A (mini) Tour of Tom Douglas

I apologize for how long it’s been since my last post, I’ve been extremely busy with work and school… I know, that’s no excuse… But as a result, I’ll share a post that’s been just marinating in my queue for several months, waiting to be shared. Enjoy!!

**Note: We went to Palace Kitchen back in December, and since the menus change like the seasons, the Flat Iron Steak isn’t currently offered.

 

1. The Bravehorse Tavern:

brick oven pretzel with pimento  cheddar dip $6

The pretzels alone are $4.50, which is  kinda steep for a pretzel, but the moment you bite into them, they’re worth it! The soft inner and lightly salted and firm outer provide a nice bite. The pimento cheddar (additional $1.5) had creamy and cheesy balance with a very subtle heat from the peppers. Even with generous dipping of the pretzel, we had enough dip for another preztel… so we ordered another

pork schnitzel on a pretzel bun: fried pork cutlet, cabbage apple slaw, swiss $9.5

This sandwich was excellent. The cutlet was fried to perfection - crispy on the outside and juicy tender meat underneath. The cabbage apple slaw was refreshingly crunchy and sweet, while the melted swiss added some creaminess to the party. The sandwich was served with a side of stone ground mustard that provided an awesome sharp and bold flavor.

double “r” ranch chuck house: dahlia workshop bun with smoky burger sauce,
iceberg, dill pickle, mayo, cheese $7.5

Cherry went with the double “r”, which was clean and juicy. The cheddar cheese (extra $1), which was melted perfectly, added an additional layer of flavor to an already great burger. The rest of the ingredients all came together wonderfully.

2. Palace Kitchen:

fried pork tail: maple, smoked chili, fresh crunchy vegetables  11.

I always  like to try something outside our comfort zone… well I do more so than Cherry. This was my first time having fried pork tail and I’m glad I did! The skin was crispy and the maple glaze made it taste like candied bacon. Beneath, was a small amount but extremely tender amount of meat cartilage. The pigtail was countered nicely by the bright flavors of the pickled carrots and daikons and the subtle heat from the smoke chili. Oh yeah… did I forget to mention, candied bacon!?

dahlia baker bread: olive ciabatta, dark rye $2

Nice little bread basket featuring foods from Dahlia Bakery. There was a dark rye and a seasonal type with olives baked inside the bread. Both selections were fresh and smelled great. The olives that were baked into the ciabatta had a pleasant flavor that didn’t overpower. It was served with a balsamic/olive oil sauce which had a pleasantly sweet undertone.

palace burger royale: 1/2 pound of hand ground chuck, dahlia bakery onion bun, fries  $15

Cherry went with the burger again. One thing is for sure, she sticks with what she likes! Like the burger at the Bravehorse, chuck is the meat of choice. With minimal toppings, the meat was the focal point of this burger. Cherry’s favorite part however, was the cheese! Go figure… The fries were plentiful and well seasoned, One thing I would have liked, is to have the bun toasted

flat iron steak, greens, mashed potatoes, aged parmesan, portobello mushroom, balsamic reduction $28

Off the bat, this plate was very appealing to the eye. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare, extremely tender and juicy- the rest of the ingredients all added layer upon layer of flavors. The balsamic  reduction and mashed potatoes nearly outshined the flank steak with the deep and rich flavors. The mushroom added a firm texture that countered the sautéed greens nicely and the parmesan provided a very subtle umami to each bite. Cherry took a bite with all of the ingredients and before she even finished her bite, she proclaimed, “Ooh man, this is bomb!” I’d concur.

dahlia triple coconut cream pie: white chocolate, toasted coconut $9

By this time, Cherry and I were already pretty full and didn’t have much room left. But hey, it was my birthday and  if the server offers a dessert as a treat, who I am to argue?!  The pie was delicious – not too sweet and not too heavy. The toasted coconut added nice texture to the otherwise very light cream.

