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Hey Ling - nice glasses! ← Not having met her, I can claim that Ling is not HCC (the newspaper writer.) Much more interesting and no doubt cuter. I was wondering if she was one of the guests?

The PI spilled a lot: here and here (Ling?)

Nooooo! Oh, bun in the oven. Where are her priorities? Okay, well, best wishes to Mel.

Another walk thru downtown and... the space at 2nd and Stewart is leased. The leasing sign indicated it was for a restaurant. It's the base of the newly renovated apartment building for low income / formerly homeless individuals. The Chinese restaurant on 4th just north of Blanchard has turned into a Thai place. I heard the former was good but never made it in. On 4th, north of Wall, a sign is up for a new bistro coming soon. Same building (Sydney Apartments) as Uptown and Fonte Roasters. As an aside, sampled the new summer offerings at Racha Thai on Queen Anne. That's some very tasty food, though there wasn't any heat in what I ate. It's light and bright - easy introduction for the timid relatives or a change of pace from cheap thai. Good to consider when you have an event at Seattle Center to attend.

Dan Braun's place. Looking forward to it. The space at 6820 is vacated as of this morning (last night?) I was hoping that he was getting the space to the south as well - the old garage would better suited. I didn't read the sign in the window to see what the store is up to. Mid-summer seems pretty aggressive to me...if he is building a kitchen!

And a dinner menu will arrive with the liquor license. Wonderful bread (soft white interior, crunchy crust) served with two sauces/dips and medium thick pizza (white pizza was good). Sandwiches looked huge and served with fries (saw someone snich one and comment that they were good.) They have some salads, a chickpea (flour?) based snack "Faina", empanades (caprese was the best), ravioli...a lot of Italian influence. Also, a lot of eggs - most sandwiches and entrees can be upgraded to be served with a fried egg on top. Flan, crepes, chocolate torte or cheese/sweet potato (?) thing for dessert. Lunch menu tops out at $19.99, but mostly very affordable. I think I overheard them say the bakery idea failed as it was too labor intensive - all hand formed. So maybe they are only baking for the cafe now?

Hmm, I have a jar in the kitchen, but it may have been a gift from someone returning from Hawaii - or it might be available in bulk locally - no doubt at the Spice Merchant in the market. What about saimin salad?

Criollo Bakery 4727 NE Fremont St Portland, OR 97213 (503) 335-9331 There is a blog on egullet telling all about the start up. Portland residents will have lots more suggestions...if they log on.

Don't make me cry - it has been over 1 -1/2 years since my one and only sandwich there...

I know it may look like this cake would just make a chocolate flavored hockey puck, most variations produce a very moist cake with great texture. Make sure you use enough cocoa and maybe boost the flavor with a bit of espresso powder. It keeps very well and the flavor is actually better the second day. ← Yup, these cakes are pretty tasty. We used to make and sell them in a college coffee house in the mid 70's. The carob version was even okay. A german chocolate type frosting is nice too. Can those be done without butter?

Dry Soda has some good flavors - kumquat, and not so good - lemongrass - good idea, bad flavor. I thought it had overtones of cleaning fluids. if you are lucky pure cane sugar - and not a lot of it.

Tom Black, chef at Barking Frog, has moved to Tini Bigs? Must be some story...or is he doing both?

Impromtu ginger pear crisp. Out of the oven at 10:30. In our mouths by 11. 2 pears, 2 servings. Variation on Gourmet's apple crisp. Yum.

From Eleven Madison Park, I google. Or at least there since 2000.

← I went to a preview party for BOKA - the food was great fun, especially the crab cupcakes with creme fraiche frosting. And who wouldn't like duck and waffles? Lots of small bites, including some desserts. The decor has a lot of nice touches - I'll be interested to see how it all comes together.

Lamb shanks (I had cooked some fabulous ones the week before - these were dull) and tough duck. It was big, we were full, we weren't wowed.

Aren't we all? At least we are in good company.

My favorite part of the meal was the hot bread and the butter and olive oil. Not enough to go back for dinner - but maybe for brunch.

My turn. We had a lovely dinner Sunday. The room has a great glow from the murals and the evening light. I didn't find the food too challenging, though there were a few surprises. Loved the little biscuits. Profitteroles with blue cheese were much more like beignets. Not a bad thing, but these were fried and sweet, not baked - and peppery (as identified.) Abundant too. I liked the scallops (not earth shattering), but the beans ran too sweet - more like fancy baked beans than clean flageolet beans I would have preferred. Maple syrup perhaps. Pork belly - oh yeah. Of the desserts - I think the steamed lemon pudding was the keeper. All in all, right there with Zoe for food and ambiance (though the after dinner treat was a dense tiny poundcake that wasn't very good) and way above Boat Street for me. I don't think I mentioned that I found Boat Street filling, but not satisfying. Interesting, but lacking heart (which is what I thought it was supposed to be all about.)

Last week, the space was pretty much a shell - they moved quick. Oh, Brasa's bar menu has been revised and expanded. Same half price offer 5-7, with purchase of a drink. Wow! The website has NOT been updated to match.

2nd Ave - near Noodle Ranch - new tenant improvement called Buddha Bar. Opening "August 2006".

For those of us ignorant of many things - Izakaya is a "salaryman" restaurant - appetizers and drinks. A place to relax after work. Hmm, interesting.

Agree on the timeliness. Saw "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada" last weekend - while the food scenes aren't up to EGullet standards, the film is a must see.

The old Falling Water / Alexandrias place on 2nd near Lenora is undergoing a remodel/gut. The paperwork says Wann Isakaya (sp?) Restaurant. Does Belltown need another Japanese Restaurant? Is this something else... Saw the sign for Vessel - wow, adjoining the 5th Ave Theater, nice location for a crazy schedule.

New small Grrek catering/take out place on Greenwood, just north of 84th. Dinner a couple nights a week. Kousina or something like that, inexpensive.