DaRoo's Pizza - Bagley, MN

I have arrived in the Northwoods of Minnesota!!

I must say, I never thought I'd make the big move to be closer to my family in Northern Minnesota, but I'm finding that I truly love it here! It's a different, slower paced life for sure and there will be adjustments I will have to make. The conveniences I came to expect in Kitsap and in Redmond are not always right at my fingertips... especially my favorite nail artist!! I am starting to wonder if I will ever have my treasured sushi again... but alas, I will have walleye, something I have not had the pleasure of in the PNW.

Last evening I had the great pleasure of experiencing DaRoo's Pizza in the small town I live near of Bagley, MN. I am a lover of pizza and always have been --- if it is of a thin crust, the more thin the better.

DaRoo's is like many small town venues, friendly and a family environment.... video games abound - I am sure it is plentiful with high school kids after sporting events. Tables abound with space for many to accommodate groups both large and small. The service was adequate --- very friendly, but refills not always the fastest... I've learned to adjust my pace for this life however... being out of the city changes things.

As for the pizza.... we tried - cheese, sausage and pepperoni and olive.... no complaints from anyone and salads all around. Wonderful thin crust by my standards with just enough cheese -- too much cheese on a thin crust can be overpowering.

Excellent pizza, good service, fair prices..... we will return!!

Hopefully I'll be reviewing more recipes than in the past... with some scandinavian flair now that I'm in this part of the country.... especially when the holidays roll around! Happy dining everyone and may your adventures be epicuriously satisfying!

Happy Memorial Day!

Anne

Recipe #4 - Glazed Ham

In recognition of my favorite holiday which just recently passed (Easter), I thought I would post and review my favorite recipe for a Maple Glazed Ham. The recipe is as follows:

Glaze
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons Dijon Mustard
1 tablespoon vinegar
a pinch of nutmeg.

Mix the ingredients for the glaze in a saucepan until smooth. On medium heat, bring the ingredients to a simmer and simmer for two more minutes.

Score your ham with a sharp knife first one way and then crosswise so it resembles a checkerboard. You might wish to garnish the top with cherries or in, slices of pineapple. Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven covered with foil about 1-1/4 hrs. Increase temp to 400 degrees, uncover ham and brush on the glaze. Bake approximately 20 minutes or until glaze is bubbling. Let ham rest for 15 minutes before carving.

This recipe was given to me by a friend who has prepared it for me in the past. As a fan of glazed hams, I have to say that this is the best I’ve tried and highly recommend this glaze. I hope you’ll give it a try for your next family meal.

Poulsbo Woodfired Pizza House - Poulsbo

My pizza adventure began in Montana when I was in junior high I suppose as I discovered how much I truly loved a fine thin crust pizza prepared in a brick oven.  Anyone who has ever ventured across North Central and parts of Western Montana knows of Howard’s Pizza and how people will travel far and wide just to grab a piece of this unique pizza… incredibly thin and cut in squares not pie shaped because of its thinness.  Since then I have been searching for something similar which has a crispy crust, delectable sauce and just the right amount of cheese as not to be overpowering.  I have found as of late that many pizzerias are using multiple cheeses on their pizzas and most purists will tell you (like myself) that pizza is made with mozzarella and only mozzarella and there is no need to overpower the sauce with cheese unless a customer requests it.

This past Saturday, I decided to take advantage of the wonderful summer weather and venture to downtown Poulsbo which is always bustling on a lovely day, especially on the weekends.  It is always such a pleasure to see so many people out and about enjoying their Saturday walking Main Street and dining al fresco and Saturday was a perfect day for this. 

On this particular day, I opted to try (for the first time) Poulsbo Woodfired Pizza House.  From the outside, this looks like any other shop in downtown Poulsbo , the buildings have a German flair with Scandinavian flags hanging in front but the entrance for this building is in the rear with a nice outdoor deck for spring/summer dining such as was the case on Saturday.  Dining on the inside, it is a treat to be able to see the pizza chef flipping his pizzas right before your very eyes as he demonstrates his skills similar to a sushi master.  I quite enjoyed watching the pieces of dough being tossed in the air with such talent.

Pizza is available by the slice or by the pie with the addition of soup or salad or buffalo wings.  PWPH serves non-alcoholic beverages plus beer and wine.  I ordered my pizza without toppings to get a true taste of the sauce, cheese and crust together without an interruption of the toppings.  I was giving the option of ordering a thin crust although the regular crust appeared fairly thin, I was not taking any chances as I had not had much luck finding the thin crust I had been looking for unsuccessfully.

At last, my pizza arrived!  It looked wonderful.  Crust appeared crispy, not too much cheese (as I watched the preparation, just one cheese as well) but still adequate and right amount of sauce but the true test is always in the taste of course.  Patrons around me were asking the pizza chef where he trained so I was pretty sure I was in for a treat.  Yes, the crust was very thin!  At last I had found the ultra crust I had craved for so very long.  One must realize – I am a pizza lover and will try a million pizzas just to find the perfect one.  Everyone has a preference for what they think is the ‘perfect pizza’.  My daughter and I used to argue this fact constantly when she still lived at home because she liked a thicker crust and I did not – but then again – she did not grow up on that wonderful thin crust pizza I did in Montana – such a shame it is for some to be deprived of such wonderful foods!  But I digress --- back to my pizza at hand.  Everything about Poulsbo’s pizza is incredible in my opinion.  If you are a pizza lover like me, you owe it to yourself to at least try one slice!