3. Etta’s:

oysters on the half shell:  kushi, sister point, penn cove, stellar bay

My favorite were the sister point oysters. They were extremely clean and had a sweet flavor. The kushi and stellar bay carried a more briny flavor and the penn cove were right in the middle – clean and fresh.

dahlia bakery bread: olive ciabatta, french $2

Same olive ciabatta as earlier, but this time it was paired with french bread and with butter. The breads were fresh and aromatic.

true cod fish & chips, green cabbage slaw $14

These cod fish and chips were delicious. Each had a very crispy crunch outside and a perfectly cooked center with the meat maintaining a tender, flaky and almost buttery texture. As I’ve stated before, my ideal fish and chips have a batter/breading that maintains its crunch even with a drizzling malt vinegar or lemon juice – they did here. The hand cut shoe french fries were well seasoned with a good crunch.  I was pleasantly surprised by the green cabbage slaw that was also served. At Etta’s they toss the slaw in a simple malt vinegar dressing that brought a wonderfully balanced sweet and salty flavor – non of that overly sweetened mayo sauce you find at picnics.

 

combo: 1 pc cod, 2 shrimp, 2 oysters, fries, green cabbage slaw $17

This plate was a fried food lover’s dream. The cod was cooked equally well as Cherry’s plate however it came with two jumbo shrimp and two large oysters. Even with the shrimp butterflied, each half was bigger than a whole shrimp you would find at other spots. The crispy shrimp were delicious on their own, but there was also a side of a rich, sharp and smoky cocktail sauce. Our server also included that there was a secret ingredient to their cocktail sauce – espresso. The oysters were also fried nicely and maintained good texture and bite.

My Conclusion:

If I could describe my experiences dining just three (of a plethora) of Tom Douglas’s restaurants, it would be: memorable. Each restaurant offering very different foods, yet all surrounding the common theme of having fresh and local ingredients  – executed perfectly… and will blow your taste buds outta this World! Tom Douglas currently has 10 restaurants in the Seattle-Metropolitan area, and having been to four of them (Serious Pie), I can whole-heartedly say that, his James Beard awards and many nominations are no fluke – this man can burn.  Don’t believe me? Ask Iron Chef  Masaharu Morimoto (season 2, episode 10… secret ingredient: salmon).

Kraken Congee 4-1-13

Making its debut last night, Kraken Congee is the newest addition to Seattle’s pop-up scene -s tarted by a trio of local chefs; Tyler Robinson and Garrett Doherty of The Ruins, and Irbille Donia of Ray’s. According to an article by the Seattle Met,  the three of them met at culinary school and since then have come together to create this new venture.

the kraken welcomes you

the essentials

The Food:

 steamed bun, beef tongue, apple fennel kimchee $8

The bun was soft and the beef tongue was clean and tender. The apple kimchee was bright with nice crunch, but I would have liked it to have had  much bolder spice and pickled flavors.

 squid ink congee, pork stuffed squid tubes, ginger, thai chilis, fried shallots, roasted peanut, cilantro $ 15

If it weren’t for the cilantro sprinkled atop, this bowl of congee looked visually… meh. Unfortunately, there isn’t any color in a cooked squid tube and the squid link ladled around, looked like a pen broke in someone‘s pant pocket. The pork stuff squid was cooked well and provided the majority of the “heft” to this bowl. The thai chilis brought a satisfying heat to my lips and the roasted peanuts provided a subtle crunch to each bite. The ginger also provided an additional layer of flavor to the bowl. Lost in the mix, were the shallots

xo congee, five spice duck confit, cracklings, bok choy, egg yolk $15

This bowl looked very appealing – more so than the squid ink congee. The bok coy was rich and green  while the bright egg yolk sat wide-eyed, asking to be open like a gift on Christmas morning. The duck confit was seasoned well (though I’m not sure I got a full duck leg… more like ½ a leg)and the egg yolk provided a creamy richness to the bowl. The cracklings were savory and worked well with the other ingredients. I did have the unappetizing pleasure of biting into a piece of star anise that didn’t get taken out.. which has a flavor of black licorice³.

