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For this month's EoMEoTE (#8) a snapshot of the quick scramble--with Walla Walla onions and red peppers-- I made for dinner last Sunday, my reward for getting my IMBB's Meyer Lemon Curd ready.
The Araucana eggs used also came from Monteillet. They had beautiful, intensely yellow-orange hued yolks that made this quick supper a real treat. Who says you can't have breakfast for dinner especially with eggs this pretty?
Just in case you've been missing them, Hsiao-Ching Chou, the fabulous Seattle Post-Intelligencer's food editor has been podcasting since April.
For her inaugural podcast (Masters of the Craft, April 13, 2005) Ms. Chou visited with Thomas Keller and Jeffrey Cerciello of Bouchon, Per Se & French Laundry fame and with Maximilian Riedel, of the Riedel wine glass company.
These conversations on food, eating, restaurants and interviews with food writers, farmers, restaurant critics and restauranteurs have been not only very interesting and fun but they take reading the food section to a whole new level.
Not to mention Chou is the only podcaster at the PI and the PI's On Food the only newspaper Podcast in Seattle. At least for now.
Remember, you do not have to download them to your iPod to listen in. You can play the MP3s right in your browser. Just click on the links, sit back and enjoy!
Hsiao-Ching Chou Podcast Index
My favorite so far: Hsiao-Ching Chou's Ruth Reichl at Salumi --for reasons both obvious (I love Ruth and Salumi) and others I'll dish on as soon as I return from LA. ;-D
Accompanying article (April 20): Food's a topic that can wig out Ruth Reichl
Marble everywhere and the loveliest of runway views with Mount Rainier as a bonus. I've been sipping on a grande Dilletante's "Ephemere" dark hot chocolate while browsing the aisles at Borders, where I picked up the latest issue of Sunset to read on the flight to Burbank.
Dish D'Lish's space is quite nice. Their Quiche looked lovely until they offered to microwave it for me. Steamed quiche is not my bag so it was a no go.
With such a lovely area to nosh and shop before your flight, it really pays to plan ahead and get here early. My plane is boarding. Toodle pip!
Last night I finally unpacked my Cannon Beach trip suitcase just in time to pack it up again and take off to Los Angeles! In what has become a yearly event, I'm heading back to spend some good times with great friends and visit a few of my favorite spots. We'll eat, drink, shop and play over a long Fourth of July weekend.
In my bag, all the essentials and in my Sidekick II's favorites, a new bookmark, A girl's guide to LA.
By now a girl named Alex--who used to live in Seattle-- is now a bonafide LA resident and along with Mary Catherine, one of the voices behind this great new website.
These ladies are experts on all things delicious, fabulous and fun in the City of Angels. If you live in LA or are planning to visit soon, you need to go check out what these girls are dishing out.
Have a safe and super fun weekend everyone!
For those of you traveling this weekend: Flight Suits
In SoDo neighborhood, across from Dr. Evil's...err...Starbucks's headquarters.
Pulled beef and pork sandwiches ($6.10), baked beans (eveything is homemade, .85), chips and soft drinks. That is pretty much it.
Service is efficient, friendly and fast. I got the pulled pork sandwich (medium hot sauce is quite hot for most, served in onion Kaiser roll) with baked beans (the portion is served in a Styrofoam coffee cup.
I ate the beans (spicy and thick), skipped the bun and could not finish the meat. This seems to be a very popular place around noon. Parking is on the street, if you can find it. This might not the best BBQ in town but it will do in a pinch.
Peco's Pit BBQ
2260 1st Avenue South
Seattle, Washington
206.623.0629
As I ordered my cappucino and gelato I could feel the smallest of tears wanting to come through, swelling out of my eyes. I had to look away and smile. I blame it on Rufus Wainwright. "Across the universe" is playing right now and it does not help my mood.
The staff still has no idea as to when the café will close. "You can always go to Gelatiamo on 3rd for you Rice gelato". Absolutely, but it just won't be the same.
I'm really gonna miss this place.
I think I might have just found my favorite casual burger and fries spot in town and it is literally down the street, off of Westlake Avenue & Republican, right next to Uptown Espresso.
The burgers are made with hormone-free beef, the onion rings are Ruth Reichl worthy (thick cut, beer batter dipped) and the fries are hand cut, blanched and fried again.
The fixings (tomato, lettuce, red onion and pickles) are served cold (the way it should be), the cheese melted to perfection (Swiss please!) and the crispy pepper bacon is a thing of beauty.
They also serve grilled chicken sandwiches, Boca, Garden and Wild King Salmon burgers and salads.
Blue Moon Burgers
An American Restaurant
920 Republican Street
Seattle, Washington
T. 206.652.0400
F. 206.652.0641
Last night, just when I thought the Spaghetti Carbonara Two Ways (with Ruth Reichl's recipe made with one egg and Pancetta instead of bacon and Mario Batali's Molto Italiano version with 4 eggs and Salumi's Guanciale) that I had prepared for supper earlier this week would be my entry for IMBB: Eggs, I changed my mind.
I wanted to try something different, something I have not made in a while using some of my favorite ingredients: citrus and eggs. An entry that would appeal to my sweet tooth, my love of preserving, and that would come in handy for breakfast and dessert this week, to share with friends and neighbors.
So, I woke up early this morning with a plan. I was to watch the Williams-Craybas match and then get busy cooking. As I was in the process of gathering my ingredients I noticed I did not have enough lemons (barely enough for the zesting) and my entry was to be Lemon Curd.
Normally, with plenty of time and energy to spare I would have walked the few blocks to the market in two shakes. But I was in a lazy mood. Any other day, I would have no problem getting in the car and taking a quick drive to Pike Place Market or Queen Anne for some last minute necessities. However, this morning that was just not possible.
The Seattle Fire Department had responded to a fire alarm coming from one of the lower floors of our building (a false alarm, thankfully).
Not only were the elevators out of commission during the investigation--way too many floors down for me to tackle with only a cup of coffee in my system-- but the garage door opening system was also out for the time being. Driving out of here was out of the question. Which meant that alternative plans, possibly even recipes, were now in order. What to do?
That's when I remembered about the Meyer lemons I had juiced and frozen earlier this year and that were sitting in our freezer, looking forward to being put to good use.
I had purchased so many of these beautiful Meyers--my favorite lemon of all-- at the market over the winter that I found myself juicing and slicing a whole bunch, putting them away for those summer days when the sight and taste of one of these babies was just the thing.
Lechón Asado Plate: Slow roasted marinated pork, topped with sautéed onions, yuca frita, tostones and congrí ($8.25). Jugo de Guanábana: Guanábana Juice (Guanábana purée mixed with milk) to wash down the garlicky "mojito" sauce served over the yuca.
The food here is as authentic as one can find at any restaurante, fonda or cafetín in the Caribbean (Cuba or Puerto Rico) and South America (Colombia or Venezuela).
The flavors familiar, the textures and colors a lovely memory of good times and friendly, happy people, of beautiful places were food is more than just nourishment but is also poetry, family and fiesta.
Order extra yuca and tostones or you'll regret it later. And please have a café con leche. It is as creamy and delicious as they come. Buen Provecho!
Mojito Café
181 Western Avenue West
Seattle, Washington
206-217-1180
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