Food highlights from the last week: On Friday ten of us went to Shanghai Garden in the International District here in Seattle. We got a table with a lazy susan so that was exciting. The food was tasty and the server had an odd talent for predicting your order before you told him. How did he do it? They are known for their "hand shaved noodles." Picture a humungous green noodle like you see in the window of gyro places, and then they just shave it down. Good with shrimp and sauce. I got the crispy bean curd in szechuan sauce. Following the romp in the ID, we headed to West Seattle (through Mariner's traffic) for bowling (now smoke-free). It was here that B involuntarily purged her meal. This could have been for many reasons, but it makes me wonder, should I go back to Shanghai Garden?

Saturday I made my blueberry scones with 4 superfoods. Yum.
Sunday we went to Linda's for breakfast and sat outside on the back deck. It was perfectly sunny and nice. I got my standard - a cowboy taco, no meat, with tomoatoes. If you haven't tried Linda's cowboy tacos, get your ass down there.

This morning I went to Macrina Bakery to see the cute barista. Oh yeah, and get a morning glory muffin and an americano. Unfortunately he wasn't there. Rats. I need to figure out his schedule. I still love their morning glory muffins. And they have the best deal for an americano in town: $1.83 with tax.

My first reaction to A Man, A Can, a Plan was "Ha! This is a hilarious! It has a whole chapter devoted to Spaghetti-O's!" On second thought, it's so tiresome to see the whole "men can't cook" stereotype still galumphing along. Unfortunately I will probably contribute to this galumphing, as I really can't resist a book with a whole chapter on Spaghetti-O's - just for amusement, of course! And I kind of like the can design. I don't know how they can associate this book with "Men's Health," or anyone's health for that matter. This probably has Semi-Homemade crapping her pants.

Becky made salmon cakes from Trader Joe’s last night and they were delicious. Serviced with a curry mayo, brown rice, and salad with grapefruits and avocados, it all came together very well. Becky and Eric get a bin of organic produce delivered to their house every two weeks from New Roots Organics. It’s really a good deal and so healthy and convenient. I used to get the bin too when I lived in a house, but now I live in a condo and there’s not really any place to stash a bin of fresh food where someone’s not going to snatch it. People suck.

Speaking of fish, here’s a guy who liberated a large carp from a grocery store in Chinatown into the Hudson River. This brings up all sorts of questions about the ecosystem on one hand, political acts on the other, and whether or not this was really so good for the fish on your third hand. The guy is clearly a bit off his rocker. Maybe he is one of those extreme vegetarians. Like those people who stand on the bridge above 15th Ave W in Seattle on Thanksgiving with signs that say Save the Turkeys (or Moby, who’s taken up the cause). What has New York fish boy really accomplished? Is he morally superior to the rest of us or was he just being a tool? I must admit he looked like he was having a good time, which may be the point.

Tried Melt a few weeks ago, a new restaurant in Jersey City. They certainly know how to make a grilled cheese: every square inch of the bread was covered in butter and grilled to perfection. I had a cheddar and monteray jack with pesto. I could have easily shared this and been satisfied - eating the whole thing was a bit overkill. Their cheddar and tomato soup is delicious. And they serve soda in glass bottles. A+! A welcome addition to the current selection of Jersey City eating establishments - god knows the selection needs improvement! I've been supremely disappointed with the choices for eating out in JC - I'm even getting a little tired of Ibby's, which remains the best falafel I've had since moving to the NYC area. Ole "Mexifunk Cuisine" held promise, but turns out it's just a generic, pre-fab ala Starbucks-type Mexican restaurant. Why anyone would eat here instead of hopping on the PATH for one stop to Tortilla Flats is beyond me. I'm a big fat snob, I know. So sue me.

It was the last night of 25 for $25 in Seattle yesterday. That means there were 25 restaurants in Seattle where you could go get a 3 course prix fixe meal for $25. It was a pretty good deal considering the restaurants were high end. I went to Ray's Boathouse last night and tried it out. Ray's is out near Golden Gardens in Ballard, on Elliot Bay with a view of the sunset over the Olympic Mountains so it's a gorgeous location. The food is great too with Northwest specialties. I had carrot soup and then the salmon with a warm rice cake. So good. Dessert was Butter "Scotch" creme brulee. I don't know why I don't make this stuff every day. Dee-lish. 25 for $25 will be back in November.