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shiso

Cereal Eats: A New Column Devoted To The Cereal-Obsessed

I am a connoisseur of the sugary cereal kind, but I tend to buy healthy cereals now that I am all grown up.
BUT!..
I spend a long time in the cereal aisle and stare at all the box and logo updates and changes that keep taking place... I sort of admire cereal as an indicator of design trends, personally growing up, and simple amusement.

Cereal is deep.

The sound of my digging hand in the box going for a free toy is irreplaceable.

Do you measure ingredients when you cook?

Digital gram scale.... or eyeball. No in-between!

What's Your Secret Salsa Ingredient?

roast & blister your peppers first...

Would You Eat Human Cheese?

Seattle: Low Expectations, Extreme Value at Dick's Drive-In

Shake Shack may cost 4x the price of a Dicks burger but it is not 4x better.
I think Dicks succeeds in value. They have found a line to ride where they cannot be beaten. And if an In & Out opened nearby, Dicks would not go out of business.

(BTW - Spokane Dicks is better)

Taste Test: Mustard

Maille!!! - Classic Dijon!

Num Pang Sandwich Shop: What's in a Name? A Lot, As It Turns Out

First off it was SMALL. Note using CAPS to write small is kind of opposite, i am aware, i am just calling it out.

I found it to be expensive...this does have to do with the cost/size value.

The pork was good, juicy, tasty,...i could absolutely do without the honey. It took me to a "fusion" place in my mind where i did not want to be.
The kiosk-y feel is well loved..street food esque, and the menu is not finicky and overdone. Very positive points!

Overall i will go again to try another type.. but my go to is still authentic down n dirty banh mi elsewhere.

Shrimp Scampi in NYC?

Thanks!.. i am a butter whore but i am looking for an outing experience.

What would your last meal be?

Chicken In a Biscuit &
Aerosol bacon cheese in a can

..then onto the champagne.

I don't have a ___ in my kitchen and I don't want one.

Garlic Press/slicer.

Avocado Slicer.

Warped thin & crappy cutting board.

Le Creuset: Is it worth it?

Try this.... Kawaguchi i-mono series.
I recently ran into these at a product design show.
I have not used them but i am really interested...

>>> Japanese - All new - half the weight - more strength

http://www.kawaguchicci.or.jp/i-mono/global/index.html

Performance is key for me in the kitchen, but i am very very picky for the look/design also.

I own Staub and love it because it is all those things we expect for an expensive high quality cast iron dutch oven PLUS it looks really cool and does not have that Martha Stewart daintiness that LC has. The emphasized hard lines of Staub, including their brass handles is attractive for me. So far i have no complaints for Staub. I chose Staub over LC because of the look/design, & because Staub offers matte black.

Happy 55th Birthday to Dick's Drive-In in Seattle

Dick's is the ultimate spot for post drinking.
The crowd is friendly (because it is in Seattle) and you will find people from every income level & walk of life in line with you.

The burgers are small-ish but very really satisfying and they ooze of Americana.
You always have money left over for more burgers because it is so friggin cheap!

Help Me Perfect My Stovetop Espresso Maker Coffee

There are a few people hinting at Aluminum being potentially bad for you. Does anyone have "real" worries about this.. should I???

Should i trade in for a stainless machine?

Help Me Perfect My Stovetop Espresso Maker Coffee

I have a German perfectionist friend that told me to keep the top open until it is about to spurt all over. Then close it for the final bit. Supposedly by keeping it closed it will create condensation on the lid that drips back down and dilutes the espresso.

I also keep the heat at about med-high.. i have a 3 cup which is fairly small in the world of Bialetti Moka Express. Another reason to keep the heat down from full blast is that the handle will melt and burn in the lowest area making your Moka Express look sad.

Weekend Book Giveaway: 'American Cheeses'

Washington State University's Creamery - Aged cheddar called "Cougar Gold" in a cool metal can!

Would You Send Back an Overcooked Burger?

Ive done it but i got really nasty looks and a brief explanation that they thought they heard me say "well". Well???
It makes me nervous though.. what are they doing to my second burger??? !!!

Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Two Peter Luger Steaks

Skirt Steak!!!
Visually it is a beautifully marbled and striated cut that begs to be cooked quickly over high heat. Skirt steak takes on seasoning well and when cooked perfectly it has a pink juicy center and a crunchy fire kissed outside.

Chewing the Fat: Batali and Bourdain on Fatherhood

1:56 is all we get???

What do you put on pasta?

Nattou... Nattou spaghetti is an amazing way to use nattou in a cooked dish as much of it's usage is just a topping for rice or alone.
I recommend some red chilis, butter and shoyu. You can even dot it with parsley at the end and cook it with some onion or shallots.

Sweet Ticket Giveaway, Week 3: Pichet Ong's Guilty Pleasure Sweet

Smores:, the graham crackers had to be cracked just right so they were squares from the original rectangles, and i had to pack as many marshmallows & chocolates as i could fit on the surface to glue the graham lid down. Mmmm.. they smelled amazing as they expanded and bloated to perfection!

Shrimp Scampi in NYC?

I need recommendations for really great & tasty buttery garlic-y scampi in NYC.

A friend of mine loves LOVES garlic butter shrimp scampi from Carmine's in Times Square.

Now this is not my normal type of place to go.. tourists, Times Sq., institution-like... but i did eat it and it was fab.

Basically the shrimp and the pasta underneath the sea of garlic butter are second to the garlic butter!

In my friends words.." the pasta & shrimp are only the vessel to transport more garlic butter into my mouth".

I was even thinking that some of the new tapas places might have a garlic butter shrimp instead of only thinking Italian...
Thanks! Please help!

Cereal Eats: A New Column Devoted To The Cereal-Obsessed

You can always recognize a fellow cereal lover. Well, perhaps "lover" isn't strong enough. Cereal obsessive? Cereal junkie? You know who you are. The conversation could really go on for hours: likes and dislikes, childhood favorites, discontinued and hard to find varieties. We never got sweet cereals as kids, we got Kashi and unfrosted shredded wheat, health-food brand O's and Fiber One. It's finally time to have that conversation here. More