Monday, November 30, 2009
Bellevue's Pearl Celebrates its First Anniversary Tomorrow Night
Bradley and Mikel are also looking to share their good fortune as they are partnering with the Eastside Domestic Violence Program (EDVP) for the evening and are asking party goers to bring in toys for the many children in EDVP’s homeless shelters and programs.
There is no better way to celebrate one of Bellevue's best new restaurants then by picking up a couple of toys for the kids, and a half-priced Pomegranate Noir cocktail for yourself.
Congratulations on a great first year! Here's to many more!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Bellevue Food News Roundup
How do you feel about bikini baristas? While they have typically been on the outskirts of town in Shoreline, Everett, Mill Creek, Bothell the latest drive-thru featuring scantily clad servers called Knotty Bodies opened recently at the intersection of Northeast Eighth Street and 164th Avenue Northeast in the Crossroads/ Lake Hill area of suburban Bellevue. The Seattle PI reports that the Bellevue City Council has echoed the sentiment of angry residents and has shut down the drive-through at the espresso stand, although walk-ups are still allowed. What do you think? Do you think its okay for people to get a little skin while they wait for their caramel soy machiatto?
And on a less controversial note, the Seattle Magazine blog shares what looks to be a delicious recipe for Monsoon East's Pork Belly. This would be great for one of our chilly, rainy days while you are home doing chores around the house or perhaps watching some football and have the time for a long 2 hour braise.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Got Turkey on My Mind: Thanksgiving Links
At Eastside Eats, we will make your job easier by providing some local link, in addition to offering up the best of everything else we have come across. Enjoy!
Puget Sound Fresh and the Cascade Harvest Coalition are spreading the gospel about local eating by getting as many people as possible to take the Eat Local for Thanksgiving Pledge by serving at least one locally grown food item this holiday. With the influx of seasonal fruits and veggies this shouldn't be too hard. Kill two birds with one stone (as if enough birds aren't being killed already!) with Local Glazed Brussel Sprouts and Apples in a Browned Butter and Cream Sauce If you need more inspiration, a list of what is fresh and local can be found here.
The Bellevue Local Table blog is offering some Wine Pairing Ideas from Dawn Smith, the Wine Director at the Heavy Restaurant Group (Purple Wine Bars & Barrio). She doesn't provide anything particularly ground breaking, but is spot on with her recommendations of Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir as great pairings!
On the subject of Pinot, here is a recipe for Pinot Noir Cranberry Sauce from Epicurious that looks awesome!
While some may say wine is best, I am a firm believer that BEER is better for pairing with food. Here are some great local beer pairing suggestions from Paul Orchard on the Seattlest blog; Pairings for the Bird and Sides with a Pint. To cover all the bases, here are some Serious Pairings for Dessert from the Serious Eats blog. Personally, I find the simple yet sophisticated nuances of Saison Dupont to hit all the right notes of the holiday. Easy drinking enough for your Bud-swilling Uncle, yet still able to satisfy the palate of the geekiest of beer geeks.
If we missed anything, I would also like to share with you the most comprehensive Thanksgiving links list I have come across; "The Only Turkey Day Post You'll Ever Need" from the Cheap, Healthy and Good blog.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Eastside Thanksgiving Dining Options
With all of the buildup and anticipation, it is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is less than a week away. While it is tradition to eat a home-cooked meal, there are a multitude of options at many of the Eastside's finest restaurants for those looking to leave the cooking (and the dishes!!!) to someone else. Here are a few of the most enticing offerings we have come across:
Bellevue:
Pearl Bar & Dining
In addition to a relish tray for the table, you can choose from multiple traditional options for Soup/Salad, Sides, Entree & Desserts for $32.95 per person.
Palomino
A prix-fixe menu including slow roasted, free-range turkey, rich apple-sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, fresh cranberry relish, and house made turkey gravy will be available for $24.
