Archive | June, 2010

Welcome to Seattle Summer: still cloudy with a chance of Thai Tom

28 Jun
This weekend was VERY eventful – that is to say it was literally full of events.

On Friday night, I met up with some of my all time favorite girlfriends from my days at Reed. We hit up Smith on Cap Hill, a restaurant and bar with a taxidermy complex that isn’t for the faint of heart. I heard from the group that the drinks were good, and I had water since I was partaking in the Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon the next morning.

Lame cell phone camera, I know. Sorry...left my camera at work.

I did however order the Mac n Cheese, which was nothing to write home about, and actually a little disappointing.  There was very little cheese involved and although it had a nice spice to it, that was the only nice thing about it. A waste of $9, although the dishes other people got at the table next to us smelled and looked really good! I would go back. I would not order the Mac n Cheese.

We also had a local celebrity citing (or would that be ‘sighting’? I dunno!), as Dan Savage was sitting at the table behind us. Cool!  Good eye, Bandy!

Then on Saturday, I woke up at 3:30am (no, that’s not a mis-type) and made myself a piping hot bowl of energy-packed oatmeal complete with raisins, walnuts, flax seed, wheat germ and a touch of cream to get my body ready for the 1/2 marathon.  What an experience!  I’m too cheap to buy the pictures that the race company took, so just use your imagination.  It was a great experience, I won’t soon forget. I’m still hobbling around but recovering for sure.

Saturday night was a wash, I was totally down for the count, and on Paul’s brilliant recommendation, I indulged in my dirty secret food pleasure: Pizza Hut deep dish pizza. I know, I know, it’s awful and REALLY bad for you. But I haven’t had it in years, and they deliver, and I couldn’t walk. And I jogged/walked 13.1 miles that day, so I don’t really feel bad about it.

So, fast forward to Sunday afternoon, where I met up with my girlfriends again (plus two of their super nice boyfriends – well done, ladies!) for a stroll around Gas Works park and a late lunch.

We hit up Thai Tom in the University District. It was JUST what the doctor ordered! (Well, to be fair, probably not, but it was what I ordered…..so basically the same thing, right? RIGHT!)

I wanted noodles, so I went with the standard: Phad Thai.

 

So glad I did, because the 2 stars was just enough to get my eyes watering a bit, and the Thai Iced Tea was the perfect cooling combo.  Those guys know their Thai. The music was good, the food was great and the company was irreplaceable!

Here's the crew, Hester in front, then Kat, Bandy, Zigs (can't see her) and Scott.

So filling and wonderful!  Then we moved on to get a refreshing dessert, and wanted something in walking distance, so of course I suggested Paul and my favorite Bubble Tea joint, Pochi!

Everyone got really different things which was great because we all got to sample the various treats.  Here you see the spoils:

Let me break this down for you:

Front right: Scott and Zigs shared a taro fro yo (aka Frozen Yogurt) with Banana and Mango (fresh).

Back right: Hester got Hong Kong style milk tea with traditional tapioca Bobas (she’s so cool….that’s very hard core for Bubble Tea!)

Back left: Kat and Bandy shared a Red Bean milk tea with Rainbow jellies (Bandy didn’t like the consistency of the Jellies so much, but loved the red bean flavor of the milk tea. I agree it was tasty!)

Front and center: I went with a Pina Colada milk smoothie with Strawberry jellies. So good, but I forgot how filling it is and how cold. Next time, I’ll switch back to milk tea, and mayyyyyyyyyybe a fro yo. WHAT?!

More food adventures to come later this week, and thanks to the suggestion from my friend, Kim, I will be posting more videos and pictures where I’m in the shot, rather than just the food! Thanks for the idea, Kim, and Happy Monday everyone!

Lunch Bites: Goldbergs’ in Bellevue

16 Jun

Steve and Bill Goldberg

My wonderful co-wokers took me out for lunch last Friday because June 12th was my 4th anniversay of working at Extra Mile Marketing! I am so blessed to work with a team of smart, funny, hard working and compassionate people.  I know how rare it is to work in a small office that you truly love. Every day I wake up and am excited to see what the day brings. And Friday was no exception!

My co-worker, Melina, had been telling me about Goldbergs’, this awesome Jewish Deli/Diner in Bellevue that she always goes to for the famous lunch combo of Matzo Ball Soup and a half a corn beef sandwich.  So, they all surprised me by taking me there for my anniversary lunch.

Of course I took pictures (on my crap cell phone camera) to share with you all!

So here we go, in order!

Goldbergs_Pickles Upon Arrival

When you sit down at your table, there's a tray of pickles waiting for you!

These were good pickles, kids. Just snappy enough with the right amount of salt and tang. MMMMMMMMMMM. Never met a kosher dill I didn’t like!

Goldbergs_Dr Brown Soda Black Cherry

Dr. Browns Black Cherry Soda

If you’ve ever had Dr. Browns, are from the East Coast or Jewish, chances are you know the awesomeness that I learned today. This line of natural sodas was surprisingly good! I had the Black Cherry on recommendation of Lori, and was not disappointed! Next time: Cream Soda! (I haven’t had a cream soda in SO LONG, but it sounds delightful!)

