Sun-Starved

Our Vitamin-D deficient adventures in Seattle (and elsewhere)
 

Seattle Events: Will Bake for Food is this Saturday!

Tres_leches1studio-2

A bite of The Chocolate Tres Leches I'm baking for "Will Bake for Food".

Of all the events I will have attended this year in Seattle, this is the one I'm looking forward to the most.  

 Organized by The Jennys, two friends and Seattle-based bloggers, it began as an idea that developed into a fun, large event.  A fair amount of bloggers will put their culinary skills to work on Saturday, November 20th.  It promises to be a morning and afternoon of sweet and savory delights ranging from gluten-free to fully loaded treats.

Jenny Miller is the pen and heart behind Rainy Day Gal (@rainydaygal1). Jenny Richards is the charming chica behind Purple House Dirt (@purplehousedirt).

The wonderful cause this event will benefit is Nortwest Harvest, Washington's statewide hunger relief agency. Read here for more information about how this event will impact their work.

The beautiful ladies organizing Will Bake for Food put together a list of useful information you will need to get to us!


The Event

Who: Seattle food bloggers, Northwest Harvest, and YOU!

What: Food bloggers from all over this fair city will be baking up their favorite tasty treats with proceeds benefitting Northwest Harvest.

When: Saturday, November 20th, 2010.  10am-2pm (or until we run out!)

Where: University Congregational Church

Ostrander Hall

4515 16th Ave. NE

 Seattle, WA 98105

Why: Because everyone needs healthy, nutritious food. Northwest Harvest supplies over 300 local food banks and food programs in our community.

 

If you want to tweet and spread the word about Will Bake for Food, don't forget to add the following hashtag: #Bake4Food

Hope to see you there!

 

 

 

 

Filed under  //   #Bake4Food   Chocolate Tres Leches   Northwest Harvest   Purple House Dirt   Rainy Day Gal   Seattle   Seattle Events   Seattle food   Washington   Will Bake for Food  
Posted November 15, 2010 by Valentina Vitols 
// 1 Comment
 

Seattle dogs: cream cheese, this is how we do it here!

Hot dog, Seattle style: make sure it has a good amount of cream cheese.

Of course, I almost died and went to heaven when I found about this very Seattle way to consume a perro caliente. The first time I tried one was after a Wolf Parade show at Neumos--the Crystal Ball Reading Room--one of the city's most regarded indie music venues.  

(Side note: Wolf Parade is a Sub Pop! band.  For those who don't know, this is a famous Seattle-based indie music record label, which is also the producer for Coco Rosie, Beach House, Album Leaf, The Postal Service, Iron and Wine, Fleet Foxes, Go! Team, among others).

Back to the dogs.  Hot dogs stands are ubiquitous in Seattle as they are all over the US, and in cities like my hometown, Caracas.  Down there, we call them asquerositos (little filthy things) and they are pretty different from the ones you buy in the US.  Let's say they are "slim" in comparison.  

The time to eat hot dogs in Seattle seems to be mostly at night.  As nightclubs begin to get their rivers of bare legs and popped collars in line in Belltown, or lines of legs "painted" with jeans--those pesky skinny ones--stand in and outside bars and music venues in Capitol Hill, the hot dogs vendors pop here and there. These carts have several meaty options such as Kielbasa and Bratwurst, some also offer veggie wieners.  And all of them, always, offer the heavenly, creamy cheese that taste oh-so-good when paired up with sausages.

When walking by any of these hot dog vendors, an interesting mix of customers will be grazing the sidewalk with their presence and chewing: preppy guy with pretty girl; hot girl in ladder-high heels; the papito suave on that girl's arm; University of Washington Husky fans; one of two nearly-extint mohawks barers asking for a second round of kiebalsas. 

Hot dog stands can also be found in some of the city's Farmers Markets.  Dante's Inferno Dogs is a regular cast member of the Ballard Sunday Market. They also attend block parties.  I took the next three photos during one of these--also in Ballard--back in May.

Sunstarved-hotdog-3

Stick 'em up!  The "Cream Cheese" pistol! (Dear Santa...)

Sunstarved-hotdog-4

I swear there is cream cheese underneath all that goodness!

Sunstarved-hotdog-5

At least I have some to show (on Ryan's face).  Here, with our dear friend Maribeth when she came to visit last May, enjoy some Dante's Inferno Dogs

Some prefer to be steady, and open their stores.  Po Dog did so a few months ago, a refreshing addition to the war of the cupcake/ice cream locale proliferation.  They use brioche buns.  That makes any other attempt to review the place unnecesary because this type of bread makes the world a better place (and their dogs phenomenal).  Great ingredients are used here, and that, gets a lot of smiles and happy tastebuds. 