As for the service – there is a cashier behind the counter that does everything (or was on Saturday) and she definitely scored with me by never missing a beat!  She helped me order my pizza the way that I wanted it so the crust would be thin and told me how to order it in the future to insure the same but also checking on me at the table while keeping an eye at the front --- definitely not an easy task on a busy Saturday!  In my opinion, good service makes my meal even better and should not go unrecognized – never forget your server!

Der Blokken Brewery - Bremerton (Manette)

Last night I attended my first Grand Opening at Der Blokken in the Manette neighborhood of Bremerton.

Der Blokken is a new brew pub located at the intersection of 11^th and Perry Ave. in Manette and makes one of its own brews which is a ‘light stout’ by their terms. Not being a stout drinker, I didn’t have an opportunity to sample this brew.

The grand opening was the past Friday and Saturday from 4-11 pm and was quite well attended when I visited on Saturday. There is a good size dining area in the bar area and away from the bar as well for over flow. The interior has been given a new look according to one of the owners I spoke to from the stark white interior they were faced with upon arrival. Adding punches of color, a new bar area and the large visible vats of beer give Der Blokken a definite feel of a brew pub. I was reminded of a similar brew pub about the same size from my time on the eastside that is located in Issaquah.

My friend and I sat at the bar on this particular evening and tested a couple of beers to start off our evening. Our first go round was an amber ale – Boont – which I was not too fond of but thought I would be. I’m generally not a beer drinker and neither is my friend but, when in Rome. The patron next to me however, thought the same beer was wonderful; in fact, he had two I believe because he enjoyed it so much. I also tried the Allagash White – which is similar to a Heffeweizen and I quite liked this one, however my friend did not care for it so much and returned to the amber.

As for the menu – typical bar food – some sandwiches, chowder, spinach salad, fish and chips – seem to have a bit of a German flair but not entirely. I tried the chowder in a bread bowl and found it to be quite good. The sourdough is not made on site but was very fresh and made the soup more appealing I think. One of the better chowders, but then again I do believe this is an Ivar’s chowder if I recall the menu correctly and that is hard to beat! My neighbors at the bar were raving about their meals as well and they had 1) Pastrami Reuben with fries 2) spinach salad with feta and strawberries (I was told this was a 10!) and 3) German sausage sandwich with fries.

Not being a beer drinker per se and the fact that this establishment does not serve hard alcohol, I don’t know if I will return – however, for the beer drinker in the crowd I would strongly recommend, we had a fun time and it was a privilege to chat with one of the owners as he tended the bar as well.

Der Blokken is located at 1100 Perry Ave., Bremerton, WA

Blazing Onion Burger - Gig Harbor

The Blazing Onion Burger Company has 3 locations – Mill Creek, Snohomish and Gig Harbor.

This past Saturday, I decided to take advantage of the wonderful weather and take a drive to see what the Blazing Onion was all about as I had heard their burgers were quite good and I have been known to take a drive for an excellent burger.

The Blazing Onion uses ground chuck and all patties are made on premises. For the more ‘adventurous’ appetite, they offer buffalo and wild boar burgers on the boar but you will have to try that yourself, I stop at antelope and have experienced that already. Although most burgers list ground chuck, there is the option to have chicken or veggie instead on the same burger.

The Blazing Onion offers an ‘upgrade’ for the heartier appetite --- upgrade your 1/3 burger to an XL (2/3 lb.) or a Pounder or a Triple XL 2 Pounder (6 patties). I do know someone that tried the Triple XL and survived so if you have the appetite for it, go for it!

The Blazing Onion in Gig Harbor is located off of Pt. Fosdick Drive --- I recommend you know where you are going however, it is not listed in directory (411) and not being too familiar with the area, I had to call another location to get the phone number for directions. They are directly across from Borders if you are familiar.

Once you step into the restaurant you are given the option of ordering at the counter and seating yourself in the restaurant or sitting in the bar and being waited on (this was my choice). When dining alone, I almost always eat in the bar when there are children present… just my preference. I’m a mother, it’s true but my child is grown and I’m finished with that stage of my life. I have found that not everyone handles their children as I do and I’d rather not be frustrated by that fact while I’m eating.

My server was Miranda – who turned out to be an excellent server by the way!! I told her where I was from and she wished me a safe drive home in fact, excellent touch. The restaurant was quite busy on this day (due to the weather in part I’m sure and being Saturday) and she never missed a beat.

I had the All American Burger – the burgers can be served with regular fries, onion rings or sweet potato fries… I chose regular fries. This was an incredible burger, juicy but not greasy. Blazing Onion uses its own burger sauce and will be bottling it soon and it is quite delicious – not quite like thousand island but very good. Fries are endless and my server did make a point to ask me if I wanted more… I opted for dessert instead!

