girl chow

Really Nice is dead on with his recs. I love the Purple Cafe (there's also one in Kirkland). The food and concept is really a good one. The Lowell Hunt people serve some really good stuff. I never ate at Armadillo, but always laughed at the name (RIP). Is Italianissimo still in Woodinville? It was an ok red sauce Italian joint, but it's been a few years since I stopped by. I haven't been in some time, but Racha Thai was good at one time (owned by the same folks who operate Racha on Queen Anne). Wow. The Golden Goat has slipped. Redmond: I forgot that Il Bacio had changed hands. Is the Greek joint next door still there? I think it was called Epiros? It was pretty good. Don't forget Malay Satay Hut! Lots of Indian choices, many of which have been posted before (do a search for Indian and Redmond). Bellevue: there's Pogacha (Croatian flatbread ... good stuff from a wood fired oven); Mediterranean Kitchen; great Thai in about a zillion locations. Jones Barbecue at the Crossroads Mall is legit. Kirkland: Szmania's, Third Floor Fish Cafe, Lynn's Bistro (is it still there?), Purple Cafe and Wine Bar, and Raga has great Indian food. Issaquah: Another Pogacha, a good Indian joint in Gilman Village, Noodle Boat Thai, yada yada.

HEY Tighe, watch it. Ok, yeah, I have been slacking on South King County restaurant coverage. But I have a good excuse. Now that I work and live in Pierce County, I've devoted my time to finding great eats way south of you all. I just don't know how much you all care about the netherlands of Tacoma, so I haven't posted much. What I've discovered in Tacoma will blow off your socks if you're of the type who would travel down here. YES! We have banh mi (Cafe La Vie), great Greek street style eats (It's Greek to Me), fantastic BBQ (Bob's and The Warthog), southern food that will make you swoon (Southern Kitchen, From the Bayou) and believe it or not, a really kick-ass upscale grocery store (Proctor and Dash Point Met Markets). A Trader Joes will be opening soon in University Place (burb of Tacoma). Why the hell do I need to come up to King County anymore? But if I ever have a need to get up to the Renton hood, I so will check out Red House. Thanks for posting Ye-Ye Girl I'm curious about the location, is it over by the C.D. Danza Spa, or is it one street south of there? I can't think of where it would be in relation to the train tracks/Spirit of WA dinner train. HELP!

For cheesemakers down here, Isa Mira also sells cheese cultures, which is a great thing for us South Sounders who may not want to drive to Beecher's or deal with online ordering. I talk a little about them in this post: Isa Mira post from cheese supply thread I'm still in search of more south end places (Tacoma to Kent, but not the peninsula) where they sell cheese cultures, fresh goat's milk, raw and/or non homogenized cow's milk and other cheesemaking stuff. Please post here if you know where to find them.

Here's another link to the same story (for some reason the other link I posted goes to a different link) http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_vegetables/art...3103442,00.html

Cool Hal! Thanks for putting the offer out there. It'd be great to get an exchange going here. I'd love some of your seeds if they're heirloom (or open pollinated) seeds. I'll be saving some seeds from my brandywine and orange oxheart tomatoes this year (both heirloom/open pollinated... and I'm still getting tons of the ripening right now) I'd be willing to swap with you or anyone else who wants them. I've had freaky results from hybrid tomatoes (and squash, pumpkins, etc.), so I'm off the hybrids (especially if they're F1 hybrids) For those who want to save seeds, but haven't before, here's a good link about saving seeds: Article on seed saving

LOVE BITTERSWEET!! Used to work down the street and ate there many times. New owners, but they kept the entire kitchen staff (the owners are lovely people, this is their first time owning a restaurant, although they've worked in food distrib. before). What I love is that Bittersweet makes its own bread every morning (a delightful smell that permeates all of downtown Kent). Have you and The Dude had a chance to check out that new Cafe Vino (??). It's pretty close to downtown. It's on the street that turns into the Kent-Des Moines Highway (I'm totally blanking on the name of the street right now). I'm so curious about that place. Thanks skyflyer3 for the info on Olga's. Me loves the borscht when it's good.

Thanks for the South End updates!! I didn't know anything about the Red House (is it in the old location that used to be the Whistle Stop.. or am I on the wrong street?) The joint on 3rd that is now Vino used to be Gene's Ristorante. Such a shame. The previous owner, Gene, sold it to a woman who was a newcomer to the restaurant biz. A nice lady (Alexa?) I wonder if she opened something else or decided to bag it? Also, have you and The Dude tried a new Russian?? place I think it's called Olga's? It's in Renton and someone mentioned it to me, but I just haven't had time to check it out.

I'm going to Fair this week (primarily so my kid can hang out at the petting zoo, but I also admit a bizarre fetish with grange displays). I will report back about fried Twinkies and candy bars (scary).

