Socially Hot Stuff!!

The Social Bar and Grill

1715 Dock St.

Tacoma, WA

98402

253.301.3835

Okay I'm Norwegian so I'm not entering any jalapeno eating contests, but I still like a little spice in my food.  For the most part; however, I like to taste the food and not get a 3rd degree burn in the process.  The Social Bar and Grill is in a great setting on the Thea Foss Waterway.  Their menu has a spanish flair and is filled with interesting combinations that are all reasonably priced.  I just needed some more of the Cassava doughnuts they bring you at the beginning of the meal to temper the heat that emanated from every dish.  We tried three different dishes.  First the Smoked Pork & Pineapple Tacos ($8), which sounds like they should have a some spice with onion, cilantro, jalapeno and slaw, but look at the picture...all those green chopped up things are fresh jalapenos along with the sliced ones on the side! Whew!

  Next we had the Roasted Smoked Pork Belly Sandwich ($8) which doesn't necessarily sound like it should be super spicy but rather smoky and salty.  When you look at the menu description it does say it has a chile-garlic aioli, carmelized onion, roasted peppers, JALAPENO and slaw.  I really wanted to taste the pork belly in that sandwich, that didn't happen.  Again notice the large jalapeno in the picture!

Last we had the Grilled Octopus ($9), this doesn't sound hot at all and the menu description has no mention of the attacking jalapeno!  It says it is served with potato, roasted garlic, roasted red pepper, and an "herb sauce".  So that's where the little suckers are hiding!  This dish was the hottest of all! Also if you order the Grilled Octopus, eat it quickly.  Once it gets cold it's just rubbery. 

Overall I would try The Social again.  The service was great and the food is inventive and well priced.  I would just be more careful about asking about the heat level of the food.  In looking closer at the menu it's clear the chef likes playing with fire.  Even the ribeye is served with jalapenos!  Bring a fire extinguisher and give The Social a try (or maybe I'm just a wimpy Norwegian and you won't need one)!  

Oh My Mac N Cheesy Goodness!!

Honestly as a child I don't remember having mac n cheese, certainly not from a box.  My Mom wasn't the "from a box" kind of cook.   I do remember; however, making mac n cheese for my own children out of a box and if I was feeling especially creative adding hot dogs or chili.  Hey, don't judge! It takes a lot of energy at the end of the day to make something your kids will eat!  I do love mac n cheese.  Creamy, with a sharp bite and a crusty top.  In light of my love for mac n cheese and the current trend for upscaling some of our most traditional and ordinary dishes, I decided to go on a "macabout", you know sort of like a walkabout only involving food!  My Dad's nickname was Mac and he could be pretty cheesy, my grandsons nickname is Mak and he is definitely a cheeser, but let's begin our exploration of some different macs. 

Bite at the Murano
1320 Broadway Plaza
Tacoma WA  98402

No bite at the Bite, all velvety earthy and even looks like a cloud (I mean look at that dish...it looks like you could lay your head on it).  Three cheeses, truffle oil and shaved truffles, it's $15 and worth every creamy bite. 

Crown Bar
2705 6th Ave.
Tacoma WA  98406

Made with Cougar Gold cheese, great bite.  Let me make one caveat, it has a great bite "sometimes".  It seems inconsistent, one time way too salty, one time no bite.  Most of the time great though!  A small is $7 and large is $12.  No reason to mess around with a small!

Top of Tacoma Bar
3529 McKinley Ave.
Tacoma WA  98404

Order it with prosciutto and tomato - that's all I'm gonna say, I mean really it's amazing!  $9.50 add $1.50 for the tomato and prosciutto.  It comes with salad and garlic bread, it's the best deal.

