5 Game Day Cocktail Recipes

by scott wardellSeptember 26, 2012

Whether you choose to watch your weekly football game in the comfort of your living room, or from the back of your car in the stadium parking lot, our friends at Seattle Magazine have rounded up 5 awesome drink recipes to compliment your game-watching party. A.J. Rathbun of Seattle Magazine writes:

One of the most important seasons is upon us: tailgating. I believe football has also started. I’ve never turned down a beer served from the bed of a pickup truck, but I think it’s not a bad idea to serve a beverage that’ll set your pre-stadium experience above the rest. With that in mind, here are five fan-tastic drink recipes for pre-game parties.

Football Punch
My favorite football-watching beverage, this can turn a run-of-the-mill pigskin wing-ding into a memorable evening. It’s easy to make, super tasty, and serves a bunch of fellow fans. Heck, I like it so much I made a Football Punch video. This recipe is from Dark Spirits and serves about 10: Fill a large punch bowl halfway full with ice cubes. Add a 750-milliliter bottle of dark rum, 10 ounces sweet vermouth, 5 ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice, 5 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice, and 16 ounces apple juice. Stir with a pennant from your team of choice. Add two 25-1/2 ounce bottles sparkling apple cider, carefully, and then 2 apples cut into slices. Stir well. Serve in punch glasses, mugs, or little plastic footballs.

Check out the other cocktail concoctions over at Seattle Magazine…

This is our weekly guest post from our friends at Seattle Magazine, which keeps readers on the pulse of restaurants, personalities, arts, entertainment and culture that reflect the tapestry of our dynamic landscape. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a weekly dose of fantastic Date Night ideas throughout greater Seattle.

4 Must-Have Sweet Corn Treats

by writerredtriSeptember 12, 2012

With the upcoming fall season fast approaching, no doubt you’ve started noticing the influx of seasonal fruits and vegetables hitting the supermarket shelves. Corn, the poster child of the fall season (and a kid favorite) is a must for your go-to dishes in the following months. But if you feel like adventuring out for a bite to eat, our friends at Seattle Magazine have the scoop on where to chow down on these crispy, savory little bites.

Kingfish Café
Surprisingly light and subtly peppery, made with local corn, a creamy bowl of CRAWFISH AND CORN CHOWDER, flanked by flaky crackers, will hit the sweet spot. $5.50 cup, $8.50 bowl. Capitol Hill, 602 19th Ave. E; 206.320.8757; thekingfishcafe.com

Michou
This FRESH CORN SALAD—a simple dish of corn, onions and tomatoes, seasoned with basil and drenched in lemony house-made dressing—sells out fast, so get in line early. $6.99/pound. Pike Place Market, 1904 Pike Place; 206.448.4758; michoudeli.com

Discover the rest of these corn treats over at Seattle Magazine.

This is our weekly guest post from our friends at Seattle Magazine, which keeps readers on the pulse of restaurants, personalities, arts, entertainment and culture that reflect the tapestry of our dynamic landscape. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a weekly dose of fantastic Date Night ideas throughout greater Seattle.

7 Websites and Apps For Your Health

by writerredtriAugust 20, 2012

Oh no, your kiddo has a runny nose and a cough. What could it be this time? Before rushing off to the doctor’s office, it pays to do a little research into your kid’s symptoms. With thousands of health-related websites and smartphone apps to choose from, finding the best can be daunting. We checked in with local doctors to find out which sites they recommend—and use themselves. Kristen Russell of Seattle Magazine writes:

I want trustworthy general medical information
Nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/
The National Institutes of Health’s website offers very good general health information and a good place to start for health-related searches.

I just heard a troubling health news report and want to find out if it’s true
healthnewsreview.org
A media watchdog website that casts a critical eye on television and other media reports, via a team of more than two dozen physicians, professors of medicine and health journalists.

I want to investigate my child’s symptoms
Swedish Kids Symptom Checker
Swedish hospital’s site for parents offers quick advice for coping with a wide variety of children’s symptoms, including possible causes and home treatments, and when to seek professional help.

I need reliable info about child health, safety and development
healthychildren.org
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ website is packed with information, tips and tools for parents, including a symptom checker, pediatrician Q&As, safety checklists and more.

Check out the rest of the list over at Seattle Magazine.

