Eastside Eats: Monsoon East

The French Pearls Martini

Everyday from 3 to 6:30 pm at Monsoon East... It's time for Happy Hour!!!!


Oysters on the half shell, only $1.00 each.

Don't forget the Saigon Sliders with spicy hoisin aioli, $5.00 per plate.

Slurp, slurp...YUM!

It's not happy hour without chicken wings. At Monsoon, the wings are swimming in a delicious sweet chili lime sauce; another $5.00 plate selection.

Hamachi Sashimi with peppers and kumquats.

A little salad on the side...mmmm!

What is my cocktail of choice... The French Pearls Martini!

St. Germaine Elderflower Liqueur, lilet blanc, sparkling French brut,

basil seeds with yellow citrus, $6.00.

My husband was not finding a drink he liked on the menu, so the bartender came up with this...bourbon, triple sec, and citrus. I tried it, a little boozie, but good.

Very Happy Ending...Banana Cake with crispy basil leaf

Go Greek! Lamb and Smashed Potatoes

As we enter BBQ season, all I can think of is Lamb, Lamb, Lamb. This time of year Lamb really starts to show up more at the stores and restaurants. Recently, the butcher at my local QFC store put out some beautiful lamb chops and I couldn't resist. I really prefer to grill lamb, but it's been way too cold for that. Very Sad.

An easy way I prepare lamb is on a very hot pan, and then finished in the oven at 325 degrees for 10 -20 minutes, depending on how rare you like it.

Greek Smashed Potatoes

I had a version of Fried Potatoes at LOLA in Seattle. Crunchy on the outside and still creamy in the inside. Not sure how this is prepared, but I have a really easy way and my family loves it!

I take steamed baby potatoes and smash them with the back of a wooden spoon. Make sure the potatoes are heavily olive oiled, then they are almost ready to go into the oven. Add a little kosher salt, freshly ground pepper, garlic powder, and chopped fresh rosemary. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes at 400 degrees...YUM!

TWD: REWIND...Blueberry Crumb Cake

I've wanted to bake this crumb cake ever since I saw the picture in Dorie's Cookbook. I have to admit, I added twice the buttermilk...whoops! Very Moist, Very YUMMY.

TWD originally baked this last year. Thanks to Fundamentally-Flawed!

This week's REAL baking pick is the DRESSY CHOCOLATE LOAF by Amy of Amy Ruth Bakes, also check out the other bakers at Tuesdays with Dorie!!!

Quinn's: Whoopie Pie Good!

Seating is a little squishy on the main level, but I don't really like the dark upstairs area.

Here's most of the menu. There is definitely something for most.

The beer & cider page is just as long.

You have got to start with the pretzel and welsh rarebit. Sit down, order it, then decide what you want from the menu...you won't regret it. It was perfect with my jar of hard cider.


Pick a salad, any salad, everything is a little heavy, you'll feel better later.

Wild Boar Sloppy Joe - Not too sloppy, not too filling, but good, so order another small plate!

Oxtail Gnocchi Fontina Crispy Marrow, Oh My!
OK, you will feel a little guilty while you're eating this. It melts in your mouth.

DELICIOUS!!!!!

Carrot Cake Whoopie Pie with caramel sauce

Did we like it? You be the judge.

Shiro's for Sushi

Fish bait to some, but these tiny bursts of love from the sea are just my favorite. Ikura!

I'm not going to go through every piece of sushi I ate at Shiro's, We left the selection up to the chef and WOW.

You can take a look for yourself.

Eastside Eats: Top Gun

Everyone has their favorite Chinese place with all the stuff you like. I'm not going to pick a favorite, because I go to different Chinese restaurants for different specialties. If we're in the mood for dim sum, we go to Noble Court or SunYa, if we fancy BBQ, no one beats KauKau. I could go on and on forever and eventually name every Chinese place in the Northwest, but today, it's all about CRAB and Top Gun Seafood Restaurant.

But first, my son hates fish, shellfish, and anything that ever swan in the sea. So, if we are craving crab, wherever we go has to have other specialties besides seafood. Top Gun Special Chow Mein with chicken, beef, BBQ pork, and vegetables. This usually comes with calamari and shrimp, but remember what I said? "Nothing that ever swam in the sea!" The crispy chow mein noodles are so flavorful, not too salty, not too much of any one flavor,

just perfect.

OK, this is the main event, Steamed Crab with garlic sauce.
You won't find this on the menu, but if you want a YUMMY crab dish that is seriously

"Finger Lickin' Good" ask the server for the crab.

I have to warn you, it's messy. The server will brin crab crackers, but you'll be doing yourself a disservice if you do not use your fingers, get right in there, suck on the shell and savor the sauce that is coating the crab.
You won't regret it!!!

TWD: Tender Shortcakes

I have to admit, I baked these before and froze them. Not as crunchy on the outside like they were when they were fresh baked.
I poached some plums with a little honey to serve along with the shortcakes. A dollup of sour cream and ...not bad.

I have to admit, I ate this for breakfast. What? It was good!!!

Cathy of The Tortefeasor chose Tender Shortcakes on page 423. Check out the other bakers at Tuesdays with Dorie.

Happy Baking!