tsquare

That should do you well just about anywhere in Seattle. You can splurge at Nishino's on Madison. Had a very good sushi dinner topped off with light tempura at Kisaku in Wallingford. An unusual place that hasn't been discussed (much?) is Ototo on Queen Anne.

Thanks all for the lessons in French 75. My constitution, so far, has never had a problem with champagne in any combination. I think that is lucky (?).

Point, Talent. Though not about underground dining being a Seattle thing...we are latecomers.

ExtraMSG, Just so you know - you are out of luck with Fandango in Seattle if you wanted to compare. Closed May 2.

The old Red Robin near 4th and Spring - and the new downtown library - soon to be the most photographed building, at least this year - liquor license up for "Jasmine". Don't imagine that is the same as the Thai place in the Market.

With the alpine martinis and post Cascadia drinks at See Sound - how was Mother's Day morning ladies? And girl chow - the calamari - not sure how to read your comment...good 'cause they were cheap, or a deal? Good to hear they made a nice evening for you.

By the Monsoon people.

Please tell me about this one. Was it an actual fir needle infusion or something? Recipe and technique here Thanks to Kerry

if this is policy it is new--i've eaten there and we didn't have this happen. can anyone corroborate? or is this an isolated incident? Didn't get a chance to ask if this was policy. The guy seemed too embarrassed to have done it on his own. Truly, I wouldn't make this up. I wish someone would comment on the butter at Bouchon incident. I would like to write Chef Keller to get a clarification - but none of the websites have an email contact - just opentable or phone numbers. I wonder if it was a cultured milk product? I could write a good short story on the tales of the cab drivers we experienced. Vegas - do you gotta love it?

The old Falling Water space on 2nd has a liquor license application posted - listed as "Alexandria's on 2nd". Good luck to them. Between Mistral and Restaurant Zoe, on Blanchard, is Sea Sound Lounge. This place is so hip it made my head hurt just to look in the window. All white, glowing with candles and euro lighting, pretty pretty people. The windows open up the wall along the sidewalk. The interesting part? I heard rumor that the food is being supplied by Mistral. They supposedly have a web site, but I don't think it's up yet.

He really did that??? We've been to Delmonico twice, the "original" Emeril's in NOLA and the Emeril's in Orlando and have never seen that happen! And like Foodie-Girl, we've been quite pleased with each of our meals. Yes, though almost under his breathe. I assumed he was embarrassed to "have" to do it. It took me a nanosecond to realize what he said - and he was already gone.

The nice Seattle people are behaving so sweetly to you. I have to wonder if you've read anything from this board before? Have you missed the hunt for Stellar Bay oysters? The testimony to toro? The searching for still squirming shrimp? The followers of fugu? The undying adoration of uni? I believe you are not alone in your enjoyment of raw things. And please - do tell us your theory about dining - happily, I frequently sit at the bar at the dinner hour, in a full restaurant, so I won't be the target of your theory either. And I generally feel well treated and served.

Great reviews - matching my one time only dinner there a few years ago. I also enjoy the cookbook but was wondering if they serve red meat - there are no recipes in the cookbook using beef! (Or have I overlooked something?) Thanks for talking steak - now I know they do.

La Spiga is open for lunch and dinner and in your area. Tango, for dessert at least - right NSM? (Though the baker just moved on...)

Is a French 75 a "french" drink? And is it originally made with cognac or gin? I've been drinking them with gin - but had one recently made with cognac that was very good. That bartender had to look it up, and when I just did, I found it made both ways.

Hey, someone (alot of someones) hijacked this thread - other than me. The first request was for Eastside or Renton breakfast spots. Does Ikea have breakfast? Anyone try Hector's in Kirkland since it was renovated/reborn?

I agree completely - however, they were about 18" from my head everytime I went in or out the door. Too close for comfort. Had they been established, I would have called the guy who comes to collect above ground nests (he will also take care of yellow jackets for a fee.) He collects and sells honey - I think he is from Normandy Park.

I gave up growing dahlias after seeing how at home the earwigs made themselves! Still experimenting with mojitos - that was a subtle reference to May 5th. And the demise of Fandango. Drove by, the wake looked pretty quiet.

This show has been renewed. Does anyone make an effort to listen besides me? Tom, along with Thierry have gotten much better over time, despite the a.m. radio format. They have had some very good guests, including some fellow egulleteers. Mostly stopped having call ins and prizes. Tom has mentioned not liking web food sites that create anonymous pans of restaurants - wonder if he was referring to this or some other site? He's had good and bad reports here.

Not sure why eating at Emeril's requires an admission(of guilt?) I've eaten there at least a dozen times and not been disappointed. Because of the Food Network Shows and because when the server put the plate down he had to say "Bam". But it was worth trying.

