FoodTrek: Gathering of Flavors at Kaisho

The term kaisho is a Japanese term for a place to meet or gather, but having a chance to further explore the menu at the Bellevue restaurant Kaisho, I would also call it a gathering of various Asian and Western flavors, and having them all meet for a delectable feast. I was doing the very arduous (not arduous) task of food/drink research and had the opportunity to sample several of Kaisho's dishes and cocktails. It was too much flava-flavor to keep all to myself, so I had to share on the blog. So here -- feast with your eyes, then  jump in your car and feast with your appetite!

East Meets West (and South) - Kaisho's Thai Fried Chicken and Kimchee Waffles - Photo by Wasabi Prime

Mixed Plate: Sharing is Caring, But Keep the Best for Yourself

The most important announcement to make: Wish the Mister a Happy Birthday today! He's @BrockDiesel on Twitter and if you know him personally, you probably already Facebook-bombed his page with salutations. Having our birthdays so close together (mine was last week), we have our shared celebrations and it's probably the one notable food/drink extravaganza that slips by, completely under the blog-radar. Which is by design, because by golly, we're too busy enjoying ourselves. And that got me thinking that it's the way it should be -- the everyday stuff is great to share, but sometimes the most memorable experiences with food are the ones where we're not looking at it through a lens, you're just sitting at the table, being present. What a concept!

FoodTrek: Releasing the Food and Wine Kraken at Taste Washington

Is it possible to taste and imbibe all of Washington State in one weekend? It's a lofty goal, but I give Taste Washington, the largest single-region wine and food event in the US of A, kudos for laying down the gauntlet for the brave souls wanting to fit all the flavors of the Pacific Northwest in-mah-belleh, over a single weekend. Or in my case, I challenged the threshold of food/wine consumption in a single day and tried to document as much of it on the ol' soul-capturing-DSLR-devilmachine. So sit back and be prepared to be overwhelmed with an epic day of drinking and sampling through Taste Washington, 2013. Bring on the antacid!

Kraken - or smoked octopus from W Hotel's TRACE - unleashed at Taste WA - Photo by Wasabi Prime

FoodTrek: FEAST (before famine)

I'm pretty sure my going-out habits are like a version of social anorexia/bulemia. And I'm not downplaying the seriousness of eating disorders, they are serious and not to be joked around with, unless you're a witty writer on Arrested Development, then nothing is sacred.  I'm  just saying it's literally Feast and Famine when it comes to my penchant for restaurant-going and cocktail-ing. The month of October has had me on steady 12-16 hour days, 1 day of a Cheeto-binge meltdown of despair, questionable weekends (minus one joyous Oktoberfest, praise the Beer Gods), and me checking off the "bathing optional" box. But at least the month of September was super-duper fun. And the Cheeto binge was so totally worth it - Prozac in a bag, yo.

This is usually meant for AFTER a long day, I had it before stuff went sideways - Photo by Wasabi Prime

 It's called "work" for a reason. Otherwise we'd call it something more pleasant, like "fun," or "sleeping more than 4 hours a night." It's not important what I was working on, simply that we've all been in those situations where for whatever reason, you can't climb over the mountain, you just have to dig through it with a rusty teaspoon, and it was a reminder over why I'd sooner become a hobo than return to Corporate America. I was prepared for a Month of Crazy, and so while I had the energy to do so, I did a Leaving Las Vegas/Dead Wasabi Walking whirlwind for a month, catching up with friends, heading to favorite places and just enjoying what was left of the amazing Global-Warming-is-Upon-Us extended summer. I hate the word Staycation, because it makes you sound like the person who insists on calling appetizers "apps" or says "chillaxin" without even a hint of douchey self-awareness -- but that's essentially what this month-long restaurant/cocktail tour was. It was a genuine treat, I can't even begin to describe how happy I was, and it was all thanks to the good friends and marvelous places we visited, right in our own city.

