Berliner Pub

The Big Guy was on his motorhome trip again, which means we get FIT for a week.  Which means trying new food.

We learned recently that a German restaurant is right down the street from us!  So we decided to take advantage of the fact that the picky one was out of earshot to see if it was worth anything.  Have I mentioned I make the best spaetzle around?  I do.  And it is so easy to do.  The clean up?  That's another story.  So I liked the idea of finding a place that had good German food that someone else would clean up.  Plus I was curious what they would serve with their spaetzle -- to me that's the hard part.  But it is so good it should really be its own meal.  So it's not a huge issue.

First up, a sausage plate.  It was pretty good!  We also had a pretzel that I knew The Big Guy would tolerate.  It was looking like this place could work after all.

So then we ordered a schnitzel plate that included red cabbage and potatoes.  Or if you were willing to pay extra, spaetzle.  Of COURSE I'll pay extra!

When it came to the table it was grey.  No kidding... grey.  And it didn't look like it was put through a spaetzle maker or even a colander.  In fact, it didn't look homemade at all.  Truth be told it didn't look like spaetzle.  And it didn't look good.  So I did the only thing a reasonable loving mother would do.  I asked my 6 year old to taste it for me.  Yes, really. 

I said, "Ok, taste this and tell me if this is better than mine."  And he made a face and said "NO WAY!" and I would have been super proud except that I feel like I completely betrayed my child.  So then I tasted it... barely, before I spit it out.  I swear it was rancid, which makes no sense to me whatsoever.  I know I should have told them it was horrible and sent it back and had it removed from my bill.  But I couldn't.  I felt bad for the server and the poor chef in the back who hadn't been taught how to make spaetzle by someone who owns a German restaurant!  All I could do was ask if it was made in house.  The answer was no... it was mailed in from a box.  A box! 

I am a home cook.  I do not work in commercial kitchens and I don't know anything about prepping for a dinner service.  But I do know that spaetzle has to be the cheapest thing to make in that kitchen -- egg, flour, salt, pepper, nutmeg, milk, and butter.  I add other delciousness to mine like bacon and shallots and parsley, but that's the base of it.  Really.  And if they are buying a product and shipping it in (and it sits around long enough to spoil) they are losing tons of money. 

Someday when I have time, I really want to write a respectful letter to the owner requesting the chance to teach their staff how to make an easy quick spaetzle recipe.  I might do it too.... if I can figure out a way to do so without being so patronizing. 

It's a shame.  I really wanted to be able to return.  Looks like that won't happen anytime soon though.  That memory is not a good one.

Food Truck Round Up Renton Style

True to our family love, we headed out for a meeting of food trucks to try out some new eats. The draw was the ever necessary Cuban from Snout (hold the mayo) for The Critic. The comedy here is I spent some significant time prepping The Guys that now that they're bigger, they need to get used to ordering the food as is off food trucks.  See the irony?  It's their dad who is the one special ordering things.  Anyway, The Guys were really interested in the salmon fish and chips -- we're doing something right!  They were pretty tasty.  The housemade tartar had some fresh dill in it -- nice touch!  They liked the "french fries" (as in waffle fries).

I was most interested in trying a new-to-me truck called "The Box".  The Critic agreed and we tried two different hum baos -- one with pork belly and one with kaluha pork.  We were divded on which was better -- not a bad thing.  The main problem with the pork belly one is there is barely any pork belly in it.  We also tried the beef skewers which have a much more ethnic name that I have forgotten -- but they were delicious! 

Such a short trip but I love that our family can do this impromptu on a Saturday afternoon before t-ball games.

Snout's Cuban

"Take a picture where you can see the delicious salmon, Mom."  -- The Big Guy (age 7)

Hum Bao's at The Box -- Kaluha Pork on top, Pork Belly on bottom

Beef skewers -- me and The Guys liked the homemade pickles as well -- that sauce was yummy -- coconutty sweet

WildFin

A few days ago The Critic returned from a safari and Africa.  He shot so many animals! (With a Canon!)  (i.e. he took pictures -- he's such a crack up).  When he returned he was craving pizza and we decided to do a family trip to The Rock.  On the way, we passed this place called WildFin American Grill.  It looked super swanky.  We even saw some friends coming out who raved about their happy hour menu (which wouldn't work since our kids were with us) and said it had great calamari.   At that point, I thought "You know, the last thing I need is another place to eat local fried food and burgers".  I had visions of Hopjacks and Bahama Breeze and a few other places we've been to on the fly recently -- I'm so behind in blogging.  My apologies.

