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Monday, October 6th, 2008
Posted by Bill Hutchens @ 06:00:00 am
One pizza joint opens, another closes. Last week, I mentioned a new Godfather's set to open in University Place. Now for the bad news: The Purdy building that once held the popular Pearl's by the Sea restaurant – and then the Beach House and then the Beach House/Margarita Beach – has lost yet another tenant: Wings, Pizza N Things. WPT is a national chain headquartered in Texas. The local franchise sat just this side of the Purdy bridge and was owned by Patrick Ward of Bremerton and James and Natasha Jones of Purdy. We posted about the place back in May, three weeks after the restaurant opened. At that time it was mostly just "Wings N Things." Ward told us county regulations demanded a bigger ventilation hood for the pizza oven, so he purchased an upgrade only to find it was too tall for the kitchen. He said it was going to take a about a month to work out the kinks and get the pizza oven fired up. According to an item at the Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal's site, the business shut down in late August/early September. A short handwritten note on the door announcing the closure calls to mind the way Margarita Beach closed up shop. I made some calls to the owners last week, but they were not immediately returned.
Categories: Restaurant closings
• 3 comments
Friday, October 3rd, 2008
Posted by Scott Fontaine @ 03:42:21 pm
 I swear I could see the sign from Highway 512. It called to me, like a beacon through a dense fog. Biergarten. Welcome to Oktoberfest at the Puyallup Fair. I didn’t imbibe – hey, I’m on company time – but managed to dig into a bratwurst ($7) from Mount Angel Sausage Company. My first impression was that it just seemed heavy for such a food. And it was mighty tasty. It had spices but didn’t knock you over the head with them. And I needed something to wash it down with, so I went to the Root Beer Garden. (Cute name, eh?) For $3.50, I got a souvenir stein full of the tasty stuff. Speaking of stuff, I’m stuffed after all of this.
Categories: All-Purpose Stuff
• 5 comments
Posted by Scott Fontaine @ 03:39:00 pm
 Let’s be honest: Most people come for the beer. After 7 p.m., Oktoberfest at the Puyallup Fair becomes a 21-and-over event. Even in mid-afternoon, the liquid ambrosia flowed freely. That’s what attracted Mike Budd. He just got off work in Sumner and made a beeline for the fairgrounds. “Hey, I like beer,” he said. “And this is a pretty cool place to have a few.” Indeed it was. German music filled the room, prompting several people to dance. A woman swayed on a swing attached to the rafters. And food booths served up sizzling sausages. “There’s something about an Oktoberfest celebration,” Tacoma’s Keith Henderson, “that makes me just want to come and have a good time.”
Categories: Live Blogging
Posted by Scott Fontaine @ 03:12:41 pm
Really, is there any doubt what drew these two to Scandinavian Days at the Puyallup Fair? One’s name is Skjaldvor Guo. The other is from Sigrid Straatveit. They’re both from Olympia. “We’re Scandinavian, so we just had to come!” Guo said. The two, both from Finnish and Norwegian heritage, spent about three hours at the celebration. Inside the hall at the fairgrounds, hundreds of people lined up for Swedish meatballs and lingonberry sauce. They roamed through booths that offered T-shirts, hats, arts and crafts and clocks for sale. Exhibits described the Scandinavian history of the region. Jamie Shilley brought her 11-month-old daughter, Violet, to the celebration. The 33-year-old Tacoma woman is part of a mothers’ group that organizes day trips. She was waiting for the Viking meal – a plate crammed with meatballs, potatoes and vegetables. She also spent some time at Oktoberfest, just across the street. “I’m really looking forward to the food,” she said. “And I’ve already looked at some of the booths. There’s just a lot of neat stuff here.”
Categories: Live Blogging
Posted by Scott Fontaine @ 03:04:18 pm
 OK, I’ll admit I’ve never been to the Nordic countries. A trip to Amsterdam – a mere 387 miles from Copenhagen – is as close as I’ve received. But I got the feel of Scandinavia: Words were written with with plenty of Js and Vs and Os with lines through them, and bunch of similarly designed but differently colored flags surrounded me. (Didn’t see any guys sporting a golden helmet with horns, though.) And if this is how they eat in northern Europe, then they’ve got it good. I started with the Swedish meatball plate with lingonberry preserves ($5). Some folks put sauce on meatballs that’s so thick it’s like glue, but this stuff was just right. I finished with some Scandinavian pancakes ($4) – two crepe-style pancakes filled with strawberry preserves and whipped cream and topped with powdered sugar. As Southern belles like to exclaim, “Good Lawd.” This was pure deliciousness on a plate (even if they could’ve used a bit more strawberry). And because they’re just called Scandinavian pancakes, you can use your imagination about what country they’re from. I pretended I was eating Icelandic dessert.
