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about Seattle

In the Alley

In the alley
After a harrowing morning with street people, I came across this on my walk into work.

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about Seattle

The Last Backyard Caprese of 2011

last caprese of the year
I’ll be away soon, and when I return I suspect my precious basil won’t have made it through the Fall rains. I’ve had the good fella since June, and it’s kept me in Caprese salads at least 3 times a week ever since.

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This Year’s Permit Photo Session

Intl Driving Licenses are a Racket
I have some international driving on the horizon, so it was the annual mad rush to the Bartells to get some passport style photos before a trip to AAA. (They are only good for one year.)

THESE INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMITS ARE A TOTAL RACKET.

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Book Club: Napoleon’s Privates

Rooster!
Book Club met at the Row House once again this month. (I love love love their backroom for small gatherings. Have I mentioned they have 5 kinds of grilled cheese sandwiches on the menu? It’s heaven.)

We discussed Napoleon’s Privates which seemed a promising series of vignettes when we picked it, but turned out to be surprisingly lacking in the compelling department. Someone described it as perfect for a bathroom book. Yes!

After giving book content discussion a good honest try, we spent a long time chatting about life. I was long overdue in catching up with these kindred spirits of mine, so mission accomplished for this month’s book club.

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Cookbook Club: Alice Waters’ Fruits and Vegetables

Cookbook Club: Sept 11
This afternoon was our Cookbook Club gathering. We covered Alice Waters this time, and we were free to work from either her Chez Panisse Fruit or Vegetables books.

I worked from Fruit, making Peach Melba. Yes, it was remarkably easy (technique-wise) just peeling and slicing up those peaches, if time consuming. Others found prep time similarly lengthy, but I have to say in the end that this was one of the better group meals I’ve encountered. So: glad we all sacrificed to make this so worth it.

After this month’s meeting, we were immortalized in this entry with Maggi on Tea’s site: How to Start A Cookbook Club. Recommended reading!

Maggi had us assign a smug factor to our dish as we each spoke about how we acquired ingredients or completed our assignments, which I rather enjoyed. My smugness came from using “white peaches” from a CSA box, but someone else actually grew her own zucchini blossoms before deep frying them with cheese. I think she wins. Oh, wait, someone else churned her own butter! Let’s overlook that I did not make my own vanilla ice cream, but rather went for Haagen-Dazs’ Five – Vanilla Bean.

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Crawfish at the Swedish Cultural Center

The Crawfish Peeling Demonstration
Mr. T’s parents belong to the Swedish Cultural Center and tonight, we went with them for the Crawfish Crayfish dinner the Center holds every year. (Note: the word crayfish sticks in my craw, almost irrationally and I believe unjustifiably as who is a transplant to tell these folks what to call it? I’m trying to get beyond myself. This irritation lingers despite my knowing that these are a different kind of crustacean and so they are completely justified in calling them whatever they like. Or at least that’s how I can handle it. Also, these come from a nearby lake, not a bayou!)

The Swedish prep them with dill and lemon. The claws were several times the size of their southern cousins, making them more akin to baby lobsters. Aunt Mary Joyce was with us, still visiting from the South, and when asked by a Swede which she preferred, she quietly said, “I think I prefer a little cayenne with mine.” Amen, sister. I believe it has a lot to do with what you were raised with. Trying new things is what it’s all about though (at least in my life), so I’m pleased I finally made it to this dinner.

Let it be known that their hospitality was top-notch at the SCC. The hostesses running the show were very chatty and welcoming. I learned more than just the Swedish drinking songs! Also, I’d like to visit their country sometime but that should be a given at this point in my story.

My favorite moment of the evening: the lady peeling off her Crawfish costume to demonstrate how you eat them, pictured above. Now, I never saw that at any backyard crawfish boil in Louisiana.

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Bento at Chiso

sashimi bento!
A visual of what you get when you order the sashimi bento at Chiso. So full after finishing this lunch that I didn’t really care to eat for the rest of the day.

