Gastrolust

As much as I enjoy Asian cuisine, I rarely crave food from India. I don’t dislike it. In fact, last year, I looked for different takes on Indian food, sampling creative plates at the suave new Shanik, and tasting thalis at Poppy and Travelers. But the typical tandoori, biryani, and curry dishes served in Seattle [...]

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This week, Serious Eats posted my First Look at Shanik. An excerpt: The food includes “starters” like curried deviled eggs, grilled jackfruit with sour cream chutney, and—yes—samosas (made with potatoes and bell peppers, and served with curried chickpeas). The middle section of the menu features five dishes that vegetarians will favor, like grilled vegetables on [...]

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Drive down one of the left two lanes of 5th Avenue in downtown Seattle, and you might not notice something called the “Global Food Garden” that’s grown at the intersection with Bell Street. That’s where Geogy Chacko has opened a number of little restaurants, most recently the flagship known as FAR-EATS. From his website: “Gone [...]

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At the newly opened Far Eats in Belltown, my dinner started innocently enough with a Mango Lassi. Soon came an onslaught of dishes that my group enjoyed, including Mango Prawns somewhere in the middle, until at long last it was time for dessert. We went with our server’s (and the menu’s) recommendation: Mango Cheesecake. With [...]

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For so long, I’d heard about the great value and quality of Travelers Tea Company in Capitol Hill. I still haven’t made it there, but a trip to the south side of town provided the perfect opportunity to try the sister restaurant, Travelers Thali House, in Beacon Hill. It’s a pleasant place with a wide [...]

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Dish: Bollywood Yakisoba Place: Root Table, Ballard Price: $12.00 On the plate: Per the menu: “Stir fried Indian yellow curry with fresh egg noodles, chicken (beef or tofu), carrot, pepper, basil, green bean, mushroom and onion.” I ordered mine with beef, and in addition to the listed vegetables, this preparation included cabbage and broccoli. Supporting [...]

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Here’s what I like to ask my food-writing friends: “What restaurant are you embarrassed to say you’ve yet to visit?” My answer of late, until now: Poppy. I’ve heard mostly positive reviews, and I know Chef Jerry Traunfeld can cook. So what’s the hold-up? Indian might be my least favorite Asian cuisine, and at Poppy’s [...]

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We were warned: “Go to Taste of India, and you’ll get addicted.” Pull up to the restaurant and you’ll notice their sky blue sign, proudly proclaiming “Winner of the Zagat Award.” For food? Décor? Service? No. We think Taste of India must have gotten a Zagat Award for chai. And little did we know that [...]

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On the heels of judging Guest Chef on the Waterfront and the Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon, I’ll be judging an interesting cooking competition coming up this Saturday on the Eastside. INCREDELICIOUS 2008 is a fundraiser for EKAL Seattle, which works to improve literacy and to educate tribal children in India. The organizers tell me that [...]

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