I will be in Europe for the month of September.

I will not be posting anything new or even looking at a computer for 30 glorious days.

Instead Ill be eating devastatingly rich foods, drinking obscene amounts of good wine, walking/biking/hiking until my legs collapse in exhaustion, hopping trains like a hobo, trying my best at multiple languages and generally just having a lovely time abroad.

Until October then….

Cheers.

A tractor ride is one sure way into this girl’s heart…I swoon every damn time. It really is embarrassing- me weak at the knees over a piece of farm equipment. Jubilee Farm, is in this right, quite the Casanova…literally and figuratively sweeping me off my feet within the first 5 minutes of stepping onto the property.

Its another oddly warm summer day in the Northwest, I get to the farm and begin to wander the grounds in search of Wendy or Erick Haakenson, the owners. I don’t get far before hearing a low, deep rumble and turn in time to witness a yellow tractor materialize from behind a very large barn. It gradually trudges toward me as I shield my eyes from the bright sun light…I’m trying to make out a face, identify the person a top the machine. All I see is a straw hat initially…then the tractor is practically on me, the engine cut. (more…)

The soft egg on top may very well be my favorite part. Piercing it, buttery yolk oozes over the spicy marinated meat and stir fried vegetables, finally sinking into hot rice. This is a unique comfort food…the main components are familiar but the flavors introduced are refreshing. Bulgogi is Korean cuisine and is usually prepared with barbecued beef, sometimes chicken or pork. A recipe I scribbled down from an old issue of Bon Appetit is curious- it uses salmon instead. (more…)

Random weeknight, dinner down, the sun is in quick retreat. We leash the pup and set out for Fainting Goat in Wallingford. Organic and local gelato has finally come to Seattle…I am drawn like a kitten to milk. I love gelato…more than plain ol’ ice cream, more than chocolate cake or sugar donuts. It is the one and only sweet I crave on a regular basis.  Being discriminate about food sources, at times, renders me shit out of luck. If I wanted ice cream I could go to Molly Moon’s, if I wanted pastry there are a number of options around town but if I wanted gelato that was just too damn bad. One can imagine my hysterical delight at finding that my dream of quality gelato had at last come true…bonus being that the place is a short walking distance from my home. Easy, convenient access to my perfect dessert may be a good thing or a very very bad thing. I foresee my ass doubling in size in the next couple of months. My soon to be gigantic ass will be competing for attention however…it may not stand a chance against my huge gelato glazed grin. (more…)

Allow me to begin by saying that I have never been a fan of Mercer Island. Admittedly, I have little ground on which to pass judgment…I have biases based solely on preconceived notions- some I have found to be true, others very much false. Its a wealthy area- there is no shortage of luxury cars or designer handbags, the lawns resemble golf courses and the homes boast the square footage of shopping malls. I have always firmly believed that there is nothing for me here… I don’t care for these things, these lifestyles seem excessive. Personally, I like the grit, the scale, and most of all the diversity of Seattle. That being said..I will grudgingly admit that I have had a little bit of a change of heart. I will return to Mercer Island- regularly even (writing that is unreal) because one thing Mercer Island does have is spectacular food. Namely, it has Bennetts Pure Food Bistro. (more…)

Brad Gillis is young. Both him and his business partner Ben Friedman are a fresh faced 23 years old. “Business partner” and “23 years old” are rarely found in a sentence I would recognize, mind you. When I was 23 I’m pretty sure I was traveling like a hobo and drinking too much- my goals sat along the lines of remembering who’s bed I was waking up in on any given morning. Ah…those were the days. Well, while I enjoyed a lovely mix of alcohol, adventure and loose women- Brad and Ben opted to set about using their energy in a more productive manner. Together, they created a well sourced sandwich shop that satiates not only a hungry belly but also inspires positive change in food. (more…)

My Baba (Polish for grandma) passed away this week at 92 years old. Memories have been bubbling up since I was given notice of her death by my inconsolable Mama Tuesday afternoon. This post is dedicated to her and all the things I loved about the woman- these are the recollections that give my heart a little tug. (more…)