Yes! The Powerhouse is a really fun Puyallup joint. For those who don't know about it, it's on Main Street in Puyallup.. located in an old power station. They do microbrews there and a very decent microbrewed root beer. I really like their dark beer (I think it's a stout, but don't quote me on that). It's thick as mud and made with Martin Henry espresso (a local coffee roaster in Puyallup that RAWKS!). At Powerhouse, I mostly drink beer :) but there a few menu items to try: the halibut fish and chips are very decent. Pizza is only so-so.

Well, you missed the SPAM cook-off at the fair yesterday, so that was pretty much your best bet for eating something decent at the fair. har har har There are many things to eat at the fair, and most of them are deep fried.. but none of them are going to be stellar and all of them are going to be a pretty poor value. There is a Greek booth over by the Blue Gate entrance that is ok (very mediocre). The Earthquake Burgers are a favorite for a lot of people.. I think they're pretty crappy (big, messy, soggy burgers aren't my thing). They have teriyaki booths and booths selling deep fried candy bars (I don't think twinkies are there this year, but I could be wrong) and there are several places over by the barns that sell onion burgers and cheeseburgers and hot dogs and such (none are that great). Do NOT under any circumstances eat at the Longhorn Barbecue. Ack. If you don't have your heart set on eating at the fair, there are some decent finds around Puyallup. There's a great Thai joint up the hill near the South Hill Mall called Araythaya (next door to Starbucks, in the same *ack* strip mall as Best Buy and Bed Bath & Beyond). Over on Main Street in Puyallup, as you're heading north toward Sumner is Toscano's, an Italian joint and wine bar. It's new and pretty good. In Sumner, one city away, you'll find Brank's on Main Street. They serve really wonderful barbecue (get the ribs). And there's also a great pizza joint just up the hill, on State Route 410. It's called Marsillo's and it's located downstairs from the winery (on your right as you head up toward Bonney Lake). They have a wood fired oven that turns out some damn good pizzas. Also, heading in the opposite direction from the fair, there is a really really really great place in Parkland (a short ride away on State Route 512 to the Pacific/Hwy 7 exit) called From The Bayou (we've posted about it here many times). Fantastic Southern food. I can certainly offer plenty of other Puyallup and Tacoma recommendations should you want to explore food in other parts of Pierce County. Let us know what you wind up eating!

It would be great if someone could post a link for the thread mentioned above from the Indian forum (I couldn't find it) Here are a few past threads on Indian food in the PNW forum. In this one, I list addresses of shops/restaurants in Kent (perhaps the same one listed on the other thread??). On the East Hill of Kent (east of 167, accessible via James and Smith Streets), there is a grouping of Indian restaurants along 108th (Benson Highway). Just south of this area, near Target, there is a new development planned that will have a grouping of Indian businesses. I think it will be anchored by a restaurant (sorry, no name for the development that I know of, but it is located north of Target and Top Foods). Please note: the post below is three years old and some of the info may be outdated: http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showto...hl=kent++indian Also, here is a thread Schielke started eons ago about Indian food: http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showto...hl=kent++indian (sorry, would have done the links the better way, but it was giving me trouble.. irritated with the new format)

I'm not really looking for goat meat, but I will pay good money for goat's milk. If you find a reputable source, please let me know.

Zoe is fairly kid-friendly and really good food.. but I think icon has more choices for kid food. For the record, Cascadia has a really decent menu for kids, but it's a little more expensive than I think you're looking for. I think your best bet may be the ID. Preschoolers need their food fast (as you know) and pretty much any restaurant in the ID will comply. How about Seven Peppers or another Szechuan joint?

Thanks for the report! Love reading those. Mama's is a great place to fill your stomach up after a night of drinking. I used to hang out in the Elvis room at Mama's more times than I care to admit when I was in my early 20s and living in Seattle (ages and ages and ages ago...) I was last there in May (with eGulleters who shall remain nameless).. and as I recall, our service was absolutely horrible and the food cheap and mediocre. Ahhhh, just as I remember it.... the good ol' days... There are dozens of better Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in the region (Scorched Palate can point you where), but Mama's is gritty, cheap and full of 'tude... and great for midnight eating.

In any catering emergency, I always think of Lisa Dupar. She's on both sides of the lake now with her new facility on Denny.. it's called Julep (used to be The Fairview, right?) ... I've heard the facility is gorgeous, with huge rooms and small rooms for gatherings/events. She also does catering offsite too. She's also got a facility in Redmond and, if I'm not mistaken, she's about to open a restaurant at her new Redmond facility? (a post for Farewell and Welcome... to come later) Her web site, I think, is just www.lisadupar.com or www.lisaduparcatering.com (I'm too frustrated w/my slow connection at home to check it out for you.. sorry).

