girl chow

I should add that I wouldn't know a good corned beef or pastrami if it smacked me in the ass. I'm hoping Clink or some meat aficionado here will weigh in on this topic.

Co-worker to me: "Where is that new deli in Seattle that has New York style corned beef and pastrami? I heard there were people lining up out the door to get some of that." Me: "huh?" I don't recall hearing about any new New York style delis opening recently. In fact, the only New York style deli I can think of in Seattle (at the moment) is Liberty Deli on Alki (only so so). Ok, so where are the New York style delis? And where is the new one? If there isn't a new one, I'd like to be able to tell my co-worker where there is decent pastrami and corned beef to be found. And why can't I find a previous discussion on this topic in any old threads? Could it be that we haven't already discussed this?

We should start keeping track of how many of our post topics wind up being reviewed supiciously soon after said posts ... I too found that very very strange..... hahahaha

Hey MsRamsey, I'm going! I'm meeting friends, but maybe we should have an official "meeting" place for eGullet posters. It'd be nice to link some of your faces with your posts. I have such a hard time making it to egullet gatherings thanks to my rugrat and work schedule. I'll be technically "working" at the Taste event, but I should find plenty of time to socialize in there. It'd be very cool to meet some of you there. And speaking of "Tastes" .. is anyone going to the other Taste. The Taste of the Nation event on April 1 at the Sheraton? (it's a fundraiser dinner for Share Our Strength). Clicky here: Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation

Hey there Seawakim! I went to the opening of Dinner and Dreams and -- like NSM of the last run -- thought the entertainment was worth every single penny (had I actually paid! I got to go as a guest thankfully). It is a steep pricetag at about $100 a head (not including drinks, tip, parking, etc), but the entertainment just blew me off my seat (almost literally when the cat lady trapeze artist sat herself on my husband's lap and almost landed on me!) Like Cirque, the performance is very much in the same vein of street performance. There are stilt walkers, contortionists and all the entertainers that make Cirque so fabulous. BUT the best part is that at Teatro, the performers are literally within an arm's reach. They perform throughout the dining area throughout the evening, dancing and singing and twirling around your table and on a small platform stage in the center of the dining tent and at the rear of the tent. Some of them even stop by your table and throw things at you (I got a pair of earplugs thrown at me, which I didn't have to use because it never got too loud). I enjoyed Cirque (I saw Dralion in the summer), but what I didn't like about Cirque was just how impersonal it felt. I was one of a thousand sitting on a hard auditorium seat hundreds of feet away from the performers, who were on a tall platform stage. At Teatro, there is no removal between the audience and the performers. And that's what I really like. As for the food at Teatro, well, it was good... possibly even great, but not stunning. I mean, I really liked it, but I thought the focus of the evening was really the entertainment and the food was almost secondary. I had salmon with beluga lentils in a red wine sauce and that was good. I remember not being blown away by the dessert -- and the appetizers were decent -- a trio of spreads and crusty bread and crackers to go with. The soup, a creamy asparagus, was very bright, though. A funny note about the food... I know they have changed the format of the show since I went when it opened, but at the performance I saw, there was a very funny couple who would play a song and do a dance to introduce the next course of the meal. It was funny... and a nice reminder that it really was an event revolving around food and entertainment. All in all, I'd say it's worth the night and the money. Just make sure you go with someone who doesn't mind a very long night -- I think it lasted about 2 1/2-3 hours.

Yes, indeed! I had completely forgotten about Filiberto's until you mentioned it!! That place rocks! It's close to my mom-in-law's house in Des Moines, so we sometimes would take family outings there. But lately, the family likes to go to El Charro on Pac Hwy (UCK!) by Lewis and Clarke. On a related Des Moines/Burien pizza note, My husband absolutely LOVES the pizza at Boston Pizza, located in Des Moines proper by the Red Robin and Wally's (great fried fish and decent chowder). I don't think Boston's pizza is all that good, but I think he likes that place because he used to eat there all the time as a kid. I think the pizza is too soggy.

