Palomino's

Recently I tried the happy hour at Palomino's after hearing a lot of good things about it from my friends that frequent the one on the Eastside. To be honest, I really hadn't had a lot of interest in checking this one out because it's a chain. Not to say that chains can't be good, but when there are so many one of kind places around....why waste time on chains! Monday night was my second time at Palomino's, which I guess says something in it itself. I would have to say, it's not bad, very good in fact, and having been there twice, I have gotten a fairly good sampling of their menu.

The atmosphere is okay, being that it is located on the 3rd floor of City Centre Mall. It's a fairly large bar, but one of the main things my friend and I thought the first time we visited was how loud it was. Saying that makes me feel old, but truly it is a bustling place. :) I guess that also says something about the popularity of this happy hour, it's definitely not hurting for people. Probably due to one of it's biggest draws, aside from the food, is the fact that it's all night, 3 to close! You don't find that everywhere, and I guess that is one of the luxuries chains can afford.

I was rather impressed with the food as well. They have a very nice selection of flatbreads and pizza's, 2 of which I've tried, both delicious. The flatbreads are $7, but they are huge, and the pizza's are $5, also very good sized. I've tried the Prosicutto Flatbread, which has a pesto base, topped with prosciutto, arugula and shavings of pecorino sardo...loved it! And last night Colin and I tried the Italian Sausage and Mushroom Flatbread, also very tasty! My first time there we also got the Puget Sound Clams, which I really enjoyed. Generally I'm more of a mussels girl, but these were prepared with tomatoes and cubed salami (I think) which made them special and delicious. Both the Dungeness Crab Artichoke Dip and Pigs in a Blanket were also worth the try. The prices are not as inexpensive as some happy hours ($3-$7.50), but the portions, at least with flatbreads and pizzas, seem to make it worthwhile. They also have drink specials, all night as well. A selection of cocktails, beer and a house red and white wine, all for $4.

I will admit, although skeptical at first, I will be adding this happy hour to my repertoire of worthwhile repeats. Give it a try!

Market Spice in Pike's Place Market

Keeping with my theme of inexpensive ways to enjoy food, I felt like I couldn't go without mentioning what I have found from talking to other locals (well, at least my friends) is somewhat of a hidden treasure here in Seattle. Market Spice is a spice and tea shop located in Pike's Place Market right next the famous Pike's Place Fish. Anyone who has been to Seattle and has been to the Market is sure to have walked past or even into this shop. Although if like me, you've never really done much but browse and taste their tea samples. It wasn't till I had been living here for awhile that I really took the time to explore there vast spice slection.

The shop has almost every kind of dried herb or spice you can imagine, but what both shocked and thrilled me was how inexpensive they were. Part of this comes from the fact that it is all sold in bags, by the ounce, just like a bulk store, so you aren't paying for the packaging. I happen to have a spice rack that I can refill the jars, so if you don't, in the long run, it would be a great investment. Or just save the containers next time you run out of a store bought herb or spice.

Of course, I like many cooks today, choose fresh herbs when I'm able, but it is great to have good quality dried ones on hand. That is one of the main things I noticed once trying a few, they are a much better quality, with better flavor, but SO much less expensive. For example, a few years back I tried and fell in love with the blend Herbs de Provence, but they are a bit pricing in the regular grocery store. I'm not sure of exact weights, but I bought a good sized bag, more than enough to fill my empty jar, for $1 or less. Same thing with a spicy italian blend I've found there and like, I think the same size came to $0.82, or something ridiculously cheap like that. So, needless to say, being the bargain hunter that I am, I was sold immediately after that point.

If you happen to find yourself in the Market sometime soon, give this shop a try. I am also always very interested to find where others are finding good deals, so if have any tips, let me know!

P.S. I have started posting links to the places in my posts, under Location Links at the top of the blog.

Healthy Zucchini "Lasagna"

Living alone, I often try to rely on simple but healthy things like soup and salad for my basic diet, especially when I have to take meals to work for 12 hour shifts. Every now and then I just need to change it up a bit, but still like to keep it healthy. I'd rather reserve all the splurging for happy hour tasting. :) One of the recipes I've come up with that works perfect for work meals or just for satisfying that craving for comfort food, is what I call Zucchini Lasagna. I just put together an assortment of the veggies and flavors I like and have on hand, so there is always room for tweaking. The amounts are not, nor do they need to be exact, so if you opt to try this one out, get creative!

Healthy Zucchini Lasagna

2 small zucchini
1/2 of a red pepper cut in strips and then halved
3-5 mushrooms (depending on size) or canned if all that's on hand, sliced
Handful of fresh baby spinach leaves
Small bunch of fresh basil chopped
Cooking spray
Marinara sauce of your choice
Ricotta cheese (low fat or fat free if you choose)
Parmesan cheese for sprinkling
Mozzarella cheese for sprinkling
Fresh ground pepper
Dried oregano (optional)
Garlic powder (optional)

Makes 2-3 servings, so increase amounts as needed for more.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a small casserole pan with nonstick cooking spray (I have one that's close to 5x9...odd size but perfect for me and a great find at the dollar store!) . Take the cleaned zucchini and slice lengthwise. I use a cheese slicer for this, but a mandolin would work even better if you have one.