Categories: Live Blogging
Posted by Scott Fontaine @ 01:11:48 pm
 Zelma Zalit has been driving from Federal Way the past eight years to attend the Greek Festival at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Tacoma. “I’m here for the cheeses, the pastries, all of it,” the retiree said. “It’s just all so good.” She also enjoys the celebration of other cultures, she said as she ate a gyro and listened to Greek music. “It’s the ambiance of a different culture,” she said. “That’s what keeps e coming back.” Meanwhile, patrolling the booths of the tent like a seasoned beat cop was none other than Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor. “The gyros were very good, the souvlakis was wonderfully marinated and had just the right amount of oregano, and the calamari was excellent,” he said. “And that doesn’t begin to talk about the pastries.” Give him credit: Dude knows his Greek food.
Categories: Live Blogging
Posted by Scott Fontaine @ 01:01:20 pm
 There are two places to grab a bite at Tacoma’s Greek Festival: Inside the church itself, where you can purchase by the plate, or outside under a large tent, where the food comes a la carte. I opted for outside. First stop was the table selling gyros ($5). I got mine without tomatoes (just don’t like them that much). The meat was tender but not overly greasy. The sauce was tangy but not salty. And the whole thing was gone in about three minutes. The Greek fries were tasty and a good deal for $3. They’re Greek instead of French fries because, as the guy serving them told me, “they’ve got Greek seasoning on ‘em.” Oregano? I dunno; I ain’t the food critic. But one topping I did recognize was feta cheese. I never thought it would go well with French, err, Greek fries, but I was pleasantly surprised. And I finished things off with baklava ($2). My biggest complaint about the stuff is that usually it falls apart into about a thousand crumbs after the first bite. This stuff, though, kept together but still managed to be flaky. I was tempted to purchase an entire tray of 12 pieces for $12, but my editors wouldn’t be to happy if I tried to expense my gym membership.
Categories: Live Blogging
• 4 comments
Posted by Sue Kidd @ 08:35:56 am
Editor's note: Here is today's dining report. Drop-In Dining is a report about a new or new-to-us restaurant published in the TNT's Friday GO section. Reporters drop in unannounced and sample the food, on the TNT’s dime, then report to you what the scene and food was like. Have a suggestion for a drop-in dining feature? E-mail us at tntdiner@thenewstribune.com.
The scene: While the décor in some Thai restaurants can be gaudy, Mekong Thai’s style is subtle but still feels authentic. Most of the accoutrements are carved from wood, including several small elephants. The bamboo blinds on the windows keep with the theme. A large plasma television hanging above the counter at the east end of the restaurant displays pictures from Thailand. The only thing that didn’t seem to fit the Thai décor was the quiet saxophone music playing in the background. The restaurant is kid-friendly with paper covers over the white tablecloths. Type of food: As its name implies, Mekong Thai serves a wide variety of Thai food. In other words if you like noodles, rice, curries, coconut milk and spicy food you’ll be in heaven. And if you have peanut allergies, stay in the parking lot. Mekong Thai’s selections range from pan-fried rice noodle dishes, to curries to barbecued chicken, pork, short ribs and salmon. Menu highlights: The menu is stocked with more than 50 traditional Thai food favorites, not including the daily specials. The dozen appetizers on the menu include such choices as calamari ($7.95), fried prawns ($7.95) and spring rolls ($6.95). The drink menu is an exotic adventure, including Thai ice tea ($2.95), a selection of bubble teas and coconut juice ($3.95) served in a coconut. The dessert menu has only four options, none of which you’ll find at Denny’s: Mango with sweet rice ($5.95), fried yams ($4.95), a coconut pastry called Khanom Krok ($6.95) and friend bananas ($5.95). People in the kitchen: Somsack and Santisouk Vannalath opened Mekong Thai in July 2007. Dishes sampled: Our group of four took a wide sample from the menu. We started with a strawberry bubble tea, coconut juice, a Thai iced tea and appetizers. Our appetizer sampler plate ($9.95) included skewered chicken marinated in coconut milk, fried calamari rings and spring rolls. The plate came with chili-garlic, peanut and pineapple dipping sauces. The combo was a sample from each of the barbecued meats with pineapple and chili-garlic sauces and sides of rice and steamed vegetables. The Mango Delight was tagged with “A must try!” notation on the menu and the sautéed mango, vegetables and chicken topped with basil did not disappoint. While we ordered the Delight with chicken, it’s also available with tofu ($7.95), shrimp ($9.95) or salmon ($10.95). At this point, we were all stuffed, but we splurged on dessert anyway, sharing orders of fried bananas with coconut ice cream and Khanom Krok. The bananas were wrapped in coconut batter and the Khanom Krok tasted like mini-coconut pancakes with a creamy filling. Most unexpected moment: Our 2½ hours at Mekong Thai felt like a mini tropical vacation thanks in part to my drink being served in a hollowed-out coconut. The only thing missing was the little umbrella. Wild card: My wife, who once spent a week on a luxury cruise and ordered the same thing for dinner every night, actually stepped out of her comfort zone. She tried the Khanom Krok and offered this insight: “It’s good. It tastes just like I’d expect my suntan lotion to taste.” For the record, that’s supposed to be a compliment.  