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.
