We were in the market for whatever looked good to eat. We were on the way to the Ballard Locks and looking for just a little something fresh and fruity to sustain us. As was our wont, we bought more than our stomachs could stomach at once. more ›

A quick and simple way to add complexity of flavor to your cooking is to always start with a few humble ingredients: sharp onions, firm carrots, and crisp celery. Peel the onions and carrots, being careful not to trim away too much. Rinse them under cold water and pat dry. more ›

• Monica Guzman over at the P-I's Big Blog published an un-cut transcript of the story Denise Gloster told her about why she chose to get involved with her community in the Rainier Valley. The story is powerful and heart-wrenching, well worth your ten minutes to read it closely.
• Whoa, since when do elementary schools in Seattle auction off fancy Palm Springs condos and offer pine-nut crusted salmon as part of their fund-raising dinner menu? West Seattle Blog says Schmitz Park Elementary is doing just that to net money for the school's core programs.
• Shauna, the Seattle-based new mother and food writer over at Gluten Free Girl, has crafted a sensible list of must-have pantry items in response to Mark Bittman's controversial compilation on the same topic. Beans, onions, vinegar--sounds just like our pantry!

We are dedicated to finding the perfect hot lunch in Georgetown. Top contenders thus far have been Smarty Pants' Troublemaker sandwich, a drippy cheesy mess stuffed with ungodly amounts of spicy chicken and bacon; the gouda fennel polenta at Georgetown Liquor Company, fried crisp and topped with a scrumptiously zingy and sweet apple balsamic reduction; and the perfectly crunchy, well-seasoned chicken salad sandwich at Georgetown Truck Stop, until that hut of heaven closed in fall of 2008. There's a new guy in town, though. The sourdough bacon burger at recently-opened Burger Madness, on 4th Avenue South (just north of Costco), just edged its way into our all-time favorite four hot lunches in SoDo/Georgetown. more ›