Pictured here: Vicki Vannalath (left), owner of Thai Mekong Restaurant in Graham, with her cooks Somphone Thammavongsa and Pensri Lucas (right) who prepared Sea of Basil. Peter Haley / The News Tribune
Categories: Drop-In Dining reports
Thursday, October 2nd, 2008
Posted by Sue Kidd @ 06:31:31 am
Here is my fourth and final dispatch from the land of sandwiches. I've been exploring new sandwich shops in Tacoma and Bonney Lake. And no, I'm not sick of sandwiches. I could eat them every day. In fact, if you've got a suggestion for a new sandwich shop I should check out, e-mail me at tntdiner@thenewstribune.com The sched: Now for today's offering: Midtown Deli & Espresso The scene: Is this a sports bar? I don't think I've ever seen a deli with a plasma television and a killer selection of bottled beers. I thought I stumbled into a dude sanctuary for a moment. But nope, it's a deli. But it is a deli with a television tuned to a football game, a beer cooler in the corner (with some great microwbrew choices) and comfortable seats and tables. Kick back and spend your Sunday here. Bread choices: White, whole wheat, sourdough, marble rye, multi grain, Italian roll We ate: A Meatball Sub ($7.25) was loaded with hand-rolled meatballs, slathered in marinara and covered with a nice pile of mozzarella cheese, all tucked into a grilled French roll. The sauce was a nice, rich, concentrated marinara, deeply flavored. The meatballs were meaty and not too dense, and a nice size for manly eating. Don't think you'll look ladylike eating this one. You'll need a couple extra napkins. Or a bib. A near fight broke out over my leftover half of the Grilled Blue Baron ($6.95). Roast beef, cheddar, mayo, horseradish, blue cheese sprinkles grilled between sourdough. Can you say rich, hearty and hellooooooo decadence? This is good sandwich eating. I liked that the grilled bread was big and sturdy enough to support the layers of meat and cheese. I really enjoyed the bite of the horseradish with the stink of the blue cheese. Just a really nice flavor combination. I'd order this again, for sure. A turkey cheese on white ($5.95) was a nice solid deli sandwich. The ratio of bread to cheese in this deli also is exactly right. The sandwiches, because they are meaty, are a really good value, too. The verdict: Eat there. Often. Order a Grilled Blue Baron. A little out of the way, but worth a stop by if you're near Midland. Menu highlights: Midtown Club ($6.75) comes with turkey, ham, roast beef, bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayo, provolone and cheddar on white. The Chicken Wrap ($6.50) comes with grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, avocado, roasted tomato garlic spread and mayo wrapped in a flour tortilla. Also, salads include Cobb ($6.75) and Greek ($6.75). Check the board for daily soup selection. If you're up early, check out the coffee and breakfast menu. Next time: French Dip ($6.95) or the Grilled Blue Baron again, for sure. Nice touch: I was running super late and on the hook for picking up the family dinner (yikes!). I rolled up at least 5 minutes after closing time (maybe even 10), just as the "Closed" sign was being flipped. I stopped dead in my tracks on my way to the front door, about to turn and return to my car. They could easily have said, "Sorry closed," but instead I got a, "Come on in! It's ok. What do you want?" That is great service. Midtown Deli & Espresso
Categories: All-Purpose Stuff
• 1 comment
Wednesday, October 1st, 2008
Posted by Bill Hutchens @ 06:00:00 am
The neighborhood around the intersection of 27th Street West and Bridgeport Way in University Place is about to become Pizza Central. With both a Pizza Hut and a Roundtable a few blocks from the intersection and a Domino's on nearby 19th Street, the area is already pretty pizzafied. But recent renovations at one of the corner shops in the row of stores next to Walgreens indicate a Godfather's Pizza is going in. Remember Godfather's? At one time they were much more ubiquitous in the South Sound than they are now. I can't even remember the last time I saw a TV spot featuring their mobster spokesman in his pinstriped suit. When we were kids, my buddies and I would frequent the all-you-can-eat pizza buffet at the Godfather's near South 56th Street and