty quickly in Saratoga. My dad lives in Saratoga and is Type-A, fastidious clean. He'll cringe when I tell him about this -- I can't wait!

No, nightscotsman, I think the Comet is still a gin-yoo-wine dive. I don't like it much, but it is one of our neighborhood's last surviving trashy taverns (since the sad demise of Ileen's/Ernie Steele's).

Edit: duh

I think the area you're referring to is Pioneer Square. Blue Moon is in the University District ("U-District") on 45th, which is the main east-west drag through that area.

In Seattle, one of the best is the Blue Moon Tavern. Open since 1934, it's been the hangout for many barfly University of Washington profs and famous writers. The building was sold in 1989, with plans to tear it down and build condos. There was public protest over this and attempts to designate the Blue Moon a historical landmark. These efforts didn't work, but the developers decided to leave the Blue Moon alone. Its lease apparently has another 30 years to go. But it is truly dirty, smoky and stinky. They serve bad beer, there's one day where they only play Grateful Dead, and a lot of scary characters hang out there. I love the place, so much so that I'm really glad it's not in my neighborhood. Way too tempting. A Seattle historian, Walt Crowley, actually wrote a book about the place.

Okay, now I really must insist on more info! In a previous e-mail, you said, "And let us not speak of dessert." Spill!!