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I did a self guided walking tour in Tuscany created by Girasole and loved it! Someone else started it, so I went along with the more budget rate accommodations which were fine, but the one night they gave us the better hotel (the standard ones were previously booked) we all thought it might be worth the extra $! a wonderful time! The only bad night was in Montalcino (of all places!) The place was weird and the dinner in was not good. Hopefully, they have changed that since 2004. They call this an easier version of their hiking tour - it was strenuous enough that I was glad to be in pretty good shape at the time - hilltowns afterall, require climbing hills. Have a great time!

If you are in Seattle - have you tried shopping for spices at World Spice Merchants on Western, below the Market? They mail order too, if you like home delivery, but it is wonderful to walk into the store.

My friend and his girlfriend, a native from Taiwan, swear there is the best Taiwanese place in South Tacoma - a strip mall, I think. Sorry, I don't have the name. Maybe girlchow knows. I will check with my friend. Here's a link to it! (Hmm, so maybe it isn't Taiwanese!) We just had a very good dinner at Top Gun, behind the movie theaters at Factoria (Bellevue.)

"Top Gun" - behind the movie complex at Factoria. Eat there - the take out menu is boring (or maybe we just didn't read carefully,) but the stay and eat menu is remarkable. We had delicious spareribs, complex singapore noodles, and a mildly hot cod with vegetables. Enough for 4, about $35. Saw another table with a beautiful plate of greens - maybe chinese broccoli? Also, oysters on the half shell! The menu offers lobster two ways...some great sounding banquets / family dinners... While we were there, two parties of Bellevue's police came in to eat - a 3 top and a 4 top. Not sure what that adds, but it was interesting. This place is huge and is supposed to have great dim sum, but I haven't managed to get there early in the day. It is also difficult to find.

We had a chocolate tart with earl grey tea and blackberries that was quite good. Cooked fresh berries in tea, smooshed 'em and strained them. Add good dark chocolate until thick. There may have been some additional ingredients - this was how the chef described it. The filling was poured into a date/nut crust and chilled.

Dad is 89, born on the lower east side. He worked as a soda jerk in his youth, so he made a mean milkshake. Pancakes and waffles were his duty, as were heating up the blintzes. He also manned the grill, building a wood teepee to start the coals, no lighter fluid. He made many a black and blue chateaubriand - the one big splurge that graced the house over the years, and plenty of burgers. When they married, he taught my Mom to make a pot of coffee, fry an egg, and gave her the first recipe book she owned. I think she made the salami and eggs, but I could be wrong. The salami was cut into thin disks and then quartered, thank you very much. Saturday lunch was typically tuna sandwiches, potato chips, and chocolate milkshakes, if we were at home taking care of chores like mowing the lawn, washing the car, dusting, and vacuuming.

Five favorites in Seattle: Spur - sous vide and other mg components in play - Belltown http://spurseattle.com/ Oliver's Twist - not much of a kitchen, but the food is good - Phinney Ridge http://www.oliverstwistseattle.com/ Copper Gate - modern Scandalnavian (sic) - Ballard http://www.thecoppergate.com/ Sambar - adjacent a very traditional French restaurant, but much more fun - Ballard ? website ? Licorous - across the parking lot from Lark - Central District http://www.licorous.com/ Then there is that whole izakaya thing - really prevalent in Vancouver, BC.

I have a soft spot for Graffeo Coffee Roasting Company - it appears to be owned by a company in Singapore now? I assume you can still go to a store in North Beach at 735 Columbus Ave? Not easy to tell from the website. I remember visiting Ghirardelli's so many years ago. There was a time it was a special event. But then, so was Cost Plus! Isn't there a grocery store everyone raves about, but rants about the prices? Bi-Rite at 3639 18th St?

Also in the field - and I hope to be able to add much more to the conversation soon as I will be working with a firm that has been very involved with sustainable architecture for longer than LEED has existed. There was a very interesting article in the NY Times a few weeks back about the greening of existing residences in England, with electric meters in the house so residents can see how much they are drawing at any time - a good reminder to turn off lights, computers, etc. when not in use, how much insulation and energy efficient appliances can help reduce energy use. It doesn't make a lot sense to replace a year or two old appliance with a more energy efficient one - there is a lot of energy used to make these things too. A friend got around to replacing her kitchen - it was old and bad. She really splurged to get what she wanted, but she also ended up with a very efficient kitchen. Her kitchen is small, very small. A great start. Lots of windows for natural light - recently replaced so that they are now double pane insulated and can open for a breeze. Her cabinets are forest friendly certified plywood with VG fir and HPL fronts. She was able to refinish the existing fir floor with a non toxic finish. Her countertops are Paperstone - a lovely recycled paper product that is much warmer than stone and will have a patina over time (ie, it will show wear and tear.) She also has a small backsplash with a mix of stone and glass tile - recycled products, I believe. She has an 18" low water, low energy dishwasher, a two burner induction cooktop (she does not cook as much as she assembles meals like salads,) a convection oven/microwave/hood that came with a steamer insert that she uses to cook vegetables and fish with great success, a 24" electric convection oven for those cookie baking days (or a small turkey,) and a 24" wide Liebherr refrigerator - very energy efficient. I wish I could post a photo for you - it's very sweet.