Pacific Avenue. That place died out years ago, and the (also now defunct) one in Lakewood became our go-to joint. I owe much of my girth to their irresistible Jumbo pies. According to www.godfathers.com, the only Godfather's restaurants in Pierce County are in Spanaway and Bonney Lake and on Fort Lewis. I called to see that, yes, they're all still open. I remember there was a Godfather's near Sixth and Orchard in Tacoma and one on Point Fosdick Drive in Gig Harbor. I'm almost certain there were at least two Godfather's... es in the North End. I stopped by the U.P. location the other day and saw that the place had been permitted for electrical work and some signage. It's obvious something is going on inside the former coffeehouse space, but there was nothing to indicate when the new pizza parlor might open its doors. There is a drive-through window on the side of the building, a coffeehouse remnant. Perhaps this new Godfather's will mimic the quickie pizza approach of Little Caesars. A few blocks west of Bridgeport on 27th, the sign for the popular Pine Cone Cafe indicates the establishment is the "official" restaurant of the 2015 U.S. Open golf tournament. Dan Voelpel wrote a column about it a few months back, and owner Steve Warp recently told me a little bit about the sign. "There's an official shoe, an official deodorant, official everything," said Warp, a golf fan who has attended a U.S. Open. "It's such a big event. I don't think people realize how big it's going to be. It'll be the biggest sporting event in the world for about a week." Even so, he's not planning to keep the sign up for seven years until the tournament takes over the Chambers Bay course a few miles away. Given the neighborhood's ongoing pizzafication, one has to wonder if an "official" pizza parlor of the Open will emerge. With his column, Voelpel said it's "open season" for making such unofficial official declarations and even offered a list of suggested tie-ins for other local businesses. To which I'll add: the "wicked slice." 
Categories: Restaurant openings
Tuesday, September 30th, 2008
Posted by Sue Kidd @ 06:09:39 am
Here is my third dispatch from the land of sandwiches. I've been exploring new sandwich shops in Tacoma and Bonney Lake. Have a new sandwich shop you want me to scope for you? E-mail tntdiner@thenewstribune.com. The sched: Now for today's offering: Puccini's Venetian Subs The scoop: What? Have I stumbled into Subway? I thought this restaurant was an independently owned outfit? Or at least that's the assumption I made after the way the food was described to me by a reader who phoned in about it. It sounded like a mom-and-pop op. On the surface, it looks all plain and chain. But look below, and you find interesting ingredients and a very non-chain (and very labor intensive) grill that is center stage on the sandwich counter. So what about the chain look? For the record, it is a chain from Italy, but this is the first American location. It opened three months ago. More corporate-owned Puccini's are planned for Lacey, South Hill and Olympia. Bread choices: White, wheat, cheesy and French, Venetian and rye. Grill me! Yes, indeed, you get to watch your sandwich meat grilled to order right in front of you. It's stunning proof, this is not microwaved meat. I love non-microwaved meat. We ate: Son of this here Food Editor ordered about the most basic thing one can get: a kids meal turkey and cheese sandwich with mayo, hold the veggies please ($4.29). It came with his choice of a cookie (chocolate chip or white chocolate macadamia nut) and a beverage. Mom alert: this is a big sandwich, which makes it a bargain. I tucked the other half of his uneaten sandwich into his lunch bag the next day. I opted for the Philly Cheesesteak ($5.99) and YUM, what a great choice. I watched as the grill guy threw down two slabs of raw beef that he hand chopped with spatulas, and grilled with mushrooms, green peppers and onions and a healthy spoon of garlic. He kept asking me what I wanted, then rattled off a list of add-ins. First, it was cherry peppers (not hot at all), then he seasoned with oregano, a sprinkle of basil and rosemary and paprika. He asked me if I liked spicy. I said yes, he dusted it with a bit of cayenne. Then he scooped the big pile of meat and veggies onto cheesy bread with Swiss cheese and a squirt of steak sauce and garlic mayo and a squeeze of fresh lime. Yum. Philly heaven. The verdict: Get yourself there for the Philly. Ask for extra peppers and garlic and don't skip the squeeze of lime. Don't say no to the extras. Menu highlights: All 12-inch subs are $5.99. Anchoring the menu are Hot pastrami, Far East Teriyaki, a Puccini's Melt (with turkey, ham and bacon), a Tuscany (pepperoni and salami) and Earl's Roast Beef. Vegheads and pescetarians have lots of choices: a veggie patty sandwich, grilled salmon patty sandwich, grilled cod sandwich and crab sandwich, just a few offerings. Next time: You'll find me munching down on an Italian Meatball or Hot Pastrami.
