Bea

I had brunch this morning at this fairly new restaurant in Madrona called Bea.  It's such a cute place and food was great!  I didn't have much expectations since my friends Hamed and Pascale picked the place and invited me.  


Check out what we had...


Crab Cakes Benedict

It had the loveliest and thinnest hollendaise sauce.


Lamb Burger with Sunchoke Chips

Caesar Salad

Side of Biscuits and Crepes

The biscuit was really nice, soft and pillowy in the center but crispy, flakey exterior.  The jam they served it with tasted homemade and not too sweet.


I now wished I took some pictures of the interior.  It was such a fresh and warm place! A quincidental neighborhood spot.  I wish it was a little closer to Ballard.  

Roasted Grapes

A few nights a go, met up with some girlfriends for some happy hour at terra plata in Seattle.  I was so eager to try this place but the only thing worth mentioning is the Roasted Grape Cheese Plate.  


I've seen grapes used in savory dishes and it makes total sense to create appetizers for wine with grapes, but I never saw it as the central ingredient.  They roasted with halved walnuts and olives, served with a very small blue cheese, and only 2 crostinis.  The idea is good and the grapes were yummy but I could have used more cheese and bread. They could have drizzled it with some honey or balsamic...something.

Everything else was okay and beautiful but very one note in flavor.  Even my friends noted this.  The place was gorgeous and the host was super nice and cheery, but also our waitress was luke warm to icy at worst.  I dont' need to revisit this place.  


This is what I'm finding these days, it's a good learning lesson.  Flavor of food is so important than the cool setting and people. There are places that know and get food.  It's about great ingredients, techniques, but also knowing flavors and how to layered them.  You notice when it's lacking but when something is great...you just know low wonderful it taste.


Bad service also is a such killer for a place. I hate it the most at places where I've love the food.  This place they need more rockin service since the food is okay.  Oh well....on to the next place.

Potato Gratin

To continue with my love of the potato, here is my favorite "graaatan"...from my chef friend Hamed's place A La Bonne Franquette.

Photo by Mini Deshpande

Caffe Nico

I have a favorite espresso drink that I drive all the way from Ballard to Capitol Hill for.  It's called Nico and it's was created by Vivace. 

It's a 4 oz drink of espresso, vanilla syrup, fresh orange zest, cinnamon, and heavy cream.  I get mine with soy milk.  The flavors are all about orange and cinnamon. 

It's sooo good! Everyone I've introduced this drink to also looove it!  I was introduced to it by a serious coffee drinker. 

I'm working out of this coffee shop right now and thinking about getting my second cup...

Fat Hen

Mom usually comes to visit at least once a month to get Dorry and Sofie's nails trimmed.  We usually go out for brunch and on this day, we went to a new place in my neighborhood called Fat Hen.

It's the cutest little place and food is good and yummy.  But...it's almost too perfect and lacks a little personality in the food.  Everything tastes great but can't put a finger on it...it's just too perfect and doesn't excite.  It's like that hot guy who is also great on paper but something is missing.

I had the soup and side of potatoes.  Mom had baked eggs. They also gave us a free slice of coffeecake because of the wait. Again, great but I don't need to revisit. I will try for a lunch meal next time.

Tomato Soup

Olive Oil Roasted Small Potatoes

Poppy

What a crazy few weeks?  It's been great, but pack back to back with events and visitors that I've been eating out mostly.  The crazy weeks ended with nice meal with friends at Poppy's before my friend Rohit left to go back to Texas.  

He is co worker from our Las Colinas office and is vegetarian.  I've been to Texas and didn't find too many veggie options so wanted to ensure he got to try some amazing local food.

If you've never been to Poppy's, it's a must!  This is Jerry Traunfeld's place post Herbfarm.  They serve 7 or 10 item small dishes in a "thali" style.  Thalis originated in Indian, small dishes in a large platter.  I've been fortunate enough to try this in Bangalore at a vegetarian place and it was amazing.  The trays there were all silver and waiter walk around with dishes and refill as much as you can eat.  Kinda like dim sum.  Poppy uses this vehicle by serving and highlighting Northwest ingredients with herbs and spices.  There are some Indian influenced dishes but also other cuisines that you can't pinpoint the exact fusion.  What I love is the simplicity of dishes that has amazing flavors.  They also have a garden in the back of the building where they grown some of the produce and herbs.  Lovely!

http://poppyseattle.com/

The ordering at Poppy is pretty simple, choose the meat or veggie option, 7 or 10. I say always get the 10 and you can try everything.  Both the meat and veggie trays are similar except for the 2 main entrees.  The menu also changes week to week so going there often, you get to try different things.  