My ideal summer afternoon, including an awesome photo-bomb at Local 360 - Photos by Wasabi Prime

When people visit Seattle and they want a recommendation for a genuine Northwest food experience, I always tell them: get thee to Local 360. The concept is fantastic, they source as much of their menu as possible from local producers and farmers within a 360-mile radius. And why shouldn't they -- the Pacific Northwest region is bountiful and all that rain helps things grow. The menu changes regularly with the seasons, you can skip the standard menu altogether and just order whatever is on their fresh sheet, and you'll be eating peak-seasonal meals. On my last visit, I kept to liquids versus solids -- their bar has a ton of locally produced spirits. I went with an Old Mischievous Ways, which was like an Old Fashioned on summer break, named aptly for the Fremont Mischief John Jacob rye whiskey they use, along with a spiced simple syrup. I went lighter, trying their take on the classic French 75 - the NW 75, a mix of Voyager Gin from Pacific Distillery in Woodinville, fresh lemon, geranium liqueur and sparkling wine. The rose geranium liqueur is by BroVo, a distillery from Washington I'd never heard of until now, but was quickly charmed by its delicate floral flavor. It reminded me of the St. Germain elderflower liqueur that became very en vogue with cocktail-making. Once my St. Germain is gone, I'm switching to BroVo. The flavor isn't exactly the same, but that fragrant essence is similar, and it's always great to support your local distilleries. They help keep the bad days away, as does Local 360's awesome bartenders. Note to self: totally doing the local liquor flights the next time I Unleash the Kraken at 360 - consider yourself warned.

Delicious nibbles and the most heavenly cracklins (that aren't really cracklins) at  Coterie Room - Photos by Wasabi Prime

I saved my appetite for The Coterie Room, a mere sneeze away from Local 360. It was my first visit to Coterie, but not to the location -- they took over the old Restaurant Zoe space, which is a really pretty little jewelbox corner spot in the Belltown neighborhood. My friend insisted we go for the cracklins. I know, it sounds crazy -- go to this fancy-schmancy darling restaurant and order... fried pork rinds?? But oh these crispy, melt-in-your-mouth creations of Divine Swine! We sat at the little bar, which you should all know, is the ideal place to be at any restaurant -- and not just for the easy access to booze. We chatted with the bartender who was full of menu recommendations and interesting wines to try. He explained why the cracklins aren't even really cracklins -- it's pure pork fat suspended in a tapioca starch mixture, which is then left to set and thin shavings are made from the block, and that's the "skins" that are fried. The tapioca mixture allows it to puff up and crisp like a traditional pork rind, and the flavor is pure, buttery pork fat that if you let a bit of it sit on your tongue, it completely melts down into a bacon-y whisper. I don't need to live forever. I don't want to live forever. I want to be a rockstar young corpse from overdosing on these faux pork rinds. But not before more snacks. Chickpeas/garbanzo bean fries are like the new polenta fries. And I heartily welcome this trend. Imagine fried hummus -- creamy and sweet with a velvety smooth texture. And also three times hotter than the sun's surface, so bite cautiously, but you will be rewarded. We rounded out our dinner of little plates with Coterie's steak tartare. You can't beat a classic, especially at a McCracken and Tough restaurant, as they put such high standards on ingredients and preparation. You could hear the cow mooing, the beef was so fresh. It had the right balance of clean-flavored raw meat, like tuna done sashimi style, seasoned enough to where you savor it but you don't feel like the beef's natural raw flavor is hidden. It took me a while to appreciate raw foods -- I was the hot dog and scrambled egg kid, remember? But it's like a drug, once you get that first good high of something prepared very well, you're always on the lookout for the next flavor hit.

Diving in at Blueacre's oyster happy hour - and oh, crab and shrimp tater tots? Yes, please - Photos by Wasabi Prime

My other raw food addiction has become oysters. This mystifies my parents, and rightfully so, given our no-seafood household. But one never questions how one gets to be a shellfish-addled addict, it's just a thing that happens and you're left to wander the streets, a glazed-over look on your face, stalking whatever bivalve you can get your tweeker hands on. For an oyster fix, Blueacre Seafood will be your Dr. Feelgood, especially at happy hour. It's whatever seasonal oyster they have on-hand, a dollar each, and it's shucking awesome. Yes, you could go to some sports bar and get a monster pile of nachos covered with cheese that came out of a jar for like, $3 at happy hour, but honestly -- why would you? That beautiful, saline-fresh flavor of a just-cracked open oyster -- it goes as well with a glass of bubbly or a cold beer, and they're surprisingly filling. It's a pretty good protein base, so I admit, I'll usually have a few oysters if I'm planning on making a night of things. Still not sold on raw creatures of the sea? No worries, have some spicy crab and shrimp tater tots. Of course I had to order them! They were on their happy hour menu, but I'd have an entree-sized pile of these if I could. Imagine if a tender crab and shrimp dumpling made sweet, sweet love to a crispy potato tater tot. This would be their delightful offspring. I don't need to say anything more than that, because I'm sure you're heading out the door right now to have some of these, and don't forget to get some oysters along with it!