the chefs

My Conclusion:

In terms of turnout, this pop-up was a success – it was a packed house when we entered and people were still coming in as we left. I think these three are onto something great! I also really like the idea of shining light on an Asian staple that is, congee. Growing up in a Chinese household, congee was a regular for me. I especially love the plethora ingredients and side dishes you can add to each bowl. When it comes down to it, congee is just porridge of rice and water. The things you add in it or on top of it are what give it flavor and appeal – so I have a tough time wrapping my head around are the steep prices. I place congee in the same category as pho (minus the hours spent making the broth.) They’re both satisfying on a cold day, provide big flavors, perfect for the morning after a night on the town, and cheap! … Well sorta… A $15 bowl of congee is like a $20 bowl of pho.

Market House Meats

Proudly serving since “1948,”  Market House Meats is a meat shop and deli specializing in corned beef & pastrami. The first time I saw the huge “CORNED BEEF” sign calling in hungry patrons off the street, I immediately added it to my little list of places to try. Conveniently located on Minor Ave, it’s an extremely popular spot for people working nearby to drop in for some delicious sandwiches.  Entering the shop, you immediately notice a meat cooler filled with their vacuum sealed meats for sale and a small sign instructing sandwich goers to circle whichever sandwich you want and write your name on top. To make it even simpler, they only offer about four different sandwiches; famous Reuben, pastrami (hot or cold), corned beef (hot or cold), barbecue brisket and currently a Philly cheese steak. Here’s what I ordered on two separate visits.

storefront off minor and howell

The Food:

grilled reuben: house cured corned beef,  sauerkraut, swiss cheese, thousand island on marble rye $8.95

This was a great reuben! The corned beef was flavored awesomely with a perfect balance in their brine. They don’t skimp on the portions either – each sandwich had a mountainous mound of meat between the marble rye. The sauerkraut wasn’t too salty and accompanied the corned beef and swiss cheese perfectly. The one thing I noticed that took away from the sandwich is the fact that they put the grilled sauerkraut directly on the bread – causing the bottom slice of my sandwich to become extremely soggy from the juices. Perhaps having the meat and sauerkraut to be tossed/heated together could be a way to prevent this from happening – like in this video here.

pastrami & corned beef sandwich with swiss $8.95

The menu offers either a corned beef or pastrami sandwich, but you can get it mixed – which is what I got. You can also choose to have it cold or warmed – I went with the latter. Again, they piled meat (pastrami & corned beef) very high and topped it with melted swiss cheese. Like the reuben, both the pastrami and corned beef were rich in flavor and very filling. The bread was warmed and did a pretty good job keeping everything together. These sandwiches came with a side of lettuce, tomato, onion which I slipped in between everything and came together well. Instead of potato salad, I went with the coleslaw this time which was very average.  Pre-packaged slaw mix topped with some dressing.

My Conclusion:

