SusieQ

Thanks, Prasantrin! Food names are so interesting. Here in Seattle (and all over the Pacific Northwest) I've never seen any other name than "red leaf lettuce" for that type of lettuce. (It's usually sitting right next to "green leaf lettuce" in the stores -- which looks pretty much the same as red leaf lettuce but has no red on it.) SusieQ

Can I ask a stupid question? What is "sunny lettuce"? Thanks! SusieQ

You might try Mutual Fish, 2335 Rainier Ave. S. That's where all the sushi chefs go. SusieQ

No, I don't, but I sure wish I did! My very first Caesar salad was in Mexico City in 1970. It was made and served tableside. I've found, with very few exceptions, that the only way to get it right is to make it myself. Once, several decades ago (probably ), I had a perfect Caesar salad at Belltown Billiards. I just checked, and they still have it on their menu. I won't guarantee it's what you're looking for, though. SusieQ

Hi Hummingbirdkiss, I just had to let you know how absolutely wonderful your photos of your garden are, not to mention the garden itself! I don't post much -- but read a lot -- and saw your latest message of your gardening progress (and deer taking a limb off your tree) and decided to check out your photos. What an amazing job you have done. I am a very slow gardener, and very lazy, too, I think, but if I ever grow up I want to be a gardener like you!! And your photos are SO beautiful. Thank you so much for posting. SusieQ

smallworld, I just want to say thank you for a most delightful few hours that I've just spent reading your blog and looking at your photos. You obviously went to a great effort to give us such a detailed look at what it's like cooking and just living in Japan. I appreciate it very much. I don't post very often, but I try to read a lot of the Japan forum posts -- and especially the blogs! -- and I think yours was just wonderful. So, thanks again for the glimpse into your world -- not small at all! SusieQ

Oh good, I was hoping somebody would take the plunge and buy some fresh wasabi and report back. I didn't see any small pieces, but I guess I'll look again next time I'm there. I don't think I've ever had real wasabi, and I would really like to try it. SusieQ

Just fyi for anyone who can afford it/is interested in it, fresh wasabi root is on sale at Uwajimaya's in the International District (Seattle) for $60/pound. SusieQ

Hi, I hope you have a wonderful time here. I can vouch for the Children's Museum. It's fabulous. While you're there you might want to check out the Pacific Science Center, at the same location (they're both at the Seattle Center -- two different admissions, though, unfortunately). They have a special dinosaur exhibit right now that I just saw with my 4-year-old nephew. I think an older child would appreciate it more, probably, but my nephew and I had a great time. Also, once you're in the Science Center you're in for all the kid exhibits like the Insects/Butterflies exhibit going on now, the hands-on tidepool feature, etc. Check their Web site out when you have a chance. http://pacificsciencecenter.org/ But I'm really writing to warn you of the ferry fares. I had occasion a few weeks ago to go to Bainbridge Island via the Kingston ferry and was shocked! to discover it was $15 one-way for car and driver, i.e., $30 round trip!! You can see I don't ride the ferries very often -- last time I did I think it was like $7 one-way and then you didn't have to pay to come back. So check out the prices if that's a concern. http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/ Have fun! SusieQ

Carpatia Sausage 1514 NE 177th St Shoreline, WA 98155 (206) 417-5567 (This is just off of 15th Ave NE and NE 175th.) (I have no connection to this place other than as a very irregular but very satisfied customer.) This shop is amazing. The guy who owns it runs it. Seems to be a one-man show. Everything homemade in the back of his shop. Wonderful sausages, smoked meats, hams, pork chops, etc. Central European tradition -- Slovakian (that's his heritage, I think), Hungarian, Czech, etc. I don't remember specifically deli meats but then I wasn't looking for those. He also has wonderful breads, things like cabbage soup in the freezer, at holidays he always has special dishes from various middle European traditions. At Christmas he had this wonderful sausage roll, fresh, which I devoured on the spot! Call first if you can. Not always open at expected times. But check it out -- you won't be sorry! SusieQ

Phayathai Cuisine 8917 Lake City Way (1st floor of multistory apt. bldg.) (206) 729-2295 Hi all, I'm hoping people will check this place out. Really nice Thai family running it, the food is delicious, and I think they need some business! It's a little out of the way and easy to miss when you're zipping past on Lake City Way. For a marker, it's just across the street from Seven Seas Chinese Restaurant. I don't know much about Thai food, so I can't say about authenticity. But they do seem to have lots of dishes that aren't on your normal run-of-the-mill Thai menu. And to me the food is really good. The space is really gorgeous --spacious, peaceful, mellow but spirited atmosphere (if that makes sense). If you know this location from previous incarnations (former home of Golden Fortune, which had the best mapo tofu and best broths made on the premises from scratch -- I still mourn the passing of that place) but anyway, if you remember any of the restaurants that used to be there, you'll remember the god-awful decor and cold feeling that used to be there. This family has totally transformed the place. I'm really curious, for those who know Thai food, how this place stacks up. I hope they're able to stick it out past the "new restaurant" stage. SusieQ

I have seen "halal" on signs on a small market right on Lake City Way, east side of the street, somewhere between 123rd and 130th. Also, there are two Ethiopian restaurants right on or right off of 15th Ave NE just north of Northgate -- somewhere between 105th and 125th. I'm pretty sure one of these has a "halal" sign. Also, right in that same area, I know I've seen at least one market advertising "halal." All of these would be on the right side if you're heading north on 15th Ave NE. As an aside, this area in general has lots of little ethnic markets (well, maybe "lots" is too strong a word, but certainly they are there). You kinda have to be watching for them, though. SusieQ

