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Tonight I checked out Tidbit Bistro with Lauren, Gio and John. Tidbit is on the very north end of Broadway in a space formerly occupied by Cassis and then XO Bistro. Gio and I used to frequent Cassis, and though I only dined at XO Bistro once I did enjoy the meal. Unfortunately, it closed before I got around to uploading my photos/posting a write up.

The interior space hasn’t changed, which is a good thing. It’s a small setting, but fun lighting and intimate tables. Our server was very nice, friendly, and attentive.  He also made a good wine recommendation, a reasonably priced Grüner Veltliner that as a bonus arrived in a 1L bottle! Unfortunately the food was on the whole unremarkable :( 

Given the tapas-heavy menu with four people, I was able to sample a broad array of plates. The best items we had were the Crespelle (crepes filled with mushrooms and a mix of melted mozzarella, goat cheese, blue cheese, and béchamel) and the Potato Crocché (fried whipped potato-filled "poppers").

The Crostino con Prosciutto and Papas Dulces (sweet potato fries) were decent. Next time I would pass on the paella, the sauteed prawns, and the albondigas (lamb meatballs).

Overall Tidbit is a fine place to stop for a glass of wine or to sample one of their many *cellos, but I wouldn’t arrive hungry.

Tidbit Bistro
2359 10th Ave E
Seattle, WA 98102
206-323-0840

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When it comes to Thai food, we are very fortunate: less than 2 blocks from our condo is arguably the best Thai food in Seattle. Yes, I’ve done a tournament for Thai Tom, and I enjoy Thai Tom and all of their unique flavors.  But if I was given a choice and forced to eat at only one Thai restaurant for a year, I would choose Jamjuree. They have a broad variety of fantastic dishes, very friendly service, rotating specials, and (as a bonus) a selection of local microbrews on tap. They can also handle large parties, such as my extended family descending upon Seattle or a hungry crew for Yom Kippur break-fast.

It’s really shocking that I haven’t written about Jamjuree yet. Lauren and I eat at (or take out from) there a few times per month. After a vacation, it’s almost a given that I’ll return with a huge Jamjuree craving (perhaps coming back from Thailand will be an exception there :)).

Tonight we remembered to bring the camera and enjoyed a few favorites.  On the spice level, I order everything here at "3 stars".  In addition, we request the "spices" (a trio of Thai flavors) on the side for selective added flavor. First up, we always order their amazing Pad See Iw.  I have a soft spot for wide rice noodles, and Jamjuree’s rendition of Pad See Iw is the best I’ve ever had.

Dish#2: Panang Curry. A little creamy from the coconut milk with a peanuty overtone (though I’ve been assured there aren’t actually any peanuts in the curry).

Dish #3: In honor of the write-up, we ordered a third item for dinner – "Green Bean" with tofu. It’s a nice contrast to the curries, and has more of a soy-pepper base. Lots of sauce, but the green beans remained nice and crunchy.

Other recurring favorites include "Basil", Cashew Chicken, and Lime Light Chicken.

Overall, another highly satisfying meal at Jamjuree. And the leftovers will make for a great snack tomorrow!

Jamjuree
509 15th Ave. E. (between Republican and Mercer)
Seattle, WA 98112
206-323-4255

Sun-Thurs: 11:30AM-9:30PM (Lunch & Dinner)
Fri-Sat: 11:30AM-10:00PM (Lunch & Dinner)

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I had my first Specialty’s experience downtown with my buddy Mark. I was on jury duty and the weekday lunch rush was controlled mayhem in action. I don’t recall the sandwich I ordered that day, though I will never forget the Wheatgerm Chocolate Chip cookie. I wouldn’t have ever chosen it from the description, but at Mark’s recommendation I gave it a shot, and wow! It’s very possible that they have crack in them. They really will make your day brighter.

Specialty’s makes all of their own cookies (and bread and other baked goods) on site. They sell soups, salads, and sandwiches.  The salads and sandwiches are made fresh to order.

Lauren and I were at Bell Square tonight after work, so we stopped off at the Specialty’s branch there for dinner.  While I’ve gone through a number of their sandwiches, I always come back to "The Chairman", a stacked sandwich with (deep breath now):

Alfalfa Sprouts, Herb, Mayonnaise, Stone Ground Mustard, Roasted Turkey Breast, Swiss, Green Leaf Lettuce, Tomato, Red Onion, Cucumber, Dill Pickle, Avocado, Italian Vinaigrette, Ranch Dressing, Black Pepper.

All served on herbed bread with a soft middle and a crisp crust.