Joule
1913 N 45th St.
Seattle WA  98103

Crunchy and wonderful. Made with spaetzle and black sesame seeds, loved the contrast of the creamy inside and the crispy outside.  $10

This is by no means a comprehensive list of all the great mac n cheese in the Puget Sound but rather a broad sampling and I do mean broad,  from Joule (Rachel Yang of Iron Chef Fame) to the wonderfully gritty Top of Tacoma bar...you can't say I don't get around!  There will be more mac n cheese to come, I want to try Rosewood Cafe and Stink in Tacoma and JW's in Gig Harbor.  Any other suggestions?

Billy B's

Stopped in at this really friendly neighborhood pub and were pleasantly surprised!  Great quesedillas that would rival any mexican restaurant or fancy gastro pub, not too much cheese, tons of meat, black beans and lotsa hotsa jalapenos!  If you are into the sports on the big screens..lots of that with good music playing.   Can't always be about the "cuisine"...need to satisfy my craving for regular pub food!  Most importantly what's the most popular pub wine...14 hands.  14 hands merlot...$4.25..duh winner!  Sorry for the gratuitous Charlie Sheen reference!

BITE This! The sudden death of the lobster corn dog

Anyone who knows me knows that I love the lobby bar at the Murano.  You are surrounded by stunning glass art and you always meet someone interesting.  The Murano on Broadway in Tacoma is on the Conde Nast Travelers Gold List of the 504 best hotels in the world!  Hey, I always knew I had good taste!  There is something different about a bar in a hotel, people are traveling away from home so they are more inclined to get to know the people around them.  More often than not when sitting at the lobby bar, the entire bar is having a conversation....led by the vibrant bartenders Kristy, Debra and Chris.  The other great thing is that you can just wander upstairs to BITE and there is another beautiful bar and restaurant with some good food at a decent price. 
When you open a menu what is the thing that disappoints you the most?  Mine is when there isn't anything on there that I haven't had before.  I want to be intriqued not bored.  Well, open up the menu at BITE and say, "lobster corn dog".  Now that is something you don't get just anywhere!  So imagine my sense of mourning when as I was working on this blog I learn about the sudden death of the lobster corn dog!  Nobody knows what happened...one day they seemed fine and poof they were gone!  So I have developed a twelve step program to help us all heal:

Step one:  Cocktail at the lobby bar...stimulating conversation, great laughs (great for healing the hurt).
Step two:  Up the stairs to BITE.  Start with the lobster corn dogs  the spicy prawns which really aren't as spicy as they could be but are better than the fried green tomatoes that were dry, hard and unrecognizable.  These should have been taken off the menu and saved the lobster corn dogs!
Step three:  Have the lobster pot pie as a rich homage to the dogs!
Step four:  Don't skip dessert...they have milkshakes!
Step five:  Back to the lobby...book a room.
Step six:  Have Kristy make you a decadent coffee drink so that you don't slip into a food coma.
Step seven:  Ogle at all the gorgeous art on your way to your room !
Step eight:  Breakfast...oh my god! Limoncello cured salmon on a toasted bagel with tomato, cream cheese and capers!
Step nine:  Go to Savi Day Spa right in the hotel and get a relaxing massage
Step ten:  Take your time checking out and take some pictures of the gorgeous glass art.
Step eleven:  Try the fries and mushroom zinfandel gravy with gorgonzola cheese.  The concept of fried and gravy just sounds so wonderful that you have to try it and make your own decision.  I found the gravy way too salty that was a really dark brown color that made the pile of fries look like unappetizing mud and the gorgonzola cheese was barely there.  They might be a good hangover cure though!

 
Step twelve:  If you did all that you better take a walk down to the Glass Museum and back whilst (there's a word you don't get to use much) "thanking me" and praying for the resurrection of the lobster corn dog!
This is a great place to experience, especially on a Tuesday or Thursday when it's BITE night...lots of the appetizers are only $5, but don't miss having a cocktail in the Lobby Bar where you can get appetizers as well and the vibe is much more vibrant.  Pretend like you're from out of town and experience a local luxury!

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

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!