Categories: First Bite
• 13 comments
Monday, September 29th, 2008
Posted by Sue Kidd @ 06:18:38 am
Here is another dispatch from the land of sandwiches. I've been exploring new sandwich shops in Tacoma and Bonney Lake. This is day two of my four-day sandwich inquest. Have a new sandwich shop you want me to scope for you? E-mail tntdiner@thenewstribune.com. The sched: Now for today's offering: Jersey Mike's Subs The scoop: Clean, friendly chain sandwich shop. It doesn't appear they are trying too hard, but you get the sense that, yes, indeed, uh huh, you've wandered into a chain restaurant. Still, a friendly, clean place is a large improvement over sad and dirty. Bread choices: White, wheat or wrap it. MEAT! Man. They love to pile on meat. More meat than I could stomach in one sandwich. If you're looking for meat value, this is your sandwich spot. We ate: Husband of this here Food Editor ordered a regular Jersey Mike's Famous Philly ($6.49; giant is $9.49) sans grilled onions and peppers and a double dose of meat. Quote from husband: "I don't want the vegetables to detract from my meat sandwich." The sandwich came with a ridiiiiiiculous amount of meat. Note to you: you don't need to order double meat, even if you believe you need double meat. Still congested and in need of serious comfort food, I ordered the regular Grilled Reuben ($6.29; giant is $9.29). Oh yeah, it did the trick. I felt comfortably stuffed after half. As promised, it came loaded with meat. Not as much as the double meat Philly that husband coveted, but way more meat than I needed. Clearly, this place is doing an admirable job at artery clogging. Swiss cheese, sauerkruat and Thousand Island dressing made it a typical trip down Reuben lane. The verdict: This is the place to go if you're a confirmed meatavore. Also, for the ratio of meat to bread, I'd say this sandwich shop is a great bargain. A regular sandwich for around $6 is a big lunch. I stretched my Reuben into lunch the next day. Cool thing: Chips selection. Wow. Lovers of bagged fried potato products will rejoice. A dozen kinds of chips. Menu highlights: Cold subs, hot subs and wraps and a few soups and salads. The Super Sub ($4.29/$5.99/$8.99) comes with provolone, ham, proscuittini and cappacuolo (now, that is MEAT!). The Chicken Caesar Wrap ($5.89) comes with grilled sliced chicken breast, lettuce, grated cheese and Caesar dressing. The Club Supreme ($4.59/$6.49/$9.49) comes with roast beef, turkey, Swiss cheese, bacon and mayo. Next time: I'd try the Meatball and Cheese ($6.29/$9.29) or the Jersey Shore's Favorite ($4.19/$5.49/$8.49) with provolone, ham and cappacuolo. Jersey Mike's Subs
Categories: First Bite
• 2 comments
Friday, September 26th, 2008
Posted by Sue Kidd @ 06:03:33 am
Editor's note: Here is today's dining report. Drop-In Dining is a report about a new or new-to-us restaurant published in the TNT's Friday GO section. Reporters drop in unannounced and sample the food, on the TNT’s dime, then report to you what the scene and food was like. Have a suggestion for a drop-in dining feature? E-mail us at tntdiner@thenewstribune.com. The Poppy Seed Cafe By Jeffrey P. Mayor The scene: The Poppy Seed Cafe cafe reflects the homey feel of the surrounding Fircrest neighborhood. This is an intimate locale, almost like eating in the sunroom at a friend’s house, thanks to the large windows in the front of the cafe that allow light to brighten the interior. Darin and Shelly Adams, who have owned the cafe for almost three years, have been renovating the interior since it opened. “When we bought it, it needed a fresh look. It’s almost there, we still have some work to do. We’ve learned to do it piece by piece rather than throwing a bunch of money at it.” The couple previously owned Pub 54 on South Tacoma Way. There was a mix of customers, from the business crowd with limited time to folks who had time to linger and chat. Type of food: Sandwiches, paninis, salads, homemade side dishes and soups at lunch. There are several vegetarian options on the menu. The breakfast menu is dominated by seven types of egg scrambles and pancakes, including a lemon poppy seed version. Adams said they change some menu items about every six months to keep up with new food trends and as food prices changes. What we ordered: We started with a bowl of split pea soup. For our lunches, the four of us tried the chicken Caesar salad, the Asian sesame salad, a curry chicken croissant, the Gobbler and the Reuben. Salads are about $9, and sandwiches are about $7 for a half or $9 for a whole one. Biggest success: The sandwiches, especially the Gobbler and the Reuben. The Gobbler was loaded with turkey, had a thick layer of cream cheese and cranberry chutney. The Reuben had the right mix of corned beef, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing. The fresh-cut french fries were crispy on the edges and soft and warm inside, just the way they should be. The