Seattle: 5 Bites

So, here in DC, one of our top food blogs called Metrocurean does this thing where she interviews people for their top 5 bites in town.

Atfer my week in Seattle, here are my top 5 bites:

Tom Douglas' Triple Coconut Cream Pie
This pie was so good, I had it TWICE. It's on the menu at Douglas hot spots Dahlia Lounge and Palace Kitchen. The toasted coconut isn't overpowering and it's softly piled on a pile of white chocolate cream nestled to a pretty pile of tangy pomegrante seeds. I'm now a Douglas devotee and can't wait to try his other restaurants, especially the one that got away... Serious Pie. [Note: I also picked up Douglas' I Love Crab Cakes book with 50 recipes from across the country at Elliott Bay Books in the used section for just $6! #recessionita #win]


Breakfast at 5 Spot
I had the Cinnamon Swirl French Toast which was dipped in a vanilla batter and griddled... served with Nat's caramel instead of syrup. Worth getting up for. [Runner up to the food was the friendly neighborhood service and clientele. One local was telling the bartender that he was in the Marines for 35 years and didn't get off on Thanksgiving, why should she?]


Buffalo Mozzarella with Pear and Arugula at How To Cook A Wolf
Please don't make me choose just one thing at How To Cook a Wolf! As you saw in my previous post, I might be equally smitten with the chef, the service and the food. If I had to pick one thing to eat again today, I'd pick the buffalo mozzarella. To call it a salad is a disservice, though it came piled with earthy arugula tossed in a tangy balsamic. The cheese was soft and more delicate than any mozzarella I've ever had. And the sliced pear on the side was an unexpected sweet punctuation mark.


Cuban at Paseo's
I'll start by saying I know my Florida friends will find this heresy. I was raised on Cuban sandwiches in Tampa, FL. But the Cuban sandwich at Paseo's in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle is more inspired by authetic Cubans than a carbon copy. In it's own right, it is a masterpiece of a sandwich. The marinated pork shoulder is juicy and has just the right amount of kick. It's layered on a toasted French baguette (no, not authentic flaky Cuban bread, but delicious nonetheless) with aioli, cilantro, crisp Romaine lettuce and pickled jalapeno peppers. Floridians and native Cubans alike, you may quibble with the moniker, but there's no doubt why this concoction is Paseo's top seller. [Note: I shouldn't leave out the side of corn on the cob that accompanies the sandwich. I swear to you, it's served up rubbed down in the juices of the pork drippings...]

Photo via http://returnoftheyummy.blogspot.com/

Squash & Mushroom at Harvest Vine
I'm so mad I didn't get a photo of this simple dish that showcased these two fall vegetables. It was sweet and nutty. Served artfully in a layered cylinder of farmers market bounty, with a quail egg on the side. Instead of a great photo of the dish, I'll give you a Flickr of the chef. The entire menu was seasonal and creative. The chef and his team making your dinner right in front of you was all part of the evening's entertainment. The space is really intimate, which so long as you aren't waiting outside, is fantastic.


Honorable Mentions: Dixie's BBQ for lunch, latte & lox at Lowell's, coffee at Cafe Ladro in Queen Anne, Bloody Mary at Buckley's

Must do spots for my next visit: Pink Door, Serious Pie, 13 Coins, Monsoon, Steelhead Diner, Cafe Campagne & Bizzarro Italian Cafe

Seattle: Shopping

Ok, I don't typically think of myself as a grunge kind of gal, but Seattle shopping really spoke to me. I discovered so many cute shops, interesting local designers and artists. Here are a few of my faves (some that I could afford and snapped up, and some that I'll save for later).

Wooden Ships Knitwear: cute sweaters, scarves and hats... but I took home the warm, knit fingerless 3/4 mittens. I feel like a cozy, chic hobo in them. I bought mine at Fini near Pike's Market.


Kimberly Baker Jewelry in Fremont where I was equally enamored with the owners Boston Terrier as I was with her funky Indian and Octopus rings, dainty jewelry that incorporated hearts and grenades, and horoscope necklaces.


Dolce Vita in Ballard: I snapped up the over the knee Eva boots here and a pair of fleece lined tights (I know!!! Who knew fleece lined tights exisited!!), but I was equally smitten with plum leather flats with zipper rosettes and an array of not too delicate booties. Definitely not the best photo of the boots but here's me in the boots and tights.


Joy Street by Shannon Koszyk in Fremont was having an amazing sale where I snapped up a star studded thick brown belt and two soft as cashmere burnout t-shirts.


Last but not least, Les Amis... where I fell in love with dainty party frocks and an array of amazing options from bold named designers. Alas, my budget did not commit, but I'll definitely be back.

Seattle: How To Cook A Wolf

I'm starting to narrow down WHICH food to blog about from my Seattle trip. Everything has been so amazing. But last night's dinner in Queen Anne was such a great experience, I've run straight to the computer this morning to share with you.

