Sleepless in Seattle

I recently had the opportunity to spend some time in Seattle Washington. The Pacific Northwest is a bustling region of culinary fixins ranging from scrumptious fresh seafood to eclectic ethnic eats. My first evening in town I was treated to a fine meal at local favorite eatery '13 Coins'.

13 Coins was named one of the Top 5 of Best Late Night Restaurants in the U.S. by Food Network. 

The restaurant gets it's name from a Peruvian tale in which a young poor man seeks to marry a young wealthy girl. The girl's father asks the boy what he has to offer in order to marry the young girl. The boy reaches into his pocket and pulls out 13 coins. The coins became symbols of love, care and concern. Each of the restaurant's tables are decorated with 13 coins as reminders of the story.

13 Coins is an elegant experience featuring a retro Vegas look complete with high back tables, captain's chairs and an exhibition kitchen that allows customers to watch chefs perform their amazing work right in front of their eyes. 13 Coins is open 24 hours a day and has been a local Seattle landmark since 1967.

My brief food excursion started out with some of 13 Coins seafood treats. Our party enjoyed a bucket of fresh clams cooked in white wine, butter and pesto sauce. Members of our party also enjoyed pan fried oysters, rock lobster and filet mignon. I personally enjoyed a seafood saute of jumbo prawn, fresh scallops and sole mixed with onions, tomatoes, mushrooms and lemon cream.

No trip to Seattle would be complete without a trip to the Public Market. The Public Market is one of the oldest public farmer's markets in the U.S. The market contains numerous shops including some of Seattle's best seafood vendors. It was refreshing to see the bright colors of fresh seafood everywhere I turned.

One of the best eats I enjoyed was a 'Dungeness Crab Cocktail' which consisted of a 'shot' of fresh crab meat resting on a sweet and spicy cocktail sauce. I delicately 'baptized' my shot in lemon juice and a dash of hot sauce. Mercy...

In the midst of the seafood extravaganza, there was also a smattering of food vendors serving various foods from Korean 'Bi Bim Bap' rice bowls to foie gras.

Amidst this 'food paradise' I happened upon a place that only existed before in my dreams: A restaurant that serves nothing but sausage. Meet Uli's Famous Sausage.

Uli's Famous Sausage Company is owned and operated by German butcher Uli Lengenberg. Uli makes   his sausages at the market using fresh ingredients with no artificial coloring or chemicals. Uli's also carries sausages from all over the world. German Brats, South African sausage, Mexican Chorizo and many international favorites. Some of the unique flavors Uli's carries include Fresh lamb sausage, Smoked Apple Sage, Rosemary Sage Chicken and Chipotle Tequila Sausage.

I sampled a very unique sausage made from smoked bacon. Served on fresh baguette and covered in a sweet and spicy slaw, this sandwich was heavenly!

No trip to Public Market would be complete without visiting 'Pike Place Fish Company'. By now the world has seen the dazzling fish 'throwing' exploits the market has become famous for on Food Network or Travel Channel. The fish are still be thrown everyday with plenty of crowd cheers and banter among market staff.

For those of you that follow this blog, you know that Chinatown in any city is my favorite place to be. Seattle's Chinatown is no exception. Known as the 'Chinatown International District', Seattle's Chinatown is a community of many diverse Asian people and businesses including Japanese, Korean, Thai, Filipino, Laotian and Cambodian nationalities. 

An amazing Dim Sum joint where I feasted on steamed har gow (homemade dumplings filled with shrimp), pork buns and jasmine tea.

My next stop, Kau Kau Barbecue was recommended to me by a good friend who lives in Seattle. Kau Kau is famous for their bbq duck and pork. Pork (Huo Rou) is marinated and slow roasted and served with a side of sweet plum sauce. The pork retains a crisp sweet outer shell while maintaining a juicy meat filling inside. Gracious....

My last day in Chinatown was bittersweet. On one hand, I found a Dim Sum restaurant  called 'Dim Sum House' that featured '60 cent' Dim Sum items. I also found an amazing Chinese bakery called 'Mon Hei Bakery' where I dined on a sweet shortcake covered in buttercream frosting. 

The downside is that I decided to try chicken hearts. Now, some of you might think that the fact that it is chicken hearts would be reason enough not to like them. It wasn't 'what' it is, it was the fact that the texture was similar to an inflatable chicken liver that you had to chew on like a wad of Big League chewing gum in order to get down sort of spoiled the show for me. Nonetheless, it was an experience. 

   

Seattle has a tremendous food culture. I think I could probably spend a couple of months eating my way throughout the city but I must get back to barbecue pits, tater babies and southern accents. So is the life of the Biblebelt foodie...

A Heaping Plate of Zen...

 Devi Gurung States, a young homeless boy living in a humble village in Nepal found a job working in a restaurant in Kathmandu. Working in several different capacities, he dreamed that one day he might own his own restaurant. Devi met an American physician working in the area who would eventually adopt Devi and bring him to the U.S.

Devi's father Dr. James H. States would encourage his son to get an education and to serve others however he could. Devi attained his Masters in Social Work and vowed to help others just as his father had helped him. Devi began a career in Social Work where he discovered that many of his clients were suffering from poor health due to eating unhealthy meals and little exercise. Devi would return to school to complete a degree in Public Health.

Devi and his wife Connie desired to bring not only the concepts of healthy living but to also introduce the city of St. Louis to authentic Nepalese dishes. And in 2004, the couple opened 'Everest Cafe and Bar' in downtown St. Louis. 

The sacred prayer flags of Tibet wave customers in to a delicious temple of culinary surprises. A combination of Nepalese, Indian and even Korean foods can be sampled. Customers are greeted by waitstaff with the traditional Indian salutation 'Namaste'. 

The cafe is decorated with colorful images of the Buddha and of the Nepalese culture. 

The smells from the kitchen are enticing as the scent of spices like ginger, garlic, cardamom and clove are used in traditional dishes. Some of the traditional Nepalese dishes include dumplings called 'Momo' which feature cumin, garlic, ginger and spices inside of a breaded dumpling with ground pork. Dishes called 'Takari' are cooked with chicken, shrimp or lamb mixed with stewed tomatoes, grilled onions and peppers in a sizzling plate. 'Thukpa' is a traditional Nepalese soup cooked with noodles, chicken and mixed vegetables.

 

The cafe also features a number of Indian classics such as Tandoori Chicken and Pakora Vegetables fried in chick pea flour. 

One of the most unique and tasty dishes that I tasted at Everest was a Korean dish introduced by the owner's wife Connie who is from Korea. 'Chap Chae' is a dish made from sweet potato noodles mixed with beef, onions, carrots and assorted mixed green vegetables. The dish is slightly sweet and savory with a nice mix of the two flavors.

Another favorite dish that Everest offers is a vegetarian dish (yes, I enjoyed a vegetarian dish. Don't tell anyone!) Eggplant is rolled in a light coconut breading and cooked till it forms a crunchy chewy treat.

To further encourage healthy living, Everest Cafe and Bar offers free medical screenings weekly to customers. The Buddhist theme of compassion is further demonstrated by the Cafe's work known as the 'Himalayan Family Healthcare Project' in which proceeds from the restaurant's sales go to help further medical treatments in Nepal.

Next time you are in St. Louis, stop by and visit Everest Cafe and Bar. The warmth and hospitality of Devi and his staff are truly enlightening...