Koral and my un-model-like meal for Fashion Week in Bellevue - Photos by Wasabi Prime

My usual happy hour oyster fix when I'm on the Eastside is over at Koral - they have a great happy hour menu that includes a Buffalo Trace Manhattan,which I enjoy frequently. For a while they had oysters, but it's a seasonal item, and they change their menu items up a bit. I was in downtown Bellevue almost every night during this year's Fashion Week, taking runway photos. That was actually a good reason to stay up super late, not so much partying like a rock star, but shuffling home and editing tons of runway photos every night. If you want to take a peek on my Jaunty Magpie blog, I shot the Independent Show, Nordstrom Show and Front Row. I always wonder why I do this every year, the schedule can be pretty exhausting, but when you're in the madness of the crowd, the music, and the models strutting their stuff, the excitement and energy is as much of a drug as oysters and raw steak. It's also fun to visit favorite spots for a bite to eat before the shows. Koral, of course, since it's right in the Hyatt where the runway shows are -- no oysters on this visit, but they had some thick-cut truffle salt Parmesan fries that were calling my name in a most un-fashion model-like way. I had the voice of Emily Blunt's character from The Devil  Wears Prada screaming in my head, "...And you eat CARBS!!!"

Korean comforts at Chan in Seattle, and delicious morsels from the sea at Black Bottle Postern - Photos by Wasabi Prime

I also put in some quality time at Black Bottle Postern's bar, waiting for a fashion show to start. I purposely went extra early to just soak in an extra hour or two of just being a barfly. But a well-heeled one -- I had a new dress and a big sparkly necklace on, I was fancy, dammit. It's not weird to eat and drink by yourself because you can order the dishes you love and don't have to share with anyone. This logic is sound. I chose gluttony as my sin that day and got their crispy salt and pepper squid, and the spicy, smoky Manila clams and chorizo. Sharing might be caring, but I was looking out for Numero Uno that day because I was starving like a model and those nine almonds just weren't going to cover their bases for a long day.

The power of Mine, All Mine! was with me when I had a strong hankering for Korean food one chilly afternoon. I appreciate the new interpretations Chan does, like with their bulgogi sliders or even their cocktails, but that evening, I wanted their skillet bi bim bap. It's a great combination of a classic dish and using a small cast-iron skillet like the hot stone grills some Korean restaurants use. The food comes blazing hot, which is good if you're relaxing with a glass of wine and a kimchee sampler. I really like their daikon kimchee -- it's slightly sweet, I almost thought maybe it was pickled apples or something crazy like that. The heat and flavor are more traditional, not the more Japanese-style vinegar-pickled versions of kimchee you get bottled at the stores. It's got a deeper flavor from shrimp paste and the Korean chilis are like Szechuan peppercorns, a smoky, slow heat that builds as you eat. Total flavor and sensory experience in one meal, my stomach grumbles as I write this, disappointed we're not eating sizzling skillet bi bim bap with kimchee right now.

Closing out the night at Vessel, my new favorite thing to do - Photos by Wasabi Prime

It feels strange to finish off a long night with cocktails, but I've happily enjoyed many evenings getting wrapped up with a drink or two at Vessel. They're in a great spot, right in the heart of downtown Seattle, on the corner of Olive and 7th. It's so close to where the Mister works, the next time I get a spare moment, I'll meet him for a post-work drink. Any excuse to let the bartenders take control and make something amazing, plus have you heard of foie gras popcorn? Because butter is so middle class. Of the last few visits, I've only ordered one drink off the menu, everything else I said, mix up something fun. This is definitely the bar to give whoever's at the rail carte blanche for what you should be drinking that night,  you won't be disappointed. I've been sticking to whiskey-based drinks, but one night I had a Scotch-based cocktail that was incredibly smoky and hearty. It was like Chuck Norris in a glass, it was so manly. And twice as likely to beat the crap out of you, so just one was enough. I like that the bar menu gets changed out based on whoever is working that night, so when you go, you'll see a person's name at the top of the bar menu pages, showing who designed those drinks for the evening. It's like a restaurant, except that instead one chef, you have many. I need to get over to Vessel during the day -- it's not a vampire, this bar and restaurant comes out in the sun and offers a full lunch menu during the weekdays - Chef Cameo McRoberts is at the helm of their very cool open kitchen space, and the menu deserves a proper taste-through.

