seawakim

Fresh White Asparagus with Sauce Soubise Leeks wrapped in ultra thin slices of Maple Ham and Swiss Cheese and baked in Bechamel

With the exception of the places featured in the 25 for $25 promotion even some of the obvious places are unknown to me. I haven't benn to Matt's in the Market yet, but hope to try it soon. Oh, and how big is your bathtub? (insert somewhat envious smiley here)

Mamster, if you can make it on Friday, you'll most likely get to taste both during the buffet session. It seems that they use mostly the leftover dishes from throughout the previous week. Hope to see you there.

I've found things like trash bags, paper towels, etc. to be much cheaper at Costco than any other place around here.

Even though I'm unhappy to hear that plans have been cancelled, it doesn't surprise me. Costco should take one step at a time. However, it would've been nice to see what the gourmet sector would grow into.

I have no problem with upselling. I don't always enjoy the myriad of ways one finds to increase revenue, but I understand that a restaurant, just like any other business, has to employ a range of marketing methods to do so. I can not say that I've ever truly been bothered by any method yet, because I also have no problem saying NO!

I've been a city condo resident for most of my time in Seattle, but since moving away into a house with yard upon getting married I've taken to the idea of gardening. I had a brief experiment with it by growing the seeds insode a plastic container which I bought in the nursery dept. They grew quite fast, but once I replanted them outside they all died. I would love to grow some organic salad greens and other vegetables. My thumbs are anything but green and I've had repeated failures with even houseplants. Is there any hope for me? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Perhaps there's a "Gardening for Dummies" edition I could start with.

I drink PUR water filtered from the tap. I don't drink it for taste, it's merely for indulgent hydration. When drinking water for any other reason, it's always San Pellegrino.

ditto

I served my first Frittata to some friends a few weeks ago and used this recipe for Potato Basil Frittata by the barefoot Contessa. http://www.foodtv.com/foodtv/recipe/0,6255...5,25258,00.html I had never tried any of her recipes before, but happened to watch it the day before and it seemed easy and a good idea. I added some of my personal touches and it turned out good. My favorite thing was that the leftovers were easily reheated and still tasted good.

There is a cute little "eclectic" chocolatier off the main shopping strip in Antwerp. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of it, but it is really easy to find because of its unique location. It is nestled among diamond dealers across from the "jewelry shopping mall". If you follow the signs to the diamond district you can't miss it. It is the only patisserie in the specific area described. Hope this helps. Sorry I can't remember the name, but if you find this place you'll know it. Great pastries also.

jordyn -- Here are methods I have successfully utilized at the places in question, focusing now on only the three stars. -- Saturday: At Guy Savoy, call them again and say you are open to really late reservations (mention 10:30 or 10:45). See if that helps. Also, they do pull people off the wait list, so be sure to put yourself on it. Your alternative to Guy Savoy for dinner is Lucas-Carton. If they indicate they're full, state you would love to have the small table to the immediate right of the entryway (the one that is normally utilized when the restaurant is full for solo diners). They will tell you that table is cramped, and you will say you are comfortable occupying it even as a two-top. If you get the table, fine. It's not a good table, but you will not be affirmatively uncomfortable. If you arrive and they give you another table, as they have every time I have arrived using this strategy, that's perfect. -- Sunday: Try Le Cinq, the new three star. I believe they are open definitely for dinner on Sundays and possibly for lunch as well. For lunch, there is a reasonable (under 75 euro prix fixe lunch). I appreciate you might want to sample Gagnaire's cuisine. Keep on calling them, with Le Cinq as backup. Call them starting from about four or three days before. I don't know how many of the reservationists speak English, as I speak to them in French. WOW, Cabrales. Those are some great tips. I wish I had them when I went to Paris a few months ago and got "unlucky" on more than one occasion. Not that I'm planning on going again this year, but when I do I hope to be to be able to call on you.

Thank you for your review. It sounds like that was an interesting package deal you got. I love going to Sooke. Last time I went I stayed at the Hartmann House and enjoyed a great breakfast with plenty of German influence. The Innkeepers were a unique couple with very strong opinions and memories of living in Germany. The drive from Victoria to Sooke Harbor is scenic but there are not a lot of options for food other than fast food. If one can't quite make it into Victoria for dinner and just chooses to stay near Sooke for an evening a noteworthy place is the roadside pub just outside of Sooke (going towards Victoria) called "the 12th(?) mile pub". My husband had a delicious bouillabaisse and my dish was served with an incredible herbed mushroom gravy. It is a very casual venue, but that gravy will have me returning for more.