The 10 Item, Vegetarian Thali

The 10 Item, Meat Thali

They also have very nice drinks and desserts. I always order the homemade Honeyed Ginger Ale.  We had to head to the airport so didn't have time for dessert.  :(  Sad for me.   

West Seattle Farmer's Market

After the brunch in West Seattle, we walked to Bakery Nouveau for some sweets, and in the process walked through the Sunday farmer's market. I LOVE Farmer's markets.  If you just shop at regular grocery stores, you forget what real produce is suppose to look like. Just check out these amazing vegetables!

Beets

They had several variety of colors

Cabbage

Just check out the details in the veins of the leaves.  Beautiful!

Radishes

Ma'ono Fried Chicken & Whisky

Ma'ono is formerly known as Spring Hill.  The past few years buzzed place in West Seattle.  Spring Hill has been on my list of places to try forever.  Especially after a book signing by Thomas Keller, where he announced he was going their for dinner after the signing.  I finally made plans to check out the place and find out it was changed to a Hawaiian inspired Fried Chicken & Whisky place.  As a veggie eater, didn't know if I would find anything to eat.  

The good news is that the place is still fabulous!  It has the same owner and chef Mark Fuller.  He was trained from CIA and worked under Tom Douglas.  He is from Hawaii and is reaching toward his roots with this place. I've heard the quality and level of food is the same.

There are a lot of Pork on the menu.  Where they can fit in a pork item they do.  Lot of comforting items but kicked it up a notch.

Bloody Mary with Housemade Pickles and Hamhock

Eggs Benedict

Hangtown Fry

Crispy fried pacific oysters, bacon & roasted pepper scramble, grilled bread

Pascale said this was good but needed more flavor.

The Half Pound Burger

House bacon, hand-crafted american cheese, special sauce, dill pickle, fries.

I had several a la carte items...

Popover with Nutella.

I have to be honest, I think they over heated or scorched the chocolate a bit too much, it wasn't smooth.  I'd rather had cold smooth Nutella than heated with texture.  The Popover was good but it was no Tyler Florence's Popover that you get for free from dining there.

Hashed Browned Potatoes

This was interesting.  It was prepared ahead of time and deep fried I believe.  It wasn't that spectacular, it was okay.  Their homemade ketchup was great though.

Butter Lettuce Salad

Tender herbs, radish, parmesan, citronette

This was good, fresh and punch of acid with the dressing.

I think for a meat eater...it will be paradise.  My guy friends and bro will love this place.  Will I go back? Definitely...but want to try dinner next time.

My Love of...Walrus and Carpenter

I've had a love affair with Walrus and Carpenter and still do.  It's by far my favorite restaurant to date and it's the way I LOVE to eat.  I'm surprised I've not wrote about it yet.  Well, I guess I've not been at a place mentally to write about all my loves last year.  

It started with a happy hour in the winter of 2010, then I started going there at least once a month, taking new and old friends.  Any excuse to go, I was there. They are located in my neighborhood of Ballard, so it really was the place I've revisited the most in 2011.

It's an oyster bar but I've never eaten oysters.  It's all about small plates of food and amazing drinks. It's about sharing with your diners.  What I love about this place is that they really pay attention to the details.  The small details that make the dish.  Food is always consistent, high quality, and delicious!  It's whimsical and has personality.  The wait staff is so nice and attentive, and you can tell they love working there.  

Well, since I've been going there from the beginning, it's been tough to get a table.  You either get there right when they open or put your name in and get a drink at the bike shop.   Then, Frank Bruni of NY Times had to write up this raves about the place. Then, they are named best new restaurants in America by Bon Appetite magazine.  There have been other raves and I wish people would stop.  :)  I want my neighborhood spot back that I can get a table reasonably...

Here are some of the amazing dishes...

Cheese with Pickled Prunes

Cheese & Curried Apricot

Ramps with Fried Egg

Fried Oysters

Smoked Trout
Another favorite that I get every time.  You have to eat it with  all 3 parts, the fish, the pickled onion, the lentil and walnut salad.  It just balances itself.  Yum!

Steak Tartare

Grilled Asparagus

Clam Tartare

Oh my god...and their desserts...amazing!

Sticky Toffee Pudding

The best I've had by far.  I even had this dish in London and W&C version is to dream about!

