Category Archives: Seattle

Nosh the Truck: Seattle Fish and Chips

01 Tuesday Mar 2016

Posted by in Fish, Restaurant Review, Seattle, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Seattle Nosh Fish and Chips

This might come as a surprise to my London friends, but I am serious when I say that Nosh the Truck in Seattle has better fish and chips. Fish and chips is one of those simple and basic food pairings like peanut butter and jelly, chocolate cookies and milk, and wine and cheese. They go perfectly well together and make up for a very pleasing and enjoyable experience.

I look for several things when it comes to fish and chips. The fish has to be flaky, piping hot, encased in a golden crispy coating. Although the fish is fried, it should still taste light and airy, not greasy. And it has to be perfectly seasoned, with salt, as soon as it comes out of the fryer.

And the chips? The potato fries must be crisp and tender on the inside. The double frying method works best to achieve this.

Both the fish and chips from Nosh lived up and exceeded my expectations. Honestly, I could do without the side of mashed peas, but when in London… (or Seattle).

The next time you see the food truck parked by your office, don’t be put off by the long line (as there’s bound to be one). Do wait and order this British delicacy.

Aside

Beast Mode Vodka ~ Seahawks Football

16 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in Allrecipes.com, Drink, Seattle, Video

≈ 1 Comment

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beast mode vodka seahawks cocktail

It’s not every day that the Allrecipes.com video team searches for Skittles candy at 8:30 am.  We were, however, on a special assignnment to make the Video for the Beast Mode Vodka to celebrate our local football team ~ Seahawks!

Do I admit that I don’t watch football?  Do I admit that to me, “football” still means “soccer”?  Do I admit any of this?  Perhaps, I do not.

Instead I will admit to how fun it was to separate 9 large bags of Skittles Darkside candy into the Seahwaks blue and green colors.

Image

If you are a fan of Seattle Seahawks and want to make this flavored vodka to cheer during the game, do follow the recipe.  If you happen to cheer for a different team, you could use a different color of Skittles to match.

Ready for the video?  Check out the Allrecipes production of this Beast Mode Vodka Recipe:

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Dining Around Seattle – Bottlehouse, Bistro Turkuaz, Glassbaby

25 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by in Happy Hour, Restaurant Review, Seattle, Wine

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“Where should we eat tonight?” is the standard way Priya and I begin start planning our girlfriends’ date nights.  “How about I meet you at Madrona and we’ll explore the neighborhood,” I answered innocently enough.  And that’s what we did.

We started the tour of the neighborhood with a stop at Glassbaby.  This particular location had a glass blowing studio behind the shop.  We watched the “babies” being made.  Quite amazing!

Which colors would you choose?  I clearly would have gone for a combination of turquoise and orange.  Because each “baby” is made by hand, every one is slightly different.

We strolled up the street and came across The Bottlehouse.  We happened to be there in the middle of their happy hour, so we grabbed a seat outside and waited to order.

Before we had a chance to order, the Seattle windy evening kicked into gear and we swiftly moved inside the Bottlehouse.

For snacks, we ordered a bowl of castelvetrano olives and a selection of cheese with crackers.

I was intent to photograph the food, as per usual.  Photo courtesy of Priya.  I do hope you notice that I’m wearing my favorite Allrecipes color – orange!  In fact, this top was what I wore for my job interview.

Back to the wine, I sipped a glass of rose and Priya cheered to our date with a glass of non-oaked Chardonnay.  Salute!

We left Bottlehouse and headed to Bistro Turkuaz for authentic Turkish food.  I only wish we were more hungry or had more people with us so that we could try a few more dishes on the menu.

For the appetizer, we shared Acuka – a spread made with roasted red peppers, walnuts, garlic, lemon juice and olive oil.  It came with triangles of warm pita bread and one olive.  Oh the spread!  It must have been pureed until perfectly smooth first and then folded pieces of toasted walnuts.  Interestingly enough, Priya and I made a similar spread months ago – check out our recipe.

