Sue Flay

Oh that's good to hear--it's one of the places I'd been thinking about. Do you know if they take reservations?

Thanks tsquare, and good questions. Pre-baby we loved Zoe and Union. In September we had a a great meal at the Corson Building. In the past we've liked Pair and Stumbling Goat but are most recent meals at both weren't great.

I've got a two year old, so I've been out of the restaurant scene for almost 3 years. Are there great places that have opened in that time you'd recommend for a birthday dinner? This is for this coming Sunday, for three (my husband and me and a friend--the two year old's not invited).

The Zingermans new baby package is great, and comes with a really useful bib (strong velcro and unstainable): http://www.zingermans.com/Product.aspx?ProductID=G-BBY

I really like the Whole Foods angel food cake. It has a very distinct orange flavor, so you should try it before you buy 100 servings, but I think it's delicious. I get it at the Whole Foods at 65th and 12th NE.

Specifically: Any idea why subbing soy milk for real milk in Jiffy cornbread mix would prevent the cornbread from browning AND rising? I've made it in the past with skim milk and haven't had problems with browning, so I don't think it's a fat thing. Why would the soy curtail the rising? Generally: for dairy-free (not vegan, eggs are OK) baking, if soymilk doesn't work, what does? I'm off dairy because it gives my breastfeeding daughter rashes. I've got soy milk, rice milk, and almond milk in the house and have preferred the soy in my coffee. This no dairy business is no fun, but it will be easier if I can figure out how to make passable baked goods. Thanks!

I'm all for the simple preparations, but this is incredibly delicious: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/views/231591 I've done this with both orange and lemon and both are wonderful. I start with purchased, cooked crabs.

As a currently pregnant person, I have to respectfully disagree with Soupcon. It's very thoughtful of you to consider her diet. Mostly, I wouldn't serve rare meat, unpasturized cheeses, dressings or desserts with raw eggs, and seafood on the forbidden list (esp. tuna, swordfish, and anything raw). It's frustrating to be a dinner guest at the home of a wonderful cook, and to be served (and then have to avoid) foods you can't eat.

Haroset.

I made scones this morning from Ann T's recipe--using red and golden raspberries from our yard. I had to use 1% instead of the cream (not for diet reasons, just didn't have any cream) and they were wonderful. Thanks so much, Ann T!

I really like the Green Line cocktail at Zoe, which is pear-flavored (from Clear Creek pear brandy) and slightly pink, but not particularly sweet.

We went to Zoe tonight for the 25-for-25, and I thought it was wonderful. The ricotta gnudi were amazing--I've had gnudi that were crude hand shaped dumplings but these were tiny (probably 1 inch) spheres of ricotta that seemed to be surrounded by very soft pasta and served with fried sage leaves and pea sprouts. The lavendar panna cotta was lovely too.

My husband's having dinner with an visiting friend who's asked my husband to get a reservation somewhere that's quiet (he says he's going deaf) and where the food will come quickly (they're eating after the friend reads at a local bookstore, and the friend expects to be hungry and wanting wine). Past experience with this friend suggests the food should be quite good too. Any suggestions? They'll be in Pioneer Square and could take a cab to somewhere nearby, but they'll be heading out around 9:00 and don't want to end up in a closing restaurant. Friends have recommended Il Terrazo Carmine, Andaluca, Place Pigale, and Chez Shea. I've only been to Il Terrazo of those (we moved here in September) and don't remember it being particularly quiet. We tried out Zoe, one of our favorite places, last night, but it was pretty noisy. Thanks for any recommendations. [sorry for the awkward header--I'm a new poster]

We had a lousy meal there too, last Tuesday, and definitely won't go back (we've just moved to Seattle). We were there for a birthday party and the woman who organized it said the restaurant was very unhelpful--cancelling her original time because it claimed she hadn't confirmed, refusing to have a birthday cake available, calling her the night before the party, after she'd called everyone with the new time, and telling her she was scheduled for the original time, etc. etc. I did the Flying Fish $12.50 lunch the next day though and that was spectacular.

For Christmas dinner we're having venison pie (much to my young cousins', and perhaps my husband's, horror; there may be a pinch-hitter turkey). It's my mother's recipe and is basically a venison daube with a little gin for the juniper flavor and a tablespoon of red current jelly, prepared a few days ahead and then baked with pearl onions under a pate brisee crust.