The dessert I chose was Blazing Onion’s Chocolate Cake ---- layers and layers of thick, rich, fudgy chocolate cake topped with a fudge frosting, drizzled with fudge over the top. This was hands down the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had. A very large slice of cake however, plan on taking it home or sharing with a friend.

All in all, although Blazing Onion in Gig Harbor is outside of Kitsap County and a bit of a drive --- 40 minutes for me from Silverdale --- it was definitely worth the drive and I would consider returning!

http://www.blazingonion.com

Recipe #3 - BBQ Spareribs

This is another favorite recipe of mine, this time for BBQ Ribs. When weather does not permit making ribs on the grill or it is just more convenient to prepare them in the oven, this is an excellent option. Please note that there is a recipe for a rub or you can use a commercial rub of which there are many varieties depending on your personal choice. For those that prefer the smoke of the grill in your ribs, simply rub a bit of liquid smoke on your ribs prior to preparation of this recipe to get that smokiness desired. I hope you enjoy as much as I do – all year round!

Barbecued Spareribs – James Beard

1 slab of spareribs or baby back ribs

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Barbecue Sauce – James Beard

1 stick butter (1/2 cup or ¼ pound)

1 cup chopped onion

3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

½ cup catsup

¼ cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1-1/2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper

¼ teaspoon Tabasco

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon basil or 2 tablespoons fresh basil

1 tablespoon chili powder

Sauté the onions and garlic in butter till they are just tender. Add the remaining ingredients for the sauce. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. For spareribs, bake uncovered at 325 for 3 hours.

Salt and pepper the ribs:

Rub for ribs

¼ cup paprika

¼ cup paprika

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon garlic salt

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (Adjust the cayenne for a hotter rub)

1 tablespoon black pepper

Mix the rub ingredients together and sprinkle on ribs or use a commercial rub of your choosing.

It’s best to stand ribs on a rack with small ends of the ribs standing up. Bake for 90 minutes for baby backs and 3 hrs for spareribs. Meat will shrink 3/8” away from the bone about when ready. During the last 30 minutes or so start basting the ribs with the prepared sauce from above. Start basting on the meat side (lay the ribs flat for this process) and then baste in 10 minutes on the bone side, in 10 min. on the meat side, etc.

Asparagus Delight

This is my favorite recipe for asparagus. I have discovered a newfound love for roasted asparagus and the thinner the stalk, the better it is in my opinion. The herbs you choose can be varied, but no matter the blend, I just can’t get enough of this side item! If you ever have had trouble getting your kids to eat their veggies, try this one – I know my daughter fell in love with asparagus the first time I made it for her. Enjoy! Bon Appetit!

Asparagus Delight

1 Bunch Asparagus (thin stalks)

1 tablespoon lemon juice

3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Herbs (personal choice) or lemon pepper

Parmesan cheese

Wash and trim one bunch of asparagus (smaller stalks are best). Place asparagus on foil lined baking pan. Sprinkle with lemon juice (personal taste or about 1 Tbsp). Pour approximately 3-4 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil over the asparagus (making sure to cover all of the stalks). Sprinkle a blend of your favorite herbs or use lemon pepper. An all purpose herb and spice blend works well. Sprinkle parmesan cheese liberally over the asparagus and roast in the oven for approximately 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees. You can also broil the asparagus, adjusting the time to approximately 6 minutes. Serves 2 asparagus lovers or 4 ‘less enthusiastic’ asparagus eaters.

Wine Tasting - Olympic Wine Shop - Poulsbo

This is my first wine tasting I have reviewed (and attended). Olympic Wine Shop is located in Poulsbo, adjacent to Tap Rock Grill. I was not quite sure what to expect having never been to a wine tasting but I thought this would be a good place to start being that it was all Northwest Wines and they were featuring a winery with my family (maiden) name and my father makes a similar wine. Being a foodie, naturally I was curious to see the appetizer pairings as well.

For the wine enthusiast in the crowd, Olympic featured six wines and a port.

Merry Cellars – Sauvignon Blanc Wahluke Slope 2008 – my favorite white featured. I lean towards chardonnays and this was a lighter white.

Thurston Wolfe Winery – Pinot Gris Viognier 2008 – my guest’s favorite white.

Waving Tree – Sangiovese Columbia Valley 2007 – my favorite red featured. I have a difficult time with the tannins and this wine is much lighter and goes well with heavier meals (i.e. pastas).

Clubhouse Cellars - 86% Cabernet with Merlot and Syrah – my companion’s favorite red. Recommended to be paired with a ‘kitchen sink’ pizza.

Giant Wine Company – “The Ghost of 413” Red 2007 – mix of Cab/Merlot.

McKinley Springs – Syrah McKinley Springs Vineyard Horse Heaven Hills 2005 – my family namesake and has aromas of blackberry, licorice and black cherry – another favorite of mine.