If you have a hankering for a good sandwich (or cookie) and are near a Specialty’s, you should definitely check it out!

Specialty’s Cafe and Bakery
Multiple Locations

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

P.S. I’ve been lobbying the Microsoft powers that be for a Specialty’s stand at one of our cafeterias. Unfortunately that process is stalled since they aren’t considered a "local" business (nevermind that 40% of their locations are in Seattle). Perhaps this will get corrected if they here from more Specialty’s fans 🙂

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Just over a year ago, a new restaurant/coffee-shop opened on the north side of Capitol Hill, in the location of the former Café Europa. It wasn’t until early summer that I made my first stop at Volunteer Park Café. It was to be the first of many tasty visits.

Fast forward to October 10th. Lauren and I attempted to have dinner at Lark, but were greeted with an hour wait.  So we decided to check out how VPC handles dinner.  I still remember the Fig and Gorgonzola Pizza we had that night. We returned last night and the waits were running over an hour. Fortunately we had called ahead for a table, as it seems reservations are a must over the weekend (the weeknights we’ve been there have been much more sedate). VPC rotates their menu weekly, though it always includes a daily bruschetta that is worth checking out. Last night’s variation was a garlic spread with butternut squash, red peppers, kale and a little pecorino cheese. On top of freshly grilled bread of course. A hearty and tasty beginning!

Next was a mixed beet salad (with all local vegetables), with chevre, arugula, and a light vinaigrette. The chevre was fantastic, and a little bit of salt in the dressing brought together all the flavors perfectly.

Another regular appearance on VPC’s dinner menu is their selection of pizzas. We’d already had the "Roasted Mushroom" (with truffle oil) and the "Bianco", both of which were fantastic (though not quite as good as the heavenly Fig and Gorgonzola). Last night we branched out and tried the Spinach Pesto, with oven roasted tomatoes, red onion, feta, and oregano. The pizza was decent, but not in the same league as the rest of the pizzas I’ve had there. Maybe it was the pesto base, maybe it was the thickness of the crust, or maybe it was the greater number of toppings or the higher than usual ratio of bread to toppings. Whatever the reason, I’d pass on the Spinach Pesto pizza in the future, especially given the solid alternatives.

On weekends Volunteer Park Café offers both breakfast and lunch options well into the afternoon, and in the summer they have (slightly rickety) tables flanking the sidewalk in front of the café.  For those with a sweet tooth, definitely try the Caramelized Banana Brioche French Toast. It’s heavenly.  Other breakfast highlights include the Brie and Apple Panini (on croissant, not baguette) and the quiche of the day.  A running theme is that the pastries are sinful, but oh so flaky and buttery.  Orders take a long time to complete, so make sure you’re not ravenously hungry when you arrive (or if so, grab yourself a scone or croissant while you wait).

For lunch, the Herb Roasted Mushroom Panini is my current favorite.

Though I also frequently order the Chicken Salad Sandwich.

Overall, Volunteer Park Café is a relaxed, enjoyable, friendly place that consistently turns out great food for all meals. Add a reasonably priced wine list (which seems to be rarer and rarer these days) and super-friendly staff and it’s no surprise that the lines can be out the door!

Volunteer Park Café
1501 17th Ave E
Seattle, Washington 98112
206-328-3155

Tues-Fri 7:00AM-4:30PM (Breakfast, Lunch)
Sat-Sun 8:00AM-4:30PM (Breakfast, Lunch)
Tues-Sat 5:30PM-9:00PM (Dinner)

In our quest to go through the myriad of squash that we’ve gotten from Pioneer Organics, tonight’s experiment was butternut squash risotto (base risotto with shitakes, cream, and butternut squash). And we doubled down on new recipes; tonight we also tried the George’s Bank scallops (frozen) from Trader Joe’s.

Verdict: The risotto was fantastic. The scallops had a good texture but tasted a tad fishy. They did look nice though 🙂

Some co-workers of mine from the old Indigo days are now working in downtown Seattle at Payscale. I just found out that they are keeping a blog of restaurant reviews for all the lunch spots in the I-district. They are taking a very methodical approach to this task. It’s quite an entertaining read, and may provide some inspiration the next time you’re in Chinatown!

A few years ago, I stocked up on vegetarian friendly foods as a hospitality nod to a few good friends. One of the items I picked up was Gardenburger’s “Meatless Riblets“. What can I say, I was intrigued. Lauren opened the freezer, took one look at them and said “no vegetarian is ever going to eat these, they are too meat-like.” Over time the riblets got buried in the freezer, to be rediscovered about 2 years later (in December). When I found them I wondered aloud how they would taste. Lauren continued her skepticism and claimed that there was no way she would ever come near the meatless riblets.

