Friday, April 10, 2009

My flat-out favorite place to eat in Seattle

People always ask me "what's your favorite restaurant in Seattle?" That's such a hard question to answer. There are so many incredible options, it's like asking a mother of a big brood to pick which kid she loves the most.

But after another wonderful lunch at Salumi, I've just got to go on record: There's just no place I'd rather eat. Even when there's a monster line out the door, which there always is, rain or shine.

I got there shortly after 11 today, thinking I might miss the rush. No such luck. But standing in the drizzle, I visited with some folks who were visiting from Chicago. They asked me if it was worth waiting for. Oh yeah.

My crush on Salumi blossomed into true love last summer when Gina Batali and her crew created a Grand Salami for Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame broadcaster Dave Niehaus. The winning lineup of sandwiches that day was something I'll never forget. It was so obvious they had been made with love, my favorite secret ingredient. On the table, there was a bowl of braised oxtail over polenta. I could not stop eating that wildly flavorful dish. 

The oxtail was a featured special this week. I had to get in there and see if it was as good as I remembered. It was ladled over bread today, and the board warned it was messy. Best eaten there. When I started eating it with a knife and fork, Gina suggested I pick it up. Mmmm. Yes, that was best. The sturdy bread remarkably kept the oxtail contained. Nothing ran down my wrist. Beautiful!

Is this addictive oxtail No. 1 on my greatest hits list? Too soon to say. I'm going to have to work my way through the rest of the menu to say for sure. What about you? What do you order at Salumi?


4 comments:

Fred Deaton said...

Happy Easter!

We are going to the Cajun Cookers for easter buffet. They have about the best smoked turkey and ham anywhere! I hope he has some of his homade cajun sausage!

Their cajun corn sufflet is the best. their Cajun Au Gratin Potatoes are good too.

Gee, I hope I have room to squeeze a little of his prize winning BBQ on the plate

I am waiting for a slice of their Ding Dong Cake (picture a Hostess ding dong snackcake 100 times bigger and slice it)

brandin + kari said...

Is it bad that I have not been there, and I live in Seattle. eek!

Fred Deaton said...

We just got back from Cajun Cookers in Jackson TN. They had some excellent items on the buffet. I can't seem to be able to find your e-mail, so I thought I would sent this post.

One was a marinated chicken wrapped in bacon and then smoked on a cajun smoker (blackened by the smoker). The marinade uses was simply Italian dressing. It was excellent.

The second notable item was flounder stuffed and wrapped with real crab inside and smoked.

Both items were on par with what one would find in the most exclusive restaurants.

Of course the Memphis Prize winning BBQ was another entree.

Leslie Kelly said...

Fred... Your comments always make me hungry!! Wish I could go to Cajun Cookers for lunch!
Happy Easter to you too!