Got a Boozy Sweet Tooth? 5 Spiked Desserts

by scott wardellAugust 13, 2012

The ultimate dilemma: Your server asking “Would you like to see our dessert menu?” Even though you know foregoing dessert is an option, sometimes that after-dinner sweet tooth just aches for a little something something. So go ahead, sneak a peek at the menu. Because honestly, what’s better than dessert? How about dessert and drinks…together. The best of both worlds? We think so. Our friends at Seattle Magazine must agree, as they rounded up some great spots for spiked desserts to cap off a meal or an evening in a scrumptious manner. A.J. Rathbun writes:

Boozy Milkshakes, Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery
These are every adult’s dream. You get to feel like a kid and a grown up all at once. My pick is the Extra-Dark Salted Caramel with Espresso and Rye Whiskey milkshake garnished with vanilla sugar, but there are four to choose from and each is constructed with Bluebird handmade vanilla ice cream. And booze, naturally.

Strawberries and Grappa, Artusi
A summertime gardener’s treat (and if you’re an Italian gardener, a double treat), this flavor-packed ensemble macerates fresh strawberries in Italian-after-dinner staple grappa and then finishes it off with black pepper and lush cream. As a bonus, as it contains fresh fruit, you can convince yourself that this is really a healthy dessert.

Still need a fix? Check out Seattle’s other spiked desserts over at Seattle magazine.

Four Ice Cream Trucks to Follow

by scott wardellJuly 30, 2012

Summertime brings to mind the frozen delights of our youth, treats hard earned by sprinting after the ice cream truck. These days, ice cream is easier to come by, thanks to the fine fleet of festive trucks cruising local streets—and the websites that help us track them down. Marianne Hale of Seattle Magazine has the “scoop” on where to find these mobile ice creameries.

1. You can get creative with Street Treats’ scratch-made ice cream and cookies by choosing your own ice cream sandwich combos (think snickerdoodle cookies with vanilla bean ice cream or chocolate chip cookies with peanut butter ice cream). Find the truck at the Fremont Market on Sundays (11 a.m.– 4 p.m.) or check the website for its whereabouts. streettreatswa.com

2. Molly Moon’s seasonal flavors run the gamut from vegan cherry chunk to Beecher’s Flagship cheddar—and the year-round offerings, including Stumptown coffee and salted caramel, are equally enticing. Follow the ever-roving, bright blue truck’s location on Facebook or Twitter.mollymoonicecream.com

Follow your sweet tooth to Seattle Magazine to find out the rest of the can’t-miss ice cream trucks.

Five Delicious Summer Salads

by scott wardellJuly 23, 2012

It’s summer and we cannot get enough nicely dressed greens, pickled veggies and the unexpected appearance of wild cards like fruit, not to mention exceptional salads served in unexpected places. (Yes, maybe they should rename Safeco Field…of greens.) Here are five salads that get us hot:

1. If there’s a better $5 Caesar in the city than the beauty at the ballpark, lead us to it. The made-to-order Caesar at Modern Apizza stand in The ‘Pen hits the mark on many levels: chilled, fresh romaine, croutons that are crunchy yet not molar busting, a fantastic dressing and just the right amount of it, a shower of shaved parm and, hey, this salad is HUGE. Score!

2. The beet tartare at Steelhead Diner is a gorgeous nod to the classic raw beef dish. In its dazzling cylindrical presentation, this veggie tartare might even pass for its meaty cousin, but take one bite and there’s no mistaking those tender pink roots. Partnered with blue cheese crumbles and a tangle of frisee, this manages the salad trifecta: sweet, salty, tart.

Get your recommended daily dose of veggies from Seattle Magazine‘s delicious summer salads list here.

Four Ballard BBQ Hot Spots

by writerredtriJune 25, 2012

For your next date night, skip the steak dinner and take a trip to the south. Not literally, though (the babysitter isn’t that patient!). Thanks to the recent advent of tasty barbecue restaurants in Seattle, you won’t have to venture far. Our friends at Seattle Magazine share their top picks for finger-licking BBQ in Ballard. Allison Austin Scheff writes:

Bitterroot
This stylish corner spot on Ballard Avenue (in the old Acme Rubber Stamp space) opened in January, and features reclaimed wood, exposed brick and serious barbecue. All the meat is dry-rubbed and slow-smoked; burgers and pulled-pork sandwiches arrive on chewy pretzel buns, and four tasty sauces—sweet classic, spicy chipotle, hot vinegar and Carolina mustard—await at the table. Wash it all down with a local beer or a swig from the healthy selection of whiskeys. 5239 Ballard Ave. NW; 206.588.1577; bitterrootbbq.com

Is your mouth watering yet? Keep reading Seattle Magazine’s full article here.