I couldn’t stay away from lamb, so naturally, I ordered a grilled lamb kabob with a side of tabouli and a green salad.  The tabouli was definitely the star of the plate.  Earthy, chewy to the tooth and flavor-packed with parsley and lemon.  The side salad was dressed (slightly heavily) with pomegranate molasses and olive oil. I should have saved half for lunch.

We resisted a slice of baklava and headed out.  What a fantastic night, filled with the glow of candles illuminated by Glassybaby.  We noticed that many of the stores and restaurants in the neighborhoods were decorated with these, supporting one another and promoting the business.

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Spanish Tapas in Seattle ~ Chico Madrid Restaurant

11 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by in Restaurant Review, Seattle, Spanish

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Welcome to the taste of Spain right here, in Seattle, Washington at Chico Madrid Restaurant.  I’ve been lucky to visit Spain twice – once in Madrid and once in Barcelona.  I still remember the crowded, lively restaurants, where you are seated close enough to your neighbors to hear their conversations (and understand them if you are fluent in Spanish).  The hustle and bustle of the servers, small plates coming and going, pitchers of sangria getting empty and refilled…delicious memories!

I have been looking to relive these memories of Spain here at home, in Seattle and came close to it today. My friend Lera and I headed to Chico Madrid for our girls’ night and discovered quite a few tasty bites.
Welcome!  The happy hour offered $1 discount on sangria (red and wine), a mixed drink of red wine and coke or soda, and Spanish beer.  Our server was kind enough to bring out a taste of both red and white sangria, as well as two varieties of red we were considering.  We decided on the $18 bottle of Don Ramón 2012 Grenache/Tempranillo from Spain.
To start, we ordered a plate of olives and Serrano ham.  Interestingly enough, the olives were actually from Italy.  Nevertheless, they were delicious, slightly smoky with a hint of chocolate.  The ham, thinly sliced and drizzled with olive oil melted in the mouth.  The ham came with slices of toasted bread that I believe were lightly rubbed with garlic.

Next, we tried Spanish meatballs and roasted vegetables with Romesco sauce.  Unfortunately, the meatballs were a miss ~ tough and bland.  The vegetables, however, were well seasoned and reminded me of a popular Russian “caviar” dish – a combination of eggplant, pepper and tomatoes. 

We couldn’t pass on the order of Tortilla Española: Spanish omelette with potatoes, onion and aioli.  My preference is to have the tortilla served slightly cold.  This version came sliced into four pieces, garnished with piquillo peppers and anchovies, served cold.  The aioli could definitely use a bit more garlic and salt.

This was one delicious sandwich!  Crusty baguette from Columbia City Bakery was rubbed with tomatoes and layered with thinly sliced chorizo and generous slices of  garrotxa cheese.  I’d love this some day for breakfast or for lunch with lightly dressed arugula salad.
And we didn’t stop there! (Perhaps I should mention that Lera’s friend joined us for dinner, so we were sharing this between three people).  We decided to order Piquillo Peppers Stuffed with Braised Beef Short Ribs.  This dish screamed autumn and winter.  Hearty, filling, rich and warm.  Forget having this as a tapas – served atop cheesy polenta, this would make an incredible meal.

And then it was time for dessert.  A coffee for me, a glass of Cava for Lera (some things never change).  We shared a chocolate-stuffed crepe and De Valdéon blue cheese with Ballard honey.  We should have skipped the crepe and ordered a double amount of the cheese.  The cheese was creamy, smooth and I’m sure went really well with honey (I skipped the honey and enjoyed the bread and cheese as they were).
We might be back one day.  I am hoping to see new items appear on the menu – perhaps more vegetables in simple preparation and a variety of olives along with a few seafood tapas.
To visit:
711 Bellevue Ave, Seattle, WA
206-453-3234
M-F: 7am-close
Sat: 8am-close
Sun: 8am-close

Tilth Restaurant – Dining out in Seattle

18 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by in Dinner, Photography, Restaurant Review, Seattle

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If you are lucky enough to live or visit Seattle, I strongly recommend you make reservations at Tilth Restaurant (organic New American cuisine).  This is more than just dinner.  Think of it as a culinary experience.  If you can, go in the summer and sit outside, basking in the late evening summer sunshine.  And start your experience with a glass of rose.

