Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Belltown Pizza
Back in the day, when we lived in Seattle briefly in 2001-2002, we lived in Belltown. Belltown Pizza was our favorite. We often partook of delicious salads, and what we like to call The Don Special, which is simply sausage, black olive, and onion pizza.
We really miss the view of Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains (we could also see the Space Needle) from our cute little studio apartment balcony:
But back to the pizza. Once Michael had strayed from the pizza and ordered the Roma sandwich, with prosciutto, Roma tomato, black olive, melted provolone, and pesto. It was a sandwich on par with Honey Hole stuff.
Last week AJ and I ended up here and I waffled (mmm, waffles) between ordering this sandwich and ordering a little pizza. Ultimately, I chose the pizza. The one I chose isn't on their online menu. I think it was called The Derby? It had goat cheese, olive oil base, basil, proscuitto, and fresh tomato. It was delicious. I ordered the small (9 inch) and had two pieces to take home. Michael and I had a delicious snack when I got home!
AJ had the Roast Veggie Chop salad with romaine, chicken, roasted red and green peppers, zukes, summer squash, and mushrooms topped with balsamic vinaigrette. It was bigger than she was, and there were lots of leftovers for her to take home.
Love this place. I just wish they'd take out the tvs.
We really miss the view of Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains (we could also see the Space Needle) from our cute little studio apartment balcony:
But back to the pizza. Once Michael had strayed from the pizza and ordered the Roma sandwich, with prosciutto, Roma tomato, black olive, melted provolone, and pesto. It was a sandwich on par with Honey Hole stuff.
Last week AJ and I ended up here and I waffled (mmm, waffles) between ordering this sandwich and ordering a little pizza. Ultimately, I chose the pizza. The one I chose isn't on their online menu. I think it was called The Derby? It had goat cheese, olive oil base, basil, proscuitto, and fresh tomato. It was delicious. I ordered the small (9 inch) and had two pieces to take home. Michael and I had a delicious snack when I got home!
AJ had the Roast Veggie Chop salad with romaine, chicken, roasted red and green peppers, zukes, summer squash, and mushrooms topped with balsamic vinaigrette. It was bigger than she was, and there were lots of leftovers for her to take home.
Love this place. I just wish they'd take out the tvs.
Smooth-E
Smooth-E should be Emilie's rapping name, but in the mean time, Michael whipped up a wicked delicious Smoothie beverage for us today, following a lovely, sunshiney run around Green Lake.
Michael's Post-Running Smoothie
heaping 1/4 cup frozen blueberries
heaping 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup hemp milk
1 small can pineapple juice
Add skim milk until it tops off in your blender at 4 cups total. Blend until smoooooooth. Makes two generous portions of purplicious smoothie.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
West Five & Beveridge
On a rainy evening we drove all the fricken fracken way out to West Seattle to the West 5.
I had heard many a tale of the mac n cheese, so I promptly ordered that with a fine, if forgettable, salad. It was piping hot. Some might say too hot. But I heartily approve of its cheddary creaminess. So creamy in fact, that I wonder if one of their "five cheeses" is of the "fake" variety. Hmm. I also approve of their macaroni--what are those wonderful little clumpy pineconey shapes called? And a breadcrumb crust is always appreciated. My ultimate conclusion is that it is quite good but not The Best. The quest continues.
Michael's steak sandwhich turned out to be a philly cheesesteak style. I don't think it's what he was expecting.
I'd love to return for some cocktails. I wasn't in a cocktail mood at the time, but their retro-bordering-on-divey decor feels like just the place for a riduculously fussy tropical cocktail.
Next stop was Beveridge Place Pub which we had heard spoken very highly of. Do they just serve beer and wine? Seemed like it. Also seemed like they couldn't decide if they were trying to be a sports bar, a beer hall in Munich (FAIL), or Central Perk coffee house from Friends. The best part of my evening was Michael buying me a hot dog from the weiner guy outside Beveridge, just before he called it a night due to rain and a broken umbrella.
Neither of these places are worth the drive.
I had heard many a tale of the mac n cheese, so I promptly ordered that with a fine, if forgettable, salad. It was piping hot. Some might say too hot. But I heartily approve of its cheddary creaminess. So creamy in fact, that I wonder if one of their "five cheeses" is of the "fake" variety. Hmm. I also approve of their macaroni--what are those wonderful little clumpy pineconey shapes called? And a breadcrumb crust is always appreciated. My ultimate conclusion is that it is quite good but not The Best. The quest continues.
Michael's steak sandwhich turned out to be a philly cheesesteak style. I don't think it's what he was expecting.
I'd love to return for some cocktails. I wasn't in a cocktail mood at the time, but their retro-bordering-on-divey decor feels like just the place for a riduculously fussy tropical cocktail.