0/8 Seafood Grill
For $29 a head, 0/8 will also be offering a four-course prix-fixe menu. Most noticeably, the second course will be a Soy Ginger Glazed Pork Belly with a Berry Compote and Apple Fennel Salad.
Kirkland:
Trellis
Chef Brian Scheeehser will be offering a 3 course prix-fixe menu for $49 served from noon to 8pm.
Beach Cafe (casual restaurnat below bin on the lake)
If you are looking for a more casual meal but still want a waterfront view, the Beach Cafe will be offering a special holiday menu including most notably a parsnip soup with pomegranate molasses and lemon zest and a decadent pumpkin cheesecake with cardamom whipped cream.
Redmond:
Matt's Rotisserie
Served from 12pm to 7pm, Matt's will be offering a traditional holiday buffet including oysters on the half shell for a surprisingly low $29.95.
Designed Dinners:
For something a little different, pick up a full 3 course turkey dinner serving 4 including Butternut Squash Soup, followed by a large boneless breast of turkey with traditional pan gravy, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, mixed garden vegetables and finish with a freshly baked pumpkin pie for a remarkably low price of $45.
Eastside Extended:
Barking Frog, Woodinville
Chef Bobby Moore will be offering a special menu for the holiday from noon to 8pm. Most intriquing is the Turkey Confit Bread Pudding that will accompany the Roasted Free Range Turkey Breast.
Herbfarm, Woodinville
If you have no budget limitations this holiday season, the Hebfarm is offering a 5pm seating as part of the “An American Harvest” dining series for $205 per person.
The Dining Room at Salish Lodge, Snoqualmie
The luxurious dining room will host a special three course dinner for $70 for carnivores or a four course vegetarian option for $65.
Personally, for the very first time my wife Michelle and I happily find ourselves alone here in Redmond, not being able to make it back to either Boston or Dallas due to work obligations. We have ordered up an “Intimate Holiday Dinner with Organic Turkey” from Whole Foods, which we plan on enjoying accompanied by a healthy dose of wine and football!
Black Raven Brewing Co. to Release New Double IPA Seasonal
As reported on the Washington Beer Blog, Redmond's Black Raven Brewing Company will be releasing its newest seasonal creation: Wisdom Seeker Double IPA this coming Tuesday, November 24th.
This big boy will be weighing in at 9.0% ABV and contains a remarkable 37 pounds of hops in each batch! It should be available at the brewery tap room in the coming weeks, but there is no word yet if it will be available in bottles.
The Raven's Nest Taproom
at Black Raven Brewing Co.
(425) 881-3020
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Review of "Cooked or Be Cooked" for the Nintendo Wii
The review had one line that stuck out to me:
"Food Network was nice enough to include the recipes in the game manual so you can actually cook them in real life. "
It may be a Michael Pollan-esque discussion, but I don't really understand the entire point of a cooking game. If you want to mimic the act of cooking, your kitchen is probably a better place to do that rather than in front of your TV! And the fact that the "real" recipes are provided in the manual so you can actually make them? Why not just make the real recipe to begin with and actually be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor. It's like watching a chef cook on television, but instead you do all the work and you still can't eat the food!
Am I missing something here?
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Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Great Food Day in Bellevue – The Bravern & Lunch at Barrio
After purchasing a new tart pan that we put to use that afternoon, we decided to walk around the mall and check out the new restaurants that we will invariably be checking out in the coming months. Michelle and I were both surprised at the sheer lack of customers that we came across on this chilly, drizzly Sunday afternoon. While just a few blocks away the Bellevue Square Mall was jammed with pre-holiday shoppers, the Bravern was a proverbial ghost town. Seemingly plucked right out of Southern California we couldn't help but think that this upscale shopping mecca with the likes of Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Jimmy Choo was poorly conceived by its designers, who didn't take into account that it's cold and rainy here 8 months a year. As other outdoor malls including the Redmond Town Center have taken our weather into consideration, the Bravern has neglected to do so with their uncovered walkways and exposed seating areas. This makes for a very unpleasant shopping experience on a day like Sunday. Without question, I do not fall into the target demographic that this mall is seeking to attract.