5 Freshest Salmon Dishes in Seattle

by writerredtriJune 18, 2012

Living so close to the coast, it’s a crime not to take advantage of all the fresh seafood the area has to offer, but it’s not always convenient to prepare fish in your own kitchen. Luckily, Seattle’s best chefs realize this and are offering a diverse array of salmon dishes sure to make your next date night tastier than ever. From sashimi to sandwiches, these delicious plates all pay homage to the versatility of our favorite fish.

Joe Livarchik of Seattle Magazine writes:

Sushi Kappo Tamura
This Eastlake hot spot’s savory salmon sashimi is as fresh as it gets, sliced and served with wasabi, soy sauce and tart lemon slices. $18. Eastlake, 2968 Eastlake Ave. E; 206-547-0937; sushikappotamura.com.

Market Grill
The Market Grill’s grilled salmon sandwich is one of the best. Blackened wild coho salmon is served on a baguette with fresh tomato, buttery grilled onions and silky rosemary mayonnaise. $12.95. Pike Place Market, 1509 Pike Place, Suite 3; 206-682-2654.

Hungry for more? Keep reading Seattle Magazine‘s full article here.

5 Local Takes on the Classic BLT

by Erin LemJune 11, 2012

Breakfast, lunch or dinner, we all get those little cravings for something classic and new all at the same time. These local Seattle shops will satisfy your familiar taste buds with a special kick to the traditional bacon-lettuce-tomato combo. There’s lots of debate as to what makes the perfect BLT, but whether it’s in-house smoked bacon or the simple delight of choosing your own breads, one thing is for sure: Seattle is not short on its BLT supply.

Marianne Hale from Seattle Magazine pulls out all the stops for the places to go.

DOT’S DELICATESSEN
Dot’s bacon is dry-rubbed and smoked in house, then laid on sourdough slices from Macrina Bakery with heirloom tomatoes (when in season), mixed baby head lettuce and fresh house-made aioli. $7. Fremont, 4262 Fremont Ave. N; 206.687.7446; dotsdelicatessen.com

THE SWINERY
Perhaps the Swinery’s entry should be called the PBLT, because the chefs use thick, crispy slices of pork belly accompanied by chicken liver pâté mayo, mixed greens and tomato, all snuggled into a Macrina brioche. $8. West Seattle, 3207 California Ave. SW; 206.932.4211; swinerymeats.com

To get your fill of Seattle’s best BLT takes, check out Seattle Magazine’s full article here.

30 Perfect Summer Nights in Seattle

by scott wardellJune 4, 2012

When it comes to endless summer nights, Seattle has the bragging rights sewn up: Around here, sunlight lingers into end of day (we’ll have 16 hours of daylight on June 21!), making for long, languid evenings that seem to stretch on forever. Sure, our nights are seldom hot—some years, we just settle for dry—but the city comes alive at night during this season, with myriad options for after-hours adventures. Whether you’re seeking ways to play, eat, drink or explore the outdoors in the dark, this is your guide to the best summer nights Seattle has to offer.

[outdoors]
Hot Tub Boats
Imagine bobbing along on Lake Union in a floating, diesel-powered hot tub. That, um, dream is now reality, thanks to Seattle-based HOT TUB BOATS. Created by local shipwrights with an entrepreneurial bent (and, apparently, a sense of humor), these floating tubs (patent pending!) will take to the lake with as many as six people on board. The good news? A diesel-fired boiler keeps the water hot during your voyage. And you can steer while submerged. The bad? No alcohol or nudity is allowed. Sheer decadence or extreme dorkiness? We’ll let you decide. At press time, rental fees were not available; hottubboats.com.

To read about Seattle’s other perfect summer night activities, check out Seattle Magazine’s full article here.

ML Interest Tag: tapestry

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