Well at long last the moment of truth arrived. Back from the gym tonight I was famished. We’re a little low on food after the recent vacation, and I spied the riblets in our freezer. I knew what my evening snack would be, and my wife could forage for an alternative if she wasn’t interested. I opened the box and inside were two vacuum sealed frozen burgundy blocks.  Opting for the grilling instructions, they went onto the grill pan (hey, it gets cold out here in January) for the requisite 4 minutes per side. To add to the evening’s humor I recited some anecdotes from the back of the box around the virtues of vegarian food, vegetarian ribs (no one ever chokes on a bone), and Gardenburger in general (which is a pretty self-effacing company).

About 2 minutes in, Lauren started to change her tune: “uhm, those smell pretty good.” By the time they were ready, her resolve was completely broken. I managed two bites before having to offer up a taste, at which point a second fork came out of the drawer. The funny thing is they really did taste an awful lot like the BBQ ribs I had while growing up, but without the bones or extra grease! When the riblets were gone (including a full sweep of any remaining sauce), my wife joked: “who knew that meatless riblets would be the first step in converting me back to eating beef.” After years of teasing over this tiny box, I was finally redeemed.

P.S. As a testament to how long this item had lingered in my freezer, Gardenburger has not only new packaging, but also a new name for the product: “BBQ Riblets“

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When Lauren‘s Mom moved to West LA, I was introduced to a little ice cream shop near UCLA.  They advertise snow cones, cookies, and ice cream on the menu.  But what has made Diddy Riese famous was their $1 ice cream sandwiches: two freshly baked cookies with a scoop of ice cream sandwiched beteen them. 

It’s a simple formula really, but their execution is flawless. Even after their price increase to $1.50 they’re still a bargain (the price increase was accompanied by a very apologetic note that explained the economics of the dairy industry and how a new contract requires some costs to be regrettably be passed along to the customer). You can choose two different cookies for the top and bottom if you’d like and choose from an assortment of Dreyer’s flavors.

After my first hit I was hooked, and since then Diddy Riese has become a necessary stop anytime I visit LA (its one block proximity to an In and Out makes for a tasty fast-food combo visit). 

The “classic sandwich” is oatmeal raisin cookies with vanilla ice cream. Today I had chocolate chip cookies with strawberry ice cream. Soft, fresh from the oven cookies. Ice cream soft enough for a sandwich but cold enough to avoid a quick melt.  There are few better things I can imagine on a sunny LA afternoon.

Diddy Riese
926 Broxton Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 208-0448

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Thanksgiving. Day of cranberry salsa and closed restaurants. We had the bright idea to get In and Out for lunch today. Fortunately we remembered to call on our way to see if they were open. No dice. So we drove around briefly near Helene’s place and found that Junior’s Deli is open on Thanksgiving until 5PM.

I first went to Junior’s on New Year’s Day after a nasty bout with the stomach flu (it was the first solid food I had in 3 days). So while any memories there are suspect, I had a positive recollection of the food. When you first walk into Junior’s you are greeted by a large display case of pastries, including a few kinds of tasty rugelach. Further inside is a fairly standard diner setup, with a NY deli-inspired menu.

Given the large Thanksgiving dinner awaiting us tonight, Shawn, Lauren and I shared a tuna melt and some cheese blintzes.

The tuna melt was grilled on fresh Jewish rye bread, stuffed with freshly mixed albacore tuna salad and the obligatory melted chedder. All in all a very solid tuna melt. We ordered “mini potato pancakes” in place of fries. I was expecting smaller versions of the classic latkes; flat and shredded potato based. Instead we were treated to an entirely new dish — asteroid-shaped potato puffs that were briefly deep fried. Crispy on the outside and a little mushy on the inside they were closer to hush puppies than potato pancakes, but thoroughly enjoyable.

Since we’d likely have our fill of turkey this evening, we opted for a set of cheese blintzes instead of a turkey sandwich. Original plan was to order a mix of cheese and blueberry blintzes, but they were out of blueberry. So we got a trio of cheese blintzes. They were fairly large, stuffed with a sweet ricotta filling, and seared on the outside shell. The blintz sheet was soft (outside of the crispy top searings), and the filling was sweet while remaining on the savory side of the palette.  Personally I would have blintz overload after one of them, so it was fortunate that we were sharing 🙂

Overall Junior’s provided a relaxed, tasty lunch and I’ll be happy to return for more deli and ruggies next time we’re in Westwood.

Junior’s
2379 Westwood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 475-5771