Today I found myself without work and off to an errand in Mercer Island.  And, as luck would have it, out at lunch time.  I thought about trying to find a place in Factoria that a friend had suggested for Chinese Food.  Another catch up item here is that we did finally take The Guys to Din Thai Fung and they loved it and I mean LOVED it as in couldn't inhale the food fast enough and didn't share any with me at all.  And begged and I mean BEGGED that we could return the next night... yeah right.  That's a habit I'm not interested in making.  Oh, side note... if you have two parents sick with fevers at the same time (bronchitis for me and strep throat for The Critic) you are delusional and you will actually return the next night for the exact same meal.  With the exact same server.  Who still remembers you.  Yes, that was an embarrassing situation. 

Sorry for the birdwalk.  The point is, I couldn't remember the name of said Chinese restaurant and I really just wanted some mac and cheese.  Oh, you elusive mac and cheese!  It's the only food I crave and it hits at random times.  The last was when I was sick and I actually convinced myself that Panera mac and cheese has healing powers (if it doesn't kill you from all the fat and calories first).  I'm still kind of convinced of that.  But I was reluctant to go AGAIN to Panera for mac and cheese.

And then it hit me.  I wonder if that new burger joint has mac and cheese?  They might.  It's kind of "American Grill" food.  Then I can check it out... hate it... save The Critic and I the trouble later, right?  Right.  In we go.

I'm not sure how long it's been there -- maybe two months?  I really haven't heard of many people who have gone.  Based on decor and everything it resembled some kind of Anthony's homeport.  Still it gave the air of the "American Grill" stereotype I had in my head. I didn't even realize I had a stereotype for that category.  I did.  And I was wrong.

Their emphasis is local.  The front of the menu lists the important events in Renton for the week.  Things like the Farmer's Market resuming this coming Tuesday (YES!  I'm glad to know about that!).  High school graduation for Lindberg... as well as track meets.  Where you would normally find specials listed, here they have local events.  Go Renton!  It kind of made me laugh.  I'm not a hometown girl by definition -- at least not a Renton hometown girl.  It's taken a while to admit I live here and technically I don't.  I live on the hill.  Or in Fairwood.  I'm usually pretty picky about making sure people know the difference.  On reason for this is there is no and I mean NO good places to eat in Renton.  Or Kent.  It drives me crazy.  Just chains and the more into food I get, the more anti big chain I get.  That's why it's so unfortunate that Panera's mac and cheese is just that good!  I like the idea of farm to table... sustainable cooking... fresh local ingredients.  It makes sense to me since we live in an area of abundance.  And yet, those places just don't exist or are few and far between.  Luther's Table, for example, is a great place but I just don't find myself there very often.  And other places in downtown Kent just don't measure up to what I want.  I want a foodie place in a non-foodie town.  

You have to remember... I'm still expecting a burger joint.  It seems like such a wasted concept on a burger joint.

Open the menu to find the wine and beer list.  Local emphasis again.  Of course.  At this point it makes sense, right? 

And then one more step.  The food list.  And there it is... no burgers.  No burgers?  No burgers.  Hmmmm.... Copper River salmon.  Arugula from Carpinito Brothers.  Talk of sausage from local vendors.  Artisan pizza crusts, again... local.  Local?  Yep.  And while there might have been burgers I was too busy scanning the menu for seafood dishes and salads and soups and OH they sounded fresh and delicious!  And right then and there I decided two things.  This place was what I have been hoping for.  A very local, foodie centered, "unRenton" restaurant.  How ironic is that?  In a non-foodie community the concept is local, fresh, ingredients.  The second was DARN IT!  The Critic should be here with me.

It is at that exact moment that I look across to see I'm sitting near Merri Rieger.  I know.  You have no idea who she is.  I worked under Merri Rieger when I was employed by the Kent School District.  She was area coordinator something-or-other for KSD under Barbara Grohe, the superintendent at the time.  I liked her a lot.  I worked with her several times and she always remembered who I was.  I just heard within the last couple of months that the Renton School District hired a new superintendent.  You guessed it -- Merri Rieger.  It just about had me in stitches... the idea that this local place had its very own celebrity.  I doubt they even know it.

And then, I loved it.  I hoped that the food was good.  I hoped with all hope that it wasn't going to be an experience like Cal's that looks great on paper but just doesn't perform to what I want when the food hits the table.

Menu searching led me to wish I had come hungrier. I certainly wasn't prepared or willing to spend $20 on a lunch of prawns or steak.  I looked over some of the salads and soups and then saw the side dishes.  Two things caught my eye.  The first... the obvious.  Mac and cheese.  Reading the description made my heart leap.  "Made with Cougar Gold".  Okay freeze frame.  I learned about Cougar Gold two years ago at Costco.  They had tubs of it and I had never heard of the stuff.  As I was asking The Critic if he had any idea what it was someone essentially told me that if I hadn't had it and I didn't try it, I obviously hated cheese.  I'll spare the details of all that transpired next but she was right.  That stuff is the BEST cheese.  Truly.  We're a Husky family by pedigree.  But I doubt any dog can put together a cheese as good as Cougar gold.  Among other things the passionate lady at Costco said... you have to make it into a mac and cheese.  It makes the best mac and cheese.  Here it was on a menu.  Yes, I was sold.

