chefturnedbum

Dang..the mention of Cave Man makes me feel like a caveman. I still had a great head of hair then.

Penelope is actually ok. When I was in AZ. she was the critic for a publication that seemingly never gave a bad review. I think the angst of having to smile and like it hardened her. I actually tried to mail her the day before it was announced and her mail was already dead. Guess when you are out at the PI you get packing ASAP. Have they announced the replacement? Maybe denh. I wish it could have been Michael Hood. really smart, cool guy but he is really entrenched in the politics scene now (as he always was) and probably does not have the time to do that. For me though, the times will always reign supreme. They have a corral of the best writers. they have the mamster..what more could you ask for?

OK chuck you have just been appointed the guy to do the taste test. They have been putting that place together forever. It seems like over a year. I have this feeling it is not related to Taste of Soul. I may be wrong but I saw a guy unlocking the door and he was a young lawyer looking whitebread guy. If they have good stuff they may do pretty well over there.

When I owned BOB wingdome was right down the block. OK if that is where light gourmet is off roosevelt then I take back what I said. Boy is that going to be a rough pill for the new owners of my old place. Will be the first test of competition but with a new chef and fresh outlook it could really help as well. As you all saw, Mission has taken Zaffarano. Sorry I could not let the cat out of the bag.

The ave is such a tough place. Seems like prime rib may be a tough sell there as well as the risotto. Hopefully it does good.

I know I sound hard on them but Blue Onion Bistro is a really good place for kids. They have a new chef I believe and things are looking up there. The owners are longtime parents and know how to handle kids which I unfortunately am very bad at. I really never catered to them. Hey I am a bachelor so what can I say.

LOL..I am sworn to secrecy. They were actually doing pretty good. Did not go because of lack of sales. Peter Lamb is a smart cookie.

They are all pretty good places. Looks more like some flavor of the month picks. There are so many restaurants here that did not get mentioned. As you can see, Salumi is an amazing little place. Carsberg at Lampreia does such an amazing job and he probably does not make a dime. Seattle is so underrated as far as places go and so many of the great ones get constantly overlooked. I say this as a food professional and not just a foodie. A lot of the places that get the press are just slick marketing and fancy decor. That is why egullet is such an important place to go when it comes to food. The pulse of what is good and bad is displayed here and the smoke and mirrors joints get there just due. On the flipside it was good that a few venues got some press.

wesza just told me Cafe Zaffarano is gone for good. I wonder if it sold. It was on the market. Now that confidentially is dead I can say I was one pen stroke away from buying that place but got a funny tickle at the back of my throat and walked away at zero hour. Why would super restaurant man Peter Lamb just want that place gone. That was my biggest question. I like that spot. I would take it for lease only. But there is good odds it will soon be something else. The kitchen in there is a chefs wet dream.

Speaking of great wines shops. I was recently in SF and hit this place called vino venue. I imagine you all know the place it is the coolest wine shop I have been to. It utilizes the new enomatic wine tasting system which allows the buyer to taste drive almost any of the wines. It is an Italian system that preserves the wine without damaging its integrity. It is all digitalized. I left that place kinda drunk. Check out vino venue on the web.

I actually made an offer on a Queen Anne place. I thought it would fly but they want too much money for how small the place is and negotiations broke off. I really like QA. It was my first choice.

where is 7 stars exactly...

LOL...not Kabul. Without mentioning a name it is much closer to the theater in Wallingford. Whatever they decide is up to them and I respect that. They are doing new things over there. Before long people will forget about me there and start associating them with good stuff. They were newbies to this biz but they have learned by trial of fire and it only gets better. I was jealous they added a salsbury steak. I did not even think of that. I would like to stuff some foie gras in that steak and make a wild mushroom sauce. MMMMMM I am hungry. I do hope that wherever I go they don't make an issue of it because I do not want to be by the stadium unless I am watching a game and eating those awesome garlic fries.