Sunstarved-hotdog-1

Why, hello, Po Dog's Po 'Nam: Sliced carrots, daikon and Vietnamese herb culantro topped with homemade lemongrass vinaigrette, sesame seeds and cilantro (current special dog as of September 20th, 2010. Please, can it be part of the regular menu? ¿Por favor?)

Sunstarved-hotdog-2

My dear BFF (Best Food Friend) Hoolie showing us how to eat a dog with lots of glamor!

Which is your favorite hot dog, Seattle?


 

 

Filed under  //   Friends We Love   Hot Dogs   Seattle   Seattle food   Street Food  
Posted September 18, 2010 by Valentina Vitols 
// 2 Comments
 

At last: new date for the Arepa class!

Arepitas

Dear Seattle lovelies,

I have a new date for the next Arepa class.  Come learn how to cook these delicious pockets in the comforts of my kitchen on July 10th, from 11am to 2pm.  Make sure you don't have any breakfast before because we are going to eat quite a bit!

The Venezuelan arepa is usually about half an inch thick unleavened patty of cornmeal of native origin. Arepas can be grilled, baked, or fried, and they can be found in Colombia, Panamá, The Canary Islands and El Salvador (Pupusas). Also, they are gluten-free!

As with many simple dishes, arepas have an art to them. I grew up watching them being made, enjoying the sound of the clapping that molds them into a round patty, smelling the aromatic sizzling that came from the iron cast pan (budare), holding my breath while mine were finishing in the oven, and then eating them almost everyday for breakfast (and some times for dinner).

I'm so glad I have contributed to bring arepas to Seattle's tables!

Tickets are available at Brown Paper Tickets. (Click HERE for more details and tickets for August 21st class!)

See what people said about the first class:

Darling Andrea Duchon told the story of how she learned to make arepas at Wanderlust and Lipstick.  Click HERE to read.

Tracy Schneider, food and lifestyle writer: "Thank you for introducing me to the delicious world of Venezuelan cuisine." 

Filed under  //   Arepas   Cooking Classes   Food Photography   Latin American food   Seattle   Seattle food  
Posted June 23, 2010 by Valentina Vitols 
// 0 Comments
 

Lunch and sweet and savory fantasy sandwiches

Lunchmondayjun212010-1

There has been a battle about who invented the Monte Cristo sandwich.  The battleground: Los Angeles, CA.  I say, no matter who conceived it, French Croque-Monsieur's little American brother is a fantasy come true for those who, like me, enjoy the blend of sweet and savory.

Look at this beautiful, perfect gastronomic equation:  egg-soaked brioche bread, ham, turkey, usually Swiss cheese, honey mustard, and confectioner sugar sprinkled on top.  I had it with rhubarb compote.  Yes, it was good.  Yes, you can die and go to heaven with that.

This was lunch today (I know, I know, I'm a lucky girl).  If you want to try it, find a Grand Central Bakery location (Seattle/Portland) and get it there.  It's one of their seasonal offers, so keep it out of your "to-do" list and...go get it!

(Just a little note: this Monte Cristo was pressed, not fried.  Still, it was amazing!)

Filed under  //   Food   Food Photography   Sandwich   Seattle   Seattle food  
Posted June 21, 2010 by Valentina Vitols 
// 4 Comments
 

Food Photography by Valentina Vitols

(download)
_dsc1578
(download)
(download)

Filed under  //   Food   Food Photography   Seattle food  
Posted April 16, 2010 by Valentina Vitols 
// 0 Comments
 

Cuban Food Truck Paladar Cubano gets 5 new sandwiches!

Exciting news from Paladar Cubano--the delicious Cuban truck at 90th & Aurora.  They are adding five new sandwiches to the menu and removing the tacos and quesadillas (we always felt it was blasphemous to have Mexican food at a Cuban establishment!).  I will have to take a trip up there soon to sample the new offerings!

From their facebook page:

For awhile now we have been trying to make Paladar's menu more authentic with more Cuban flavors. We have decided to take the quesadillas and tacos off the menu have have added 5 new sandwiches!! (Along with the familiar old favorites!)
  • PAN CON BISTEC - Marinated grilled top sirloin steak, grill onions, lettuce and tomato on cuban bread - $ 8.00
  • CROQUETA PREPARADA - Ham, cheese, roast pork, pickles with two croquettas, mustard on cuban bread - $ 7.50
  • RAPIDITO (BONGO) - Ham and cheese on media noche (sweet) bread - $ 5.00
  • TIMBAL - Ham, roast pork, chorizo, cheese, lettuce and tomato on cuban bread - $ 7.50
  • PAN CON PICADILLO - Picadillo (ground beef, onions and peppers simmered together) on cuban bread - $ 6.50

Looking forward to checking them out!  The rest of their menu can be found at their website.  Que rico!

7990560_e4c15a6aa0_b

Filed under  //   Cuban food   Latin American food   Seattle   Seattle food  
Posted March 1, 2010 by Ryan Bello 
// 0 Comments