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I started eating here when they first opened. Thought it was great as a neighborhood place. But my last experience was underwhelming. I sat at the sushi bar. The chef had rice on his upper lip the whole time. There is no chatter with the customers. I felt very unwelcome. I'd be tempted to head to Wallingford or Fremont for a fresher, warmer experience at some of the new spots that are getting great reviews.

That's funny, a friend arranged for a large group to go to the old Malay Satay - half a dozen people (of two dozen or so) had real problems with the menu and the food. I think they stopped for burgers on the way home. And I think they felt like they paid too much! Guess it's all relative.

I just used my free birthday dessert at Dahlia Lounge. The pear tarte with pear compote (6 small slices of marinated pear?) and black pepper ice cream was a buttery, sweet-savory treat. I also ate halibut with a curry vinegrette over soba noodles. The menu said it was in a pea vine broth? I couldn't really tell that, found one snap pea, a couple of baby carrots, and some unidentified vegetable matter - I think some mushrooms? It tasted great, the fish was well handled (and fresh - despite the "don't eat fish on Monday" recommendations), but I think $24 is on the high side? Of course, I ate a good half loaf of bread - house and olive, so was plenty full. It was Monday night - at 9 p.m. I think all the tables in the main room were full, though the place seemed pretty quiet.

Hoffman's in Kirkland - in the shopping center with TGIF? It has been awhile since I looked for it. Not sure if it was all that special, but believe the baker had excellent training. Essential has moved beyond breakfast. They have beautiful tarts, cakes, cookie - and I recall - a line of house-made chocolates! Lots of seasonal items too. Thanks for the update on Le Fournil - haven't been there in awhile either, though I continue to hear good reports as well. Add to the list - Le Boulangerie in Wallingford? Wondering if anyone has been to Animal Espresso? I am guessing that they have some pretty wonderful baked goods, but haven't made it there - south of Capitol Hill, maybe Central District?

What type of pastry shop is it we are talking about? There are a number of places for fine pastry: Cafe Besalu in Ballard - croissant/brioche/fruit tarts Le Fournil on Eastlake - same plus fancy cake type things Le Pain du Four in Belltown - bread and croissant Essential Bakery in Wallingford - no longer just bread - some remarkable pastry and cakes/cookies Hoffman's in Kirkland - Austrian? Dahlia's Le Painier in the Market No doubt I've forgotten some.

Just heard today that the Tomato Taste-Off at Tilth is not happening this year! The focus is on donating produce to food banks. Sorry - I was unaware of the change. Still encourage everyone to go to the Harvest Festival. There is always something interesting to see/buy/eat.

An older review of Lampreia: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/food/talk013.shtml Never tried it, myself.

Raison d'etre, though I recently found they opened a place on Orcas - in Olga, at the old store. Cusina Fresca - at least you can buy the pasta (PCC, for instance).

Just had an early "oh my god" peach from Sosio's in the Market. Funny thing, the flavor reminded me of canned peaches rather than fresh - no tartness? They are on the small size right now - 2/3 of a pound! They say in the next week or so they should be running 1 to 1-1/2 lbs each. Today's price $1.99/lb. So, someone has to say it - Skie - you are married to a woman from Georgia and you claim to never have had a Georgia peach!

26 (?) plus 7 starts I gave to my neighbor...she thinks it will be too many for her, but they are growing. Oh yeah, I let them grow as much as they want, no pinching, always too crowded by the time they mature. One year I had a cherry type plant - maybe Sweet 100's? - that I could stretch out a good 20 feet easily. Interestingly, I did not get any self sown tomatoes this year, except some tomatillos.

More than 12 dozen tomatoes harvested this weekend! Pasta and fresh tomato sauce, tomato sandwiches, tomato salsa, sliced tomatoes with salt, tomatoes popped into the mouth, gifts of tomatoes...

BH- I start seeds in a seed flat on a table in my kitchen, with a south facing window - March 24, this year. The flat has a clear plastic cover. That's it - no lights, on heating devices. I transplant most of them into 2" pots and keep them indoors for awhile. When it warms up a little, they go onto the partially glassed in back porch. When they get too leggy for their little pots, they go into the ground - usually by mid-May - the 18th, this year. The starts are way too small to look like they will survive - or thrive - but they always do! I think I may have lost one to slugs in all these years. I sometimes do a good job of planting - digging a deep hole, amending it with good stuff like compost and fertilizer, giving it a good soak...but this year they went into the ground unamended! I have broadcast dry organics and liquid fish fertilizer a couple of times each over the past 4 months. I prefer to stake and tie up plants rather than use cages. If they are left to run free (free-range tomatoes?), they tend to rot or get eaten where they touch the ground. If the supply holds out, I'll bring some of whatever is plentiful to the Tilth Festival taste-off. After the "professional" judging is done, the tasting is opened up to the public (at least in past years.) Come sample.

Blue, Not to worry - last year my tomatoes did not start ripening until the second week of September - and almost all of them ended ripe - only a small bag of greenines went to a green tomato chutney maker (hey, I never did get a portion!) Here's my report, to date: I've had a few deep orange Yellow Brandywines (1) this year - great flavor and color, but too many surface imperfections, and low production, to be happy with their growing style. Also, the Tiger-like (2), so reliable the past few years, are lacking much flavor and substance! Camp Joy (3), a cherry type, continues to harbor great taste and a deep red color. The last of my Jubilee(4) seeds yielded one plant - the fruits are suffering from blossom end rot, as are many of the dull Romas (5). Costoluto Genovese (6) and Principe Borghese (7) are just starting to be picked - they look good. The unknown Master Caruso (8) turns out to be a nicely sized, very consistent red tomato, but nothing to sing about. The red pears (no yellow, after-all)are better sized this year - but also in a better growing location. It looks like the season is already ending for Isis Candy (9)- an early well flavored yellow tomato - not really a cherry, but fairly small. And, oddly, Oregon Spring (10) has yet to ripen! I have enjoyed a light harvest of Toma Verde tomatillos as well.