As for the appetizers, they did not disappoint either. Various white cheeses with crackers to compliment. The only appetizer I did not sample but was getting rave reviews from the crowd was a mix of cream cheese, dried tomatoes and olives. My personal favorite was the ‘kitchen sink pizza’ on foccacia bread. This pizza was layered with feta cheese, onions, green, yellow, orange and red peppers and was truly delicious. I am generally not a fan of veggies but this appetizer was just too attractive not to try and it was as delicious as it looked. Quite a compliment to the wine indeed!

This is a smaller wine shop but it was crowded with wine tasters for the entire event and all that arrived and stayed socialized amongst each other quite pleasantly making it quite similar to a cocktail party one was invited to.

The owners of Olympic Wine Shop mingled with the patrons as well and made us feel as if we had stepped into their home for a couple hours to try their wines, a very comfortable experience as every business owner should make his/her patrons feel… at home and wanting to return as I and my guest did.

Olympic Wine Shop has recurring wine tastings and I would encourage anyone to attend one. They range in price from $10-15/person including appetizers and a tasting of 6 wines (last evening’s also including an additional taste of port for $10).

http://olympicwineshop.food.officelive.com/default.aspx

Cosmos Ristorante and Deli - Port Orchard

I lunched at Cosmo’s Bistro and Delicatessen in Port Orchard this past Saturday with a group of friends.

The main parking lot is in the back of the restaurant, so if you are unfamiliar with Cosmo’s as I was one takes the first entrance they see which takes them through the deli or store. The deli resembles a small Italian deli but with the added delight of hard ice cream by the scoop. Directional signs take you further ahead into the restaurant portion of Cosmo’s.

Cosmo’s is just as described in the title – an Italian Bistro. Esconced in brick and quite intimate no matter where you dine, you get the feel that you are in an Italian eatery from the moment you step through the deli.

The menu is entirely Italian food items as well with an extensive wine list. I was with a group of 8 and we all dined on Panini sandwiches with the exception of one who had a pasta dish. The menu does boast of some nice salads as well rounding out a very excellent lunch spot.

I tried the Sweet and smoky Black Forest ham and mildly sharp Gruyère cheese with an olive tapenade spread. I was not sure how the tapenade would be for me as I am not an olive fan but I have to say that it was probably my favorite part of the sandwich. The sandwiches come with a choice of veggies or chips. I opted for the chips but my lunch companions who chose veggies seemed to enjoy their veggies. All of us enjoyed our lunch very much.

As this was a Saturday and there were quite a few patrons in the restaurant and we were a table of 8, the service was excellent. Kudos to our server!

This is a lunch spot I would definitely return to and quite possibly for dinner as well. The intimacy is excellent for a date night as each table seems to give the privacy dining parties look for when dining and quite often smaller restaurants (i.e. bistros) do not offer this luxury.

The prices are moderate for the quality of the food and the service provided.

http://www.cosmosdeli.com

New Adventure!

Hello to everyone who has been following me here.

I wanted to let you know that I have a new restaurant/recipe blog on the Kitsap Sun and you can catch my reviews there! Any reviews I have for other services will show here but you can follow me at the Kitsap Sun at the following address:

http://pugetsoundblogs.com/kitsap-dining/

Happy Dining Adventures!!!

Recipe #1 - Italian Spaghetti - Anne Preston

I will be adding recipes to my blog periodically for those like me who eat at home a lot. Although I do eat dinner at home most every evening, I am rarely the cook. I am very blessed to have a partner who is a wonderful cook and prepares the very best of meals for me - however - I prefer my homemade spaghetti sauce to his.

This recipe is one that was passed to me from my mother and I have made some alterations in spices to make it my own. For those preferring a sauce that is more bland and have a low tolerance for spicy foods, this is not for you as this is a sauce full of caliente! The longer the sauce is simmered, the spicier it gets - my preference is for VERY spicy!

On we venture with my favorite recipe:

Italian Spaghetti

Brown:

1 lb. Ground Beef

1 Clove Garlic or 1 Tsp minced garlic (I prefer heaping - you can never have too much garlic)

1/4 cup minced onion or 1 Tsp onion powder

and drain and set aside

Mix together:

1 15 Oz. Can Tomato Sauce

1 Can Tomato Soup

1 Tbsp Hot Chili Powder

1/2 Tsp Salt

1/4 Tsp Pepper

1/4 Tsp Basil

1/4 Tsp Oregano

1/4 Tsp Sugar

1/4 Tsp Cayenne Pepper

1/4 Tabasco Sauce

2 Tbsps Parmesan Cheese

Add Ground Beef Mixture

Bring to a boil and reduce heat to lowest tempurature - simmer for 30 min or more - whatever desired. The longer the simmer time, the spicier the sauce. Important to stir sauce occasionally to avoid burning.

Serve with pasta desired. Best with garlic bread as well.

Enjoy!! This is my favorite recipe to prepare and the sauce keeps well for leftovers and freezes well also.

Hakata - Silverdale

Someone recommended Hakata as an excellent place for sushi in Silverdale and today I lunched there for the first time.