So, despite my current overworked/under-bathed status, I was, indeed, a Real Girl during the month of  September, enjoying fashion shows, sipping cocktails and knocking back oysters all over town. With any luck, I'll be a girl-about-town again soon, but until then, I'll look dreamily at these photos and remember fondly that thing called a social life.... and maybe play some Barbara Streisand "Memories" a la The Way We Were. 

FoodTrek: Thinking Outside the Happy Hour Box

You're familiar with this situation, no doubt, getting together with friends after a particularly rough day of work, wanting to reward yourself with something tasty and a frosty beverage (or several), but being faced with the same list of uninspired places you always wind up at every week. Throw down the gauntlet, have your Network moment and say you're mad-hungry/thirsty and you're not going to take it anymore!! How about being creative with your after work gatherings?

A cute little slider that is delicious and all about the bun, at Pop Kitchen + Bar - Photo by Wasabi Prime

Summer is the perfect time to incorporate events with food and drink. Along with scheduled events all over the city, there's no reason not to wander about and enjoy the fact the sun doesn't set until after nine p.m. for a few precious Pacific Northwest months. I spent an early evening walking around Seattle Center, enjoying the fact that it wasn't pouring rain. The Needle is celebrating its golden anniversary this year and there's some new things like a glass sculpture garden by Chihuly set up around the base of the Needle. The inside food court also underwent a major facelift, with new places like Skillet Street Counter opening up, if you're meandering about and are suddenly struck with a deep desire for bacon jam. Hey, it happens. There's also Experience Music Project and the mini Science Fiction Museum that's also housed within. It's a pop culture extravaganza, and while I didn't feel like wandering through a museum, I was still hungry and glad to see that Pop Kitchen + Bar, located right in EMP, was open with tasty snacks on its menu. It's a full restaurant that serves everything from fresh-baked pastries at 10am, sandwiches for lunch, and a hearty happy hour menu -- you don't need to have visited EMP, they're just housed in the same building. Pop's happy hour runs from 4-7pm. The bar area itself is tiny, maybe ten seats, but they serve HH specials in the dining area as well, which is a nice thing -- so many other restaurants don't do this, which is disappointing when their bar seats maybe five people. Pop loves its hungry after work crowd.

Bar snacks against a backdrop of rock n' roll and aliens from outer space - Photos by Wasabi Prime

Their bar menu items range from $5 - $7, nothing outrageous considering the tourist-heavy area that the Seattle Center is. The hidden find aspect of Pop anything coming from their ovens, whether it's the bread used for their sandwiches, giant cookies or fruit-topped cupcakes. Chef Erin Cameron makes the goods from scratch; I was told she was at Macrina Bakery, which is a pretty nice pedigree, and the proof is on the plate. Sliders are always an easy thing to share with friends, but it's unusual to just focus on enjoying the bread, which I did for at least one of the little guys -- the buns have a lightly sourdough like bite, crisp outer shell, and spongey, tender crumb. I couldn't resist deep fried goodness with their thick-cut house made potato chips, with a Ranch dressing type seasoning and herbed dipping sauce. The killer dish was their fried pickles. I know this is popular in other regions, but you just don't see it everywhere here and more to the point, they're not always done well. It's hard to get the perfect balance of breading and the fry time to ensure that the outer layer is crisp, but the interior retains its briny flavor. I've had burned fried pickles more often than not, but these were crispy bites of heaven. I know it's an unusual place to just drop by -- I don't know a lot of offices close by to where you'd just happen to walk by Pop Kitchen +  Bar, but it's summertime, there are concerts at Key Arena, and there's nothing worse than being stuck with buying a soggy overpriced pretzel at the concession stand and corned with an $8 beer. If you're going to be at the Key, make time to hit Pop Kitchen + Bar during their happy hour before your date with the mosh pit.