As for the the sandwiches, I had no problem either one – both flavorful, fresh and filling. It was the employee making my pastrami/corned beef sandwich on my second visit, that turned me way off. It’s important to note, that everything made behind the counter is clearly visible and conversations can be heard anywhere you stand. As the older man began making my sandwich, he started grumbling angrily about how tired he was… something along the lines of “…I’ve been working 15-hours and have another f*ckin 14 to go!” The younger worker (who I believe is an owner from the video I posted), stood silently, as did I, and watched the old man prepare my sandwich. I heard him complaining about how “everything is empty”, when he had to refill the coleslaw and dressing after he mistakenly put potato salad in my order. I then watched him attempt to throw the to-go box, with the potato salad, away into a large garbage 6-inches away… he missed… horribly. This failed attempt obviously further upset the already disgruntled deli man, resulting in him forcibly shoving the box down into the garbage.  At this point he’s causing a spectacle, and the older woman who finished cashing someone out stood to watch the show. Personally, I don’t mind frustration at work, but if everything you do & prepare is in the open for customers to see, please put on your big-boy pants and act with some professionalism. There’s nothing more unprofessional and displeasing to see as a customer, than a grown man well into his 50′s,  stomp around throwing tantrums because he’s tired. I didn’t see anyone holding him captive and he wasn’t some indentured servant… go home if you missed nap time! Mind you, everything he’s done up until this point has been with the same pair of disposable gloves, so the next thing he does next really left me perplexed. He walked over to the sink to wring out a wash rag for some unknown reason, then without changing gloves, finished making my sandwich… grabbing the heated bread, placing the meats and then putting into box. Can you say, health code violation?! Now I am not naive to the fact this kind of stuff this happens all time time all over – but behind walls of the kitchen. It’s different when you see it first hand… I should have asked for a new sandwich made to Health Department Stands, but I didn’t feel like stirring an already hostile pot…  I was also in a rush & grumpy because I too, missed my nap time with my warm milk.

 

Whistle Stop Ale House

The other night Cherry and I went to pick up our finished pieces from a “blow your own glass” spot in downtown Renton. As we were walking back to the car we were hungry and spotted this newer looking building standing out against the much older buildings nearby. Sitting on 4th Ave S between Williams and Wells, Whistle Stop Ale House is a locally owned and operated neighborhood pub serving American style foods accompanied with a nice selection of European beers and local microbrews. The first thing I noticed walking in, were the vintage bicycles hanging from the ceiling and the large old-fashioned wooden bar. There’s also a little wall separating the bar from the rest of the restaurant lined with old bar taps across the top. We were greeted when we entered and immediately seated. Before you read any further, I apologize for some quality of the pictures, I had to work with my cell phone camera which couldn’t handle the dim lighting too well.

entrance from 4th ave s.

decor

bar

The Food:

toasted pesto bread: baguette topped with basil-pesto, tomato, red onion and melted provolone $6.99

Very simple but tasty appetizer. The 6 slices of baguette, which had a nice crunch, were stacked upright on a huge bed of mixed greens – like how you stack logs before a bonfire. The cheese was nicely melted and the pesto wasn’t overpowering. The onion and tomato added nice countering flavors each bite. The amount of greens they used under the bread was enough to be a full dinner salad! I should’ve asked for a side of dressing

burger de jour: 1/3 lb. misty isle natural angus beef, roasted red peppers, crispy onion fries, provolone lettuce, tomato $10.99

The open-faced presentation was appealing in that it allows you to see everything inside the burger. The burger tasted fresh and clean but lacked seasoning. The seasoning it lacked however, was compensated by the onion fries which were crispy and salty and roasted red peppers which had some spice. The burger didn’t need ketchup or any sauce for that matter because of how moist the red peppers were. The provolone was also perfectly melted and blended everything together nicely. Aside from having a nice crunch, the fries were average.

windsor station: 1/3 misty isle natural angus beef, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, red onion, *honey smoke bacon $ 10.49

The Windsor Station is your quintessential cheeseburger. It normally costs $7.99, but I splurged and paid an extra $2.50 to make it a bacon cheeseburger. The honey smoked bacon was thick cut, very flavorful and the burger was cooked to a perfect medium rare.  The cheddar cheese was nicely melted and everything else came together like a solid burger should. Normally a good thing, the burger buns were a little too soft for my liking for both Cherry and my burger. The mere lifting of the burger in my hands caused major imprints in the buns and I worried they’d begin to fall apart. I was able to finish the burger without the bun falling apart but it did require a the delicate handling of a professional.

My conclusion:

The Whistle Stop Ale House is a fun and family friendly pub that offers good local food and a beer selection that will please the masses. The best part of this visit was actually on our way out. I struck up a conversation with the restaurant owner, Jeff, who happens to be an awesome guy! He gave us a little background of how he got started and even offered a handful of recommendations for other mom & pop restaurants in the downtown Renton area. It’s always a gratifying feeling for me, when supporting the local businesses - us lil’ people gotta stick together! If you’re at all interested in finding out where else to eat in Renton (aside from Whistle Stop), then come by and ask Jeff yourself!