Located adjacent to FedEx and behind the U.S. Post Office, Hakata is a good lunch spot close to Kitsap Mall - a nice break after a day of shopping with friends. I've dined on sushi alone and with friends and find that it is much more enjoyable with others -- it is a social meal unlike others.

Stepping into Hakata, one is transported into a Japanese environment immediately complete with Japanese hosts. The menu, although translated into English is entirely Japanese with no diversion to other Asian cultures as many sushi restaurants can do. From teriyaki to bento boxes to Miso soup to tempura --- all Japanese dishes are available at Hakata.

For comparison sake, I decided to order the same items I had at another sushi restaurant just a few days prior and see if there was much difference.

The Miso soups were quite comparable. However, I must say, Hakata has probably some of THE best sushi I've ever had the pleasure of eating. As I've said before, sushi is about the fish - the fresher the better and I could tell when the platter arrived that it was of the finest quality.

The service at Hakata was outstanding. We were never left waiting for anything and the staff was extremely friendly.

I look forward to returning at a time when I can sit at the sushi bar and chat with other patrons and view the expertise of the sushi chef - this is the most fun of eating sushi - watching the preparation for it is an art form in itself.

I highly recommend and will definitely be returning.

Hakata Japanese Restaurant

10876 NW Myhre Pl Ste 108

Silverdale, WA 98383

(360) 698-0929

Hare and Hounds - Poulsbo

I became a huge fan of downtown Poulsbo from the first time I drove the main street and realized it was in essence a 'little norway'. Being of Norwegian descent (that and Native American), I thought I'd died and gone to heaven... or at the very least slipped into Northern Minnesota where all of my family remains.

I love all of the little scandinavian shops that make me feel at home in Poulsbo and will slowly meander into each one as 'parking permits' and if anyone has been into downtown Poulsbo during the day mid-week you know of what I speak.

Sunday evening, a friend and I decided to try out a new English pub in Poulsbo - not so Norwegian but a new adventure worth trying out. Not a bad walk from good parking outside the market near Sluy's bakery on a nice 'almost spring' evening, we ventured forth. It was getting to be about that time on Sunday evening when all stores were closing for the evening and even many restaurants were closed. Sunday was uneventful in Poulsbo as we approched the Hare and Hounds.

As we walked in, I notice outside is a lovely outside terrace which (waterfall included) I will love to try al fresco in the warm summer months. We were told later on that there is also a rooftop deck for warmer weather dining.

The decor is definitely pub fare - enter through a dining area into a smallish pub area to the bar where we sat for the evening. We were lucky enough to sit and chat with the bartender, head chef, wait staff, 2nd chef and other members of the management and learned a bit about the direction of the Hare and Hounds... will leave that for them to tell however.

My companion dined on two appetizers of lamb lollipops with a curry sauce and clams with sausage. His review of these items was that the lamb was a bit overcooked and would be better served with a mint sauce as was traditional in England. The clams, although good didn't appear to have any sausage in them. There may have been sausage in the broth, but to not get them in your dish, is a bit concerting when you are a sausage fan and in a pub to boot.

The menu item I ordered was a traditional hamburger with hand cut fries - burger prepared as you like it with A-1 mayo. I must say, one of the best, juiciest burgers I've had and the fries were wonderful.

All items on the menu are reasonably priced in my opinion - not an extensive menu but enough to make a good selection. The chocolate cake I had for dessert was quite decadent as well.

The bartender, Jeff - wait staff and bartender on this a slower night - deserves kudos for marvelous service - friendliness, speed and accuracy.

Hare and Hounds -- a pub I will want to return and see what develops.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Poulsbo-WA/HareHounds-Public-House-Poulsbo-Wa/235505358923

Origami Sushi - Silverdale

As a transplant from Redmond, WA there are many things I miss.  I miss my job terribly (not much I can do about that since the company no longer exists), I miss Redmond itself (it is a wonderful community as far as urban communities go), I miss my hair salon, my nail shop, my massage therapist...  all those special people who took care of me so well.

But one thing I truly miss that I never thought I'd find in Kitsap is sushi.  I discovered a love for sushi many years ago when a good friend talked me into trying 'something new'...  as I went kicking and screaming to a new taste I was sure I'd never like.  I was instantly hooked and never looked back.

Upon my arrival in Silverdale, a dear friend recommend the nail salon I have been frequenting for some time now and my nail artist who I've grown to feel very comfortable with now recommended Origami Sushi.  I recall questioning her --- because I was afraid I was going to walk into a teriyaki joint with sushi rolls and I'm a nigiri girl all the way.  She said I could trust her --- she was asian.  I was happy to find someone who loved sushi as much as I did, asian or not.

My life in Redmond - I frequented often a small sushi restaurant that I loved which was conveyor style.  Walk in, grab your seat and start looking for the plate of sushi you want.  When you're done, add up the numbers on the plates and that's your bill.  A wonderful quick lunch and a very social experience.  Sitting at the sushi bar with total strangers doing what you love as well.