Bright bites and don't forget the fried pickles - Photos by Wasabi Prime

When it comes to mixing business with pleasure, I can't think of a better event than Foodportunity. Keren Brown organizes these great mixers at Tom Douglas's Palace Ballroom a couple of times a year -- now in Portland, too -- where restaurants offer sample bites, there are often guest speakers, and it's just a good opportunity to meet new people or put a face to a Twitter name. It's primarily food/wine bloggers, but the event attracts so many people from different industries and it's open to everyone, so don't feel like you need a blog to go. I've gone to about three of these now, the last one in June being the third, and I can honestly say most, if not all of the different bloggers, writers, photographers, chefs and anyone I've been lucky to make a connection with on the food/wine scene, has been through Foodportunity. Chances are, you've probably Tweeted or become Facebook friends through a lot of the people prior to the event, and ignoring Mom's advice to never talk to strangers, the virtual connection becomes very real and wonderful as a result of these mixers.

It's OK to have dessert first at Foodportunity - Photos by Wasabi Prime

 Oh yes, and did I mention there's food?? For the price of an affordable meal (tickets are $25 when you buy them in advance, $35 at the door), you will sample savory and sweet bites from as many as over twenty different restaurants and bakeries in the area. It becomes your new list of must-go places, with samples to try so you're inspired to go to these restaurants. I keep telling friends they should buy tickets when the next Foodportunity is announced -- it's probably the most fun food party you can go. I tend to by myself, there's enough familiar faces to where it feels like a food high school reunion, but I encourage anyone to track down the next Foodportunity, grab a couple of friends, and buy tickets with the plan of eating very, very well for the night.

Savory bites of heaven on a platter - Photos by Wasabi Prime

Some of the restaurants in attendance at the last Foodportunity included Lark, RN74, Dinette, McCracken and Tough, Palisade, Tulalip Bay, Copperleaf and Ray's Boathouse. Plus bakeries like Trophy Cupcakes, Wheatless in Seattle and sweets from Chocolopolis. I loved being introduced to Tabby Cat Pickling Co. and meeting their cool owners and the notion of a pickled beet brine martini. It's better than professional networking events because it's not sales-y or full of douchey "that guy" personalities. People are sincere at this event. Most of the people there have day jobs that aren't in the food industry, so you're getting a crowd of people who truly love to be there, and the energy reflects that. Even if this isn't a weekly thing to hit when you're done with work, do a little planning and skip the tired sports bar hangout with your pals and suggest Foodportunity instead. Your tastebuds will thank you for it.

Salmon sous vide and grilled toasts with a summer salad? This puts your happy hour to shame - Photos by Wasabi Prime

I had the opportunity to attend two of the Iron Vintner Challenge rounds this summer, which was redonkulous-fun. And yes, that's a real word. Put on by The Willows Lodge out in Woodinville -- The Wood-Hood as my goofy friends and I often call it -- it's like Iron Chef, but with winemakers cooking up secret ingredients in a set period of time. If you're going to be having wine and food after work, may as well make it dinner and a show, especially if you live out in that area, as I do. Three years and running, Iron Vintner Challenge is a popular event that sells out fast, so get your ticket buying skills ready for next year. The IVC winner of 2012 has been crowned -- Morgan Lee of Covington Cellars won, if you didn't already hear. I wasn't able to make it to the final winemaker dinner, but just seeing the preliminary rounds is fun enough, plus it's for charity, so not only is it a good cause, you can tell the government it owes you for drinking wine. I was able to capture many frantic photos of the bracket round when Morgan Lee of Covington went up against Ross Andrew Winery for an epic crab battle. In between all that, I managed to have some tasty wine and tasty bites from  Chef Bobby Moore's menu, which even when there's not a mad cooking battle going on, the Fireside Cellar at Willows is one of my favorite after work hangouts.