pea salad side dish and the split pea soup were good and definitely homemade, although the soup could have used a few more pieces of ham. Dessert: We tried the coconut cream meringue pie. The coconut custard filling was thick and tasty, but the crust was a bit soggy, perhaps from sitting in the dessert case a bit too long. The meringue topping was a nice touch. Service: Our food, and that delivered to other tables, came out quickly. On the day we visited, a single waitress worked the 12-table dining room. But she got help from the kitchen when food was ready or someone came in to pick up an order to go. Surprise: The homemade cranberry chutney had a cinnamon taste that added a unique twist to the Gobbler. Still, it blended well with the turkey, havarti cheese and cream cheese. It was a great addition to the sandwich, rather than the standard canned cranberry sauce. Looking ahead: Adams said they would like to complete the cafe experience by adding an espresso machine. “We’re a breakfast and lunch place, that works out well. We’ve talked about adding dinners, but that’s something we’ve opted not to do now.”  Pictured here: Shelly & Darren Adams, owners of The Poppy Seed Cafe, show off three dishes, including Rasberry Spinach Salad, Cafe Scramble, and Curry Chicken Croissant. Dean J. Koepfler / The News Tribune
Categories: Drop-In Dining reports
• 6 comments
Thursday, September 25th, 2008
Posted by Sue Kidd @ 05:32:18 pm
I'm back from a monster illness that kept me out of the SoundLife pod for the last several days. I ate copious amounts of soup while I was down for the count. So what pairs well with soup? Try sandwiches. Yes, for you dear readers, I scouted sandwiches at four new sandwich joints in Tacoma and Bonney Lake. I'll post over the next several days what I found The sched: Now for today's offering: Jimmy John's The scoop: A loud, cavernous chain concept sandwich shop with OK-slash-decent sandwiches. It feels like they're trying too hard with the quippy little signs and peppy staff. But it's pleasant, very clean (spotless!) and the TNT Sports department swears it's their favorite place for sandwiches. And we trust their gullets. They know a bargain. Bread choices: French bread or 7-grain bread. Pork! Pork lover alert. They like their porky products here. The J.J.B.L.T. sounds meaty delish. The Club Lulu comes with sliced turkey breast and bacon. The Pepe comes with applewood smoked ham. Can't go wrong with ham or bacon. Right? We ate: I dragged Craig Sailor, our A&E editor, along for the sandwich run. He ate a Beach Club ($5.85), a turkey breast sandwich on 7-grain bread with avocado spread, sliced cucumber, sprouts, lettuce, tomato. He smartly held the mayo. I had the Pepe ($4.85), an applewood smoked ham sandwich on French bread with provolone cheese, tomato, lettuce and WAY WAY WAY too much mayo. Smartly so, ask for a light smear of mayo or get it on the side. Unless you like a mayo bath. Not like I'm judging or anything... some people appreciate a slop of mayo. Edited to add: Would it kill them to put an extra slice of ham on the sandwich? The fillings weren't quite ... filling. Get yourself there if you're on a budget and you aren't overly hungry. If you are, you'll need two sandwiches. The verdict: Decent sandwiches for a pretty good price. This is a cheap lunch. Best thing: They're fast. Super fast. How fast is fast? So fast you may get your food before you finish paying. You'll spend more time navigating the parking lot than waiting for your sandwich. Most surprising moment: On my visit, the manager was standing outside with a bag of sandwiches for some lucky customer who had phoned in an order. Now that is speedy and quality service. Menu highlights: Low carb lettuce wraps help carb-avoiders navigate their lunch hour. The big John ($4.85) looks like a must-try with medium rare roast beef, mayo, lettuce and tomato. Vegetarians will love their two choices of sandwiches, a regular veggie and a veggie club. Prices for sandwiches range from $3.85-$5.85. Cheap! Next time: I'll try the Club Tuna on 7-grain. But I would only go there if I was in the neighborhood. Midtown Espresso and Deli (review coming next Thursday) is worth the extra drive. Jimmy John's Know of a new sandwich shop we should scout out? Something that's been open less than a year? Let us know at tntdiner@thenewstribune.com
Categories: First Bite
• 3 comments
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008
Posted by Kelly Davenport @ 04:39:33 pm
