Vietnamese then IKEA

SAIGON PALMS
RENTON, WASHINGTON
As I am posting these pictures my mouth has started to salivate.  One of my favorite places to get Vietnamese Cuisine would have to be here.   Muc Nhoi Thit or Stuffed Squid is "pan fried pacific calamari stuffed with pork, lemongrass, garlic, onion."   lightly tossed in sauce that is sweet, salty and delicious that made the pork and lemongrass flavors really pop.

 Bun Dac Biet or Special Vermicelli is my favorite Noodle of all time!  if you have eaten a spring roll you have eaten a Vermicelli Noodle.  This dish is paired with a slightly sweet house fish sauce that has such a delicate flavor but makes the dish a perfect Ten.  The noodles are usually paired with grilled pork, carrot slivers, lettuce and cucumbers.  I upgrade so I can get a shrimp cane and a prawn skewer which is almost pureed shrimp formed around a bamboo stick and then deep fried.  If you love Vietnamese food, this is one stop you have to make.

I am slowly getting my front room put together.  I love IKEA for the odd and yet amazingly cheap and fashionable items it has.  This lamp was only $60, so of course I had to get two.  With a full belly and a happy house today turned out to be not so bad.

To-Go Thai

 SILK THAI
TACOMA, WASHINGTON
I usually go for Vietnamese food but when it comes to Thai food the only place I go in Tacoma is Silk Thai.  They have such an amazing menu, they can satisfy even the picky eater.  I started off with a Tofu Salad Roll and as you can see from the picture even to-go food can look delicious.

 Miang Kum is something I have never tried before.  you take a spinach and you add a little bit of toasted coconut, lime, onion, ginger, dehydrated shrimp, peanuts, Thai peppers, shallots and "Suki's Signature Sauce."  I was unsure of this dish as soon as I smelled the Shrimp, but as soon as all the components married together.... heaven!  the sweetness from the coconut, the salty shrimp, the slowly creeping spice of the peppers and the zing of ginger.  TOTAL WINNER in my book.

Five-Spice Crispy Duck.  Duck is my favorite protein when it comes to fowl Now I like my duck cooked more on the medium rare side and usually with a sweet to balance the heaviness of the duck. This was such an amazing dish is was glazed in cinnamon plum sauce that complimented the duck so well. It also came with a side of spicy green beans, cucumber, green onion and cilantro. FIVE STARS.

Now don't judge this delicious dish by the picture.  Black Rice Pudding is the best thing to happen to coconut since Malibu Rum.  The rice is always cooked so it almost pops in your mouth when you bite into it.  It is creamy, sweet but a little on the heavy side but leaves you completely satisfied.  Thank you Silk Thai for making my dinner at home so delicious.

Summer of Seafood

 GRUV NIGHTCLUB/LOUNGE TACOMA, WASHINGTON
Who thought Summer could taste so good!  Now even though the portion of shell vs. mussel is on the opposite ends of the spectrum it is worth the time and money.  These Black Mussels are cooked in a white wine and garlic butter and toasted bread for the dipping into the delicious confection.

Crab Cakes.  Although you can put anything into them they have a couple are ingredients that are key to keep it together such as mayo, eggs and bread crumbs.  Now I love cheese so instead of bread crumbs I would use Parmigiano-Reggiano or Parmesan.  These bad boys are topped off with a chipolte remoulade which is like a french tarter sauce and almost an aioli.  Topped off with a squeeze of lemon juice and I couldn't put down my fork till the plate was clean.

ELVIS COOKIES

TACOMA, WASHINGTON
Now feel free to yell at me but I didn't know that Elvis's favorite sandwiches were; peanut butter, banana and bacon.  Can I tell you how delicious this is?  The salty bacon, the creamy peanut butter and the sweet banana.  The Ritz cracker added a butter flavor and crunch.  A Charlie Sheen winner in my book.

Irish Beer and Blood Sausage!

FADO IRISH PUB,
SEATTLE WASHINGTON love this pub.  It is like a maze almost the more you walk, the more rooms off to the side you find.  This is one of my favorite dishes, the Chicken Boxty. It is two potato boxties, (which is like a potato pancake) chicken, pepper jack cheese and tomato's with a red-chili aioli.  It is starchy and goes down well with a pint of Smithwicks.

This is Fado's Gourmet Burger.  A monster of a burger but bursting with flavor.  A seasoned burger with arugula, tomato, rasher (which is lean pieces of pork), cheddar and grilled onion.

Now this is what a Traditional Irish Breakfast looks like.  It has Rashers, Irish Sausage, Soda bread, oven warmed tomato, sauteed mushrooms, two eggs and some breakfast sausages or blood pudding which are made with animal blood and barley.