Until I looked a tiny bit further down and saw "sausage and spicy grits".  It was listed as a side at $3.95 and I basically decided then and there that for that price I needed to order it.  Because I was sure it would not be up to snuff (aka mine) and then I could shake this guilty feeling of going to this place sans Critic once and for all.  

Another thing in me from the second I thought of going to this place was "You know, I'm sure they have diet Pepsi".  So when asked what I could have to drink I actually asked if they have Pepsi or Coke products.  I'm pretty sure that's the only time in my life I've actually asked that.  It usually goes like this:

"Can I bring you something to drink?"

"Sure, I'll have a Diet Coke."

"Is Diet Pepsi okay?"

"Nope.  Thanks anyway but I'll just have water."

There are lots of other retorts on Pinterest.  I've found them rude and useless.  This conversation always accomplishes the same message in about the most polite way I can muster.

Anyway... they have Diet Coke.  My intuition is about 0 for 100 at this point and I couldn't be happier to be wrong.

So I order the food and while I wait (and yes, there was a significant wait) I have time to think over this place.  I had just finished reading "Yes, Chef", Marcus Samuelsson's memoir this morning so the whole food and restaurant culture was fresh in my mind.  I was pleased to note that it is a true passion of mine.  I found myself wishing I could go back and see the kitchen, learn some techniques, just kind of wander.  I wanted to chat with the host, the servers, the bartenders... but I stayed politely in my seat.  I am super passionate about my career (teaching) but I am equally happy to have a passion for this food culture hobby of mine.

Finally the food arrives.  The first thing I taste is the grits.  And they are... delicious.  Absolutely delicious.  I will not go so far as to say they are better than mine.  Except that they are.  I also love the idea of putting something into them.  I am usually trying to identify which meat goes with mine best.  Pork is good.  Braised beef is good.  Italian sausage in them would also be good... and now I have to try that.  There's also corn in this side dish, which would normally ruin it.  I am a corn snob... our whole family is.  The corn that was in here was GOOD and that's really hard for me to find in this area.  Shaved parmesan on top and sliced green onions.  It was good.  Really really good.  

The mac and cheese was fine.  If I need it, it's there.  But I won't need it anytime soon.  And the next time I go I'll have more things to try on the menu.  And there will be a next time.  Soon.  Because I've never been happier to be wrong about a place.

I seriously hope that WildFin is successful.  I plan to tell all my friends about it.  I want it to flourish.  I want it to be around. I've spent the afternoon dreaming of girls' night out plans or date nights... double dates.  And family dinners.  And extended family dinners.  This place is what I've wanted... good local food at a good local restaurant.  7 miles from my house.  That makes me happy.

Wild Garlic

Again with the catching up --Tried out Wild Garlic in our neighborhood.  STILL in search of that perfect Chinese restaurant in my imagination.  This will do -- though I didn't like the egg roll.  The Critic and I enjoyed a rare midweek lunch at home without kids on a nice day after this endeavor and I thought the General Tso's chicken was better than this -- or the Hunan shrimp which we also got.  Critic loved it -- mushrooms.  Yuck.  In the restaurant the egg drop soup tastes very much of corn. 

Dahlia Lounge

Again -- just catching up. Short and sweet.These come from Dahlia Lounge.  Our friends The Soccer Mom and Soccer Dad asked if we'd join them for dinner.  I am so glad we did!  Items from the cold bar (raw bar?) were DELICIOUS!  Forgot pictures, of course.  Same goes for dessert -- I'm pretty sure I got the flan or whatever they call it with the pine nut brittle.  It was fine -- doughnuts remain the best.  The Soccer Mom wanted to go after watching Best Thing I Ever Ate -- girl after my own heart.  :-)  She got the crab cakes.  Me?  The yummy fish (second picture) with fennel and grapefruit and a bunch of other tasty things.  Top picture is the Critic's -- can't recall what he got.  All around it was a MUCH better experience than our mushroom-infested first time to Dahlia.  Partly because of the food.  Mostly because the company was simply delightful.

Seven Pepper Schezuan

By way of catching up -- here are some pictures of our trip to Seven Star Pepper in the international district of Seattle.  Back story -- went for Chinese New Year festivities, encountered about 6 million people give or take 1.  We couldn't get any food anywhere.  It started raining -- kids were miserable, I'm useless in crowds.  The Critic really wanted us to try this.  I thought he was nuts -- I mean who takes a 5 and a 7 year old to a Schezuan restaurant???  Apparently us.  Thanks to The Big Guy's love of fried rice (introduced to him by me and home -- super easy and super yummy) it actually turned out really well.  Please note -- we did not partake of anything 7 stars.  In fact I'm pretty sure we asked for zero.  Note to self -- go to the international district ANY day except the one when they celebrate Chinese New Year next year!!!

