Food: August 2009 Archives

Special to Seattlest by Paul Orch, craft beer advocate and writer

Wednesday marked the second episode from this season of Top Chef. There's still too many cooks, not enough personalities, but we're busy keeping our eyes peeled for any reality tv drama related to local cheftestants Ashley Merriman (of Branzino) and Robin Leventhal (chef-owner of Crave).

Thankfully on Monday we had an opportunity to purge our system at Latona Pub. They were the tapping the Fremont Brewing Company’s Universale Pale. It felt great to support a local brewery and the event got us excited about our hop harvest. We’re hoping we have enough homegrown hops and coriander to brew a witbier. Growing hops has been a relatively easy process. If you’re interested in having your own hops next year ask your local homebrew supply store about rhizome availability for planting in spring.

Spur, Belltown (Sun-Thurs 5-7 p.m. / 11:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.) An unassuming looking place that has been nationally recognized for their creative and schizophrenic food menu, inspired by local farmers, butchers, and fisherman. From $3.50 for craft beer to their late night (11:30-1:30) $5 Rainier bottles with an order of shoestring fries, you can't go wrong with this hole-in-the-wall off Blanchard.

We were standing at the corner of 15th and East Pine the other night when we sniffed barbecue. We remembered suddenly that CHS had mentioned something about Gert's BBQ moving into the neighborhood--and there they were, in the parking lot across from Anchovies & Olives.

The fifth season of Top Chef kicked off on Bravo last night, and we're excited to see what the two cheftestants from Seattle can do in Las Vegas over the next few months. As always, the first episode (and the next few thereafter) have far too many characters to keep track of, but we were watching for local ladies Ashley Merriman (of Branzino) and Robin Leventhal (chef-owner of our dearly departed Crave).

Fortunately, for those intending to put an apple-cinnamon dish on the fall menu, the Washington apple harvest begins in mid-August. Don’t confine apple-cinnamon pairings to dessert menus, though. One savory pairing that works well is apples, cinnamon, and foie gras. Unfortunately, just as the apple has historically symbolized sin, foie gras carries a stigma amongst a certain Seattle group.

The Tillamook County Creamery Association 100th Anniversary Celebration at the Woodland Park Zoo.

Pillager's Pub, Greenwood (Tuesday, 50-percent-off "house" growler fills; Mon-Sun, $1 off pints) Stagger in from 87th & Greenwood to taste Baron & Three Skulls beers paired side by side with a few guest faves. The draft list is managed by former Duck Island'er Jeremiah Harrison and features--on top of beers and cider--authentic mead. Pull up a battered stool, chew up a $1 pretzel, or play a game of pool--just watch your arse, sharks abound.

The Seattle Times' recent report on mobile slaughterhouses in Puget Sound promoted farmers and chefs in the region but made no mention of the butchers. The butchers have all the guts but none of the glory. Farmers are admired for the compassion and care they give to their animals, while chefs are celebrated for their ability to transform these animals into spectacular meals.

Phillies fans may be celebrating the return of Pedro Martinez, but we're celebrating the rise of Pedro Ximénez. Also known as PX, Pedro Ximénez is the name of a Spanish white grape, as well as an intensely sweet and dark dessert sherry.

Our good friends at the Bottleneck sent out an email this morning to let everybody know that they'll be closed this Sunday and Monday for renovation: "The lounge is expanding and we need a couple of days to take down a wall and regroup. We will re-open at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18th. Can we build it? Yes we can!!" The remodel is just in time for the bar's viewing party for the first episode of the new season of Top Chef, featuring two Seattle competitors, Robin Leventhal (formerly of Crave) and Ashley Merriman of Branzino.

But with consumption of E. coli-tainted meat on the rise, we’re wary of eating anything other than a well-done burger. Seattle attorney Bill Marler recently stated in his blog that the meat industry and the USDA have a habit of blaming the consumer for eating tainted meat. So if one falls victim to a contaminated burger, it’s because he or she didn’t take the proper precautions. There are warnings printed at the bottom of many menus indicating the dangers of consuming undercooked meat. However, as is pointed out in Marler’s blog, cooking meat to a proper temperature doesn’t necessarily ensure one’s safety.

Cooper's Alehouse, Maple Leaf (Monday-Friday, 3 to 6 p.m.) $1 off pints and $2 dollar off all menu items combined with the bottomless bin of pretzels helps anyone regain their balance. Recognized in CAMRA's guide to good beer--there is no better endorsement than an alehouse mentioned by beer experts.

Is the Emerald City turning into Kansas? Drought in Seattle has produced some strange phenomena, including this cornstalk growing out of a gutter in Montlake.

There is good eating to be found near the station, even if you have to dodge a few cars to find it. Thai Recipe is located in the same strip mall as Domino’s on McClellan, and it is the only Thai restaurant we know of that even borders on North Beacon Hill. The very friendly staff serves good, reliable, and tasty Thai food, available for take out or to eat in the small dining room.

Belltown has a respectable ratio of good-looking people to not-so-much. That doesn't mean they are good people, just well maintained. As it's the city's preeminent non-Pioneer Square meat market, we thought we'd examine two of the more prominent neighborhood institutions to determine which locale is best suited for all-purpose hook-ups.

Knowing nothing else about the film Julie & Julia, aside from the fact that the screenplay is by the same person that wrote When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and You’ve Got Mail, you could safely assume it’s a chick flick.

Vendr.tv specializes in "curbside cuisine," so while they were in town recently they popped by Neapolitan-style cart pizzeria Veraci Pizza. "There's sausage and there's pepperoni." But you Yelpers already knew that Veraci has it goin' on.

After stocking up on our greens for the week (and falling prey to the hunger that often accompanies grocery shopping), we scouted out a stand with the steadiest stream of customers, in this case Patty Pan Grill. Since closing the doors to their brick and mortar locale earlier this year, the owners have been focusing on the captive audience found at farmer's markets and the formula seems to be working.

Beveridge Place Pub, West Seattle ("Micro" Mondays 3 p.m. to close). Known for their willingness to accommodate man's other best friend, look to this alehouse with over 22 handles as a nice respite from the heat outside for you and your dog. Look out for $3 Red Dot pints and $12 pitchers.

The Evergreen State College takes great pride in the geoduck. The school has so much admiration for the animal that they made it their mascot and the school's motto, Omnia Extares, (Latin for "let it all hang out") is at least partially intended as a reference to the creature's phallic appearance. Even the school’s alma mater sings the geoduck’s praises.