There were three of us for dinner (Hi Melissa and Jessica!).  All three adventurous, “good eaters.”  We chose to forego the tasting menu (two+ versions offered by the restaurant) and ordered a la carte, to share.

 

While waiting for the first course to arrive, we sipped the wine, chatted, and enjoyed the amuse bouche.  Then, we buttered slices of bread with homemade butter.  A pretty terrific start to our meal.

Time to eat!  First to arrive: House made Ricotta Gnudi with lardon, fava beans and pequin chili. To follow: Carnaroli risotto with carrot, white truffle and Parmesan.

For the main protein, we shared sous vide Wild Loki Sockeye salmon served on a bed of white corn puree with roasted tomatoes and basil pesto.

Three Mini Duck Burgers with House Made Fingerling Potato Chips, House Made Ketchup and Hot Mustard were up next.

For our last course, we selected Skagit River Ranch Wagyu Short Rib with Corn Cake, Kolhrabi and Lardon.  Our server brought out a complimentary side of Cheddar Spaetzle with Bechamel, Parsley and Mustard Seeds (our server must have loved us as much as we loved her – thank you!)

Dessert came in later, thus the unfortunate photography.  Or perhaps you could explain it by the wine consumption during dinner.  Either way, the desserts were the sweet ending to this incredible adventure, enjoyed to the last lick.  Pictured: Cherry Frozen Yogurt with Graham Cracker, Compressed Cherry and Cacao Nib; Theo Chocolate Ganache Cake with Chocolate Cookie, Cocoa Cream and Sea Salt.

Window Shopping and Day Dreaming at the Metropolitan Market

17 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by in Kitchen, Seattle, Writing/Publishing

≈ 1 Comment

The last time I window shopped, I admired sparkling diamonds, jewel-toned stones, and strands of white gold.  On previous occasions, I brushed my hand against soft silk scarves and felt luxurious leather bags.  This time around, I headed to my local Metropolitan Market to do a little bit of window shopping for my kitchen.

Granted, my kitchen is pretty well stocked.  Years of collecting random dishes, silverware, lots of bowls, and the recent gift of a KitchenAid mixer have served me well.  That being said, I could not resist the offer from the Metropolitan Market to enter the Gourmet Giveaway for Bloggers for a chance to win three kitchen items of my choice.  

Let me be honest, choosing was not easy.  I was pulled in many directions by wine glasses, printed kitchen towels, and whisks of different shapes and sizes.  I looked at lunch bags and cutting boards, and played with salt and pepper grinders.  In the end, I settled on the three items below:

Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron Round French Oven in Flame:  clearly this had to be in flame because of my obsession and love for everything orange.  I have cooked with Le Creuset in the past and have a smaller red French oven at home, so I appreciate the durability and excellence of this kitchen item.  This particular French oven would add great versatility to my kitchen.  I can already dream of making chili in it or smelling the aroma of a roasted chicken!

For my second item, I picked this ice cream maker by Cuisinart.  How could I not?  We are experiencing a heat wave of sorts in Seattle and the summer berries are at their peak – perfect time for ice cream to keep me cool and collected.  Come fall, I’ll scoop ice cream over pies; and in the winter, the ice cream will make a sweet topping for chocolate brownies.

For my third and last dream item, I selected a set of orange and turquoise Thin Weave Sateen Placemats made by Pacific Merchants Trading Company.  Besides being my favorite color combination, these placemats are stylish enough to use for inside dining and are durable to be used on a patio for al fresco dining.  They would also make colorful background for future food styling.

If you were to pick your three dream items, what would they be?  This is a perfect time to do some shopping, as the Metropolitan Market’s Annual Housewares Sale is just around the corner!  Visit your local store July 18-21st to find everything you might desire for your kitchen!  Selected items are up to 70% off and all regularly priced iteams are 20% off.  They have it all – baking dishes, pots and pans, and small kitchen appliances; towels, napkins, and placemats; cups, glasses, and kettles.  Once you buy your dream items, you can carry them home in bright reusable totes.