I love being in the right place at the right time. Especially when the right place smells like coffee beans. The right time was Tuesday afternoon at Tacoma's Satellite Coffee Co. As I slurped my Americano, a gray Stumptown Coffee van pulled up and out clamored a dozen coffee farmers from Costa Rica. Stumptown, the revered Portland coffee roaster, organizes its "meet the producers" events a few times a year, says Satellite owner Pat Brown. Satellite, in the cat-bird seat above Wright Park at Division and North I Street, is the only Stumptown purveyor between Seattle and Portland. Lucky for us. While the Costa Ricans got down to the business of ordering their drinks – cries of "cappuccino!" from all corners – several of the farmers talked about how Stumptown's direct trade program has improved the lives of their families. (You can check out more about Stumptown in this article we did back in March.) Basically, Brown explains, Stumptown sends bean buyers straight to the farms to hone in on the best varietals. Roasting those varietals in microlots preserves their unique flavor. And because the varietals bring higher prices from coffee junkies, the farmers in turn reap the profit. Brown loves the naturally sweet Montes de Oro strain he French-presses in his shop. "What Stumptown enabled them to do was to experiment," Brown says of the growers. "Trying new varietals, new techniques." Satellite would like to do more cuppings, or coffee tastings, in the future. I'll let you know the dates and times when I get the word.  The Costa Rican crew.
Categories: Cool Things
• 1 comment
Friday, September 19th, 2008
Posted by Sue Kidd @ 06:26:45 am
Editor's note: Here is today's dining report. Drop-In Dining is a report about a new or new-to-us restaurant published in the TNT's Friday GO section. Reporters drop in unannounced and sample the food, on the TNT’s dime, then report to you what the scene and food was like. Have a suggestion for a drop-in dining feature? E-mail us at tntdiner@thenewstribune.com. Cork! Wine Bar By Niki Sullivan The scene: Cavernous wine bar with candle-lit cafe tables. During our Saturday evening dining visit, Cork! started out nearly empty and, by about 9:30 p.m., was comfortably occupied. Live weekend music can be pleasant or a conversation killer, depending on where you’re seated. Type of food: Wine, wine, and more wine, complemented by small bites to suit either modest appetites or ample orderers. Dishes sampled: We sampled several small plates – the only kind of plates at Cork! – and three different wine flights, which include four 2-ounce pours of wine. Small plates range from $4 for a mixed salad to $14 for a five-cheese plate. Most are around $6-$9. Wine flights are $11, and by-the-glass prices vary. The food: La Brea artisan bread with sun-dried tomato balsamic and basil garlic Parmesan dipping oil for starters. We also ordered the Mediterranean Dip Trio, which has (apparently not homemade) bruschetta, roasted garlic hummus and olive tapenade, and the Antipasti Plate with cured meat, kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, mozzarella and artichoke hearts. However, the bread-to-toppings ratio was off. In other words, our table didn’t have enough bread to suit the toppings. We ordered additional bread and the six small, toasted slices arrived a few minutes later – for $2. Biggest success: The $8 “signature flatbread” – with goat cheese, kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, pine nuts, artichoke hearts and pesto – was a good call. It was just big enough for each of us to have two 2-inch square pieces of the slimmed down cousin-of-pizza. Dessert: New York-style cheesecake drizzled with raspberry purée and a slice of chocolate torte. The former was still frozen a bit in the middle, and the latter sated our appetite for a sweet end to the meal. Wine: Two of us sampled the “Big Red Blends” flight, which includes, well, you can guess. Another ordered the “Forgive Me For I Have Zinned” flight, which had some snappy wines to compensate for the name. The fourth diner ordered “Girl’s Night Out.” Between the group, that was 12 different wines to sample and discuss. Flight pours are served on a piece of paper with a short description of each wine – a real help. Service: Just like in wine country, the service was a bit slow. But unlike (some places in) wine country, service was very friendly. Cork! bills itself as an unpretentious wine bar, and we saw nothing to dispute that. Most unexpected moment: Our dinner company’s months-old son slept through the amplified musical guest for the night. The lesson: Children are allowed in the restaurant, but on live music nights, don’t sit near the front unless you’re really into smooth jazz (or whatever is playing). Nice surprise: Cork! offers bottles of wine at take-home prices, so the party can continue at home, which suited us well.  Pictured here: Shana Zimmerman, a co-owner of Cork! Wine Bar, displays some of the new cafe’s food offerings. Photo by Craig Sailor/The News Tribune
Categories: Drop-In Dining reports
• 1 comment
Thursday, September 18th, 2008
Posted by Scott Fontaine @ 03:46:09 pm
Geoff from Tacoma wrote us to ask what restaurant has the best breakfast burrito in the area. Now be warned -- Geoff and I both worked in New Mexico for a while, so we've got high expectations of the early-morning hangover cure.