Thanks for the informative review. I too saw the special on the Travel Channel and came to doubt that a building of this unique quality and grandeur could present suitably ambitious cuisine. I'm not surprised to hear my suspicions confirmed. Now, it may just be the best food available when stranded on an island. Perhaps the best bet would be to enjoy a more reasonably priced and better tasting meal from somewhere along the beach and enjoy the beautiful view and spectacular lights of the Burj al Arab. More on the hotel: http://www.burj-al-arab.com/baa/a.htm

I feel like a stranger in my own city. I've lived here for a couple of years now, but travelling for a living has left me finding myself the unusual predicament of not truly knowing Seattle. While I've been blessed to have tried many great restaurants outside of Seattle I have yet to explore all it has to offer. I've been able to travel a bit less in the last few months and got to take full advantage of the 25 for $25 promotion which left me even more interested in the culinary venues of this wonderful city. Help me rediscover Seattle. What are your favorite places to dine at and why?

YUM! I LOVE buffets. I love the freedom of picking and choosing dishes and quantities. I liked almost everything I tasted. The bacon coleslaw was a favorite of the salads. The stuffed chicken ( there was no label, but I assume it was nut stuffed) was my favorite entree and the berry tart was my delicious. What a great value. Klink, sorry you couldn't make it. I say we do it again next Friday.

What does one do with a leftover open bottle of "not so bubbly"? Can it still be used in Zabaglione? Any ideas or suggestions for what to do with leftover champagne?

Dave and I might be in that area tomorrow and would love to join if we are. Hope to see you all there.

I love steak tartare and used to eat it quite often at home (in Europe). The best I've had was prepared with Argentinian beefsteak. Locally, El Gaucho really serves up a nice steak tartare. I would highly recommend it.

What was your family food culture when you were growing up? I grew up in Germany eating a lot of the regional dishes, but my mother also ventured into exotic cooking frequently. We had dishes from Italy, France, Middle-East, Asia, Africa, etc. She covered a rather large spectrum in her cooking. She really enjoyed long, lavish meals and she frequently entertained. Was meal time important? Meal time was hugely important to my family. I hardly remember a time were we didn't all eat together at least once a day. This is something that I'd like to keep up when I have a family of my own someday. Was cooking important? yes What were the penalties for putting elbows on the table? There was discipline for that in our house. Who cooked in the family? My mother cooked most of the meals. On rare occasion my father would cook a time consuming but delicious Gulasch. Were restaurant meals common, or for special occassions? Yes, a lot of the extended family would get together at restaurants for birthday. We would be a party of 30 or more....it was great! Did children have a "kiddy table" when guests were over? Only if there wasn't enough room for everyone at one table. When did you get that first sip of wine? probably 6 yrs old or so. Drinking was no big deal in Germany and most of the kids were allowed to join in on the occasional Jaegermeister, etc. Interestingly enough, most of us don't care for alcohol too much now that we are of "legal" drinking age. Was there a pre-meal prayer? no, but it would have been nice Was there a rotating menu (e.g., meatloaf every Thursday)? no How much of your family culture is being replicated in your present-day family life? unfortunately none. I really miss it, but my husband and I don't have any family here and we don't have children.

It was great to have lunch with everyone. I had the Salmon Cakes served with Pernod Aioli and surrounding a Red Radish and Sprout Salad. While I enjoyed the flavors represented in the salmon cakes (fresh dill with cheesy and nutty undertones) I found the salmon to be quite dry and desperately needing sauce. Even though the Pernod was undetectable the Aioli was delicious. I love sauces and I could've eaten a gravy boat load of this stuff. I enjoyed it with the Sprout Salad also. The dish also came with some very tasty Taro Chips. For dessert, I really liked the Maple Mascarpone Pot de Creme. The consistency was dense, smooth and creamy, not too light, not too heavy and the caramel (?) maple topping was awesome. I thought the Molten Chocolate Cake was great also. I generally don't go for chocolate desserts because I prefer chocolate in it's what I consider to be "natural" state = small truffles. This dessert was good though. The strawberry shortcake was ok. Blue Heron and I bought some pastries at their bakery. I got a crunchy coconut macadamia cookie which was very flavorful and a hazelnut trombone (?) which was good also. Both were reasonably priced at $.75 and $1.50 respectively. I will definitely return to Square One and can't wait to try One World. Thanks for a great lunch!

It turns out I'll be in Seattle today, so I'm in too. See you guys there.

I keep my brown sugar in a decorated jar (which may or may not be airtight) and I keep it with a terra cotta (sp.) brown sugar disc soaked in water for a few minutes. They really work well. I've gone many months without resoaking the disc and the sugar is always perfectly moist.

Interestingly enough, I was told that Brasa gets their bread from the Dahlia Bakery mentioned above.

I can't believe Dave and I won't be able to make it to that All that and a fabulous view of the Space Needle I presume