I couldn’t leave the store without picking a few items for dinner.  I grabbed a pint each of raspberries and blueberries, along with an heirloom tomato, fresh mozzarella ball, prosciutto, garlic naan bread, and castellano olives.  At home, I whirled up hummus, arranged cheese, tomato, and proscuitto slices with homegrown basil, and grilled naan over a gas flame.  Berries and olives went straight into decorative bowls.  And a chilled bottle of Chardonnay Viognier blend completed this light supper.

 
Disclaimer:  I will be receiving a $25 giftcard from the Metropolitan Market for participating in the Giveaway Contest and posting this write up.  All opinions expressed in this post are my own.
 

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Vegan Fair at Plum Bistro in Seattle

01 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by in Restaurant Review, Seattle

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For this Meatless Monday, I am kicking it up a notch with photos from my recent trip to Plum Bistro in Seattle.  This beautiful restaurant located in the center of the Capitol Hill area serves creative vegan dishes that will please vegan and their non-vegan friends and family alike.  Stop by for happy hour or enjoy a full on dinner. 

Priya and I went to Plum for happy hour.  After we ordered the cocktails and captured a multitude of photos, we shared delicious (by far my favorite) mushroom cakes (similar to crabcakes), an order of sweet potato fries with several dipping sauces, and a trio of sliders.

 
I enjoyed our selection quite a bit, thought might have been still a bit hungry (good thing there was chocolate cake awaiting us back home).  The flavor combintations were creative and bright.  This was not an immitation of meat options, rather a creative way of presenting vegan ingredients.
 
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Do Good, Eat Well, Support FareStart ~ Seattle

06 Monday May 2013

Posted by in Lunch, Restaurant Review, Seattle

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There are plenty of restaurants in the vicinity of downtown Seattle where you can stop by for lunch.  I want to give you a few reasons why you should pick Farestart as your next lunch destination.

Farestart provides on the job training (culinary education) for homeless and disadvantaged individuals

Farestart feeds thousands of homeless and disadvantaged children, women and men

The menu offers weekly specials based on the availability of produce and the season

You can enjoy a special dinner with food and wine pairings prepared by Seattle’s Top Chefs on selected Thursday nights.

So there you go, do good, eat well and support FareStart.


I happened to arrive at the restaurant on a particularly sunny afternoon to appreciate the open space, high ceilings, and light.

The wall of fame displays the photographs of the chefs who cooked at FareStart and plates with the names of donors.

Here are just a few of the core values: sustainability, respect, openness, collaboration and acceptance.

After browsing the menu, I selected fish tacos with corn and bean salad (pictured above) and my lovely lunch friend went for the meat…with bacon…barely cooked.  She was a fan.  However, word of advice – if you are looking for a glass of wine to go along with your lunch, you will be greatly disappointed (just like my friend) – FareStart does not serve alcohol with lunch.

FareStart is located

7th & Virginia
Seattle, WA 98101

Pho Seattle ~ Long Provincial Restaurant

29 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Pho, Restaurant Review, Seattle, Soup

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I’m happy to share my latest pho spot in Seattle and it is conveniently located to Allrecipes.com and just a few minutes away from Pike Place Market.  Long Provincial Vietnamese Restaurant has a decor of an upscale place with prices of a hole-in-the-wall walk-up with fast and fuss-free service and bowls of steaming-hot pho.  The menu is lengthy with rice dishes, rice stir-frys and the house specials.  For now, I have been happily dining on pho with rare steak and spring rolls.  Come Spring, I might switch to a cooler side and order a  noodle bowl with lemongrass grilled pork and pickled daikon with carrots.

If you are in the area, be sure to stop by and discover the dishes of Long Provincial for yourself.

