LEdlund

On the corner of 45th and Wallingford (where Seattle's Best Coffee used to be) there are signs in the window for Wonder Bar. It looked like a liquor application hanging on the door. Sounds promising, although parking sucks around there. Good thing I am walking distance.

Thanks for doing this Laurel, you must have a spreadsheet to keep up with all of these changes, requests etc. So here's another one.....will you add Paul (Mr. Ledlund) to the list on the 23rd. He was finally able to confirm. We are available any time. Thanks!

Any idea when this will be opening?

I had my first kaiten sushi experience at Sushiland in Bellevue a few weeks ago and I was very pleasantly surprised in the quality of the fish. The salmon was definitely the best choice but the yellowtail was also very good. The staff at the Bellevue location all spoke spanish so it was fun to say "Dos hamachi por favor" Plus, you can't go wrong with a $20 bill which includes sushi and sake!

I am a sucker for "beauty" products. One time I bought a bottle of schmancy cuticle oil, but when I got home and used it, I realized it was plain old olive oil that I just paid a ridiculous amount of money for. See, I told you I was a sucker. At least now I have a pretty bottle that I can keep my olive oil in!

Exactly! I only learned from watching the people around me get what they wanted without arguement. The PFI experience could truly be an episode of Seinfeld. Of course now that I've "cracked the code" they'll probably change it!

I have never had a problem buying less than a pound at PFI. After a couple of visits I learned to ask for a light pound and I end up getting around a half a pound. Of course, if you are shopping with someone else, you can always split things. On the topic of cheese shops, every visit to Vancouver requires a stop at les amis du fromage. Alice and Allison (monther and daughter owners) are know a lot about cheese and are very helpful. They are also very in tune to the food scene in Vancouver and have given me great advice on everything from the hot new restaurants to the best kitchen stores.

I just wanted to say welcome 2010! Be sure to check out the Pac NW Forum. We're a fun group and would love to have you join us....... Lauren

I'm interested in the dinner on the 23rd. Thanks Laurel!

There's one on the corner of 5th and Olive (?) at the bottom of the Medical/Dental building (yes, I do have to walk by it on my way to Weight Watchers each Wednesday) and I think there is one in Fremont too.

I think the place you're referring to is Biringer Farms. I drove by it last week and there were lots of people out picking berries of some sort.

I also tried Beecher's ice cream over the weekend. The consensus of the group I was with was that the flavor was quite good but the consistancy was not creamy enough. My mom said it reminded her of old fashioned ice milk with the crystals in it. It didn't do our sour cherry pie justice. On the other hand the cheese curds and butter were fantastic as always.

Let's just start with this, Zig Zag is fantastic. Order any of the cocktails on their list and you won't be disappointed. Or sit at the bar and have Maury, KC or Ben created something for you (tonight it will most likely be Maury). The food is pretty good, but superflous to the cocktails. It is very smoky but they do have an outdoor seating area that might be a less smoky option. Have fun and report back.

I posted this under the "late lunch/early happy hour" thread but I will elaborate here. Mr. Ledlund and I had a truly horrible lunch there a couple of weeks ago and vowed never to go back. Not only was the service horrible but the food was less than mediocre. I tried to order the Christians and Moors (like cxt, despite the 80 degree weather) but they were out. Instead I opted for the grilled vegetable salad with pumpkin seed oil and toasted pumpkin seeds. The baby vegetables were not grilled enough to make them al dente and the tops and roots were left on all, which made for an interesting time trying to cut them off. I tried leaving them on, but they were too tough to be edible. The pumpkin seed oil (which I usually love) left an extremely bitter taste. Mr. Ledlund had the grilled fruit salad which was not bad, just forgetable. The service was so horrible that the lackluster food could not make up for it. Too bad because it's a great location. On a side note: Right after they opened I stopped by on a Saturday afternoon to check out the dinner menu, thinking we might bring some friends there for dinner that night. The dumpster is very near the front door and the smell of garbage was so strong it actually made me gag.

You could always stop at Elliott's as you drive by on 99. If you want something casual you could go to The Nickerson Street (although their view of the canal is across Fremont). I had high hopes for the new Buena Vista on north Lake Union (where The Lakeside used to be) but after an awful lunch there last weekend, I won't be going back. If you're headed to Greenlake, there's always Taqueria Guaymus, Bluewater Bistro, the Greenlake Grill, Dukes, etc.

I'm not a big Mai Tai drinker but I have had one a Luau in Wallingford that was good.

According to Shorty's web site, they also use Vienna hot dogs. I've never had one, what makes them special?

I believe that it is cheese. I saw a ham melt on a menu that was described as a sandwich "met en gesmolten kaas", which I gather is melted (molten) cheese. I'll take some of those croquettes please.

Anything with cooked apples (pie, sauce, etc.) makes me actually gag. And I'm from Seattle

Zillah is a few miles East of Yakima on Highway 82. El Ranchito is at 1319 1st Street in Zillah. First Street seemed to be one of the main streets in Zillah and you keep on it for a mile or two after entering town. El Ranchito is on your left.

I agree about the service, it was impeccable. The servers seemed to anticipate our every need. The only thing I wish had been done differently is when two people were sharing dishes that they had been split in the kitchen. Steve and I shared the foie gras (which I had been told was possible to do) and we were left to our own devices (literally) to cut the foie and place on a second plate while trying to make sure the accompanying sauce and pineapple compote made it as well. Sue and I also shared the cheese plate for dessert, but this was much easier to split. It's not a point that will make me write off a restaurant, but, as Sue wrote, at a restaurant of the caliber of Rover's, it would have been a nice touch.

I'm pretty sure you are talking about El Ranchito in Zillah. My family has been going there for years. I'm sad to report that when MsRamsey and I (and our husbands) were there over Memorial Day weekend, the food was not up to their usual standards. If you do go, do what we saw a group of locals do: instead of ordering the plate lunches, order meats and tortillas ala carte. That looked like the way to go.

Me too! I have to get some everytime I am at U Village. I see that they sell boxes of them at other stores, but I am never sure how fresh they are.

Mr Ledlund enjoys a CAO Criollo Pato with a Manhattan on a pretty regular basis.

On 47th in the U District is University Seafood and Poultry. My usual Saturday routine in the summer is to go to the University Farmers Market to get produce, etc. and then to University Seafood for something to grill with it. It's funny how many people you see in University Seafood that you just saw at the Farmers Market!