Li’l Woody’s

I’m finally gonna share this lil’ gem of a burger joint that I’ve proudly proclaimed as my numero uno burger spot: Li’l Woody’s. Sittin’ in Capitol Hill off E. Pine and Minor, Li’l Woody’s is a small independently owned burger spot serving delectable burgers using hand formed Painted Hills ground beef. As you step through the wood-framed glass door, you’ll notice their menu on the right wall. Ahead you see a small ordering counter followed by the the kitchen/grill area. On the adjacent wall, there are two soda coolers offering various bottled sodas. There is a small dining area atop the stairs and even fewer seating on the ground floor.

entrance off e pine

menu

order/pick up counter & kitchen

The Food:

basket of fries $3.5

These hand-cut fries remind me of the kind you get at Dick’s - minus the oil seaping through the paper bag. They’re crispy, well seasoned, freshly made and tasty. For a little extra, you can get them topped with homemade queso sauce or with a side of Molly Moon’s milkshake for dipping… aka crack.

good mornin’ woody: 2 eggs, hills bacon, tomato, tillamook cheddar , rooster mayo $4.5

Despite being a “breakfast” sandwich, the good mornin’ woody is very hearty.  It’s essentially a complete breafast meal between two buns. The bacon was thick cut and crispy while the gooey cheddar melted over the egg. The tomato adds a nice flavor contrast and the rooster mayo (spicy mayo) had the adequate heat to wake those taste buds – acting like the hot sauce you pour atop your eggs.

li’l woody: 1/4 lb. burger, tillamook cheddar, chopped onions, pickles, ketchup, mayo $4.5

Cherry normally goes with the Li’l Woody and rightfully so. The one thing that always stands out with Li’l Woody’s, and a main reason why they’re my top, is quality of their beef. I’ve had several off their signature burgers and each and every one has been fresh, flavorful and juicy. In these cases, juicy does not mean greasy. That being said, the cheddar cheese is perfectly melted while the onions and pickle add both texture and countering sharp and pickled flavors. It’s a perfect burger for those who prefer a more classic cheeseburger.

 

picnic burger (burger of the week): potato chips, pepperoncini, cheddar, coleslaw, ranch $8.5

Li’l Woody’s has a rotating burger of the week menu that’s usually creative and a li’l out there… and this week just so happened to be the picnic burger. I actually had to read the menu twice just to make sure I was reading it correct: coleslaw and potato chips in a burger?! The friendly woman behind the counter assured me it was “delicious” and highly recommended it. When they called my name for my order, I was expecting to see a sloppy stack of ingredients between two buns itchin’ to be an accident on someone’s shirt or pants. I was pleasantly surprised to see that this burger was cleanly made. I did however, have to excersize the  hand press technique to be able to fit everything in one bite. The first thing I noticed was the crunch of the potato chips and then a bright mild spice of the pepperoncini. Adding to this picnic, was the cool crunch of the coleslaw. The ranch provided a creamy flavor, while unfortunately, the cheddar was someone lost in the shuffle. A second reason why Li’l Woody’s is on top is their buns – which seem like potato buns to me. In an article in Seattle Weekly, owner Marcus Lalario would only share that their buns come from Tacoma. Wherever they come from, they’re always very delicious, soft and stable enough to keep from falling apart.