Food, wine, celebrities - just another day in the Wood-Hood - Photos by Wasabi Prime

Yes, you may indeed get a rare glimpse of celebrity! Actress Josie Bissett was there to cheer on the winemakers and was kind enough to pose for a photo with Chef Moore. This is why famous people are famous -- they are uncommonly good looking, no? And when you have a professional looking camera, you feel a little less weird about taking people's photos since it's large enough to hide behind. But of course, the real star is the food, which was expertly prepared and a panel of judges had the tough task of picking a winner among dishes that ranged from giant crab ravioli to a crab salad in cucumber rolls. It's not a typical way to spend an evening after work, but if you get together with friends to watch a game, there's no reason not to shout and holler it up at a wine event, especially when rabble-rousing is encouraged.

Crabby crustaceans, to those about to be eaten, we salute you - Photos by Wasabi Prime

I hope this post has inspired you to think outside of the typical happy hour box, seeking out new places and things to do, as you raise your glass to the workday coming to a merciful end. Trek onward, Happy Hour Explorers, and discover new paths the celebrate the fact you're not sitting in a cubicle anymore!

Mixed Plate: Om-nom-nomming the Town

Friends have brought up that I don't write as much about places I eat at. While it's true, I don't eat out as much as I used to, I still go on benders now and again, trying different things for assignments or just the rare treat of meeting friends for food and libations, heavy on the libationery. So I thought, why not do another all-you-cat-eat buffet of calorie-soaked goodness, showing some of the places I've visited over the last few months? Release the Kraken -- let's eat!

Teddy's Burgers make me happy, as do their tater tots - Photo by Wasabi Prime

People love hamburgers. And why shouldn't they? They're a meaty slice of Americana. Oddly, I never liked burgers when I was little; much like coffee, rare meat, liquor and chaotic decision-making skills, I acquired all that as an adult. But I love burgers now, and one of the places I like to visit is in Woodinville, called Teddy's Bigger Burgers. I've written about them before on Serious Eats and other publications because I genuinely like the spot. It's got a fun 50's feel to it, a really nifty saltwater fish tank, and you can customize the burgers, hence the "Bigger" in the name -- you can choose a 5, 7 or 9oz patty. It's a chain that originated in Hawaii and somehow made its way to the Pacific Northwest. Really delicious beef patties where you can taste the meat, they tell you up-front that it's going to be on the medium side, which of course keeps it tender and juicy. Their spicy tater tots are my favorite. If I really want to treat myself, I'll get one of their shakes -- they're made with thick ice cream and you feel like you're going to suck the eyes from your sockets from creating such a vacuum, trying to pull a sip through the straw, but that lets you know it's thick stuff and worth the effort. Patience, grasshopper, just let that bad boy soften a little while you're eating your burger.

Welcome to the Lab, experiment with the science of impulse control - Photos by Wasabi Prime

My other Burger-Indulge Mecca is the latest location for Lunchbox Laboratory, opened Eastside in Bellevue. I've had their legendary flavor-packed Kobe beef burgers before, but now it's just become a WMD a little closer to home, tempting my tastebuds towards calorie damnation with its siren song. Believe the hype, the burgers are incredible; they're on the pricier side, but they really respect the beef, along with other meats, since you can get non-beef burgers as well. I can't stop myself when I'm there, I just want to have a little of everything -- their daily mac n' cheese, both the tater tots and sweet potato fries, the burgers of course, and don't get me started on the milkshakes. You can spike the milkshakes with booze, and all I can think of is that Kids in the Hall skit about the Girl Drink Drunk, and I smile. This is what's wrong/right with America. And likely why I won't live to 100 but I'll sure be a happy, full-bellied camper when the Reaper comes a-knockin'. I was there for the preview night, right before they opened a few months ago, and it was the perfect way to have a little of everything without feeling ill. I need to head back for their happy hour, for smaller bites -- even their cute little happy hour burger in the drive-thru themed paper sleeve is tasty. If anyone wants to shout-out a burger and boozy milkshake happy hour, I'm there.


Hidden-find favorites always taste better - Photos by Wasabi Prime

Lunch breaks at work yield the best food finds -- you get the best discoveries when you're trading lunch spots with cubicle-mates. My favorite places are ones that friends have recommended, either for to-die-for sandwiches and/or quick but delicious food spots. And they're all located in strip malls! Don't discount the homogenized land of Strip Mall America. Most small eateries can't afford the rent of a standalone building in a cool, hip neighborhood. Hell, a lot of these places won't even take plastic, so always keep cash handy.