Put a small amount of marinara sauce in the bottom of the dish to coat and then lay the strips of zucchini to cover the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle lightly with garlic powder, oregano, black pepper and Parmesan. Take the ricotta and place several dollops to evenly cover the zucchini. Depending on the type of ricotta, it may be too thick to spread, but that's fine. Evenly place the red peppers and mushrooms over the ricotta and then sprinkle with mozzarella and basil. Lay the spinach over this and top with a layer of sauce. Repeat layers of zucchini with seasonings, followed by ricotta, ending with the peppers, mushrooms and basil.

Top this with more sauce to cover and then mozzarella and Parmesan.

Bake approximately 30 minutes.

It will be waterier than a typical lasagna because of all the fresh veggies, but tastes great! Another variation I've tried is oven roasting the zucchini, peppers and mushrooms before compiling the lasagna, also very tasty!

Moshi Moshi Sushi

This past Monday my boyfriend, Colin and I tried a new sushi place for happy hour. Our favorite has always been Umi in Belltown (which I will post about another time), but Moshi Moshi is definitely high on my list after checking it out. It's in Ballard, right on Ballard Ave. across from Madame K's, so very convenient if you happen to be in the neighborhood and are looking for some great sushi. The atmosphere is lovely with pale green walls, dressed with japanese umbrellas and a floor to ceiling lit Sakura tree from Japan sitting in the center of the restaurant.

Prices are great ranging from $1.95 to $5.95. They only have a couple of roll options, so we tried a traditional California roll and an Eel Avacado roll, both very tasty and only $3.95. What's nice and somewhat different about their happy hour menu is they have several non-sushi options for those who aren't big fans of sushi. We tried the Beef Kushi Sashi, which are seasoned flat ironed beef skewers...delicious and only $2.95! And of course, both of our favorites, steamed edamame for $1.95. They also have drink specials, for $5 or less. We were impressed by the rather extensive list of speciaty cocktails, a couple of which are on the happy hour menu. Colin tried the .40 Calibur composed of rye, dubonnet, marshino, absinthe and bitters, which he really liked. They also have glasses of house wine for $3.95, which was and is often my choice for happy hour. I had the white, not bad, nor my favorite.

Overall, a great choice and one we will be stopping in for again!

La Buona Tavola

One of the places I first fell in love with when I moved to Seattle was this quaint little Italian truffle bar hidden in Pike's Place Market called La Buona Tavola. It's one of those places where they have samples of olive oil, vinegar, truffle cream and other various condiments out for you to try...which is always fun to me. :) They specialize in imported Italian gourmet foods and wines, and truffles too. One item I had never had until trying it there, has become one of my favorites, an aged basalmic vinegar that is almost a syrup consistency and tastes amazing on almost anything. I know this because of what I find to be one of their best offerings, their wine tasting. And one of the greatest things is that it only costs $5! This isn't just any wine tasting. One of the first things they tell you is that Italian wine is meant to be had and best appreciated with food.

So the tasting goes something like this: You are given a glass with a small amount of wine, told to swirl and taste. The wine staff is very knowledgeable and happy to teach as much as you care to learn. After the first taste, you're given a small piece of food which they have specially chosen to pair with the wine, which you are then told to taste by itself. Finally, you taste the food and sip the wine together, the result is amazing...you just have to try it to understand. And then occasionally they will put a few drops of that syrupy balsamic on the bite of food and combine all three, also amazing! What really is interesting is which foods and wines they combine. One that always sticks out in my mind is the combination of a sweeter white wine with a feta stuffed banana pepper, eventually drizzled with balsamic....it is incredible and so unexpected how the wine enhances it so well. It's a great and inexpensive way to spend an afternoon! Check it out!

Exploring the Emerald City

I'm neither a writer nor a chef by any means, in fact I'm a nurse by profession. So the fact that I'm attempting to start a blog having to do with food is not something I ever would have seen myself doing. But I somehow feel inspired to do so after reading so many fun and interesting ones lately. I thought about what it was I really liked and would have any interest in sharing, and the obvious answer was food and drinks. One of my favorite things to do is explore happy hours throughout Seattle, where I live. I have even been called the happy hour queen on occasion by a couple of friends since it seems I am always talking about where I've been recently, where I'm planning to go and forever looking for the next one to add to my list. It to me has become one of the most fun and not to mention economical ways to taste your way through a city. Although I may try to share a few recipes here and there, since I enjoy to cook, love to read cookbooks and can't seem to watch enough of the Food Network, I'd love to just share some of the places and experiences I have while exploring the world of food in Seattle. Hopefully it will inspire you to venture out as well!