But I digress.  Today I was at Origami Sushi for the first time.  As I stepped into the restaurant and greeted by the hostess I took a look around.  I see the sushi chefs instantly and know that I am home again.  I have found a place to eat my very favorite food --- even though my friends think I'm crazy and refuse to join me.

Today I decided to try my favorites that I have not had for so very many months.  Starting with miso soup.  No disappointment here.  This is the first time I've ever had it served to me with a spoon which I found interesting, but it was wonderful.  Followed by salmon and tuna nigiri...  I tend to judge a sushi bar on the freshness of the fish and Origami did not let me down.  I love much fresh ginger with my sushi and it was just as I like it -- very fresh... not as if it had been sitting for days.

Topped off with a fortune cookie.

The staff at Origami Sushi is quite friendly and very johnny-on-the-spot.  The menu is quite extensive expanding beyond japanese - I see myself returning to try other items I've not experienced before or at least not for some time.

I highly recommend.

http://origami-sushi.com/

Red Robin - Revisited

Although I am a frequent guest at Red Robin and usually order the same items, I decided to try something new this week - to order one item at least that I'd never tried at Red Robin.  I'm fairly picky about my burgers and having a dietary restriction of lactose - trying a new burger with a different cheese was pretty much out of the question so I decided to try an 'extra' side item.

I absolutely love onion straws.  I find this rather peculiar because I find the texture of onions themselves very displeasing to my palate and do not even cook with them - opting for onion  powder.  But onion straws, strings, whatever the restaurant chooses to call them - are a weakness of mine.  I have found that these are usually served with a good steak but some restaurants will give a few on the side with whatever I am ordering as you would onion rings.  They have just a hint of onion and if the batter is right and they are fried properly - hard to resist.

I have had the good, the bad and the ugly of the hay string onions as I like to call them.  But I have to say, as wonderful as the service is at Red Robin (except for the fact that my order was messed up and had my appetizer made over) - the onion straws at Red Robin were the worst I've ever had.  Greasy and without flavor is my opinion.  I've never had anything I didn't like at RR so I was quite surprised and won't be ordering them again.

I will be going back because the servers at RR are wonderful - very attentive, extremely friendly and for the most part the menu is remarkable - as far as gourmet burgers go -- if you can tolerate a birthday song thrown in with your meal that is.  

Seaport Salon and Day Spa - Silverdale

Last week I visited the Seaport Salon and Day Spa for the first time and wanted to share my experiences here because the staff was quite wonderful to me.

On my first visit, I went for just a 60 minute massage. If you haven't had a massage before, I must explain that the relaxation you will receive is incredible. I always get a swedish massage which is just for relaxation and not deep tissue (which I find to be a bit painful sometimes). I felt comfortable, relaxed and at ease the entire time with the practitioner and will return for this service. It is reasonably priced and you are made to feel very pampered.... a wonderful experience and fantastic reward for anyone.

On my second visit, I received a cut and color and the treatment was no different. Little nuances to make me feel pampered. I received a hand massage while waiting for my color to finish processing, a warm towel under my head on the wash bowl, tea/water to drink, pleasant conversation. The services themselves are not overpriced at all and I found all of the staff to be people I would want to work with again.

I highly recommend this salon/day spa to anyone searching for a new spa as I have been for some time now.

http://seaportsalonandspa.com/

The Olive Garden - Silverdale

This was certainly not my first trip to Olive Garden and it definitely will not be my last - I love lunch at Olive Garden.

It's very hard to beat that undeniable soup, salad and breadsticks that are never ending. This is the only restaurant where I would be compelled to have a salad with italian dressing but it is always, always wonderful. I know, without a doubt the salad will treat me well and I will leave satisfied.

I'm not a huge fan of soups in restaurants other than clam chowder and that is not an option in this case so I always go for the minestrone. Usually not letting me down, yesterday I must say, there could have been a few more shells of pasta as I believe I could have counted them myself... more pasta, less beans would be my preference (not being a fan of beans myself) but that is minestrone so I will defer to the experts. The flavor of the broth was magnifico however... we are talking Olive Garden and I'm not an expert on this soup.

My favorite dessert... black tie mousse. Did not dissapoint as it never does. I'm not a huge fan of chocolate cake but this is a chocolate dessert that I can't pass up ever - I never leave an Olive Garden without having it and it never fails to please.

I did also take the lemon cake home for a friend who finds himself to be a connoisseur of lemon desserts to see what he thought. He found the lemon cake to be rather 'not so lemon-y' so if you are looking for a lemon dessert, this is not the one... go for the chocolate.

For lunch - soup, salad and breadsticks is a never fail and I must say that of all the Olive Garden's I have dined in --- service has always been remarkable with very friendly staff in all including Silverdale making sure that you glass is never empty and you are truly a satisfied patron.

I will be returning... did I hear chocolate?

Busby's BBQ - Poulsbo

On my first visit to Busby's, a close friend of mine who was with me at the time, said they had the best burgers she had ever tasted so I was quite anxious to try these burgers as I had driven by this small BBQ joint which has a definite cowboy flair inside and out.

Located in Poulsbo, one step inside and you know you are going to get something BBQ and a menu with a western flair. A decor strewn with photos of cowboys and other western themed gear, you can't help but feel you are eating off the chuckwagon.