You caught me on the name. I stole it. They did not actually have the rotating menu thing at Passport. The people that had that place are really,really good. If anyone has not been to their bakery Pave in Everett I suggest you go next time you in that part of town. They do it right. Passport for them was a bit ahead of its time and of course in Everett.

I actually looked at that space. My problem is that I have a 5 mile no compete clause and the new owners just will not let me open anything around them even though it would be absolutely different. But they have that option. I would never try to hurt their little bistro. Even though I do not own it I always want it to be around as long as they do. I think they feel I will take away their customers and to be honest I think it would not hurt them at all. There is a certain ethnic place that has been in Wallingford for 10 years which I wanted very badly but again it falls in that 5 mile zone. Too bad I had a great idea for that place. Call it passport and serve various cuisine from around the world each month like Impromptu does but on a bit grander scale. Impromptu is a really cool little joint. It has really refined itself since it opened.

Funny a guy actually approached me about Beacon Hill. My problem is that it is not ready yet. What would happen is I would run out of money and then it would pop. I would the be relegated to holding a cardboard sign begging for a cup of Plumpjack Wine and organic cheese.

I know nobody knows about this place but Teddy Bears BBQ in Monroe caters. They have realllllly good stuff. They would probably come up with a vegetarian option. A real hole in the wall deal but they have won a lot of awards for their BBQ. They have a websight I believe but you will have to google it. I have the number 360-243-0699

Ahoy there fellow gulleters...Everyone knows I am hunting for my new place. I try every option to do feasibilty studies on various areas. I have been looking at various neighborhoods and I just see what the competition has or what the neighborhood needs. I have been trying to use citysearch and it is so ridiculous that 99% of the reviews are such obvious fakes. does anyone stand behind this sight??? If I went by the reviews for my study I would have a location in every neighborhood. Probably the reason I think e-gullet is tops. No baloney here except if it is in a thread concerning oscar meyer.

Thanks for all the replies. Have gone out to a few places. Funny thing is that one of the places I went, I talked with the owners and they offered to sell me the place after I told them I was looking. I guess biz was not too good for them (lol). Maybe my weird style would work there. Next stop will be that chocolati. I can eat or drink chocolate in any form. It has helped me build my physique over the years. I will then check out the green bean. I am curious to see how a non profit place works. Report soon!

Canlis is one of those places you go for the prestige. It is an icon that I doubt will ever be allowed to go down. The people who own it expect great things so I imagine even though Greag Atkinson is gone it is probably still as memorable and expensive (lol). Wear your coat and tie.

A friend brought it to my attention that I was slamming the BOB. I really want everyone to know that is not the case. The place is different but still worthy of a try. They are new restaurant owners and it took a while to get their footing but if you are the area there is no better place and they seems to have their stuff together. With that said I relinquish myself of the place. I still get so many e-mails about it and to be quite honest I have not stepped foot in the place since I sold and really cannot answer any questions or do anything about the place. Any comments can be directed to them via their websight ..good or bad. One cool thing is that I have heard that have added a bunch more collectibles to see. Old gas globes, new outside dining and curbs that you will not break your neck on. My post sounded too harsh and for that I apologize to the new owners if they ever read it and for those loyal bobites.

Thank you..thank you someone else reminded me of the old Rangoli space which I believe is now Maharaja Kitchen. Had some good meals there but of course it has changed. Anyone been in that lil dive since?

Ahoy there, This week I am going to be trapped in Greenwood on three separate occasions this week helping a friend tear his house to pieces and redo his kitchen floor. He is around 85th street and for the life of me I cannot even think of one good place down there. Does anyone even go there (lol)?? Anyway, he just brewed this super ale and we may be on foot so maybe some pretty close places or some within cheap fare cab distance!

Baguette box actually changed their hours...I believe they close at 7 now. I guess they could not get enough drunk people in there.

Dandelion did you happen to catch some of the entree prices or remember any selections. Jacks was such a cool little spot.