Fabulous! I drive by there just about every day and was wondering what's going in there. Sounds like a really nice addition to the Wedgwood neighborhood. SusieQ

That's probably Alebrije. I believe they've been around for at least six months or maybe since early Fall. We went there in the first month or two of opening and while the service was good, the food wasn't--I found it bland and was surprisingly underwhelmed. Lately, I'm usually too easily satisfied with Mexican or Cuban food. I'm tempted to give them another try, to see if they've worked some things out, but haven't yet. It's a place that I want to really like and not just because they're in my neighborhood. I like the staff. They do have karaoke, though, and that's when I see a number of folks streaming into the place. Later in the evenings, the bar side of the restaurant is dedicated to that. ← Oh well, I guess I'm behind the times. Yes, that was the name: Alebrije. I'm disappointed to learn the food wasn't that great, but I think I'll give it a try anyway. I've had Cuban food exactly once, and that was an uninspired grilled sandwich at that Cuban place just off the freeway on Lake City. (But to be fair, that was also when they had first opened, and it was chaos in there, and I'm sure that wasn't a fair representation of what they're doing today.) Anyway, thank you for the post. I'll post back after I've been to Alebrije. It's not exactly my neighborhood, but it's not too far, either. SusieQ

I noticed a new place on 65th NE (south side of street) between Roosevelt and the freeway, in that restaurant row area, right across from the Superbowl Noodle House. I couldn't get the name but saw a sign that said something about Mexican-Cuban food. Anybody know anything? Thanks! SusieQ

Bye bye Cafe Long -- Lake City They're closing tomorrow because half the block is going to be torn down and condo/retail complex put up in its place. This is the Vietnamese cafe that's been there for many, many years that had to rebuild after a fire (arson) a few years ago. Then, just after they reopened, they learned they had to close by the end of the year. Anyway, I'm posting this in case any of you are fans of this small, family-run homespun Vietnamese Cafe. Tomorrow is their last day. I went in for their pho last night -- excellent as usual. I'll be in for their grilled pork and rice and vegies tomorrow. Sigh. Some of my favorite food. Really good people. They haven't been able to find a new place yet. SusieQ

I was in several different plant stores today and they all still had Basil available. You should be fine. ← I was at Trader Joe's (QA) Monday and they huge bushes of basil. Didn't check the price. ← Thanks, everybody, for your suggestions about successful basil acquisition and care. I haven't had a chance yet, but I'm going to Trader Joe's this weekend to see if they still have the basil there. If I get some, I'll let you know my progress in keeping it alive. SusieQ

Oh be still my heart! I am SO envious!! I've only been there once, and nobody had oysters. I must check out this happy hour! Thanks for such a gorgeous photo (the 3 doz.). SusieQ

-------rest of post not included --------------- Hi pupcart. Thank you so much for your detailed post. You are obviously a dedicated gardener! I'm afraid I'm not nearly as diligent or persistent as you are, but maybe I will try again with a pot on the deck, just outside the kitchen, so I can't forget to water it. I will stick to a common variety, though -- that is, if I can find a start somewhere. I suppose it's too late for that and I'll have to wait until next spring? SusieQ

Hi girl chow, I'm wondering, what's your secret (or at least one secret) to growing basil? I've had no luck, trying several different times (every time from a small starter plant). Apparently I water too little or maybe too much? -- seems no matter what I do, it dies within a month or so. Maybe it just doesn't like me. SusieQ

Sorry, I have to chime in here and say that sometimes their soups are really good. They're homemade. Of course, I also have to add that the soup I ordered two days ago -- split pea with tofu -- wasn't that great because the peas weren't cooked all the way. Then when the server asked (and I said) how the soup was, he offered to bring me the other soup -- cream of asparagus with three cheeses. Which was tasty, but some of the asparagus pieces were the part that should have been snapped off and left in the garbage. Totally non-chewable. (I go in there sometimes when I'm downtown on a job and have to find some place to hang out for a few hours with my work.) SusieQ ← Not the best endorsement; as it sounds like you were 0 for 2 on your last trip. ← Very true! But I *have* had good soups there.

Sorry, I have to chime in here and say that sometimes their soups are really good. They're homemade. Of course, I also have to add that the soup I ordered two days ago -- split pea with tofu -- wasn't that great because the peas weren't cooked all the way. Then when the server asked (and I said) how the soup was, he offered to bring me the other soup -- cream of asparagus with three cheeses. Which was tasty, but some of the asparagus pieces were the part that should have been snapped off and left in the garbage. Totally non-chewable. (I go in there sometimes when I'm downtown on a job and have to find some place to hang out for a few hours with my work.) SusieQ

Hi Lucy. As far as I know, evaporated milk has no sugar and can be diluted with water to make regular milk, while condensed milk is very thick and sweetened quite a bit. I love your blog, your photos, your recipes, your style -- you seem so composed! (I don't post too much, so just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate what you're doing. I especially love the photos from the markets. I used to live in Germany in 1964 and shopped every day in the local markets.) SusieQ

Two years ago, I found great Szechuan pork and pickled cabbage soup at the Szechuan Bistro, on 85th just west of Greenwood Avenue. Driving by recently, I believe I saw a "new management" sign, so perhaps things have changed. Can anyone else comment? ← Last Tuesday it was closed. I drove by just today, hoping that it was open -- but it wasn't. It looked like it was closed & out of business -- everything all dark. I didn't see any "new management" signs either, but I might have missed them because I was driving by, not walking. SusieQ