Gastrolust

I remember the first time I saw a blueberry bagel. “That’s a Christian bagel,” my dad bemoaned, adding, “Or a stale doughnut.” We both believed a bagel should be simple—either plain, seeded, or maybe onion. Me…I’m a sesame man.
And I’m a New York Jew, or at least was born that way. As such, I love [...]

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On the heels of my return from Tokyo, where I restrained myself in only eating four bowls of ramen in eight days, I’m excited to see Seattle’s ramen scene on the rise. We’re not likely to see certain items like niboshi (dried sardine) broth in the near future, but we’re lucky [...]

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I’m endlessly asked to recommend the best sushi restaurant in Seattle. Along with Sushi Kappo Tamura (featured in a previous Sexy Feast about head), I heartily recommend Kisaku in Tangletown. The fish is fabulous, there’s a neighborhood feeling, and the quality to price is probably the best in the Seattle area. [...]

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With food trucks a-travelin’ and pop-up restaurants a-poppin’, a lot of people are talking about different dining options these days. As for me, I like the idea of kitchens cooking just about any time and any place. Preferably preparing anything interesting.
Just over a month ago, I enjoyed a terrific soba dinner [...]

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The International District’s Bush Garden, approaching its sixtieth birthday, has a storied past that includes celebrity visits and sukiyaki dinners. Unfortunately, the restaurant is in decline, bolstered by karaoke nights and liquor sales more than its cuisine–which is nothing to write home about. Still, settle into a tatami room with a [...]

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There’s been a recent profileration of Japanese pastries and confectionaries in the Seattle area. Fuji Bakery and Café de Lion are garnering rave reviews, with Fresh Flours, Fumie’s Gold, Setsuko Pastry, and Hiroki among others worth exploring. In contrast to Western cakes and candies and such, Japanese varieties are less sweet. [...]

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Dish: Ikura Somen
Place: Momiji, Capitol Hill
Price: $9.00
In the bowl: Per the menu: “house marinated ikura over salmon sashimi & thin noodles.” There’s also shiso and all-important dashi.
Supporting cast/What to do: That’s the serving, so enjoy it for what it is, along with the pretty bowl and the gorgeous garden in the background.
Noodling around: Actually, it [...]

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Recently, I went to Moshi Moshi in Ballard–the type of place where I typically don’t like to eat sushi, for reasons I’ll be explaining in the next issue of Seattle Dining. (Food lovers should sign up for a free subscription.) Basically, it’s about Asian cocktail bars serving food that’s bland, bastardized, or just plain bad.
My [...]

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Dish: Hot Soba
Place: Nook, University District
Price: $10.00 as part of a three-course tasting menu that includes appetizers and dessert
In the bowl: Soba noodles in warm dashi with oysters and negi (a long onion that looks like a leek)
Supporting cast/What to do: The soup was served with a sampling of tempura–consisting of shrimp, scallop, and [...]

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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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