Go to By's

Maybe I was just starving, but I thought the burgers and fries at this old school spot south of Starbucks headquarters on Fourth were awfully darn good.

I wrote about old-fashioned drive-ins in today's food section of the Seattle P-I, on the heels of news that a beloved institution -- Daly's -- is being forced out of its space by developers.

These deeply nostalgic spots cue some selective memories, like when you try going back, it's never the same. The place I so fondly remember was a quirky spot in Bellevue's Lake Hills shopping center called Speed's. Don't know why it was called that because they made a point of telling customers it was going to take at least 10 minutes to make their sandwich.

Is there a burger joint that still works that magic? In Seattle or beyond? Why can't there be more places that try and do it like In-n-Out? What's your typical order when you indulge?

Where'd I go for my birthday dinner?

Stayed at home. Johnny cooked a lovely dinner, an Americanized French recipe of chicken braised in red wine vinegar. There was a whole head of garlic in it. And it called for a bouquet garni, which completely stumped him.

Look it up in the index, I advised. Nope. So, turned to Julia Child's "Mastering" where she helped make sense of wrapping thyme, parsley and bay leaves in cheesecloth. Later, he confessed that he had just used thyme because he couldn't find the bay leaves and he didn't think parsley tasted like anything. No big deal, it tasted great.

Hey Bub, you stink

Just had a very nice meal at a restaurant I'm reviewing, except some schlub is puffing away on a stogie. Yes, we're outside. But I believe the law is that you can't smoke within like 20 feet of the restaurant.

But there's the guy stinking up the place.

I usually hold my tongue. And my nose. Especially when I'm on the job. But I couldn't help myself. Cue hubby rolling his eyes and going: Uh-oh.

The server told the smoker to put it out, and the owner came over to our table to apologize. And give me a $20 gift certificate to come back another time. Now, that's the right way to handle a stinky situation.

Eat your heart out!

This was my view at lunch today. Pretty sweet, yes? Every nice day in Seattle is like a gift. Yesterday, it poured all morning and then got muggy.

Anyway, packed a chicken salad sandwich, which I goosed up with this awesome miso/red pepper mayo from Trader Joe's.

Which reminds me, the TJ's on Capitol Hill kicks ass on the Queen Anne store. It's much bigger, wider aisles, nicer clerks. The guy who rang me up was telling me about how he had moved his couch and vacumned behind it and found cat toys and wouldn't the world be a better place if... Yup, I kinda tuned out after that.

Anyway, I love/love/love the sculpture park. It's in my 'hood, and I'm thrilled everytime I walk through. Even better when I've got lunch. Where's your favorite picnic spot?

What neighborhood has the sweetest berry patch?

My fingers are stained, my arms scratched. But I don't give a fig. I'm on the hunt for blackberries, and they're every-freaking-where around here.

I've picked them at Seward Park, near the foot ferry dock in West Seattle, on Magnolia, near my father-in-law's place in Shoreline. Most of them go straight into my mouth, and I've been meaning to come back with a bucket, but haven't. Until today.

Talked Baby Girl into helping me out, but she lost interest after her Chuck Taylors got muddied. Hey, kid. This is a messy enterprise, but if you want a piece of the pie I'm going to (attempt) making. Well. Then.

All the best, biggest berries were just out of reach down the road to the secret beach in Magnolia this afternoon, and the puny ones I picked were none too sweet. Where should I go for a big blackberry score. Tell me true and I promise to get you a piece of that pie.

Qube chef calls it quits

Lisa Nakamura has left the downtown Asian fusion restaurant, sous chef Joseph Conrad has stepped into the lead role in the kitchen. The restaurant is no longer open for lunch.

It's certainly just a coincidence, but it seems strange that two fusion restaurants that debuted with high profile women chefs -- Coupage being the other -- have already lost those key players. Yes, it's a high turnover business, but doesn't it make you wonder: What the heck is going on behind the scenes?

I do not hate dogs!

After a recent column about dining with dogs, people got pretty riled up. Hey, they let dogs in restaurants in Europe, why not here? some wondered.

Why do we have these silly "laws" anyway? wrote a woman whose email handle included yoga, which certainly didn't jibe with the hostile tone in her missive.

Just wanted to say, again, for the record: I'm not a hater! In fact, I recently hosted my brother Chris and his adorable doggie, Charley. She loves to go everywhere, just not to restaurants, the Mariners game or Bumpershoot.

I bet somebody would make a killing if they figured out a way around that health code, and opened a true dog-friendly Euro-cafe.