Yes indeed, they are one and the same, although the folks at SCCC would prefer to brand the school as the Seattle Culinary Academy (for obvious reasons... the community college stigma is so unfair though). ... and in other local community college culinary news (this is cool), South Seattle Community College broke ground last month for a $2.5 million expansion on its culinary arts complex. I heard it's going to rock... new demo kitchen, new dining room, yada yada yada. Clickity click here for more info: South Seattle Community College culinary arts info

Hi DrColby, welcome! I don't know what happened to Chef Greg, but I'm curious to find out. Back to the "farewell and welcome" thread ..... I'd like to find out if anyone has any additional info on Hiroki, a new bakery opening on N. 56th St. between Wallingford and Green Lake. I heard that the owner is a graduate of the Seattle Culinary Academy, but I don't know much else. Oh, I did hear that the shop will specialize in European desserts. I'll be curious to hear any reports on this place. They're supposed to open in early March. Their address is going to be 2224 N. 56th St.

Ohhhhhhhhh maaaaaaaaaaannnnnn.... blue cheese gravy! On pizza! I'm having a Homer-esque moment. I need an emoticon with dripping saliva

I would eat anything, including cardboard, if it had gravy on it. Ditto for blue cheese.

I used to love reading Fred Brack's reviews. The whole tone of Sidewalk was so great. I used to love reading all the reviews on there when they actually RAN REVIEWS. I heard in my writer's group (shameless plug here: Seattle Writergrrls that they just hired a new Restaurants Editor. Her name is Hannah Levin and she formerly (or still is?) a contributing writer with The Stranger. Allegedly, they're going to "revamp" the site. However, I've heard big rumors that Ticketmaster still has no intention of pumping money into Citysearch. What a shocker in this economy! The Citysearch product today really makes me dream of the good ol' days of Sidewalk.... I'm interested in finding out where Fred Brack went to write. Report back Mamster!

Welcome SeattleGrrl! Hey Coop, on the menu at XXX is basically just burgers. If memory serves, there are corndogs or hotdogs too (I'm sure I got one for my rugrat). Basically, they've got burgers, cheeseburgers and bacon cheeseburgers and the usual offerings at Triple XXX -- but they all have cutesy name like the 57 Chevy or the 48 Buick Skylark (or something nutty like that).

HAHAHA! Let's mass e-mail KUOW and start promoting Mamster as their next host. He DOES have a wicked laugh, although the one and only time I met him and Laurie, Mamster was sick and he said his laugh and humor weren't up to full speed I've heard HCC on KUOW's afternoon show too, can't remember what it was for because she was so unremarkable, but I remember getting irritated with her whole attitude and switching over to The End to listen to Flashback Jukebox.

I can say with authority that the shakes at Ghorm's or the All-Family are fantastic: made with real ice cream, served with big straws and taste like a good shake should: sweet, rich and sinful. The shakes at Big Daddy's are thin and taste like they're made from a mix. I can only remember having a shake there one and it was years ago. Never had a shake at XXX in Issaquah and I don't remember ever ordering a shake at Burgermaster. Hey, that's a great start for a new thread: Best Shakes.

They definitely need a weekly local food show, but NOT with HCC. Uh uh. Would not listen to that. I would listen if Mamster was on though. Hey... an idea! An e-gullet show!! Public access? Public radio? hmmmm......

BLAH HAH AHAAAA! You apparently haven't dined at Lalani Lanes in North Seattle. Besides being the best karaoke place in Seattle, Lelani serves some splended cuisine (KIDDING! I always eat at the nearby Dick's before and/or after heading to Lalani). I too find that folksy NPR banter irritating and totally dorky to the point that it sometimes make me physically wince with pain. What I really like on LRK's show, though, that is totally dorky and folksy, is when the Sterns do their check-ins. I LOVE hearing about their road food finds! I've often been tempted to e-mail them weird finds in the more rural areas of Washington (like great eats at the Happy Taco in Othello).

He'd come on the show, so long as your son would let him pitch his Rubs With Love. Honestly, though, I will listen to his show. As far as radio goes, I don't think there's enough food stuff on! I used to listen to Brian Poor's show (what happened to that guy? Is he still on?) And I also like Lynn Rosetto Kasper (sp?) of Splendid Table, but I'm ticked they moved her show from Wednesday nights to Sunday afternoons on KUOW (it was much better on Wednesday nights).