Just wondering, has anyone heard from Scott? Is he starting another restaurant? Did he go to cook someplace else? And anyone know what happened to his kitchen partner Sue? Or perhaps this is covered elsewhere and I just missed it? For newcomers to eG, Scott is the former owner of Blue Onion Bistro (with Sue). He used to post here under the handle of papa chef, but we haven't heard from him in eons. Anyone have news on him? PLease post here! Or, direct me to the link if info has been posted elsewhere.

I bought some last weekend. It was fabulous. I have never bought the frozen shrimp before, but I'm considering it now. I hate the labor involved with peeling/deveining, yada yada

Ha! Halland! That was the best review I've read in months. Nice. Every time I've walked into a Rainforest Cafe, I've felt an overwhelming sense - a desperate urge -- to run away really fast. On my two visits, I wound up just drinking the booze, which ain't half bad if you don't mind getting ripped off ($12 for RUM AND JUICE??!!!!) My first visit was a kid party and the other was a novelty visit in Vegas -- both of which required heavy drinking. I can't even remember if I ate there.

Yikes! I don't know why it took me so long to reply to this topic. Yes! Sunday Aug. 22 will work for me! And it seems that White Lotus and MsRamsey can make it too. Bastila Shan, how 'bout you?

Yikes! You're right. I forget there are several functions coming up. I agree we should pick a date after Aug. 7. Maybe a Sunday. Thoughts?

I'm moving this conversation from the hot pot thread to a new thread to announce an eGullet dinner at the Imperial Garden at the Great Wall Mall in Kent (near IKEA). About a year ago, at the height of the SARS brouhaha that sent people running away from the ID and the Great Wall, we organized a dinner at the Imperial Garden, a really lovely Chinese restaurant that anchors the mall. Click herefor details of that dinner. Let's do it again! Are you in? Just post here when you're available and how many people are in your party. Kids are welcome (this is a pretty family friendly place). Here are some possible dates. Let's say dinner at around 6:30ish? Sunday, Aug. 1 Wednesday, Aug. 4 Thursday, Aug. 5

Ok, maybe it's a matter of learning to use the secret squirrel "light" pound code rather than the "half pound" weasel maneuver I've been employing that doesn't always work. I'll give the "light pound" trick a whirl next time (I think you already have told me this once, but I didn't remember the last time I was there, doh!). It seems pretty funny that you have to ask for the "light" pound instead of just saying a "half" pound. It's like some hard-ass cheese nazi at PFI laid down the pound-only law... and the only way the counter help are allowed to break the rule is to create some kind of wink-wink secret cheese code. heh heh heh.

Tsquare, thanks for the report!! It sounds exactly like I pictured it. Ok people, I think a field trip might be in our future... I have some very very sad news to report, but it may not be a shocker to my fellow South King County diners. A La Turca Grill and Cafe in Fairwood (Renton plateau) is gone!! In its place: a Thai joint called Fairwood Thai. Ugh. I know the owners of a La Turca had been having trouble and I think Tighe reported that he had a weird experience on his last visit there, but I had hopes that they would make it. The food was very decent Middle Eastern/Turkish (loved that thick-as-mud-Turkish coffee). Sigh.

I love PFI (especially the bulk spice section), but I have a small beef with their cheese policy. Their store policy is that cheese must be purchased *by the pound.* I have gotten around this rule a few times by schmoozing the counter help, but a few times I got staffers who insisted I had to buy a full pound. If it's parmesan, no problem, I can knock off a pound of that in a week, but there are many cheeses that I would love to try, but I know would end up rotting in my cheese bin. That being said, let me add that PFI prices cannot be beat. They really are very affordable. I just wish they would change their cheese policy. White Lotus, I know as a fellow Pierce County resident that you've already discovered the joys of the cheese selection at the Proctor Metropolitan Market (I LOVE going there, their selection is very interesting), but I wanted to point you to a cheese shop in Gig Harbor that is a short jaunt across the bridge for you. It's called Isa Mira and it's on Harborview, just a few doors down from Susanne's Bakery (you have to go down into a parking lot to get there). They don't have a huge selection, but what they do carry is very good quality. I have bought my favorite goat cheese -- Humboldt Fog -- there, and I also picked up an aged farmer's gouda and a Cahill Farms Cheddar (it's cheddar cured with Guiness, delightful to look at because of its unusual pattern -- and delicious too). They have a very serene deck overlooking the harbor where you can lunch (they have a short menu of cafe food and a lot of different cheese board choices). The best news for Pierce County cheesemakers is they sell cultures there so you don't have to drive to Beecher's or do mail order. The owner is Debbie and she is very personable and can help answer a lot of cheese questions (although she is not a cheesemaker, so don't expect a lot of advice about making cheese). Isa Mira: 3313 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor; 253-857-7511 I don't really miss the James Cook cheese shop -- the people who worked there were all pretty damn rude.

Heh heh heh. That happened to me last year. Obviously, I didn't learn my lesson. I have two zucchini plants this year (doh!)