11/26/09

NW Thanksgiving

First meal in the new place with a gas stove older than me.

1. Dungeness Crab Dip, Mussells, Avocado. Fremont Brewing Universale Pale Ale.

2. Yukon Mashed Potatoes with Shrimp, Crab Cake. Deschutes Jubelale 2009.


3. Butter and Thyme Bombed Scallops, Asparagus. Chimay Blue.

4. Pan Seared Salmon, Crab Cake Stuffing. Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws 2009.

5. Pumpkin Pie. Stone Double Bastard Ale Vintage 2004.

So long Belltown and hello to the new humble abode in Fremont.

11/10/09

Nirvana - Live at Reading (2009)

A proper DVD release, with 5.1 surround sound and great picture quality, of the 08/30/1992 performance at the Reading Festival. Worth the wait and purchase.



No gimmicks, screens with artsy graphics, or spinning stages. Just three dudes casting waves of maniacal energy and distortion that's just as awesome seventeen years later.

Tracks:
1. Breed
2. Drain You
3. Aneurysm
4. School
5. Sliver
6. In Bloom
7. Come As You Are
8. Lithium
9. About A Girl
10. Tourette's
11. Polly
12. Lounge Act
13. Smells Like Teen Spirit
14. On A Plain
15. Negative Creep
16. Been A Son
17. All Apologies
18. Blew
19. Dumb
20. Stay Away
21. Spank Thru
22. Love Buzz
23. The Money Will Roll Right In
24. D-7
25. Territorial Pissings

Greatest rock band ever?

11/7/09

Nirvana - Bleach (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition 2009)

If you have a pulse and a radio you've heard Nirvana. Sub Pop has done a perfect job here. A re-mastered version of the debut with a previously unreleased live show and a fifty page booklet for a criminally affordable price.

One thing Nirvana could do was write consistently catchy tunes. Bleach treads with both lurching and frenzied grooves. A simple recipe of chunky chainsawing guitars, billowing bass, and grimy harmonies that became a part of the collective conscious. Punk infused fuzz coated in primitive pop undertones. A lot to be said for being able to take basic chords dripped in dissonance and making them a fun.

Rasping vocals compliment the abrasive melody. Trippy lyrics that know when not to take themselves seriously.  Production is organic and rusty and rightfully unpolished.

The additional live tracks are a high quality bonus. The recording captures an unapologetic rawness. Plus it has a few of my all time favorites including "Dive", "Molly's Lips", and "Sappy."

Tracks:
1. Blew
2. Floyd The Barber
3. About A Girl
4. School
5. Love Buzz
6. Paper Cuts
7. Negative Creep
8. Scoff
9. Swap Meet
10. Mr. Moustache
11. Sifting
12. Big Cheese
13. Downer

02/20/90 @ The Pine Street Theatre (Portland, OR)
14. Intro
15. School
16. Floyd The Barber
17. Dive
18. Love Buzz
19. Spank Thru
20. Molly's Lips
21. Sappy
22. Scoff
23. About A Girl
24. Been A Son
25. Blew

Feedback will free your mind.

11/5/09

NW by SW Eggs Benedict

Alaskan smoked salmon can easily replace ham in an eggs benedict recipe. Pico de gallo and hot sauce to compliment the traditional hollandaise sauce.
INGREDIENTS
3 English Muffins
7 Eggs (4 Yolks for Hollandaise, 3 for Poaching)
6 oz. Salmon
1 Tomato
1 Lemon (home grown in Emily's backyard)
1 Jalapeno
1 Stick Melted Butter
2 Tablespoons of Yellow Sweet Corn
2 Tablespoons of Black Beans
1/2 Cup Cilantro
1/2 White Onion
Olive Oil
Hot Sauce
Salt, Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper
White Vinegar
H2O