Location:
1901 Second Ave
Seattle, WA 98101

Phone:
206. 443. 6266

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Cabbage Kimchi, Sauerkraut and Homemade Horseradish ~ Cooking and Food Styling with Allrecipes.com

18 Thursday Apr 2013

Posted by in Allrecipes.com, Cooking, Food Styling, Recipe, Seattle

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I get asked quite a bit about what I do for work.  Well, I work for Allrecipes.com so naturally food is involved.  On the day that I am not in the office, writing scripts for videos, updating a grocery shopping list, or watching mouth-watering recipe videos for quality and content accuracy, I am in the kitchen.  I am in the kitchen in our studio, preparing the recipes, styling the food, and lending my hands to be the stars.  I am also known to say more than once to our videographers, “Do you think there’s too much hand showing?”

This week we shot five recipes in one day.  Here are just a few photos.  I loved each and every one of the recipes and welcome you to make them at home.  Keep checking for the videos to make their debute on our site and on youtube.com

How about slicing five pounds of cabbage, for Sauerkraut?  Surely, you can use a food processor or a mandoline, but if you have mad knife skills, why bother?

As much as my stomach and Korean food do not agree, I love the Korean cuisine and its fermented condiments.  This was the first time I made kimchi with Napa cabbage.  Here, the kimchi is styled with seared tofu and we also mixed it in with brown fried rice, topped with a sunny side up egg.  Be sure to check the recipe for Spicy Cabbage Kimchi.

And as if we didn’t have enough heat for one day, we filmed this recipe for Homemade Horseradish.  If you have a cold or a stuffy nose, get a sniff of this one and you should be cleared up in no time.

Interested to see more?  Let me know, I’ll be happy to share.

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Brunch at Stopsky’s Delicatessen ~ Mercer Island, WA

06 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by in Brunch, Restaurant Review, Seattle

≈ 1 Comment

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of brunching double-date style with one of my most food-ravenous friends.  Lera, I’m talking about you.  I picked Stopsky’s Delicatessen for the occasion and headed over the I-90 Bridge with the Artist.
 
 



A bright, casual decor with an enormous wall of family photographs in black and white greeted us at the door.  The service was prompt and friendly.  The waitress didn’t even blink once when the order for alcoholic beverages was placed within seconds of us entering.  Pomegranate mimosa for Lera and blood mary for me.

The Bloody Mary was a piece of art – garnished with a skewer of olive, pickled garlic and cauliflower, the drink was bloody red spicy.  I resisted ordering another one.  Lera’s mimosa came adorned with a booze-soaked apricot.  She refused to let me taste it, and I knew better than to fight her on this one.

The food was alright.  I wish it was better.  Lera and I ordered Latkes Benedict – two latkes patties, topped with sliced pastrami (the pastrami was seared first which was quite lovely, giving it a nice crisp texture), poached duck eggs (upgrade from the regular egg for extra $3) and Hollandaise sauce.

The latkes! Oh how I wanted a crisp potato pancake.  Alas, that did not happen.  The latkes were for the better word gummy. 

The eggs were perfect, buttery, creamy and soft.  I’ll be honest, I’m not sure I tasted the difference between the duck egg and a chicken egg, but it was fun trying.

The boys ordered sandwiches.  The Artist passed the pickle my way immediately.  How I love pickles! And I would have loved to have two or ten more. 

Will I return?  Unlikely.  The company and the bloody mary were clearly the winners at this brunch.  I wished more for the food.  We ended up driving the circular streets of Mercer Island after brunch, looking left and right at over-sized castles on the water.

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Morning Caffeine Treat – Quick Mocha with Whipped Cream

31 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by in Coffee, Seattle

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It’s one of those mornings when you wake up on the wrong side of the bed.  Or perhaps you went to bed on the wrong side.  Regardless, you are at work.  Cold.  Sleepy.  Drained.

 

You pass the donuts and head out to the coffee station at work.  Brew a fresh pot of coffee.  While the coffee is brewing, you pull out a packet of hot cocoa mix and empty it into a bag.  In go the two packets of creamer, and you mix, waiting for the coffee to finish brewing.

Hot, steaming, coffee goes into the cup.  You mix.  And then, to make your morning just a little bit better, you reach for the whipped cream, in a canister, and give the drink its finishing touch.