This is the Trinity Steak Boxty my boyfriends favorite thing and the only Entree he has ordered when we go there.  It has steak, mushrooms, and onions rolled in the boxty topped with a whiskey-garlic sauce.  After finishing our pints and Jameson and our belly's full we decided to brave the rain and go home so we could sleep on the starch and Irish Meat.

Korean BBQ!

CHUNG KI WA, WASHINGTON

I absolutely LOVE BBQ!  If you have never gone to a Korean restaurant before, GO!  I remember my first experience with Korean food.  Some of the taste, textures and even look of the food can make you turn your head away. Trust me it is a food experience you won't forget.

Now for the beginners if you are a small group I would suggest you grill it yourself.  But if there is a bunch of you it is usually easier to have the kitchen cook it for you.  The waitress will start the gas for you so don't try and do it yourself.

Now while you are waiting, they give you sides like these.  To the left kimchi which is fermented veggies such as Raddish or  Cabbage.  There is also red pepper flakes, garlic, green onion, fish sauce and salt.  On the right there is fermented sprouts and a tofu/egg kimchi mixture.

This is my absolute favorite thing to order off of the menu.  Kimchi Jeon, a Korean pancake.  Its

slightly greasy with a flour base. 

Another favorite of mine is Jap Chae/Chap Chae aka Korean Glass Noodles.  Now I am not exactly sure what they put in their recipe but it had a sesame oil flavor mixed with a little peanut butter its a really delicate flavor but my opinion of the noodle is between a jellyfish and tapioca.  If you have an issue with texture then I suggest you don't try this which just leaves more for me.

Now this is what your grill should look like.  They have different kind of meats you can choose from but my favorite is Kobe Short Ribs or Bulgogi. 

Well I hope I turned you onto some Korean BBQ, I know I am wanting some more right now!

Summer Salads

GRUV NIGHTCLUB/LOUNGE, TACOMA WASHINGTON
This salad is sweet, savory, crunchy, salty and perfect for that summer body.  It has a perfect cut of salmon grilled to perfection, strawberries, Gorgonzola, candied walnuts, red onions and a homemade strawberry Dijon vinaigrette.



Bridal Shower with a view.

GIG HARBOR, WASHINGTON

My friend Nikki had her bridal shower today and yes it is Friday the 13th but personally I think it is lucky.  We started off drinking this very summery peach champagne.  It had some a peach puree with champagne and a slice of peach.  Bubbly goodness.

Smoked Gouda Cheese.  I am slowly becoming obsessed with the art of 

smoking food.  I believe my palate is becoming a little bit more refined so I am 

starting to appreciate the smokey, earthy flavors. 

Salmon and Celery dip.  Crunchy light and not overpowering

the breath department.

Cakepops!  The new cupcake.  It is simply cake crumbles mixed

with frosting and dipped in chocolate and sprinkles.. The perfect

size to fix that little sweet tooth.

 

Dinner with friends.

TACOMA, WASHINGTON
My dear friends Jeff and Amy just had a gorgeous daughter named Zoie.  In honor of her birth, Jeff decided to make dinner for my boyfriend and I.  We talked about doing Korean food but Jeff decided on Italian which was a great choice due to his amazing chef capabilities.

He started us with a prosciutto wrapped honeydew melon.  The melon was so ripe and delicious, it paired perfectly with the salty ham.

The Second Course: a Caprese Salad with fresh Mozzarella, green and red tomatoes and fresh basil with cracked pepper, olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  Fresh, Savory, Clean.

Third Course:  Cremini Mushroom Risotto with scallop and green onion.  The risotto was just how I like it, al dente.  Jeff and I had a conversation about the cooking texture of risotto how people fancy (if you will) it and that everybody has their own opinion on how they like it cooked. 

I would also like to welcome Zoie to the world.   She is only six days in the picture.

Sweet Summer

MI CASA, WASHINGTON
There is nothing like a warm summer day and a fruit salad.  I also made a Orange and Mexican Vanilla reduction glaze to go over the fruit just to sweeten it up a little bit.

Tulalip Bay Fine Dining

TULALIP CASINIO, WASHINGTON
Dungeness crab and Avocado Salad with taro chips, vinegar cucumbers, fresh mango, organic greens and a wasabi vinaigrette.

MMM TACOS!

MASA, TACOMA WASHINGTON
Left to right, Smoked Pork taco with spicy avocado sauce, cotija, radish and white onion. Grilled mahi mahi taco with pico de gallo, nappa cabbage and crema. Braised Rib taco with avocado, cotija, tapatio and cilantro.