This is all too clear when your wait staff clarifies that all meat is smoked, including the burgers. I did want to give this a second go as I did truly enjoy the fries on my first visit but wasn't sure on the burger as it seemed a bit dry for my tastes. My preference is for a juicy bordering on greasy burger - away from healthy.

I'm not sure if it's the smoking process or because Busby's grinds their own meats, but the beef seems to have a different taste and one that I just can't wrap myself around. However, I'd return time and again for the fries. I would return again and try a pulled pork or chicken however because I did sample the sauces and they are quite tasty.

I opted to top off my meal with THE yummiest chocolate cowboy cupcake I've ever had. Chocolate molten lava cake topped with cream cheese and it was to die for!

The service... well, a bit disappointing I will say. When I arrived I was the only customer and my food arrived very quickly but after that, the service tapered off quickly. In fact, when there was a shift change I wasn't even aware that I was assigned a different wait staff which was a bit disconcerting. This seemed a bit impersonable.

Pros and cons... I did hear others raving about the food, I assume they were eating something other than a burger.

http://www.busbysbq.com/

Noah's Ark - Bremerton

This week I ventured back to what has become a favorite haunt of mine - Noah's Ark in Bremerton.

My dining adventure to Noah's Ark on Tuesday was only my second visit to Noah's Ark and I was not disappointed on this visit either. Although not a gourmet establishment by any means, typical diner fare of burgers and sandwiches to satisfy any palate. The menu is quite extensive with sides all 'round.

The staff has been overly friendly on both visits I have made and I only wish that it wasn't such a drive from where I'm located or I would go more often.

A simple burger and fries was on my list on Tuesday. A bun nicely toasted, something often overlooked it seems by quick serve locations in these times. A burger loaded with the works but not overpowering the reason for the sandwich. Although I did order fries, I was not overly impressed with them but the burger served me well enough to want to return.

I definitely put Noah's Ark on my list of places to recommend - depending on what you are craving for lunch that is.

Noah's Ark Restaurant
1516 6th St
Bremerton, WA 98337
(360) 377-8100

Red Lobster - Silverdale

A special thanks to my server today, Joanna, who gave excellent service - give credit where credit is due and to the manager who made a point to come to our table to see how our meal was when we were finished eating. It is the little touches that make or break the service of a meal.

I usually order my standby and thought in a 'fish place' surely I would be able to simply order 'fish and chips', be it cod, halibut or sole or something similar. However, the only way I would be able to have a deep fried breaded fish with fries would be to have a combination plate with two choices or two orders of fish and was told that the fish orders were quite large. I found this to be disappointing for a lunch menu - it seems there should be a smaller portion but I digress.

I reverted to my 'old standby' and favorite of snow crab legs. A starter of clam chowder, quite delicious I might add and baked potato with my crab legs. I have only good things to say about my lunch, including the cheesecake for dessert.

I will return, the service was excellent, food was good and nothing whatsoever to complain about (except the absence of the breaded fish and fries).

Until next time....

http://www.redlobster.com/

Taprock Grill - Poulsbo

I was fortunate to visit the Taprock Grill in Poulsbo earlier this week.

Greeted very quickly by friendly hosting staff, I waited at my table to be met by the rest of my party as I had told the host I would be joined by others. As it turned out, this was not observed and led to a delay in service. Service in general was quite slow considering the number of patrons in the restaurant in this diner's opinion giving us the feeling we had been neglected.

Once orders were taken, things seemed to progress at a reasonable pace however.

Taprock seems to specialize in northwest fare and I chose the Base Camp Burger - quite standard as far as burgers go but large in size and served with choices of sides although I opted for fries. One of the juiciest burgers I've had by far and definitely will go back again.

I am anxious to try Taprock's breakfast menu as it is quite extensive with northwest fare.

http://www.taprock.com/index_wa.html

Red Robin - Silverdale

Yeah, resorting to a franchise today but the food was good and it is Superbowl Sunday after all.

The one thing I like about dining by myself at Red Robin is that I know I can always get a table in the bar at any time without having to wait and it will always be free of 'family noise' that the dining room sometimes has. Don't get me wrong -- I have a grown child of my own so I was once there, but I do know that when a child is wailing, it is courtesy to remove the child from the restaurant and some patrons just don't seem to understand this. It is for this reason that I avoid family style restaurants much of the time. I have done my parenting, I like my meal in peace.

Now that I am off my soapbox, my experience today at Red Robin. I was rather disheartened to find that my usual 'extremely cheerful' member of the waitstaff did not tend to me today nor was she present. This person normally goes out of her way to point out more 'cost effective' ways for me to order the same things and I have found her to be the most cheerful person on this planet of ours! Not to say that I was given anything less than excellent service today --- Jennifer outdid herself to say the least.

Red Robin, known for its burgers/fries of course is not why I frequent the joint. I go for the bottomless soda (this is a place that makes sure your cup runneth over!) and the cheese sticks! If you are a fan of mozzarella cheese sticks (and I have tried many), Red Robin's can not be beaten and for the smaller party they are now offering a 1/2 order which I strongly recommend... 5 sticks vs. 10!