First of all the name - How To Cook A Wolf - is so unique. It's from a 1942 culinary novel by M.F.K. Fisher which spoke of the hunger (the wolf) and the joy of eating. The space is small but envelopes you in cozy curved wood (like the inside of a ship or modern cabin) and stone. We were greeted by the lovely (and cute) Jordan who sat us at the bar and provided both banter and menu guidance for our evening.

We started out with the Buffalo Mozzarella salad. I have never tasted mozzarella this soft. It blended perfectly with it's accompanying tart pear and earthy arugula. Here's a pic of the absurdly sexy chef making it:



and the finished product (sorry I promise to get better at food photography one day)



Next up was the Seared Scallops. I usually don't order scallops - it's hard to get them right and they are so trite amongst the food industry. But Jordan hadn't steered us wrong yet and we scooped up the last order of these little babies.



They were cooked perfectly. Soft, sweet and I loved the side drizzle of olive paste and bed of pearl pasta they were laid across.

Next up was the Gnocchi with bacon which was also perfect. We had been tossed up between the gnocchi and the bolognese and had asked the couple next to us, which had one of each which was best. They each thought their own was the best. And they were probably right. The gnocchi was perfectly pillowly and melded with the salty bacon crisps and sweet onions. But any of the pastas would likely have been transcendent.



We ended up getting a dessert that was so-so, so I'd advise at leaving it there. We enjoyed our last splash of prosecco and went home in a haze of foodie bliss.



Cheers from Seattle!

Seattle: First Impressions

It's my fourth day in Seattle. Everyone tells me this is the worst wind and rain they have had all year, but I have to tell you, I'm falling in love with this city.

The food, the people, the architecture and the stunning natural landscapes have kept me wide-eyed for days. Yesterday I glimpsed Mount Rainier for the first time and had to stop the car. I'll do additional posts about my favorite things but here's "the view" (and this does not do it any justice)





Photos taken from Kerry Hill Park, Seattle, WA on November 18, 2009

Friends & Family Discounts: Juicy & Bloomies

It's Friday. It's pay day. I'm still broke-ish. But these make it better. Hope they will help you get a little retail therapy this weekend too!

Juicy Couture: In Store ONLY


Bloomingdale's: In Store or Online

The Scoop: Jimmy Choo at H&M

Just scanned the Jimmy Choo for H&M website and it looks like a pretty cool collection filled with flats, over the knee boots, sexy heels & booties. You can preview them on their website.

Here's the skinny. The first 160 in line will get bands. Doors open at 10am. Those with bands will be allowed in small group at staged times to shop. You can only buy one of each kind... and all must be in the same size (I guess so you can't buy for all of your friends).

After 2 hours, it's open season on what's left. Prices are from $69 - $299.

ONLY IN LA, NY and Chicago stores. (Boo for DC!)

Challenge: All Natural Nyquil

@floridagirlindc has been down for the count with a cold. Thanks to Daily Candy, I just stumbled upon this recipe for all-natural Nyquil. Sounds like the only foodie challenge I can handle this week. (The Pumpkin is staring at me, but he'll keep.)

Link to: All Natural Nyquil Recipe by UrbanHonking.com

Finds Under $50: Red Lumberjack Scarf

I've been digging this red plaid lumberjack print this season, but didn't want too much of it. (Have seen dresses, cardigans, jackets...) I like it in the scarf version for a pop of color and outdoorsy fall season edge. Luckily I found two under $50. I got the one from Target. (Cause, ya know, we're in a recession...)

J.Crew for $45

Target for $14.99

Cute Glove Trend Alert!

Love these extra long, aubergine leather gloves with bow accent from Cole Haan.

AND the brilliantly named "Texting Glove" Which. I. Need.

Take a Chance and Take It Offline

Today's been a big week for taking chances and meeting new people for the FloridaGirlinDC. First, I overcame my high schoolesque anxiety and went to the super fun DC Food Bloggers Happy Hour where I met the real people behind Arugula Files, Pete Bakes, Modern Domestic, Adventures in Shaw, The Bitten Word, Glamazon Diaries and Urban Bohemian. They were all cool, funny, interesting and creative. No one was standoffish and everyone just connected. We spent the evening swapping cooking stories and ended up deciding we needed a food blogger reality show.

Today, I met the famous Twitter Grams, @msphixit for lunch at Zola. She's been in town with her husband visiting family and meeting Twitter pals. We shared stories about how our significant others think we are crazy for meeting each other... But it was great! We're from different coasts and different generations, but here we were gabbing like sorority sisters, sipping wine and splurging for dessert.

Sure, she could have been a 40 year old sketchy man instead of a 70-something surrogate grandma to legions of Tweeters... But she wasn't AND we were safe by picking a public place for lunch... And were rewarded by taking an online friendship into real life.

And it was awesome.