To shake off the chill we got at the Bravern, we headed to Barrio a few blocks west in the newly completed Bellevue Towers to partake in their contemporary Mexican fare. Despite being nearly 1pm, we were the first and thus-far only customers in this beautifully appointed restaurant. Being fans of Barrio's sister restaurant Purple Wine Bar & Restauant (which happens to share bathrooms and a hallway at this location) we were excited to finally get a chance to see what all the buzz was about. Although we were unable to get the full ambient experience, we were afforded fantastic service by our attentive server Adam who was able to spend plenty of time with us to discuss Barrio's lunch offerings. He told us that the management is currently building a weekend Brunch menu that will hopefully help build traffic.
We started with the delightfully chunky Guacamole and house-made chips. The guac was nicely balanced and even appeased my guacamole-hater wife who typically has a hard time with the texture and blandness of most restaurants' offerings. Adam gave us a special treat with an accompaniment of two shot-glass sized shooters that he said are typically served alongside tequilla or vodka shots and that will eventually be the base for Barrio's signature Bloody Mary, which will eventually be on the aforementioned Brunch menu. One shooter was a take on Salsa Verde with a nice acidic backend , that would certainly pair well with a nice shot of Patron. The second shooter complemented the first nicely with its rich tomato base and smoky finish that is just begging for a splash of Worcestershire and a side of celery.
For our entrees, Michelle went with the #2 Combinacion that include two Shredded Chicken Taquitos with a bowl of Tortilla Soup. The taquitos were decent albeit pretty generic, leaving the vinegary slaw and spicy Mole Colorado accompaniments to steal the plate. The Tortilla soup was well constructed, although the sweetness of masa really overpowered the other flavors a bit. I went for a trio of Tacos; al Pastor topped with caramelized pineapple, Chicken en Adobo with toasted sesame seeds and cotija and Rock Shrimp with roasted tomato-habanero salsa and crema. They were satisfying and all complimented each other nicely.
Despite the lack of ambiance, we had a great meal. A previous review I had read describing Barrio as “an upscale taco truck moved inside” seemed to ring true. I will certainly be back to see how this restaurant evolves. I will make sure to go later in the day next time; when the restaurant will be fuller and hopefully the wall of candles lit, which I can imagine would really add some much needed warmth to the sleek, industrial feel of the main dining room.
** Being a food writer paired with the fact that it did occur on the Eastside, I would be remiss if I did not include this.
Despite the great meal we had at Barrio, my wife won the Best Meal of the Day Award with her superb Braised Short Ribs with Sun-Dried Tomato Gravy from October's Bon Appetit Magazine and Lemon Curd Tart (with her new tart pan) adapted from the Barefoot Contessa.
Way to Go Issaquah! City Council Votes to Ban Styrofoam
Following Seattle's leading, last night the Issaquah City Council voted 6-1 in favor of banning polystyrene food containers. The ban which becomes law in October of 2010 will require all restaurants, grocers, schools and other food sellers to comply by May of 2011. Issaquah will be the first city on the Eastside to pass such legislation
Polystyrene, which is commonly known by its trademarked name Styrofoam is popular because it is a cheaper and more rugged option compared to other environmentally friendly, compostable options. Research has shown that polystyrene takes longer to decompose and as a result lingers a long time in landfills and trash dumps. Comparatively, it is also more expensive to recycle.
Switching to compostable food containers is only half the battle environmentalists say, accordingly the City Council has included that all those affected by the ban will also have to provide proper recycling and composting receptacles to make it possible for consumers to dispose of items properly.
Come May of 2011, the ban will be enforced primarily by consumer complaints. Violators will be cited by city code compliance officer and required to pay a fine.