Next, the natural burger, sans tomato and onion, plus mayo and relish. I used to order the cheeseburger sans tomato, onion and cheese but my 'cheerful' friend pointed this option out to me for $1 less!

I've begun to notice that most restaurants have 'special' staff to bring the food to the table now instead of the wait staff - I'm wondering why this is. Then a few minutes later, the waiter arrives to see how your food is. I first noticed this years ago when Red Robin started the practice and I often thought they were just too busy but now I'm positive there's a reason for it because so many establishments are practicing this.

So host/hostess, waiter, food bringer, bartender..... must be other positions I am missing besides the kitchen staff of course. In this economy the more jobs we can create, all the better!

http://www.redrobin.com

Silver City Brewery - Lunch

I've dined at the Silver City Brewery on several occasions in the past, but usually for dinner, only once before for lunch. As has been my experience in the past, Silver City is either well-placed (located in the corner of the Kitsap Mall parking lot) and just off Silverdale Way or in my opinion as is the case, one of the best places in Silverdale to eat. You can be comfortable dressed up or down and the service is impeccable. I have to admit, regardless of your food choice, I have never been disappointed by the service at Silver City.

Today, I chose the Big Daddy Burger sans the Tillamook Cheese. This is a 6 oz. burger prepared medium-well with bacon and doesn't leave you hungering for more in the least. The Morningside Spent Grain Bun is one I've not seen elsewhere and it makes the burger. I am a fan of burgers myself... juicy, greasy burgers with plenty of fries to join and this is one burger that does not dissatisfy.

Every meal deserves to be topped off with dessert and Silver City has a Chef's Choice of cheesecake depending on the season. Cheesecake being one of my favorite desserts, I had to indulge in the New York Style with raspberry topping... lactose intolerances aside... somethings are worth suffering for!

As for the service again, I'm not a coffee drinker but I am a soda drinker and any waiter who can keep my diet coke/pepsi bottomless deserves my vote --- here's to you Ryan! But I will say this, of all the times I've delighted in Silver City, the wait staff and bar staff are wonderful - you will not be disappointed I assure you!

http://www.silvercitybrewery.com/index.htm

Planning my next lunch time stop

This journey/adventure of writing of the restaurants I dine in throughout Kitsap and other places I visit has me wanting to be more adventurous and selective in my selections now.  Do I try places I've gone to so very many times and know the menus well or try new hidden treasures?  Finding those hidden gems is half the battle of course.  I look forward to the spring here in the PNW when we can dine 'al fresco' once again - there's nothing like basking in the glow of the warm sunshine as you eat your lunch.  I'm not a 'sit in the shade' type of gal - never was for some reason.

I am thinking though...  I'm feeling a tug towards Silver City Brewery on Saturday for lunch.  I've never been disappointed but were someone to give me a suggestion otherwise, I'll try something else.  I usually venture there for dinner and not for lunch, so this will be something different for me.

Looking forward to lunch on Saturday now more than ever!

If only I had some friends who loved sushi as much as my Seattle friends did as I do miss it so!

Signing off....

First Adventure to Blog - The Toadhouse - Bremerton

I've been reading and hearing about 'The Toadhouse" in Bremerton on different forums for some time now so was quite anxious to give it a try.  Being new to Kitsap, finding these spots is always the hardest part of the adventure for me, but I was quite pleased when I found what I hoped would be a culinary delight.

I ate at The Toadhouse for lunch on a Tuesday and the crowd was very light, just a few regulars from what I could tell.  The environment resembled the ale houses I recall from my time working in the University District in Seattle and I developed a fondness immediately.  However, I was disappointed in that I had read somewhere that the burgers were quite yummy only to find there was not a burger on the menu - I do not fault The Toadhouse, but the writer of the forum I read before.

So what did I end up eating?  I fancy myself a pizza connisseur so went with the $9.99 lunch 4 1 special - quite a deal when you're dining alone I might add.  I was disappointed in that the menu stated French dressing and they did not have French dressing however.  Opting for a Caesar salad which was good as far as they go, but not the best I've had --- lettuce not being the freshest in my opinion.  I was impressed that 'real' parmesan was on the table and not something you'd find in a can.. nothing like 'real' cheese in my opinion.

So what about my pizza?  I'm a fan of brick oven pizza myself which this was, not as thin a crust as I prefer, but was good nonetheless.  Cheese only is my preference of topping - two cheeses were given, mozzarella and a yellow (cheddar I presume), I'm old school I guess where pizza is simply made with mozzarella.

All in all --- atmosphere was a 10, service a 9.5, cost very reasonable, food...  7-8 ....  mostly because they didn't have what I was hungry for - when you have a craving you have a craving and pizza was not it.  There's nothing worse than perusing a menu you can't find anything on you are hungry for at the time.

This place though ---- took me back to Seattle for sure... and that was worth every minute of my lunch break!

Until the next time....  Bon Appetit

Anne