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about Seattle

Pizzeria 22

Pizzeria 22
We met up with friends Jenny and Mike tonight in West Seattle for a little Italian wood-fired pizza. My favorite was the one with San Marzano tomato sauce, goat cheese, pepperoncini, artichoke hearts, and olives. Lovely evening with lovely friends. Lovely!

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LUPEC Rebel Night

LUPEC Rebel Bartender
LUPEC was without an official gathering this month, but a few rebels met at The Gastrognome’s new basement bar. Courtney tended bar (expertly) for most of us.

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Sous Vide Night

Sousvide!
Tonight was a Sous Vide Dinner at Seattle Bon Vivants, with Sharone Hakman.

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about Seattle

Late Summer, Seattle

Late Summer, on the Seattle Street
The last day of Labor Day Weekend! We didn’t do much of anything, unless you count running outside to take a picture of a neighbor’s antique on the street.

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Happy 90th

Grandpa's 90th
Mr. T’s grandpa turned 90, so he came up from Florida for a big family birthday party. His girlfriend Pat (center) flew on a plane for the last time to attend, and we got to meet his little sister, Aunt Mary Joyce (left). I’d only met Aunt Mary Joyce on Facebook before :), and she is a doll.

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Bourdain in Cajun Country

Bourdain goes to Cajun Country
A good evening spent curled up with the TV, watching No Reservations: Cajun Country. Highly recommended episode on Southern Louisiana. I was so proud when he declared a dish he ate in someone’s backyard as the best thing he’s eaten since El Bulli.

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YAYSNOW Typo

You say YAYSNOW I say BOOSNOW
Excuse me, I think you mean to say BOOSNOW, neighbor.

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Pioneer Square Artwalk September Setup

Artwalk Setup
Once again, I caught the installation of something new in Occidental Park for the month’s Artwalk. These ladies were hanging these contraptions with dangling birdseed. I should google what that’s all about.

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Tom Douglas Ice Cream Social

Unicorns!
Tonight I attended the Tom Douglas Ice Cream Social at the Palace Ballroom.

The Flavors I tried:
By Peaks Custard:
Beautiful Bay Leaf
Chocolate Turtle

Fainting Goat Gelato:
Almond
Salted Caramel
Grapefruit Sorbet

Old School Frozen Custard:
Vanilla Affogato with Zoka Coffee

Procopio Gelato:
Stracciatella
Fig

D’Ambrosio Gelato:
Ricotta
Biscotti

Bluebird Ice Cream:
Theo chocolate

Dahlia Workshop:
Buttermilk Peach Cobbler

Parfait:
Butter Toffee

My favorite was the vanilla custard from Old School.

We had to wrap up the evening at Palace Kitchen with SALADS.

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State of Mind

Summer is a State of Mind
A little wisdom from a center on Ravenna Ave.

Though, I protest a bit: more than a handful of days close to 80 would have been superb.

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about Seattle

BoM at Uneeda Burger

Uneeda Henry

We met up with the Burger of the Month gang at Uneeda Burger. Mr. T & I had our usual order — the lamb burger with poutine. The most delicious surprise of the night goes to the salted caramel shake.

Uneeda

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about Washington

Sunday on Bainbridge

J, M, and J down by the water
We woke up to a misty morning with the sound of occasional fog horns. It burned off by noon, to clear blue skies.

Burning off Bainbridge

We hung around til we absolutely had to make it on the evening ferry.

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about Washington

Bainbridge Island Saturday

Saturday pace
We spent today doing a mostly nothing: hanging by the water and walking along the beach, swimming in the heated pool, switching off with the hot tub, and eating some home-cooked meals.

Lavender

Funny, the tennis rackets never came out to hit C’s court and we never went hiking in the woods nearby. Just not a high energy kinda day.

Icons

We wrapped up the late night with a campfire by the water.