Aqua by El Gaucho

DATE NIGHT!!! It feels like it has been forever since The Critic and I got to go enjoy a night out on the town.  The perfect opportunity presented itself.  For a "nominal" fee we could drop off The Guys at the Pacific Science Center for 5 glorious hours.  And when food is your Coach bag, well, there is no question about what a portion of that time will be spent doing.  Dining out -- I have missed you (I am officially 30 pounds lighter though!).

By recommendation from our fellow foodie friend The Soccer Mom, we headed to Aqua by El Gaucho.  We have been to El Gaucho before but Aqua was new to us.  They raved about the spinach salad, but we had to pass since a.) it is for two -- no salad for The Critic... makes his mouth go all tingly/scratchy/painful and b.) it has mushrooms (yes, I realize they could be taken out, but see problem a).  No matter... what we did have was delicious and a true dining out treat.  Happy to say we've dined here!

First up -- Prawns with coconut curry and cashews... I think.  I don't remember.  Good thing for pictures, huh?  I think I remember it being tasty.  I don't remember it being bad.  We did order and eat this, right?  Yeah... pretty sure we did.

Next up...  My dinner!  Chilean Sea Bass with pickled ginger on a divine sauce of something-or-other and white rice.  The only way this could have been improved is if it had been served on the marscapone risotto (see below).  This dinner was amazing. 

Also up next... The Critic's dinner.  Look at the size of that "shrimp".  Compare it to the glasses behind it!  Amazing.  It was served on a puffed pastry with cream sauce.  It was good, but too heavy and rich for me.  I think this dish shows tremendous growth in food adventures for The Critic.  When we were dating he would have run for the hills from a plate like this.

I am the queen of side dishes.  I would rather have side dishes than desserts.  Two looked good on the menu here and we added them to our meal.  Our amazing server suggested 1/2 portions -- he's so smart.  It was the perfect amount of food.  First up, Brussels sprouts.  I *love* this vegetable, but here it was so-so.  A bit too greasy.  Pancetta -- GOOD.  Apples weren't my favorite.  All in all, not terrible but I don't think I would get them again.

What I *would* get again is this marscapone risotto.  Oh. My. Word.  I mean lick-the-plate-show-no-shame awesomeness.  It's not much to look at, but that's okay.  It would disappear in 30 seconds flat without a little restraint. 

While we opted to skip dessert, we did see something intriguing and I'm blogging about it because I'm pretty sure I need to try this at home some time.  Okay, let's be honest.  The Critic (aka The Pastry Chef) will have to tackle it.  But here's the plan... Bailey's Chocolate Caramel Bread Pudding.  Recipe idea... Brioche, cream from the creme brulee french toast (from here with Bailey's instead of Grand Marnier), add chunks of dark chocolate, then bake it in ramekins and add some caramel in at the end.  Or something similar.  Like I said, he's the Pastry Chef... not me. 

Old School Custard

Date night continues... After dinner at Aqua we were intrigued by the desserts but stuffed to the gills.  We joined up with some friends to play some pool for a while but kept thinking of a fun idea of a place to go for dessert -- mostly for The Critic.  Then, the idea came to him.  Frozen Custard.  He loves the stuff -- being the ice cream fanatic he is.  He's been wanting to try Old School Custard so this was the PERFECT time and opportunity.

 Doesn't it look amazing? Truth?  It's quite underwhelming.  And very expensive.  So, no thank you.  I don't think we'll be back.

Pesos

A rare treat -- I found myself not working for once with no plans.  I called The Critic and was pleased to find out we could have a lunch date!  His suggestion was Pesos. 

Pesos, I learned, is owned by the same folks who own Toulouse Petit.  Which makes sense -- it looks very similar.  The fun in this place is the Mexican inspiration.  This isn't your run-of-the-mill Mexican food though.  Much like Toulouse Petit is "Cajun" I'd say this is "Mexican".  Super fun, super fresh, super tasty.  In short, I'd like one of everything on the menu please.  Okay, maybe not.

For me, it was soup and salad.  Both were delicious and I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.  I really found all the soups and salads interesting... when (not if) I return I'm sure I'll try a different one.  Not because there was anything wrong with it though.

Shrimp and Corn Soup -- Super tasty and best dumping those fried tortilla strips right into it.  YUM!

Grilled Shrimp and Avocado salad -- Dressing was a bit light but it was good and there was nothing left by the time I finished it, which is usually a good sign.

The main star -- Steak Sandwich with a delicious thing to dip it into.  Fries are perfection.  As The Critic says, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this sandwich.  He's right.  It was delicious!