Panna Cotta with Balsamic Strawberries

The one pic that I don't have and wish I had is the Fried Brussels Sprouts.  It's another favorite but they only have it seasonally. It's like eating French Fries.  It's sooo good.  They have it now...go there my friends!

http://thewalrusbar.com/ 

Odd Fellows Cafe

Odd Fellows Cafe is one of those nice neighborhood spots you can count on for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Food is very rustic and homemade, but in a very urban setting.  In addition, they have a full bar.  It reminds me of a cafe in West Village in NYC but it's in our very own, located in Seattle's Capitol Hill.  Odd Fellows Cafe Website

Here is a pic of the place from their website.

I was introduced to this place by my ex who lived in this neighborhood.  We used to go there to get coffee and pastry, then using their free wifi and work.  I've also been there for brunch with dear friends.  Breakfast and lunch is counter service but dinner is full service.  

Apple Coffee Cake and Bundt Cake

Soy Mocha

Potato Soup

What I love about this place vs. just a coffee or bakery shop is that you can get wonderful pastries but also something savory like a salad, soup, or sandwiches.  Here is one of those work days where I got coffee, a pastry, and soup.  It was a good day to spend time with a dear friend and catch up on work.  I have fond memories...

Sunday at Honore Bakery

What to do on a day anticipating snow?  Go to the nearest bakery...I am lucky that one of my favorite bakery Honore is only about 7 blocks away.  

Went there this morning for some coffee and the line was almost out the door but I waited out and picked up enough pastries for the day. I picked up 2 Gougeres since I've not had any of theirs since before Christmas, a Huckleberry Vanilla Bean Tart, and Cheddar & Green Onion Scone.  

Gougeres
Now that I've made my own, I can say...mine are just as good. :0) Correction from my previous write, their price is 1.50 each...it's their macrons that are 1.90 each.

Huckleberry Vanilla Bean Tart
I love this tart. It's very flakey and creamy pastry cream line the bottom.  The fruit is a nice nice and tart to balance the rich pastry. My favorite is their blueberry.  They change it up with seasonal fruit.

Lastly, one of my staples of savory pastry for breakfast...the scone.  I've always found these to be a little bit too much butter and not as crumbly for a scone, but still wonderful.

Gateau Basque

Sitka and Spruce still impresses me very much!  I've been back there like 4 times now.  I've not seen the my chef crush Matt Dillon this time but had this amazing Gateau Basque with Huckleberries. 

Gateau Basque is an exquisite tart filled with a drier like cake. Sometimes it's filled with fruit but Sitka and Spruce kept it traditional and I believe filled it with pastry cream and baked.

They just know how to make and present food.  This is the kind of food I love to eat!

So lovely, have to show it twice!

The New Sitka & Spruce

Hello Friends!
It's been a long time...my excuse is my day job has taken a lot of my day time and beyond.  
  
There also just has been a lot of activities, traveling, spending time with my good friends, family, and helping my dear friend Hamed and Pascale with their upcoming restaurant.

I've done a lot of food...but just haven't spared the time to connect here.  It's a wonderful reminder when your friends ask about it and then you realize that more folks are paying attention than you thought.  Even a co worker friend from Paris said he followed...that's amazing!

I thought I start with a special treat I had this morning.  An unplanned brunch out to Sitka and Spruce.  What a treat! I went there for dinner last month because my sis has been raving about it and how true it was.  The Melrose building is gorgeous and they have built a great place of food there.  The building houses a flower/gift shop, cheese shop, butcher shop, wine bar, and more lovely places of food related goodies.  Next door to the Melrose building is a fish store ( 1 door down ).  It reminds me of neighborhoods in NYC or old days where you had to go to the multiple specialized places to get all your groceries.  

The heart of building is of course Sitka & Spruce.  I loved the place when it was in Eastlake neighborhood, but clearly it's blossomed to it's full personality at this new location.  The first time I went for dinner (where I was too embarrassed to take picture because we were at the communal table where the chef/owner (my crush the last 3 years) was at the head and I was too nervous.  

This time for brunch, I had no shame and here are the food. All plates were served to share.

Sweet Buttermilk Scones with Housemade Butter and Jam

Pacific Farmstead Cheese with Cherries and Honey

Housemade Yogurt with Warm Dates, Strawberries, Pomegranate Molasses, and Flowers




Salmon lox with Slivered Turnip, Orange Peel, and Honey

Ful Medames with a Six Minute Egg

Emmer Crepes with Rhubarb, Nonna Capra, Hazelnut

The only complaint I have was that there was no potato item on the menu.  It's not breakfast without spuds.  When I asked about it, they had a point...it's not in season right now.  They may get purple potato in a few weeks.  How can you get upset about that? It makes sense.  Most of their ingredients are from Washington...total localvore.