Sounds very passover like to me.

Sigh... Why does it seem Seattle has basically cornered the market on fresh, high quality CR salmon? I could understand if CR salmon was local to Seattle, but the CR salmon has to get shipped from Alaska to Seattle just like it would need to get shipped to Southern California. The real distance is from Alaska to Seattle, and its not like Southern California is not that much further from Seattle. ← Because Jon Rowley, who started the pr on copper river and yukon lives here?

Wait one minute -- those are two of my favourite food words, together at once -- please elaborate. ← Sorry - they are small, flattish peaches - a big push a few years back. I thought they were mealy and tasteless, but Tiny's are delightful. I just have to remind myself to buy local and in season. nice packaging, but won't fool you

Tiny's Organic (WA state) grows and sells these at the local markets. They have been great this year. The pluots were our favorite - light plum colored skin, dark plum inside - incredibly juicy, even when firm, with a sweet plum flavor. Not sure which varities we have purchased. Their donut peaches are excellent too.

Now they are stocking Canneles! Anyone know if these are from Bay Breads, Galaxy Desserts, or? They are beeswaxed, crisp, and creamy. Oh my. And to stay on topic - I used the puff pastry to make cheese straws with black pepper and aged cheddar - inhaled quickly.

Nice trip jenc! How are we stacking up to Toronto these days? I understand there is quite a wonderful food scene.

Bravo! Were you taking notes or did the goodie bag menu serve well enough to recreate the experience?

Great photos, as always. Not sure NOLA is in my future, but I like the seeing the way the mousse was presented. The rest of the meal made me appreciate a small place here in Seattle - surely not the same caliber, but a mighty nice lunch the other day, a touch of NOLA at Marcela's Cookery.

But will you eat that good meal if there is a shutterbug at the next table?

Right there with you - but mine was handed down to me from my dearly departed Mom - just to make it even more difficult to part with. It sits on a nice shelf in the basement, in need of a new metal blade. Like yours, the workbowl has seen better, and easier days. It has no pulse, just an on or off option. I don't have the metal base, so it probably isn't the exact model, but a similar sentiment.

Another new spot - Spur, a few blocks from the Market, on Blanchard. It is a gastropub - good cocktails, beer, wine, and excellent food. Local products being handled well, with some fun twists thanks to molecular gastronomy. Not in your face, but you'll be trying to figure out how they did that! You could drop more than $30 per person quickly, or enjoy a bison burger and drink and get out there. Don't forget the half-priced food at Brasa, in the bar - it is still a great deal!

I wet sponge clean daily and once a week or two, use "Cooktop Magic." Looks almost like new. I will also use it after the chef makes a particularly bad mess, if the glass top (basic electric Kenmore) won't wipe clean. Going on two years, under my care. Easist cooktop I've ever cleaned.

I've seen pictures taken at take out places to fine dining. Most any new spot, bars, family restaurants (mostly of people rather than food) and bakeries. It just makes me curious if the photographer is blogging or recording a memory. I just don't see a lot of difference between taking pictures of buildings, landscapes, or food. I won't be getting paid for my snapshots of any of these, but they are fun to look at and have available if I am sharing the experience with someone else. I also like to turn photos into postcards - sometimes food shots are perfect for the occassion. When it comes to taking pictures of strangers, I am far more uncomfortable - whether street market sellers, smiling children, or celebrities. Won't do it intentionally without getting permission. That is part of the reason most of my pictures don't have people in them.

Honore does have Kouign Amann - different than the one at Colville Patisserie. This one is round, multilayered, buttery with a salty finish. They also have Canneles - darkly attractive with a creamy interior and a citrus fragrance. chocolate brioche, pain au chocolate, croissant, scones (?), cheese brioche, gruyere tarts, seasonal fruit tarts...more coming out as I left. This place is dangerously close to Lunchbox Lab. Good thing Ballardites have a pool and tennis courts nearby. Across the street is Tarasco and a small breakfast/lunch place. Years ago, this place did custom wedding cakes - can't remeber the name. The baker here is another young (looking) man. Already in the wholesale business. I am happy it is 1/2 hour from my house. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Serving Lighthouse coffee and espresso too. Not Paris, but mighty fine, as far as I've eaten. editing to add - Besalu has no competition here as far as items in common. The croissant at Honore are far too bready, but tasty. 1413 NW 70th.

Voracious says they are open and: Kouign Amann!!!

We had a nice meal at Alcatraz. Nothing extraordinary, but not greasy and everything was fresh. Some unusual twists - like potatoes atop the enchiladas. They serve no pork or shrimp, as the owner does not eat these. Also, I did not notice any alcohol. Not sure if that is by design or if the license is still to come. That can kill at food business.