When I worked closer to Redmond, two of my lunch spot favorites were Herfy's Burgers and Yummy Teriyaki -- they don't even have websites, the links are to their Yelp pages if you want to check them out. Herfy's is tucked away in a ghetto-tastic strip mall, but don't judge a book by its cover, they do a tasty fish n' chips, as well as burgers. Another strip mall king, Yummy Teriyaki, has a cult following, usually with the Microsoft set. I was turned onto this place by the Mister and his old roommates. The Seattle area has the unofficial title of being the teriyaki take-out capital of the universe. Fine, maybe not the universe, but there's as many teriyaki places as there are Starbucks, so that's telling you something. I even shared my love for Yummy's spicy chicken in the March/April issue of 425 Magazine -- when they wanted a list of tasty spicy foods, how could I not include such a secret love shared by so many?

My other favorite spot is over in Factoria (the address says Bellevue, but it's Factoria -- gotta keep it real) -- ridiculously awesome deli sandwiches at Goldbergs' Famous Delicatessen. When the bread is like a clamshell ready to pop from so much deli meat stacked up inside, you have sandwich nirvana. This is more of a sit, relax, enjoy kind of lunch; save it for a weekend or an extra long lunch when the boss is out of town -- I've gotten the sandwiches to go, and they hold up fine, but having it right there, freshly prepared, is the way to go. Pencil in ample food coma time afterwards, maybe a nap. Goldbergs' has all the deli classics, but I really need to get over there one weekend to have their breakfast. I was eyeballing their morning menu and it all looked good. I haven't had a classic Eggs Benedict in a while, and they seem like the place who would do it up right.

Date nights and bountiful breakfasts - Photos by Wasabi Prime

Usually dinners out are reserved for "Date Night," and the Mister and I often head to Adam's NW Bistro and Brewery because hells bells, the food is tasty, and it's close to home, just in the neighboring city of Monroe. Our last Date Night there was right before they changed their winter menu over to spring -- I'm sad to see their slow-cooked beef shortribs go, but the brighter flavors of spring and more seafood are here. They have a happy hour, which has really tasty small plates, and that's a nice way to graze your way through more things, as their portions are generous. Not that I wouldn't want to commit to another giant plate of beef shortribs, but since we don't go out as much, I'm more for eating additional flavors versus a ton of one thing. Another great Date Night spot is in line with the hidden finds of Strip Mall America -- Pomegranate Bistro is like the best little secret in Redmond. It's a secret everyone knows about, as it's always packed to the gills. It's in an office park, totally unassuming at first glance. Because owner and chef Lisa Dupar runs a catering company as well, it's like a dual operation -- nice dining area, and big windows for you to watch her catering crew make tasty things in the huge kitchen and prep area. I prefer going here for breakfast; it's got livelier energy and it's perfect timing to see her pastry chefs make craveworthy desserts. I saw them putting the finishing touches on a chocolate cake the last time I was there, and I wanted to bust through the window to take it and make a run for it, Thelma and Louise style. FYI, they now have a bar and happy hour, bless their hearts. Pomegranate for cocktails and snacks? Sign me up.

I won't break through glass to steal chocolate cake, but I will break the diet rules for a crispy croissant now and then. I was reminded of the simple pleasure of a good pastry after meeting a friend and spending a low-key day browsing shops and not being under the gun for deadlines. We finished off our lazy day at The French Bakery, the one over at Crossroads Mall in Bellevue, which by the way -- Best. Food Court. Ever. The fact that you can get Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai, Indian and Greek food, all in the same spot, it blows typical greasy pizza/hot dog stands out of the water. FYI, they're weird about taking photos in their food court -- they get fussy with people with cameras, so stick to your phone cameras if you want to snap pictures of food. The French Bakery is actually outside of the food court, with a street-facing storefront, but definitely head there when you're wanting something sweet. Their pastries are divine, but you have to go just to see their ginormous croissants. I'm guessing they're like party-sized pastries, because they're literally the size of a cake. They're not shaped any differently, just imagine a flaky croissant zapped with a Make-Me-Giant ray gun. And yes, I was tempted to get one and just eat it myself in secret, powdered sugar-dusted carbohydrate shame.

So for those who think I never leave the kitchen, I do wander out periodically, and in the last few months, this is what my appetite had found! What's the latest thing you've eaten that you really enjoyed?