I thought I'd share this with lurkers and newcomers who might not know that there are GREAT burgers to be found outside of Seattle proper. These drive-in and walk-in burger joints are all located in the burbs where I work, play and live. I've started with my favorites.... Newcomers, feel free to post away with your favorite joints not listed below: Ghorm’s, Kent 10429 Kent-Kangley Rd, Kent; 253-852-0190. This is my all time favorite burger joint at the moment. The menu is pretty brief: burger, cheeseburger, bacon cheeseburger, fries, onion rings and shakes. The burgers are just fine, with just the right ratio of meat to bun. The cheese is the American kind. Fresh lettuce, tomatoes and onions. The fries are something else. They're the thin, curly, hand-cut kind (NOT FROZEN). Their special sauce will cost you five cents extra. I highly recommend shelling our 10 cents and loading up. This is a walk-up only restaurant, no car service. Wally's, Buckley 282 Hwy 410, 360-829-0871 I've sung the praises of this joint before, but there's some exciting news at Wally's. They have a new sign! It's very diner-esque. And keeping with that theme, the inside at Wally's is the total retro diner look with sweet red vinyl booths and formica tabletops. I like that you can drive up and eat in your car or get out and pick out a few tunes on the jukebox while waiting for your food inside. The burgers are fantastic. They separate the burger on one side and put the lettuce and tomato on the other side of the foam container so your lettuce doesn't wilt (I love that). The fries are HUGE and fresh cut (not frozen). I'm pretty sure the onion rings are of the frozen nature, though. This place has a great menu for kid's food. Also, they have fish and chips that are OK. Big Daddy’s Drive In, Auburn 1138 Auburn Way S., 253-833-7255 The burgers at Big Daddy’s are the biggest I've seen in a long time. They're huge! And the mess factor is quite high, as I like to say. I attribute this to the fact that these are the JUICIEST burgers around. I like the super bacon burger with a large order of fries for under $5. The fries are crinkle cut and I'm pretty sure they're frozen, so they lose points there. They have classic car shows here on weekend nights in the summer (call for dates). They have drive-up and walk-in service. XXX Drive In, Issaquah 98 N.E. Gilman Blvd., 425-392-1266 This place is a total diner throwback, much like Wally's. I like the 59 Caddy burger, which is covered in a sauce that tastes suspiciously like Kraft Thousand Island. Cheese is extra, but worth the quarter. I'm not sure if the fries are fresh cut or frozen, but they are decent. They're the kind that are crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside. They have classic car shows in the summer on weekend nights. This restaurant only does walk-up service and has no car service (at least not in the winter). Burgermaster, Bellevue 10606 Northup Way, 425-827-9566 This is where I go when Dixie's is way too packed when I want to get back to our Bellevue office fast (and that's like, always). The burgers are loaded with the works and I absolutely love their tangy special sauce. The fries are not good at all. I don't think I've ever had a warm fry there! They're always cold! But the burgers are great AND they have gardenburgers for your veg head friends. Their veggie burgers aren't as good as the ones at Red Mill in Seattle, but they'll suffice. Ketchup costs extra. This place offers true curb service and also serves inside. A & W Kent Drive-In, Kent 421 S. Central, 253-852-4280 This isn't my favorite joint, but it's close to my Kent office and they have some killer rootbeer there. They do have remarkable onion rings, though. That's my favorite part of the visit. They offer walk-in and car service. Mountain High Burger, Kent 1605 W. Meeker St., 253-854-4315 This place was way better under the last ownership. I think they might have even changed the name of the place. I knew I should be suspicious once I saw the "teriyaki and burgers" sign go up. That's never a good thing. But they do have decent fresh-cut fries and they always have the TV on at lunch AND they have a drive-through window. It's great for a quick trip. The onion rings are frozen and extremely mediocre. NOTE: They recently changed their menu, I heard. I may have to axe them off my short list of good burger joints. The Family Drive-In, Kent 1124 W. Meeker St., 253-854-0837 It's greasy and quick. The fries are frozen, but they have terrific battered mushrooms and other greasy things that kids love. Their shakes are amazingly thick (made with real ice cream) AND they come with those big straws that make them so much easier to suck down. Plus, it's really close to the Oberto outlet, the Mexican grocery store and the Wonder bread outlet.. which makes for some good shopping afterwards if you're having a summer cookout. Burgerville, Centralia Ok, this is WAY out of the metro Seattle area, but if you ever have to make a drive from Seattle to Portland (or the other way around), Centralia is about the perfect place to stop for lunch (provided you're not one of those people who never makes stops). Burgerville has fantastic burgers, awesome shakes (with seasonal fruit flavors) and just about the freshest and best fries you can find. PLUS, their special sauce is incredible. AND there is a huge outlet shopping complex nearby. edits: MASSIVE typos and a menu update! My bad!