Prepare Pico de Gallo
Combine following in bowl:
1) 1/2 medium white onion minced
2) 1 jalapeno pepper seeded and minced
3) 1/2 red tomato chopped
4) 1/5 cup chopped cilantro
5) Lightly browned sweet corn and black beans
6) Squeeze lemon juice
7) Season with salt, dash of olive oil, & refrigerate

Prepare Hollandaise Sauce
1) Whisk 4 egg yolks and lemon juice in stainless steel bowl
2) Place bowl over saucepan of lightly simmering water & continue whisking
3) Slowly pour melted butter into saucepan until sauce thickens
4) Remove from heat, season with cayenne, & cover

Prepare Poached Eggs
1) Simmer saucepan with 6 cups water
2) Add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar
3) Gently pour eggs into simmering water
4) Cover for 2 minutes
5) Remove cover and lightly spoon underneath eggs
6) Simmer another 1.5 - 2 minutes
7) Remove eggs with slotted spoon
8) Place on paper towel

Combine
1) Toast muffins
2) Pour hollandaise
3) Lay salmon
4) Place eggs
5) Drizzle hot & hollandaise
6) Scoop pico de gallo

A Northwest by Southwest conspiracy.

Kitty Pull-Ups

11/2/09

HalloweeniversarY

5 year anniversary on top of seven months apart plus the best holiday of the year falling on a Saturday.

Elysian Brewering Company (Capitol Hill): October 29th. Oasis platter and two Elysian burgers. Perfect atmosphere and even better service. Eyehategod and free shots. Beers: Night Owl (Pumpkin Ale), Trip III (Flanders Oud Bruin brewed in collaboration with New Belgium), Sour Power (Sour Ale), Haleakala Sour (Sour Ale), and The Wise (E.S.B.) on cask.

Taphouse Grill: October 29th. California rolls and volcano goat cheese. Thursday night in dead center downtown during happy hour and all the pumpkin beers were out. Beers: Dogfish Head 90 Minute I.P.A.

Artisan Cafe: October 30th, take out. Salmon fresca and caprese sandwiches. Friendly around the corner location with excellent coffee and fresh food.

Brouwer's Cafe: October 30th. Smoked salmon, bison, lamb. The salmon was delicious but the entrees were not top tier as with previous visits. They changed the frites which is confusing. Devil's Night atmosphere and beer were redeeming factors. Beers: He'Brew Jewbelation Bar Mitzvah 13th Anniversary Ale (Imperial Stout - 13 malts, 13 hops, 13%), Ram's Pumpkin Ale (nitro), Dogfish Head Punkin Ale (Pumpkin), Brouwerij Bavik's Petrus Oud Bruin (Flanders Oud Bruin), Russian River's Publication (Saison), Elysian's Mr. Yuck Sour Ale, and Southern Tier's Pumking (Pumpkin).

Blue C Sushi: October 30th. Sake bombs and sushi. Top notch service and free drinks.
Shallots Bistro: October 31st, take out. Nine flavor beef, kung pao chicken, vegetable lo mein, and quart of hot & sour soup. Delicious post pumpkin carving food with Elysian The Great Pumpkin (Imperial Pumpkin Ale), Elysian Dark 'o The Moon (Imperial Pumpkin Stout), and Deschutes The Abyss (Imperial Stout).

Bleu Bistro: October 31st. Hummus, salsa, and chicken soft tacos. Eclectic bar with a huge mixed drink selection. Perfect late night Halloween vibes. Impressive food. Beers: Speakeasy Big Daddy I.P.A. and North Coast Old Rasputin (R.I.S.). Children thought I was Satan.

Top Pot: El Día de los Muertos. Pumpkin glazed doughnuts to wrap up a three day Halloween extravaganza.




Pumpkin carving, costumes, and indulging in the All Hallows Eve spirit with the one I love.

11/1/09

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

1) 2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil on dry seeds

2) Garlic Salt, Cayenne Pepper, Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Cajun Spice, & Paprika

4) Bake @ 300° for 25 mins