Although it seems like the timeline for the ban's deployment is way too conservative, to supposedly give enough time for those affected to comply, I think this is a great step for Issaquah. Hopefully it will motivate other towns on the Eastside to get their act together and pass similar legislation. Its not like Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond don't have the recycling infrastructure in place to handle it.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Eastside Extended: Review of Fall City Roadhouse
I too have an affinity for the Snoqualmie Valley having spent a considerable amount of time criss-crossing it, getting to know alot of the local businesses at a previous job. Cherie is spot-on when she says,
"I loved this area…I loved how rural and mountainous it felt. I loved that the land opened up and farm plots quickly replaced business complexes, pick-up trucks outnumbered BMW’s, tobacco was more common than chewing gum."
I don't miss the job very much, but I do miss the feeling I got when commuting from Redmond on 202, right when the speed limit drops down before you enter the small downtown of Fall City. It's like you are stepping back into time; when life was a few beats slower and alot simpler.
Having a few encounters with Chef Orel and the owners of the Fall City Roadhouse myself, it is obvious they have alot of good things going on. Cherie mentions Chef Orel's focus on local seasonal ingredients and creative approach to menu planning, to name just a few.
If you haven't had a chance to check out the the Roadhouse yet, make a day of it and check out Snoqualmie Falls and Remlinger Farms, before they shut down Nov. 25th.
Fall City Roadhouse
4200 Preston Fall City Road
Fall City, WA 98024
(425) 222-4800
Friday, November 13, 2009
Ellie Krieger Book Signing in Bellevue – Sunday 11/15
If you don't know her show, Ellie Krieger is a registered dietitian specializing in nutrition and health communications, and is the host of the Food Network’s Healthy Appetite, which airs Saturdays afternoon. She is a NY Times best selling author who has written 3 books about healthy eating including one of my favorites called Small Changes, Big Results which is a really good resource covering the basics for a healthy diet.
If Sunday doesn't work for you, Ellie will also be conducting a discussion and another cook book signing at Town Hall Seattle on Monday. Details can be found here.
Sur La Table
Bellevue, WA
(425) 450-4010
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
"4for48" Promo Showcases Four Eastside Eateries
“4for48” is the brainchild of Seattle chef Jason Wilson who ran this promotion at his own restaurant Crush with such great success, he wanted to share the concept with 12 of his fellow comrades.
Held Sunday through Thursday evenings during the month of November (excluding Turkey Day), 13 restaurants in the Seattle area will offer 4-courses for $48.
Of the 13 restaurants participating we are lucky enough to have 4 of them on our side of the Lake: Seastar & Pearl in Bellevue along with Trellis & bin on the lake in Kirkland.
It appears that Pearl and Trellis do(es) not have their 4for48 menus available, but here are bin on the lake, Seastar and Trellis':
Seastar's Sample Menu:
First Course (Choose one)
Deviled Eggs…Two with Salmon Gravlox Wasabi Tobiko & Two with Truffled Ahi
Scallop Ceviche with Mango-Kiwi Relish
Sesame-Peppercorn Crusted Ahi with Ginger-Soy Reduction
Fresh Shucked Oysters with Pomegranate-Citrus Relish
Second Course (Choose one)
Hot-n-Sour Thai Shrimp Soup with Kaffir Lime Leaf
Dungeness Crab and Sweet Corn Bisque with Port-Madeira Reduction
Spinach and Golden Beet Salad with Maple Vinaigrette
Thai Seafood Salad with Sweet Onion, Mint, Lime & Cilantro
Entrée Course (Choose one)
Grilled Escolar with Acini de Pepe, Sweet Grilled Peppers and Balsamic Reduction
Chef’s Choice Sushi Platter – 16 Pieces
Including Nigiri and Maki Style
Roasted Jidori Chicken with Herbed Chevre, Fingerling Potatoes, Spinach , Sun Dried Tomato
Pumpkin Seed Crusted Diver Scallops with Sweet Basil Mashed and Tomato Coulis
Dessert Course (Choose one)
