Wednesday, January 11, 2012
2012 Food Challenge, Part 3
Seattle is a great place to live if you're a foodie. There's a huge diversity of food available- lots of Japanese, Indian, Mexican, Chinese, Vietnamese and "asian fusion" restaurants. The city is full of hipster-yuppies (as Nathan would say) who also consider themselves foodies, and there's seemingly a hipster-yuppie restaurant catering to every food genre. There's a farmer's market on every corner, and a plethora of eco-friendly eateries.
And, oh, gosh. Don't get me started on ice cream. I haven't lived in the Seattle area for the past 5 years, and it seems like during my absence a fancy-ice-cream-shop trend started. (When I left in 2006, fancy-donut-shops were the trend.) My favorite shop is Molly Moon's, where for about $5.50 you can get a gigantic scoop of creatively flavored ice cream. I like Earl Grey, salted caramel, and honey lavender.
Since we may be in Seattle for a while, I'd like to get out-and-about a bit more and explore the foodie options that Seattle has to offer.
The third part of my 2012 Food Challenge is going to be the most fun. I've started compiling a list of things that I'm calling "Food Adventuring". It's still incomplete, because I'd like to be flexible with this one and take my adventures as I can get them. This is what I've got so far:
2012 Food Challenge, Part 3: Food Adventuring.
1. Eat at Paseo restaurant
2. Eat at Delancey restaurant
3. Grow something (yes, vague.)
4. Cook and eat the following unusual vegetables:
a. sunchokes,
b. rutabaga,
c. ramps,
d. kohlrabi,
e. sweet potato leaves
5. Take a knife skills class (seriously so excited!)
6. Grow mushrooms (there are apparently kits you can buy to do this- it sounds fascinating.)
7.-12. unknown!
If you've got suggestions for interesting food adventures (that don't cost an arm and a leg), do let me know!
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J Friedberg used to make pickled ramps, which were really tasty -- although maybe that doesn't count as cooking?
ReplyDeleteOooh, good idea. I should ask him about them. They are super seasonal, and I'm not actually even sure we get them on the West Coast. Pickling totally counts. I mostly want to consume them in some fashion. They seem so mysterious, like a green, vegetabley truffle.
DeleteGreat list! I too need to improve my knife skills. And buy nice knives. I have one good one.
ReplyDeleteYou could try food foraging! I went on a trek with a naturalist once, and ate some berries (certified safe by him), roots (forget what kind?), and dandelion leaves. Sort of random, but memorable.
There is a local grocery store chain that has knife skills classes that I'm hoping to take. I have several good knives, but I need to learn how to sharpen them. And I LOVE chopping veggies- it's such a de-stressor, so I'd love to know how to do it more efficiently and professionally.
DeleteFood foraging is an interesting idea! I'll keep an eye out for opportunities.
Check out these guys for easy home mushroom growing: http://www.bttrventures.com/
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried it yet, but I've heard good things. Wish I had thought of that first!
Kyle W.
And, Nathan just suggested that we go dumpster diving.
DeleteSpeaking of diving, you HAVE to watch the movie "dive." It's available on Netflix, and is all about the dumpster dive. After watching it, I was thinking I might make that my part-time occupation.
DeleteI've seen it! In fact, I've partied with the guys in it. They came to Yale for a screening of Dive a couple of years ago- it was a great movie! Hmmm, maybe we should go dumpster diving together... I definitely don't want to go alone.
DeleteI believe their kits are sold at our local grocery store chain (it's an organic/eco-friendly chain called PCC), and I was planning to buy one. I'm mostly curious to see what they taste like and how fast they grow! How are you, by the way! We should catch up!
ReplyDeleteDelancey will BLOW. YOUR. MIND. Just gotta time it right.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited- but when is the right time? When is the wrong time?
DeleteI just found a cookbook by San Francisco forager Connie Green called "The Wild Table". If your looking for ramps and are interested in mushrooms and the other great stuff growing out there in the great wilds of the west coast, check this one out. According to Connie - yes, ramps grow on the west coast - though I'll admit I wouldn't recognize a ramp if I were sitting on one! :)
ReplyDelete