As if we all need to eat more pizza... Jet City Pizza just opened two stores near my office. Just curious, what's their pizza like? And if you love/hate Jet City, tell us why. If you hate 'em, who do you like? I think the best pizza I've ever had was at a place called Cecchiti's (spelling?) in Bellingham where I lived for a few years during college. It was next door to this great tavern called the Three B (formerly Buck's). I think now they call the bar Bellingham Bay Brewery or something yupscale like that (the Three B was better.. but the coolest bar in town was the Up and Up). We would check out a band, drink as much beer as we could and then stagger next door to the pizza joint for a slice to soak up the booze. Ah, the memories. My disclaimer is that I'm not very picky about my pizza. I am planning a pizza blitz when I hit New York this Fall. I expect I'll be blown away. Oh, I remember another place that has great pizza. It's on the main street in Port Townsend. Anyone know the name of that place?

Blue Heron, I am bringing this thread back from the dead! Last weekend, hubby and I started a mini greenhouse in our spare room and planted a bunch of different things in the hopes of having a bunch of thriving seedlings in the next few months. Our goal is to have a big ass vegetable garden. Anyone else planting a garden this spring? What are your plans?

I wonder if the cute bartender who has a thing for my best friend is why I've gotten such good drinks there. I wish he would ask her out already so we can have him make drinks at our next party.

Awesome review Tsquare!! I'm also a big fan of Zoe. I think at the core of the success of Zoe is one of Seattle's best and sometimes one of the most overlooked chefs: Scott Staples. He formerly was the chef at my favorite Kirkland restaurant, the Third Floor Fish cafe (which Scott Staples left in the capable hands of his assistant, Greg Campbell). What I like about Scott Staples and his restaurant is that he's created this completely unpretentious Northwest style bistro that is appealing on so many levels -- a comfortable atmosphere with well crafted food that isn't at all fussy. Plus, the cocktails absolutely rock. If I'm not mistaken, Kathy Casey had a hand in designing them (her drinks rule).

Wow, LainerX, that sounds like an exceptional deal at Lombardi's, which is a restaurant I really really like a lot (especially the roasted garlic... when I lived in Ballard near the other Lombardi's, I ate the stuff practically every day). BUT no matter the deal, very poor service is an automatic disqualifer for most of us. You should consider complaining (after the stress of wedding planning for your pal is over). The president of the company is Diane Symms and I'm sure she would like to know if her manager is being a jerk to potential customers (and that all the local foodies here are now reading about it :) Anyway, to help you in your search, I've got a few more ideas. If you want to stick with affordable Italian, there's a cute little Italian place in Redmond called Il Bacio (it's next door to the crazy Greek place, Epiros). They serve great food, have terrific service, are reasonably priced, yada yada yada. Also, in the theme of Italian, there's Grazie's in Factoria. Another fine family place with a reasonable price tag and room for a large party. They could probably beat Lombardi's banquet price, but the atmosphere isn't quite as nice as at Lombardi's (still, it's a nice place... and the owners send their chefs to Italy to study every few years... that's an interesting story in itself). Also, for Italian, there's a very cute Italian place in Issaquah's Gilman Village called Nicolino. It's small, so you'd basically have to shut down the restaurant for your party, but I really like the warmth of that place. The food isn't as good as Lombardi's, but it is centrally located and still a very good food deal. Other well-priced restaurants that could accommodate a larger crowd: Mediterranean Kitchen, downtown Bellevue. Excellent service. Dinner in the $12-$17 range. Raga, Kirkland. This could be troublesome for a large party. Not everyone likes Indian, even if this is one of the top Indian joints around. Entrees: $10-$17 range. Hey, have you thought of doing something really unusual? The Bors Hede restaurant at the Camlann Medieval Village in Carnation does these authentic Medieval dinners that are a total kick. It's $17.45 per person (plus drink, tax and tip) and you get entertainment and a good amount of really unusual food. Private banquets are more expensive, but I think their dinners are quite fine for a group event. The setting is absolutely freakin cool. Wooden booths and benches.. lit by giant candle chandeliers... a really cool fireplace ..almost every detail is pretty darn close to authentic Medieval, including the numerous buildings and the server costumes. The grounds are also beautiful. Lots of trees and pathways for exploring. I have always wanted to suggest this place as an egullet outing. To see their menus and banquet info, click here: Bors Hede Restaurant link The food is very interesting and they make every attempt to make sure it's authentic. They serve some terrific English cheeses and interesting greens and I really liked the salmon in a lemon hazelnut sauce with wilted spinach. The entertainment is a hoot. The owner (I think his name is Roger?) comes out and plays a bunch of songs (on a lute?) and the kitchen cook comes out and sings too. It might seem a tad dorky (in an endearing way), but it's not slick or Disneyesque or Las Vegas in any way. Ok, probably more suggestions and info than you'll ever need in a lifetime, but I hope that helps. Planning a reception dinner is what I consider one of the most difficult tasks ever (besides, like, working on a farm or something).

