Gastrolust

Here are five quick bites, culminating with news about a national champion.
Ivar’s is a Seattle institution. No doubt about that. And that institution was in the news this year, with stories about its underwater billboards. For me, the story is whether its food warrants a stop or not. This past year, I had chances to [...]

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Summer also marked the first Battle in Seattle, featuring Chef David Hahne of host restaurant Enotria against Chef Takashi Ogasawara of Rain Modern Infusion Cuisine. In this crudo versus sashimi competition, the secret ingredient was salmon, and both chefs plated up three courses for a panel of judges (including yours truly) and a rather raucous, [...]

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Two very different houses find themselves at war in this month’s Dish-Off. El Gaucho’s newest location in Bellevue is where chef Steve Cain stands behind the hot grill serving up prime cuts of quality beef and more. Meanwhile, chef Felix Penn and his wife, Sarah, preside over an oyster house named for Sarah’s grandfather, Frank, [...]

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This one was just for fun. After all, Salty’s on Alki is already a winner in my book, having taken top honors in last year’s “bivalves” Dish-Off for Sound magazine.
I was happy to simply enjoy the dinner they called “A Match Made in Heaven,” with Chef Jeremy McLachlan and Sommelier Tim O’Brien pairing wild salmon [...]

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Sunnier days are here, and salmon season will soon be upon us in Seattle. What better place to enjoy it all than Salty’s?
And one week from today, May 20, Salty’s on Alki Beach will be offering a “Match Made in Heaven”: their Wild Salmon & Pinot Noir Dinner. Sommelier Tim O’Brien has made some super [...]

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Like fried seafood, but not the heads?
For those who are a little squeamish about such a seafood order, here’s an excellent alternative: Pike Street Fish Fry.
Check out the colorful blackboard to see what’s been swimming, and then step up to the counter to place your order. I had my heart set on whole smelts (yes, [...]

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Did I just have a meal re-run?
Several months ago, I reported on Lobsterpalooza at Waterfront Seafood Grill. Recently, the fine folks at WSG invited me back to sample from their “Cult of the Crab” menu, which is running the month of March. (It may extend into April.) I feel like I can almost reprint the [...]

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One of the reasons I moved to the Seattle ten years ago was to enjoy the bounty of food I can find in the Pacific Northwest, including the seafood. Now that I’m racing around to so many restaurants in the area, I’m constantly eating crab, halibut and salmon, but find myself yearning for more variety [...]

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Last month, we were in Castine, Maine, savoring a lobster roll sandwich not far from where the crustaceans are caught. Not much atmosphere: picnic tables, self-service, wet naps, and static-filled music from a portable radio. But the sandwich was good.
We knew it would be a whole different story at Waterfront Seafood Grill’s Lobsterpalooza: comfortable seating, [...]

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Realizing we’re in the midst of the “R” months, we had a sudden craving for happy hour oysters. But where? Recalling a recent review, we Googled “shucker’s happy hour oysters” and quickly jumped on a bus after reading the first result: a June reprint of a 2006 rave in the Seattle Weekly about Shucker’s fifty-cent [...]

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