Yummy comfort food...meatloaf and mac n cheese at the Harmon Hub!

Japonessa - Seattle

So my daughter had been watching a little too much Anthony Bourdain (I know...not really possible) and had a craving for some fresh seafood, so we planned a shopping trip to Seattle followed by dinner.  I did a little research and found Japonessa. It's a newer restaurant opened by Executive Chef/Owner Billy Beach of Umi Sake House which I love so I decided this had to be good.  Japonessa is billed as a sushi cocina..sushi with a latin twist, again this sounded like a lovely thing! The location is great for exploring Seattle and then having dinner, it's on 1st Ave just across from the market and on the opposite corner from the Seattle Art Museum.  That being said, parking isn't really easy but my recommendation is just park at SAM, it's a little more money but worth the convenience.  The chic vibe in this restaurant really lets you know that you are having a night out in downtown Seattle.   We had reservations (which are recommended) and were seated promptly.  One of my pet peeves is when you have reservations and they make you wait a half hour, but if you would have been a half hour late they would have given your table away.  I would have to say that if you have a choice do not sit at the tables along the back wall.  It's a long bench with tables and chairs that are WAY too close to each other.  The couple next to us was on their first date and I could tell you their names, favorite wine, food and dating history.  If you needed to get up from the table you had be strategic in order to not point your derriere inches away from your fellow diners.  Okay, enough with the boring logistics and on to food.
This gorgeous restaurant has an amazingly huge happy hour that lasts pratically all day from 11:30 - 6:30 in the restaurant and from 6:30 to 8 in the bar.  We had bowls of Edamame for only $1!  We started out with sushi of course.  The Sushi Set Deluxe off of the happy hour menu is tuna, salmon, yellowtail, albacore, eel and shrimp rolls for only $8.  There are tons of rolls in the $4 and $5 range and not just ordinary ones either.   

My daughter had the Dragon Scallops as her entree (only $8) and she thought they were too salty but the greens were flavorful and added a great freshness.  I had the Spicy King Crab soup which was also $8 and it was light, delicious and spicy, the perfect thing on a rainy night! 

As you can see you can sample all kinds of interesting flavors and not go broke in this swanky restaurant.  The best thing is that it's sushi prepared right across the street from the fish market and you can tell...fresh, fresh, fresh!

Eating Around the South Sound: Japonessa - Seattle

Burger Battle...can there really be a loser?

The first quandry was where to start?  So many bountiful burgers!  Do you just do beef...buffalo? Are they that different?  I got a little overwhelmed so I decided to start with beef and I'm thinking some of the amazing seafood options might be next, I'm having visions of oyster burgers!  Anyway, back to the beef.  You know if you are going to do burgers just go big or go home so Blazing Onion here I come!  Oh my garantanuan gastronomical goodness!  The Triple XL Burger (very aptly named) is 3 patties for a total of 2 lbs of beef.  I have to admit I didn't actually eat the whole thing, I had to call in the troops.  I had two patties (sans bun) and my boyfriend ate the rest, well I guess I did have a few of those yummy sweet potato fries.  This burger is huge so it gets definite testosterone points for that and it has a great sauce and all the regulars..bacon, cheese, tomato...really satisfying.  You just feel like you conquered something when you have this beefy boy!  

But let's be honest...it's just toooooo much! Yes, there can be too much of a good thing, unless you are a family of four! 

Let's talk about the place that you have to talk about when you talk about anything to do with beef...El Gaucho.  I know, you don't really think burger but I am here to tell you to think again.  Happy Hour...$8.00...burger heaven!  Crispy bun, spices, bacon....total burger nirvana!  If you want fries it's an extra whopping $3.  El Gaucho happy hour runs all night on Mondays and until 6 all other weeknights.  So go..it's an experience that is perfect on these rainy nights, (parking is ample none of those new meters, it's free). 

Okay, what do you think about when you think about burgers?  Beer!  What do you think about when you think about beer... the Parkway.  Their bun is a little wimpy but their burger is exactly what you expect from a burger....cheesy beefy goodness and you taste the beef...not the grill!

Let's just roll the dice, go somewhere not famous for burgers but just good food...the Varisty Grill.  Here is where the surprise happens.  Burgerfrickenmazing!  Bacon and blue cheese...yeah..would you like fries with that?  How about fries and onion rings?  How about onion rings on your burger...why would anyone say no to that?  Great bun (I know I place too much importance on the bun but I'm a carb addict) and two huge patties.  If I had to say anything it was that I could taste that it was cooked on a gas grill, so turn it down but really it was great and the bartender was really friendly and helpful, making sure I ordered the fries which I was glad I did! 

There is no substitute to a great all american burger on a great bun!  There can be no loser in a good burger competition (well, I guess there can be but I just don't consider some of them to even be in the running if you know what I mean).  This was fun and I definitely satisfied my burger craving...what burger is next?  Salmon, oyster.....after all this beef now I'm craving seafood!