Just off the top of my head, I can think of several elegant places on the Eastside that I know would be fitting for a rehearsal dinner. If you give me a price range and what kind of atmosphere, size of the party (etc), I can probably come up with some other suggestions ... especially if your friend is on a budget. These are the usual high-end suspects on the Eastside: Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar, downtown Bellevue. A really elegant seafood restaurant with lots of space for private parties. I really enjoy this restaurant. It's owned by John Howie, formerly of Palisade. Entrees: $20-$35 Daniel's Broiler, downtown Bellevue. Steak, steak, steak. I'm sure you're familiar with this spot that's a clone of the Lake Union restaurant. Entrees: $25-$45 Szmania's Lakeside, Kirkland. Sister restaurant to the Magnolia spot. Northwest European. The staff is hugely accomodating. Entrees: $18-$30 The Third Floor Fish Cafe, Kirkland. One of my very favorite restaurants on the Eastside. This restaurant has a great view and is an excellent, elegant choice for an event like a rehearsal dinner. Entrees: $25-$40 Yarrow Bay Grill, Kirkland. Fantastic view, food, but I'm not sure what the logistics are for private dining. I know the Beach Cafe downstairs has a sizeable area available for private dining and the prices are less than upstairs (I think the Beach Cafe chef Cameon Orel is every bit as talented as the Bay Grill Chef Vicky McCaffree (formerly of Waterfront). Entrees upstairs: $25-$45. Entrees downstairs: $13-$25 Cafe Juanita, Kirkland/Juanita. At one time, they had a downstairs that could accommodate a private party. I don't recall how many people it could seat, but it's a great atmo and the food is top notch. Somehow, I think someone told me that they were turning that space into a wine cellar, though. ? Entrees: $25-$45. Marina Park Grill, Kirkland. A decent steak and seafood restaurant, but perhaps not the best location (no parking) and space (cramped) for a rehearsal dinner. Still, I do like this restaurant. Entrees: $20-$35. Here are some more moderately priced suggestions that might work for you: Epiros, Redmond. A really nice family Greek restaurant with Friday night parties sporting belly dancing and flaming cheese and tons of Uzo. I love this place. If the invitation list includes lots of fun people in your crowd, then this will be a hit. It's loud and crazy. Entrees: $10-$15. Cactus, Kirkland. A loud, fun Mexican/Latin restaurant that is a clone of the Madison Park restaurant. They're in the old space that used to be Six Degrees. Not sure if this would be ideal for a large group, but give them a call if it sounds interesting. Entrees: $10-$20. JaK's Grill, Issaquah. This is the sister restaurant to the West Seattle steak house. Great steaks, fun atmosphere. They have a back section that I would imagine would be a nice place to host a dinner. Entrees: $15-$25. Typhoon, Redmond. Great Thai with a huge tea selection. Slightly funky atmosphere. Expensive for Thai, but the dishes are decent. Entrees: $10-$20. Coho Cafe, Redmond. A moderately priced seafood joint with an awesome gathering place for a dinner around a beautiful fireplace. Entrees: $12-$20. Matts' Rotisserie and Oyster Bar, Redmond Town Center. This is a brand new place (opening this week). The folks who run it are great and the oyster bar is lots of fun. They have a private dining section in the back, although patrons have to walk through that area to get to the bathroom. It's a neat place, though. Entrees: $8-$20. Ok, your eyes are probably about to glaze over with all this info. I'll be happy to post more if you need 'em

Some extremely exciting taco news... Taqueria el Rinconsito has moved its downtown Kent location a few doors down to a much bigger spot (read: bigger menu). Tacos (pollo) still 89 cents... others around a buck. This place still rocks! The new location is where the old Taco Time used to be at the corner of Central and Smith. Funny enough, their other Kent location on Pacific Highway also used to be a Taco Time. Locations, locations, locations: Federal Way (Redondo/Kent): 25914 Pacific Highway Kent (downtown): 301 N. Central Ave (corner of Smith and Central Avenue) Tukwila (by the airport): 14406 International Blvd Burien: 15101 Ambaum Blvd S.W. Tacoma: 5415 Pacific Ave See earlier posts for phone numbers