How about Brasa, downtown neighborhood, or Market Street Grill, in Ballard. I haven't been to either all summer (!) but have been impressed with the food and presentation over and over again. Both have seafood and vegetarian selections. Or Carmelita's, Phinney Ridge, for vegetarian only? Not sure if any of these qualify as "breathless", but worthy candidates for consideration.

Not your imagination. There is a native blackberry that has smaller seeds (or is it smaller leaves?), and the invasive blackberry (Himalayan) that we have all come to love - big and juicy, but seedy, if I am keeping this straight. I recall the issue being in the newspapers recently - perhaps the Seattle Times last week? There are also other strains bread for specific qualities, like my old favorite the olalliberry (except I can never spell it correctly.)

I second the tastiness of Gelatiamo. The strawberry, earlier this summer, was amazing. Peach wasn't bad, but not like fresh peaches. I love the giandula too. BTW - all the talk about peaches this summer - I hope everyone has read "Epitaph for a Peach"? Really started all this a few years ago. And a good read too.

Ha ha, funny. Just caught an episode of The Iron Chef on the Food Network. Ron beat the Japanese chef of the evening. Did a super job wowing the jurors. What a weird show.

Seattle tomatoes are just starting to color - but I picked 7 dozen this weekend! Two years ago, local tomatoes beat out Eastern Washington grown tomatoes hands down at the Tilth Harvest Festival taste-off. (Great place to try produce and celebrate the harvest - this year on September 14 at the Good Shephard's Center in Wallingford.) Both food professionals/chefs and the public selected locally grown as better tasting, so don't dismiss Western Washington so quickly. That said, try Farmer's Markets in the next few weeks. Pike Place, Wednesday and Sunday, has organic and local produce on the street stands as well.

Finally tried Eva. They'll be two in November. It was pretty quiet early on a beautiful Saturday night. All tables reserved but one, plenty of seating in the bar. The whole menu looked good - bar snacks too ($6-12). Long, interesting wine list, plenty of half bottles. I chose a glass of Washington rose ($6). Jazz playing softly, candles lighting tables and behind the liquor bottles. Among the seasonal specialties were a trio of salads ($8) - beet, chantrelle, and carrot. Sounded good, but the garden is overly abundant right now. Instead, I had the prawns with salad roll ($8). The slight char on the prawns and firmness of the meat was perfect. The roll was refreshing with a good cashew dipping sauce. Special entree was rabbit/chantrelle lasagna ($12?). Can you tell chantrelles are just coming into season? I stayed with the pan seared halibut with radish salad ($16). The apricot ginger sauce was way too sweet without any discernable flavor, though it looked pretty on the plate. The piece of fish was good, the salad it sat on, light and tasty. The idea was to save room for dessert. Lots of seasonal items here - peach ice cream, fruit tart, nectarine cake...but the easy choice was a trio of tastes ($8). The hazelnut praline panne cotta was smooth as silk, though slightly more dense. The frozen lemon-blueberry souffle was brightly flavored, but I don't really get the concept - is it an egg mixture or an ice? The chocolate cookie with coconut cream filling is now my new favorite version of a Mounds Bar. Oh my! The plate was nicely adorned with small jewel toned bits of assorted fresh fruit. My only real complaint of the evening was that they never asked if I wanted another beverage, other than coffee with dessert. Perhaps I was sipping slowly enough that it seemed unlikely. Would I rush back? Not likely, though if someone suggested going there, I'd say okay.

I tried out the Ballard Farmer's Market last Sunday. It was nicely sized, quiet, and friendly. Got some great stuff including Bainbridge Island brown eggs and a variety of new potatoes. There was also a new jewish baker (retail to open in Magnolia in September) selling marbled rye and challah, lots of beautiful berries, flowers, pasta, and produce, a meat seller, crafts, and some prepared food booths. Timing was wrong for me, but I want to go back and try the crepes or the vegetarian foods made to order. They looked (and smelled) great.

A family treat growing up - toasted pound cake (yeah, the frozen or packaged kind, if you want) topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. Thinking the same idea with peaches and whipped cream, a touch of raspberry or strawberry puree on top, or pooled under. Wow.

mamster- waaay off. But pleased that you would think I am that dedicated a foodist.

mamster- I've eaten at the Stalk Exchange a number of times. It is ambitious, but casual. I haven't had a great meal there - but have only tried at brunch. A friend, who is a vegan (!) really likes it, but don't hold that against it. They have some meat on the menu, lots of local and organic products. It is definitely worth trying, though the wait can get pretty long for a table.

Ben- What does your friend think of PNW versions of Indian food? It would be great if you post the where's and what's of his adventures here.

I liked the sturgeon and the chicken salad with grilled shitake mushrooms best at Grillfest. Not to mention the beer. And the cheese from SlowFood. (ah, Amsters - now you can guess who I am!) I wonder how many crossovers there are between egullet and SlowFood? Re: Bookfest - there are always alot of Sasquash Publishing cookbooks for sale at half off, also "remainders" from University Bookstore and others. Great way to stock up on presents and splurge on the big picture books. Plus, the cooking panels are usually interesting. With the new location and limited utilities, that may not be happening this year? But at least they won't be limited to convention center caterers for snacks.