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Dinner at Serafina – Friendship Celebration in Seattle

07 Wednesday Nov 2012

Posted by in Dinner, Lamb, Restaurant Review, Seattle

≈ 1 Comment

A dear friend from culinary school was in town visiting me from Washington DC.  She flew in just for a few days, to see me, and for me to meet her lovely 14-month-old daughter.  I was quite flattered, excited, and slightly worried.  What would we do?  Where would we go?  Would Seattle weather cooperate?  Of course, the weather did not cooperate – it was cold and raining.  On top of it all, the weather on the East Coast did not cooperate either, and my friend had to leave a day early to ensure a safe return home.

Meanwhile, I am happy to report that great time was had by all! For our first dinner out, my friend chose a local neighborhood restaurant – Serafina – that serves Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. 

The service was impeccable for both the grown ups and a lively toddler.

We started with a cocktail, a glass of wine, and a complimentary bread plate with delicious herbacious olive oil, spiced up with red pepper flakes.

And we got more bread for the appetizer.

Grilled calamari

Any guesses what this below might be?  It’s a piece of yarn/string that served as a perfect toy for a 14-month old.  There were also copious amounts of dried peas, fish crackers, and two metal restaurant-supply ramekins.

The star of the evening was the lamb shank! Fall-off-the-bone tender, perched on top of cheesy grits.  My friend and I shared, but I probably could have easily devoured the shank on my own.  There, I said it!

And then there was a plate of ravioli with toasted hazelnuts.  The hazelnuts were my favorite part of the dish.  Maybe I’m just not a pasta girl.

My dear friend, I miss you already!  Come back and visit, next time in the summer.
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Pike Place Chowder in Seattle – What’s for Lunch?

04 Thursday Oct 2012

Posted by in Lunch, Restaurant Review, Seattle, Soup

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The other day, lunch plans fell through, and I was left sitting at my desk without food.  Hungry. Sneezing and coughing. I was cold.  I just had pho a few days earlier and was craving a different kind of soup.  Why not chowder? 

I have heard about Pike Place Chowder many times with rave reviews – fresh, creamy, delicious and comforting.  I chose to skip the busy, original Pike Place location, and instead headed a few blocks up to the Pacific Place.


Before I saw the regular menu, I was greeted by a hand-written menu with two daily specials.  Chorizo and oysters?  How could I resist. 

I went for a medium size, sans the bread bowl, and received a complimentary slice of bread and crackers.  The chowder kept warm on my way back to work.  I added a sprinkle of black pepper and a few shots of Tabasco and lingered on the creamy, rich, health restorative chowder.

What’s your favorite lunch spot in Downtown Seattle?
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Two Free Tickets to American Lamb Pro-Am Give Away!

24 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by in Events, Giveaway, Lamb, Seattle

≈ 3 Comments

As many of you may know, I will be one of the four Seattle Bloggers taking a part in the American lamb Pro-Am event on October 10th.  Thank you to all of you who voted and helped to make this happen.

I’m excited to announce that Jamie Peha has given me two tickets to the event to give to you!

To enter for your chance to win a complimentary ticket, you must be a Seattle resident and be able to attend the event on October 10th.

Rules (please leave a separate comment on this post when you do each of the following):
* leave a comment mentioning what your favorite lamb recipe is
* follow me on twitter @snackingkitchen
* follow me on Facebook Snacking in the Kitchen
* follow TableTalk on twitter
* become fan of Lamb on twitter

Please let me know when you follow each of the rules to increase your chance of winning.  I will announce two individual winners on October 8th.  Each will get one ticket to the event.

Good luck!

Event details:
$25/Ticket (regular price, yours is free)
Wednesday, October 10th, 6:30-8:30pm
Cedarbrook Lodge (18525 36th Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98188)

Ina Garten the Barefoot Contessa, Seattle, and a New Year Pluot Cake

18 Tuesday Sep 2012

Posted by in Cooking, Dessert, Fruit, Recipe, Seattle, Writing/Publishing

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About four years ago when I was making a critical decision of leaving my life in Dallas to attend the Culinary Institute of America, I got a call from my mom.  She told me a story about Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa who went from working at the White House to running a specialty food store.  “Are you telling me to follow my dreams, mom?” I asked, thinking she was using Ina as an inspiration.  She wasn’t, she was just sharing.