Classic Vanilla Bean Crème Brulè
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Crème and Raspberry
White Chocolate Coconut Cream Pie with Caramel
** Two different wine flights will be offered with this dinner as 3 for $13.
bin on the lake's Sample Menu - (looks more like 5 courses to me, though!) - changes weekly
Fig & Prosciutto Balsamic Reduction, Blue Cheese, Grilled Baguette
SECOND COURSE
Lamb Spring Roll
Pears, Currants, Apple, Quince Sauce
THIRD COURSE
Idaho Rainbow Trout
Beluga Lentils, Wilted Escarole, Garlic Butter
INTERMEZZO
FOURTH COURSE
Pork Loin
Pearl Onions, Arugula, Bourbon Jelly, Pear‐ Orange Sauce
FIFTH COURSE
Chocolate Caramel Mousse
Banana Brûlée
**Update: I have received a a sample menu for Trellis from Sarah Whitfield at Wilson Public Relations (the company promoting the 4for48). She promises to also send me Pearl's shortly.
Winter Salad
Persimmons, Ruby Red grapefruit, pomegranate seeds & watercress with frisée & grapefruit vinaigrette
Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc ’08 Marlborough, NZ
Wild Mushroom Tart
Wild foraged mushrooms & fines herbes with a Pinot essence
Potel-Aviron Fleurie ’07 Burgundy, France
Ellensburg Lamb
Martinez Ranch lamb, sautéed chard & kale, Syrah demi-glace
Amavi Syrah ’06 Walla Walla, WA
Winter Blues
Rogue River Gorgonzola, Classic English Stilton, Point Reyes Farmstead Bleu with fig jam & onion marmalade; sweet pear, hazelnut crostini
Haut Charmes Sauternes ’05 Bordeaux, France
2oz tasting per course (at an extra charge, I assume)
Monday, November 9, 2009
John Howie Steak - Seattle Weekly Review
Per Kauffman's review it seems like they are doing alot of things right at JHS, including some elegant, old-school table service and high quality, aged beef. It is no wonder that Kauffman found the service hit-or-miss from such a new restaurant with the precision needed to pull off the pomp and circumstance of the traditional steakhouse experience.
My advice would be to wait a while for JHS to get its practice laps in before splurging for what could be a pretty elaborate and expensive meal. If things follow Howie's reputation, service should fall into line shortly.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Chock one up for the Eastsiders!!!
Every October, BPP's owner Gary sink and staff begin a month long elimination tournament to decide their customers' favorite Washington IPA and the much coveted House IPA tap for the next year. This year the three finalists were Black Raven's Trickster IPA, Point Defiance IPA from Tacoma's Harmon Brewing and Boundary Bay IPA from Bellingham; the perennial champion having won the last 4 years in landslide fashion.
Not only does this validate Black Raven's Trickster IPA as a mighty fine beer, it nets the brewery quite a significant guaranteed sales account as BPP is one of Seattle's most prominent beer bars.
If you have yet to try the Trickster or any of their beers, be sure to head to the BPP or to the brewery itself tucked away off Willows Road in Redmond.
Black Raven Brewing Co.
14679 NE 95th St
Redmond, WA 98052
(425) 881-3020
Beveridge Place Pub
6413 California Ave SW
West Seattle, WA 98136
Wild Ginger @ the Bravern in Bellevue: Yay or Nay?
Things get a bit interesting in the comments field where some readers either agreed with Nancy's admiration for Wild Ginger or strongly disagreed. She followed up the Times article with a post on her blog All You Can Eat.
What are your thoughts? Have you dined at the new Wild Ginger at the Bravern? Share your thoughts and experiences with us with a comment.
Wild Ginger @ The Bravern
11020 NE 6th St. Ste 90
Bellevue, WA 98004
425.495.8889
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
November Dine Around Seattle - Eastside Options
On November 1st, the fall edition of the Dine Around Seattle promotion began. Showcasing many of the region's best restaurants, this promotion offers diners a three course dinner for $30 Sunday through Thursday through the end of the month. Diners get to chose an appetizer, entree and dessert and even an optional wine pairing accompanying each course for an additional cost at some restaurants.
Many establishments are also offering a three course lunch for only $15.