My Conclusion:

You know that feeling you get when you stumble across something great and want to share it with everyone so they can experience it too… but at the same time, feel torn to because you want to keep it all for yourself?  That’s how I am about Li’l Woody’s… hence, why it’s taken me so long to write this review.  Everything on their menu is delicious and highly satisfying. If you’re one that doesn’t partake in the eating of meat, don’t shy away – they also offer a black bean burger, which I haven’t tried personally but I’m sure won’t dissapoint. I’m sure there are countless arugments of who has the best burger in Seattle, however Li’l Woody’s sits atop that category for me… and frankly, anyone else’s opinion doesn’t matter

Kylie’s Chicago Pizza

Last night, Cherry and I finally made it out to Kylie’s Chicago Pizza.  Located off Fremont Ave N and 36th on the bottom floor of a commerial building, Kylie’s is a small restaurant with seating for roughly 25. Generating a lot of positive buzz, they serve Chicago inspired deep dish pizza. As soon as I stepped in, I noticed bright red walls displaying local prints/paintings for sale and a very small hostess stand in the front with the kitchen directly behind. The right half of the space looked to be going under a remodel – as there were primed walls and very few tables.

 

entrance from fremont ave n.

 

tables n’ windows

 

local art

 

The Food:

 

chicken wings: $9

These baked chicken wings were plump and juicy. Their sauce carried a nice heat which was countered well by the sharp and salty blue cheese. The wings were also served with halved baby carrots. During Happy Hour, (4pm-6pm) wings are $3 off.

small chicago classic: sweet fennel sausage, onions, green bell peppers, mushrooms $17

If you’re not familiar with “Chicago style” pizza, it is traditionally deep dish with cheese on the bottom, then toppings and the sauce on top. Despite what some pizza enthusiasts say, it’s ok to eat Chicago style pizza with a fork. This 10″ pie was rich and filling. Despite being covered in it, the pizza sauce they use is light and not overpowering. There were also  big chunks of tomato in the sauce which I liked – adding a touch of sweetness to the bite, but Cherry wasn’t a fan of them. The sausage was extremely flavorful and one of my favorite parts of the pizza. Their crust, which is made fresh and in-house, carried a pleasant crunch and texture. One thing unique about Kylie’s, is the addition of cornmeal in their pizza dough. That extra texture really shines in each bite.

My Conclusion:

I wasn’t blown away. The sausage and crust were delicious, but I would have like to have just a lil’ more sausage on my pie. I will have to try their thin crust pizza next time for a better all-around conclusion, but as far as deep dish is concerned, Kylie’s offers a good pie.

Baguette Box

I had a longer lunch yesterday and was pleasantly surprised when Cherry decided to stop by and take me out. She decided on a burger from Lil’ Woodys and I decided to walk down a few doors to try a spot I’ve read a lot of positive things about, Baguette Box. Located on the corner of Pine St and Melrose Ave, Baguette Box is a small bistro-style spot offering banh mi  inspired baguettes – elevated. As soon I stepped in, I immediately noticed how full it was and a dreadful long line of people waiting to order By the time  placed my order, there were 12-tickets ahead of me, but the wait wasn’t terribly long – only about 15-minutes. There are several large paintings along the walls and a set of stairs along the Southeastern wall, leading to what I’m assuming is a second level of seating. The kitchen is compact and holds just enough room for the one person preparing food and one taking orders.

 

entrance off pine

 

ordering counter 

 whaddup dawg!

 

 

The Food:

 

crispy drunken chicken: battered crispy chicken, sweet tangy sauce, caramelized onions, cilantro $6.9

Then bright greens from the cilantro and pickled jalapeno really popped against the golden brown of the crispy chicken and the dark caramelized onion. The baguette was toasted well, carrying a crispy crunch with a soft bite underneath. The sweet tangy sauce was  more salty than sweet but had a nice flavor of ginger. The onions added an additional layer of savory flavors that were countered well against the bright flavors cilantro and pickled jalapenos. They also added some leafy greens that also added a softer texture.

 

My Conclusion:

Baguette Box offers a solid selection of baguettes with a variety of ingredients. Everything is fresh, made to order, and they also have vegetarian-friendly selections as well. There is also a selection of sides that look very appealing that I will have to try next time such as the truffle fries and the red potato salad with apricot aioli. You can check out their offerings here.