July 31, 2012

neba neba

Really terrific soba by Kamonegi, a new pop-up soba operation in Seattle. Dense, chewy, toothsome noodles. Served with cucumber, grated Japanese mountain yam, pickled daikon and a runny, soft-boiled egg. All of LaV's favorite things.

Kamonegi also has a soba blog. That's pretty awesome.

July 30, 2012

goi cuon

Lav's fresh spring rolls. A great way to kick off the week.

July 29, 2012

a modern take on albacore

albacore coated with charred onion ash, paired with multiple textures of radish and seaweed. Castagna, Portland.

July 27, 2012

July 25, 2012

Late supper

After a terrific free performance put on by the Seattle Chamber Music Society at Volunteer Park, we found ourselves enjoying a late supper with the fine folks at Artusi. Tripe and pork meatballs with a veal ragu. Meat+meat... Total insanity. Wonderful, wonderful insanity.

July 24, 2012

shrimp shack

Among the things that are quintessentially Northwest, there's a special place for Sweet D's Shrimp Shack. Run by the super-friendly husband and wife duo of Dieter and Laurel, this is a must stop if you're near Deception Pass on Highway 20.

A 5-lb bag of sweet coonstripes and an order of fresh wild cod and chips and you're set! Picnic tables, a live bluegrass band, and some amazing Skagit Valley strawberries for dessert complete the picture. Now if they could just serve beer and wine...

July 23, 2012

kouign amann

My favorite thing at Neil Robertson's tiny bakery, Crumble & Flake. Roughly translated to "butter bread", this treat is composed of thin layers of bread dough coated with butter and sugar. A Breton cake first invented in 1865 in the village of Douarnenez, Robertson's version elevates and refines this typically simply treat with atypical touches of detail--not the least of which is the deeply ambered paper-thin outer sugar layer, adding a beautiful burnt caramel note to the crispy-chewy buttery goodness.

Here's an interesting profile on C&F in the Economist.

July 19, 2012

Dessert?

Just another amazing night of sushi at Miyabi. It felt like everything was even better than their usual awesomeness. Albacore, toro, saba, iwashi (wow), mirugai, amaebi, uni, sockeye, and sawara. Perfect texture, perfect temperature... Totally hit it out of the park.

Fried shrimp heads from the amaebi--a great way to cap off the meal.

July 16, 2012

Fish tacos

One of LaV's new specialties, tonight's crispy fish tacos were the best she's made to date. Fresh sole fried with a panko crust... Add some sweet mango, corn and avocado salsa. Amazing.

July 15, 2012

Cheeseburger

Because some days are just made for a juicy burger and a glass of wine.

July 14, 2012

Oysters over the campfire

A first attempt at recreating the terrific grilled oysters from last weekend at Hog Island Oyster Co. in Tomales Bay.

Fresh pacific oysters from Claude's Live Crab Shack in Bremerton. Garlic, butter, lemon juice, parsley. Super hot coals courtesy of Belinda's mad campfire skills, Illahee State Park.

July 12, 2012

Prosciutto-wrapped opah

Getting home late on a weeknight, needing something quick and satisfying. Fresh opah filets from the market, wrapped in prosciutto, 3 minutes per side on a hot grill. With a salad of grilled peaches, corn, avocado and purslane.

July 9, 2012

油条 (yóutiáo)

The last three posts have all all been about grilling (yes, summer has arrived), so let's go a different direction for a moment, to the land of fried goodness.

On our quick trip back to the Bay Area for our niece's first birthday party, we had a chance to indulge in an old weekend tradition from by youth: yóutiáo (Chinese doughnuts) fresh from the fryer. The best yóutiáo are lightly crunchy on the outside, with soft, slightly elastic and airy interiors. When you get great yóutiáo, it's a magnificent combination of textures without feeling excessively greasy. Much like croissants, average-to-bad yóutiáo are abundant, but the best versions are elusive.

You can have them with rice porridge, but my favorite way to enjoy these golden batons of nutritional void is with a steaming bowl of sweetened soy milk. No wonder I was a big kid...



July 8, 2012

Oysters off the grill

It's hard to beat spending a sunny afternoon at Tomales Bay, downing some freshly shucked Sweetwater oysters at Hog Island. Add in some addictive barbequed oysters with a chipotle garlic butter for bonus bliss. Good times.

July 5, 2012

Grilled corn salad

Blistered and caramelized kernels off of a hot grill. Tossed with feta, mint, lime juice and zest. Supremely simple, bright and refreshing on a beautiful summer day.

July 1, 2012

Summer grilling

While the rest of the country is enveloped in a heat wave, we're struggling to break 70 degrees. But we'll take it! Summer in Seattle always officially begins July 5th, and this year will be no different, with a bit rain expected the next two days. No matter, we took to some serious grilling this weekend, including this monumental, beautiful double cut bone-in pork chop from Tails & Trotters. Brined with  cinnamon and star anise. Juicy, fatty and rich... a decadent meal for two.