Most of the offerings are at restaurants in Seattle, but there are a few notable Eastside options each with their sample menu. Please note that the menu is only a sample and will likely change.
Barking Frog, Woodinville ~ Offering Lunch and Dinner
Dinner Menu
Starters:
Brown Butter Sunchoke & Leek Soup, Goat Cheese Crème Fraiche, Washington Hazelnuts, Zoe’s Bacon
Baby Arugula Salad, Candied Pine Nuts, Tomme de Chevre, Huckleberry Vinaigrette
Duck Rillettes, Lavender Honey, Apricot & Nut Crostini
Entrees:
Farro Stuffed Quail, Gremolata Truffle Cream
Pancella Wrapped Monk Fish, Caramelized Onion & Potato Bread Pudding, Green Beans, Blonde Ale Beurre Blanc Braised Superior Farms American American Lamb Shank & Pappardelle Pasta, Cipollini Onions, Butter Braised Carrots, Confit Chanterelle Mushrooms, Demi Butter Sauce
Desserts:
Dark Chocolate Brioche Pudding, Huckleberry Sauce, Vanilla Bean Chantilly
Washington Apple Pecan Cris
Monsoon East, Bellevue ~ Offering Lunch and Dinner
Dinner Menu
Starters:
Warm Shrimp Toasts w/Watercress and Pickled Cucumber
Hot and Sour Tamarind Soup w/Shrimp, Bac Ha, Pineapple and Tomato
Tofu Salad w/Napa Cabbage, Lotus Stem, Rau Ram and Chinese Honey Mustard
Entrees:
Grilled Painted Hills Flat Iron, Wokked Green Beans, Oyster Mushrooms, Saifun Noodle
Braised American Anderson Valley Lamb Leg, Yellow Curry, Coconut Milk, Honey Crisp Apple, Peanuts
Fresh Rice Noodles w/Chinese Celery, Bean Sprouts and Sweet Onions
Desserts:
Banana Cake w/Savory Coconut Sauce
Ginger Panna Cotta w/Grapefruit and Thai Basil
Che Ba Mau (Rainbow Drink) Coconut Milk, Tapioca Pearls, Red Beans and Logan Fruit
0/8 Seafood Grill & Twisted Cork Wine Bar ~ Offering Lunch and Dinner
Dinner Menu
Starters:
Dungeness Crab Cake, Rosemary Aioli, Fresh Asian Slaw
Whole Leaf Caesar Salad, Garlic Brioche Toast Point, Shaved Reggianno
Brandied Lobster Bisque, Tarragon Crème Fraiche
Entrees:
Pepper Crusted Ahi Tuna, White Bean Puree, Jalapeno Onion Salad, Balsamic Teriyaki Sauce
Grilled King Salmon, Fingerlings, Huckleberry Thyme Coulis, Asparagus
American Lamb Loin, Hazlenut-Chevre Mashed Potatoes, Asparagus, Blackberry Demi
Mushroom Ravioli, Sherry Cream, Pea Vine Salad
Desserts:
Duet of Cupcakes, Vanilla with a Brown Sugar Cream Cheese, Chocolate with Peanut Butter Cream
Stuffed Poached Pear, Sekel Pears Poached and then Served Stuffed with Gorgonzola, Mascarpone and Hazelnut Cheese Filling Drizzled with a Honey Glaze
Pumpkin Spice Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich
Please share your experiences at any of these restaurants in the comments!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Monsoon East Celebrates its First Birthday!
If you have yet to check this place out, now is the perfect opportunity as Monsoon East is participating in the November Dine Around Seattle promotion. Everything is prepared with a refinement and balance unmatched by any other Vietnamese restaurant on this side of the lake, from the rich, oxtail enriched broth in their lunch-time Pho with brisket and flank steak to the unbelievable drunken chicken to the mouth-watering sesame seed beignets served during weekend brunch.
Enjoy!
Monsoon East
10245 Min Street
Bellevue, WA 98004
(425) 635-1112