Goldbergs_Matzo Ball Soup

Melina's coveted Matzo Ball Soup

Melina’s lunch special came with a cup of Matzo Ball soup. It was JUST the right amount and she let me try a spoonful, which was so light and fluffy! The ball was just eggy enough and the broth was super flavorful!  This pictures does it no justice.

Goldbergs_Smoked Salmon Bagel plate

Smoked Salmon and Bagel extravaganza plate!

Lori and Kris both got the plate above. Kris doesn’t like things that are too salty so she took Lori’s recommendation of this plate with fresh produce to build your own bagel sammy. She said she’d get it again, and Lori said for sure the food was the best she’d had there.

Goldbergs_Corned Beef Sandwich and Slaw

Mike's Full Corned Beef Sandwich with Slaw

Mike opted for a classic: corned beef and slaw. He said it was pretty good, and I could tell he liked it because he ate the whole thing!

Goldbergs_Bacon Cheddar Burger Steakfries and Slaw

My baseline tester: Bacon Cheddar Burger Medium rare

I wanted a burger for days before this so it was my chance to fulfill the desire. And also, it gave me the chance to test their baseline. Granted, burgers at a Jewish deli, not really classic, but whatever. When have you guys ever known me to go with the grain, right?

It was GREAT, even though there wasn’t any mayo on it, which I usually request. I thought I’d it a try with just ketchup and mustard. Even though it was a little more done than medium rare, it was still juicy, and the cheese was perfectly melted. The bacon was REALLY good, I could tell they had cooked it recently and it was still a little greasyyyyyyyyyyy.  Even the slaw was good, and I don’t like slaw. And the steakfries were perfect, they matched the burger, substanial, perfectly salted and crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside.

Job well done, Goldberg’s. I’ll be coming back soon and often to try out the million things on your menu, what with your all day breakfast (“the only way it should be served.”  I couldn’t agree more!)

The staff was attentive and super nice, and the bartender was sure to great us on our way in and out. The place was pretty big and fairly busy for a weekday lunch.

All in all, I was happily surprised!

Onion Dip: when I dip, you dip, we dip!

14 Jun

If you’re too old or young for the reference in the title, then here. That is very 1998, and reminds me of high school whenever I hear it.

And it makes me want to dance, and I love to dance in the kitchen, while I cook. And so, naturally (right?) I want to make this aromatic and rich onion dip that Baking Banter posted. (I CAN’T get enough of them lately, I know!!!!!)

Image credit to King Arthur Flour Company

Here is how they made their version of the onion dip.

I would say my only switch up would be a healthy swap out of the mayo and cream cheese (sorry fatty dairy products….I love you, but the seams on my bikini and everyone at the beach in Bali that will have to see my fat, white thighs? not so much!)

I would, instead, keep the non-fat sour cream, because it’s really not that bad, and that zip it adds is unmistakable, and I would make the rest from (you guessed it) my lady in waiting, non-fat plain yogurt. Strained or not, it keeps it creamy and filling, without a million extra calories that I won’t have time to run off before August.

I may just have to make this over this weekend…and try it out on my subjects, er, friends.

Hummus Remix

11 Jun

Thanks again to the folks over at Baking Banter for posting a quick and easy tutorial for hummus. I LOVE the stuff. And I love it regular, roasted garlic, red pepper or jalepeno, anyway you can make it! (of course that opens the flood gates and there are a ton of other variations you can do as well).

I wanted to post their tasty looking batch and link to their basic hummus, but I also plan to make a batch this week with stuff I’ve got in my kitchen already, except I need some Tanhini (sesame paste).

Doesn’t this look irresistable?!

Image credit to King Arthur Flour Company

Great photography too! What’s not to love?!  Tastes good, looks good, IS good!

NOTE TO SELF: Try this with roasted Cerano Peppers from McPheresons Market on Beacon Hill.

PS: To the 5 readers out there, I have found a great way to enjoy oodles of my dip without oodles of calories. Don’t skimp on the dip, skimp on the crackers! Because summer is right around the corner, I’m using cucumbers, carrots, snap peas, or baby bell peppers in place of crackers.  It helps you get closer to your daily quota of veggies and it tastes great while reducing calories. I’m sure this is a note mostly for the ladies….but guys, no reason you can’t up the anti on the veggies too, right?

Also you can try cutting up a yam or sweet potato, roasting with olive oil, salt and pepper, in the oven on 425 for 25-30 minutes to make sweet potato fries and use those as your dippers! Still healthier and I think tastier than a cracker!

Spring and Summer easy entertainers: Dip it

9 Jun

I just found out that the King Arthur Flour Company has a food blog: Baking Banter.  I am really liking it!

They have a whole series of fun, easy dip ideas I had to share with you for three reasons:

  1. I’m REALLY hungry right now and they make me want to bite my screen.
  2. They’re easy to make and cheap, and you probably already have some of the stuff needed at home.
  3. You can improvise which means you don’t need to necessarily follow the recipe to a T, which is always a requirement for me!

So the first one I wanted to share from their blog is their pesto, made with parsley rather than basil. Don’t cringe yet, it’s actually fresh and green tasting, and still just as satisfying. Check it out:

Parsley Pesto

image credit to King Arthur Flour Company

For the whole post about the method and what they used, check it out here!