YUM Food: Slim's Last Chance Chili Shack and Watering Hole

So, you're looking for a place to eat a little comfort food and you don't want to deal with any "foodie hype".  Slim's Last Chance Chili Shack...a few quirky locals, servers who might be artists and some damn good chili!!!
I work in the food industry and right now I am sick of the snobby "hand crafted cocktail" places. Don't get me wrong, I love a good cocktail, but not every eatery is the right place for a complicated cocktail. I know I am going to get crucified for saying this, but please, "someone just give me a cold draft beer!!!" If you are a first timer to Slim's, order the Texas Red with The Works. The other choices on the menu are good, but you may as well start with something traditional, then go for the other stuff on your next visit, because, "You'll be back!"

A little bit of New Orleans in Seattle...kinda

Superbowl Sunday...Go Hawks!!! Whoops, I know, the Seattle Seahawks aren't in the Superbowl. Well, once again, I'll be watching for the ads and the halftime show. This year, hunky Tom Brady isn't even around for eye candy.

Congratulations to New Orleans for hosting the Superbowl, I am sure the town has been a bigger party than usual this week! You know what?  We have a little bit of New Orleans here in Seattle. Not in a flash your boobs and you get beads way, but in a yummy food way at Toulouse Petit Kitchen and Lounge. Located in the busy Lower Queen Anne area, Toulouse sits right at Queen Anne Ave N and Mercer Street. Parking is what it is, but if you're not in the mood to drive around, there are a few parking lots close by. So, if you don't make a reservation for dinner, get there around 5pm or sit at the bar. The place fills up quickly. Order a Sazerac...mmm...they make them strong, and take your time deciding what to order, the menu is huge! The Wild Boudin Blanc caught my eye immediately. My friend CeCe makes this homemade and I've been dying to have it again.  

 

The Boudin was delicious.  So was the Frisse Salad with poached egg and lardons.  I had bits and bites of the other menu items my husband and son ordered; Crispy Fried Chicken Gumbo, Housemade Boar-Garlic Sausage with Tomato Basil Jam, Savory Crawfish Beignets, Dungeness Crab Imperial, ...OK, stop!  We ordered too much, because, after all that and some other items I forgot to mention, I had the Housemade Ricotta Gnocchi, OMG!!!  SO GOOD!

The service was great, the seating is a little comfortable, the decor is sylish, worth it?  "YES!"  We will be going back...FOR SURE!!!

Seriously Biscuit Crazy: Serious Biscuit in South Lake Union

WAKE UP...it's Saturday!!!  If you do anything today, do this, go to Serious Biscuit in South Lake Union for one of their homemade biscuits with a strong cup of coffee.  We were lucky and had the singing chef for entertainment.  the husband had the "ham, egg, cheddar, apple mustard" and I had the "crispy hamhock, collards, smoked onions".  Not the huge breakfast that is served all over town (good sometimes, but not always), but the perfect biscuit with perfect layers of flavor inside...YUMMY!

Skillet Diner, Seattle, WA

OK, not the place to go if you're on a diet.  I'm always on a diet, but not today.  I ordered the Fried Chicken Sandwich ($12.00) with salad or fries, but I substitued Poutine, that's fries with gravy, cheddar and herbs and costs a little more ($3.00).  BTW...worth every penny!!!

On a sunny day, the Alison Road was a perfect cocktail choice.  However, they also have hard cider on draft, very few places have CIDER ON DRAFT. 

Sip, slurp...delicious.  I have to say, you might have to wait to get a seat here.  Big groups, not a good idea.  A spot for 2, no problem.  Place to bring kids, not really.  I'm a parent, but I wouldn't bring anyone under the age of 16 here.  Seriously, what would they eat.  Get a sitter and enjoy the experience.  Not sure why parents think all "casual" places are "Kid Appropriate".  Just sayin'.

OK, if you want a healthier choice than my fried chicken with poutine, there are several items on the menu.  Caesar with Kale, fried chicken is optional.  Ha, ha.
Dessert is a MUST.  My choice, Fried Waffle & Bacon Caramel Sundae.  I know EVERYONE is putting bacon on everything, trust me, you will be sorry if you skip on this BACON dessert.

Night Bites in Seattle: Bistro Turkuaz

I don't know why Bistro Turkuaz hasn't been on my radar, but I LOVE this place. 

My husband tells me that he thought of going here about a year ago, but forgot about it...OMG, Bistro Turkuaz is so great!!!

Turkish Beer

Bistro Turkuaz has turkish beer.  Yippee!  I have been interested in beers more lately and I love it when I can have beer from the area that the food I am eating is from.  Hmmm, the beer was ok.  I still have a lot to learn about beers, so maybe I should stick to my favorites, a good IPA.


Great Starters

So, we started with the Mediterranean Platter with hummus, feta, olives, pita, and a bunch of other YUMMY stuff.

The Grilled Lamb

Beef Kabob

I ordered the Kofte Kebab.  All the entrees come with a salad and rice or tabouli.  I chose the tabouli.  The best tabouli I have ever had.  Fresh, great texture, a little tart, a little salty, a lot PERFECT. 



My Favorite: Kofte Kebab

I had a little nibble of the Beef Kebab, Grilled Lamb and my Kofte Kebab.  All three entrees were so good, but I think my entree was the best.  The meat on the Kofte Kebab are marinated in the perfect blend of "Oh so good!!!"  I didn't like the little carrot salad, but I don't like carrots.  My husband, carrot lover, said the carrot salad was DELICIOUS. 

Baklava

Which dessert is better?  I don't know.  I say Baklava.  For those of you who don't like rosewater in rice pudding, you'll like this.  There was a touch of spices, no cardamom that I could notice, but I am comparing Turkish rice pudding to Indian rice pudding.  Regardless, the texture was creamy, but maybe a little bland.

mmmmm...Rice Pudding