Congrats on the gig Steve. As to what to cook - well, I'd suggest looking at what is being done at Cascadia, Zoe, Earth and Ocean, Lark, Union, Eva, Union Bay Cafe, The Ark and the like. If it needs to be less spendy, I'm sure someone else will come up with some suggestions. Just cook seasonally, and locally grown and it should be pretty good. There have been some long winded discussions here in the past. I don't recall the consensus, or if there was one. Don't forget nettles, mushrooms, and blackberries. Oh - check out Wildwood - the cookbook. Great essays and some fine recipes.

I just stick 'em in the ground and they grow - big. Give them alot of room (says the gardener with peas about 16" away!) After your first harvest (try to wait for them to get a decent size - but harvest before they open or flower) you may get a few small seconds. In the fall, cut off the dead stuff, but don't cut the plant down. That's opposite from the books. They will tell you to cut it down to the ground almost, and cover it with straw or a bags or something. If you do, you'll get a slimey mass of slug and bug food. Unless we get a really bad frost, I've found a healthy artichoke plant will overwinter better with some plant growth far better than when bedded down.

In addition to harboring aphids, the nectar of the aphids attracts yellow jackets. Double whammy. My tree is somewhat stressed, having survived another 1/4 pruning - I am working towards removal little by little. I've already removed two wasp nests from the back porch this season! I'd leave them alone if they would leave me alone, but that's just too close to the back door. Earwigs do like to nibble - and I find them pretty disgusting, but have not found them to be that damaging. They are actually partially good for the garden, helping to compost decayed matter. But I hate finding them in the corn and artichokes. Tender plants (by the way, this is very early for beans - good luck) such as squash and beans are frequently favorites of cutworms and slugs, especially in the night. Handpicking by flashlight (or full moon if you hurry) is quite romantic. I generally plant beans in June and always have more than I can handle. But maybe starting early you'll get a longer season. Last season's argula is flowering like crazy. I guess I better pull it out and get this year's seeds in the ground. Slow start this year. Did put in tomatoes and onions, along with a new spearmint (in a pot in the ground) so I can make my own mojitos.

tsquare - how tall are your peas? how tall should they get before they start to flower? Maybe 18"-24". I'm expecting to see flowers soon. Oh, they are edible pod peas. I usually have a crop by early June.

Thought I'd just tag this report into this thread rather than start another: I admit it – I ate at Emeril’s at MGM Grand. Just a nice fruity and potent Hurricane, some bbq shrimp (small and kind of sweet sauce) and duck confit salad. That was tasty, but not much duck. Grand Luxe for breakfast – arg, part of the Cheesecake Factory chain! Too late to leave. Food was fine. Pricey, like most everything. At the beautiful Venetian Hotel, though you wouldn’t know it from in here. Dinner at Onda at the Mirage. Pass. Not so great Italian American at fairly high prices. Used to have Todd English’s kiss, but no more. Liked the décor. A tasty pulled pork sandwich at Café Caribe at Mirage. Dinner at Café Lago at Caesar’s – upscale coffee shop. Had a very good plate of pasta and mushrooms, and a good salad. I liked this place a lot – cool blue interiors, low noise level, and nice live music. Watched some guy down two large plates of crab legs from the buffet, along with a couple plates of pastries. And more. Crisp waffle with fresh strawberries and blueberries at Café Caribe. A really swell dinner at Bouchon at the Venetian. Yes, ala Thomas Keller! Just opened in January 2004. Very French. Good bread, great salads, tasty roasted chicken and mushrooms, excellent lamb shank, and passable petite desserts. Good wine. Not casual, but not over the top. Service was very friendly and knowledgeable – at dinner. Breakfast – back to Bouchon (not open at lunch.) Good coffee, a nice plate of smoked salmon with baguette, capers, onions, and herbed butter. Good looking pastries, little skillets with flavored eggs. Fairly awful service. Kind of a funny story – they serve different butter at dinner and breakfast (upon request). The breakfast butter, according to our server is “unpastrized” and made from the milk of just 3 cows. Well, unpasteurized or not, it had oxidized and had a sour odor and unpleasant taste. The manager finally brought out some regular kitchen butter and fresh toast – they need to figure out how to present that stuff if it was what was intended and not actually turned - or get rid of it. They serve breakfast on the terrace overlooking a small pool as well. Gelato at Bellagio. Yum, 'nuft said. Later, one of NSM's recommended pistachio cream raspberry tarts. I liked the cornmeal almond (?) base. Wish there had been an opportunity to try more. They also make chocolates in house - Neil, you doing any of that? Tell them to try gray sea salt toppers! A plate of duck and pork with rice and greens at Noodle Kitchen at Mirage. Every hotel seems to have a place like this. It was good, cheap, and quick – and may have been the cause of much morning discomfort. Didn’t win in the casinos – but did okay at the restaurants.