Next stop was Beveridge Place Pub which we had heard spoken very highly of. Do they just serve beer and wine? Seemed like it. Also seemed like they couldn't decide if they were trying to be a sports bar, a beer hall in Munich (FAIL), or Central Perk coffee house from Friends. The best part of my evening was Michael buying me a hot dog from the weiner guy outside Beveridge, just before he called it a night due to rain and a broken umbrella.
Neither of these places are worth the drive.
Best Shortbread of my LIFE
I wish I had taken a picture of the beautiful pink heart-shaped cookie, drizzled with white glaze and red glittery sprinkles. But I didn't. I ate it for breakfast. And it was the perfect combination of flakey melt-in-your-mouth texture, with sweetness and a little almond crunch. Good job, Paynie! You are an awesome Valentine, friend!
I tried to make some of my own for St. Paddy's Day but things went awry. First, after Michael went to all the trouble of going to the store to get me almond extract, I forgot to have him pick up the fricken fracken almonds. Bah. I baked the cookies anyway. They weren't almondy enough, but whatever. Then I tried to melt the white chocolate drizzle in the microwave, per the instructions, and it dried out and clumped. There would be no drizzling. What did I do wrong?
In the end I had a batch of plain, unadorned shortbread, and not the deliciousness that HP had produced. Oh well. I'll try again next holiday.
I tried to make some of my own for St. Paddy's Day but things went awry. First, after Michael went to all the trouble of going to the store to get me almond extract, I forgot to have him pick up the fricken fracken almonds. Bah. I baked the cookies anyway. They weren't almondy enough, but whatever. Then I tried to melt the white chocolate drizzle in the microwave, per the instructions, and it dried out and clumped. There would be no drizzling. What did I do wrong?
In the end I had a batch of plain, unadorned shortbread, and not the deliciousness that HP had produced. Oh well. I'll try again next holiday.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Now You Can Enjoy El Guapos At Home
El Guapo
Calamity Jane's
This place seems homey. Maybe it is the cute, not-crowded, quiet diningroom. Maybe it is the cute little bar. Maybe it is the warm and helpful service. Maybe it's the awesome name, Calamity Jane's. Probably it was the rich and delicious comfort food.
I had the Wednesday night dinner special: two giant slabs of the tenderest meatloaf I've ever had, with whole cloves of roasted garlic mixed right in. Mashed cauliflower that was creamy and smooth, and drenched in yummy gravy. Buttery brussels sprouts.
Oh, and All Wine All the Time with birthday girl AJ. But the beer drinkers at our table also seemed happy, and the special cocktails sparked my interest.
Michael thoroughly enjoyed his sandwich of corned beef with with cabbage, caramelized onions and chutney on rye. He says the onions/chutney added an excellent sweetness. Jeff ordered a plate of Johnny Cakes for the table, and we all agreed they were delicious with the pomegranate syrup. And I hear that the pulled pork in the sliders was zesty and delicious.
The next-day meatloaf sandwiches we made with my leftovers were delightful. I think I'd like to go back for more. Maybe to brunch. Who's with me?
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Smith
Smith has good beer, good wine, good cocktails, good food.
On a recent visit Michael had a cuban pork sandwich that was grilled flat and delicious, with some sort of hot/sweet pepper relish. The homemade potato chips were thin and crispy and delicious. The rest of our table ordered cauliflower mac n cheese which was creamy with a yummy crust on top. Loved the big elbow macaronis.
The basic green salad was nice and fresh, with a very lovely vinaigrette. The brussels sprouts were pefect--tender and bright green, with a fresh flavor and a lovely smattering of thick bacon chunks. Hmm, that bacon would have been good on the slightly bland mac n cheese.In past visits we have had good fries and burgers.
Last summer they made a ridiculously good salad with grilled peaches, balsamic yumminess, and little dabs of very fresh ricotta.
The taxidermy and musty books decor is fun, I guess. They have a juke box with lots of indie rock and motown, which is always a good thing. I would say I'm a fan of this place.
On a recent visit Michael had a cuban pork sandwich that was grilled flat and delicious, with some sort of hot/sweet pepper relish. The homemade potato chips were thin and crispy and delicious. The rest of our table ordered cauliflower mac n cheese which was creamy with a yummy crust on top. Loved the big elbow macaronis.
The basic green salad was nice and fresh, with a very lovely vinaigrette. The brussels sprouts were pefect--tender and bright green, with a fresh flavor and a lovely smattering of thick bacon chunks. Hmm, that bacon would have been good on the slightly bland mac n cheese.In past visits we have had good fries and burgers.
Last summer they made a ridiculously good salad with grilled peaches, balsamic yumminess, and little dabs of very fresh ricotta.
The taxidermy and musty books decor is fun, I guess. They have a juke box with lots of indie rock and motown, which is always a good thing. I would say I'm a fan of this place.
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