Fast forward to my decision to attend the school and years of emotional, physical, and financial struggles, most of which have been overcome with hard work, support and a little bit of luck.

My mom called me last week, informing me that Ina will be speaking at the Seattle’s Benaroya Hall.  “Would you want to go?” she asked.  I bought two tickets and we went.  I haven’t seen my mom so happy in a long time.

Ina’s visit came in the middle of the Jewish New Year.  In honor of Ina and the New Year, I decided to bake Ina’s Plum Cake “Tatin”.  Unfortunately, the store was out of plums, so I bought a bag of pluots instead.  Pluots are a hybrid of plums and apricots.  If you haven’t tasted one before, you’re in for a treat!  I made quite a few changes to the original recipe and the family loved it!  The Pluot Cake was a perfect sweet ending to a New Year dinner.*

Pluot New Year Cake

Ingredients

7 tablespoons softened butter, divided
8-10 pluots, halved and pitted
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/3 cup sour cream
zest of 1 large lemon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees and butter a 12-inch tart pan with one tablespoon of butter.

2.  Arrange pluots cut side up inside the pan.

3.  Beat together six tablespoons of butter with sugar, until light and fluffy.  Beat one egg at a time until well incorporated.

4.  Add sour cream, lemon zest and vanilla.

5.  Sift together flour, baking powder and kosher salt and slowly incorporate into the butter mixture.

6.  Spread the batter over the pluots and bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes until golden and the batter is set.

7.  Cool the cake slightly and serve warm or at room temperature, spooning the pluots out on individual plates.

Alterations to the original recipe
-I used a 12-inch tart instead of a 9-inch
-I skipped the step of making caramel (less total sugar, one less step, and still delicious)
-I placed the pluots cut side up and did not invert the final cake
-I used large eggs instead of extra large (that’s what I had on hand)
-I increased lemon zest from 1/2 teaspoon to a zest of a whole lemon
-I used both white and light brown sugar

Enjoy!

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In the Mood for Vegetarian: In the Bowl Restaurant, Seattle

07 Friday Sep 2012

Posted by in Restaurant Review, Salad, Seattle, Vegetarian

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Oh how delightful vegetables can taste when prepared properly and mindful.  This Grilled Eggplant Salad from In The Bowl Vegetarian Noodle Bistro located in Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle was truly the most exciting, satisfying, and delicious plate of food I have enjoyed in a long time.

The combination of grilled Japanese eggplant with charred green bell pepper and red onions was a lovely, crunchy trio.  The salad dressing shined with slices of citrusy and pungent lemon grass,  sweet basil and cilantro.

 For extra crunch, crispy chow mein noodles were sprinkled over the top of the salad.

The salad also had wedges of tomato and spinach leaves, slightly wilted, intentionally, by the dressing.

I hope to be back!

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Raspberry Picking at Biringer Farm in Washington

15 Wednesday Aug 2012

Posted by in Farmers Market, Fruit, Seattle

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Last weekend the Artist and I went to pick raspberries.  We didn’t go to a local grocery store, we went straight to the farm.  He picked the Biringer Farm just an hour north of Seattle, a straight up shot on I-5.  We were in luck – it was the last weekend to pick raspberries and there were still plenty of ripe berries.

We ended up collecting seven pounds of raspberries!  I tried to pick slightly under-ripe berries to ensure they will last longer, and simply because I prefer their taste and flavor to a fully ripe raspberry.  A few ripe berries ended up snicking into the cardboard box, however….wonder where they came from!

While we picked, we ate.  Or rather, while we ate the raspberries, we picked a few.  The abundance was hard to resist.  Walking back to the farm, I didn’t want to stop pulling the berries off the bushes.

We ate the raspberries on their own, shared with our parents and took some home.  For the last few days I have enjoyed the raspberries on top of plain yogurt, sprinkled with granola.  Delicious!

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