Categories: Breakfast
• 4 comments
Wednesday, September 17th, 2008
Posted by Sue Kidd @ 05:45:02 pm
 TNT Diner reader Olemag e-mailed the Diner crew last week and asked us to look into a newish African restaurant called Nelshil in University Place. So of course I dutifully went to dine there Saturday. (Yes, indeed, our TNT Diner bellies are at your disposal. Make a note of it.) The restaurant is cute and sweet in a mom-and-pop sort of way. I loved the black and white cotton tablecloths and light pink walls – a really adorable place. It also was, sadly, empty on a Saturday night. The menu is an interesting collision of American, soul and West African. Spaghetti seems really out of place on the menu, but hey, whatever. On the soul food side of the menu, there's catfish ($7.99 for a three piece) and greens ($3.75), corn bread ($1.50) and fried okra ($3.25) The African side of the menu, page 5, was a bit more interesting and seemed very West African in ingredients and descriptions. The menu listed spinach stew with rice ($9), goat soup ($7) and the traditional West African jollof rice ($8.50). I ordered takeout to bring to my fellow newsies. Knowing TNT reporter Scott Fontaine is a huge fan of carbs and anything from Africa (he's traveled there extensively), I ordered peanut soup ($7) and fried plantains with a blackeye pea stew ($9). The soup tasted just like a traditional West African peanut soup should, laden with chunks of goat meat in a peanut-buttery-tomatoey soup base. With rice, it was great eating. Note: ask for extra rice. The soup serves 4 or so, but only came with enough rice for two people. The TNT carbivores (Scott) were not pleased. The stew was a delicious combo of black eyed peas, mild spices and stewed meat (goat, perhaps?) and a side of fried plantains that were so good, they invoked a fork fight to the very last chunk. You MUST order the fried plantains if you eat at Nelshil. A crunchy, fried exterior gives way to a creamy, delicious center. The carbivores (Scott) approved. I asked a woman working there how long ago the restaurant opened. She said they have been in the University Place location about six months, and previously were in the B&I Shopping Center on South Tacoma Way for about the same amount of time before moving. It was a brief first bite, but will I go back? Sure. I really want to try the jollof rice and some of the soul food (but probably not the spaghetti). If you go try Nelshil, post here and let us know what you thought. Details: Note: This first bite report brought to you thanks to a TNT Diner reader. Have a newish restaurant you want us to try? E-mail me at tntdiner@thenewstribune.com.
Categories: First Bite
• 2 comments
Tuesday, September 16th, 2008
Posted by Sue Kidd @ 02:18:54 pm
The Tacoma Farmers Market had its first Harvest Feast dinner Saturday. The event was at Terry's Berries and was a multiple-course buffet prepared by top Tacoma toques. Sadly, I missed it. I was stuck in the newsroom working the night editor shift. In a small way, on my Saturday night, it was delightful watching wire editor Kathleen Cooper George pull together a tremendous Hurricane Ike news package for Sunday's paper. But would I rather have been eating cheese from Estrella and pork prepared by Charlie McManus? You bet. Were you there, at the Harvest Feast? Comment and tell us what you liked, or didn't. Would you go again? Here, a few photos from market manager Laura Edwards:  Pictured above, cheese from Estrella and Blue Rose Dairy.  White linen tablecloth dining on a working farm.  People eating! And having fun! Wish that was me Saturday night.
Categories: All-Purpose Stuff
• 1 comment
Monday, September 15th, 2008
Posted by Debbie Cafazzo @ 11:17:33 am
Students from Tacoma's School of the Arts are serving up Italian food at Joeseppi's Italian Ristorante tonight to fund an upcoming service and study tour to China. From 4 to 8 p.m. tonight, 25 percent of all food profits benefit SOTA. Joeseppi's is at 2207 N. Pearl St., Tacoma. Call 253-761-5555.
Categories: All-Purpose Stuff
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