My last suppers

I got one final assignment last week, just in case there was a paper on Friday. Not to be.

But I got busy, getting into a couple of places I'd been dying to try and hitting a few faves before the old expense account was slammed shut for good.

I really enjoyed Crush, despite the crushing din of a boisterous birthday party. (Hey big mouth b-day girl: Get a room!) Seriously, it was fun to watch the festivities while enjoying the spectacular food. Especially impressed by the stinging nettles finish on a seared scallops dish. Dang, where's my camera!

Also liked Tilth, though the dish I was hoping to try was MIA. Still, the albacore tuna from FV St. Jude was really special, cooked like a piece of ahi, served rare with avocado and grapefruit.

Had stellar lunches at Cafe Presse and Boom Noodle, too. There are so many more places I wish I could have circled back and tried, restaurants I think are doing very good work. I will miss chronicling Seattle's greatest hits and the misses, too.

Not the happy ending I was hoping for...

Just heard tomorrow's P-I is the last print edition. Even though we knew this was coming, I could not helping hoping for some last-minute reprieve. Bill Gates to the rescue? Not to be.

Can't really blame the billionaires who don't want to tie their fortunes to a sinking ship, but I just wish it wasn't so. 

I have had so many people tell me that this wretched development has been like losing a dear friend. There will be a period of mourning, otherwise known as a wicked hangover. I'm guessing as soon as the doors of Buckley's open, the wake will begin. 

Just this morning, I filed my last stories, one on spring greens and one on touring Lake Union. They'll likely show up online, but here's a preview of the final dining column:

"I hate long goodbyes, so I'm not going to go on and on about how sad I feel about filing what is likely my last column in my 25-plus year print career. Instead, I'm going to drown my sorrows before picking myself up and starting a new chapter."

More on that very soon.

By the way...

I've had more than a few people mention the comments on the Canlis review all appear to have been written by the same person. You know who you are and you're not fooling anybody.

Following up on that front, I'm going to interview Canlis chef Jason Franey today for a story I'm working on about spring menus. And the Jepoardy question is: "What's the best way to show we are all professionals?"

Bacon Salt shoutout!

Wrote an item in my (last? gulp... still dunno) dining column, ribbing Jon Stewart for mocking the fabulous Baconnaise, brought to us by the guys from Bacon Salt, Dave Lefkow and Justin Esch, pictured above on QVC. 

I first dipped into this spread when I made BLTs and BLATs for a couple of friends, who also happen to be former food critics. I made a couple different versions, a classic and a "fancy" rendition, the latter featured bacon from Bavarian Meats (best bacon in Seattle, no doubt, and they sell pastries made by the master baker whose creations I ate as a kid in Leavenworth... small world!), heirloom tomato (ripened on the kitchen window for days), curly endive and Baconnaise. A winner.

Brainstormed with Dave and Justin about the best way to use Baconnaise and included the list, which you can read by clicking on this link: Leslie's Last Dining Column in the Seattle P-I? Sniff, sniff! 

Actually, I don't think it's the last. I've already filed my column for next week, featuring Cantinetta, a sweet new spot in Fre-lingford. Here's your early heads-up: Get in there! Oh, and they don't take reservations unless you come with five others. 

Hello Reuben!

Reading Nancy Leson's roundup of her fave Reuben haunts helped kick in the craving that's always simmering at some low level. I love a good Reuben -- one of my all-time Reuben highs was at Hill's Someplace Else in Spokane, one of the biggest bummers was at the Carnegie Deli in NYC -- but have eaten so many disappointing Reubens, I sometimes feel like giving up the hunt.

Yesterday, met a friend at Pike Place Market for lunch. He's from San Diego and was thrilled to see the snow falling. I layed out a few options at what has got to be the world's greatest smorgesbord. We could get Cajun/Creole, which is next to the African place, which is right down from falafel and on and on.

A few weeks ago, we went to the Market Grill and I was blown away by how good the fish sandwiches were and couldn't believe it has taken me so long to get my butt onto one of those too-few stools.

I suggested we cruise by and see how busy they were. Packed. So, we went across the way to 3 Girls -- which is easy to mistake for Three Sisters -- but this spot has been serving food since 1922, according to the menu, and I've heard good things about the Reuben.

It was darned near perfect, pressed between a panini grill, a melty mix of swiss, sauerkraut, Thousand Island-like spread and a decent amount of corned beef. The key was probaby the assertive caraway seed rye. Come to think of it, I cannot recall a flaw. Sometimes, sandwiches get soggy because the sauerkraut weeps. Or there's too much of one ingredient, not enough of another. But this was just right. 

Any Reuben recommendations to share?

 

Some fan mail

My critical review of Canlis set off a firestorm, which is not unexpected. I also had people write to say I was brave. Click HERE to read the review and the comments.

I was only trying to be honest, yet point out the many fine qualities of this lovely restaurant. 

Here's one of the strangest e-mails I got, spelling mistakes and bad punctuation and all:

"i dont get it. that enire article about canlis is fabricated and untrue. how could you say all those false things that are complete lies. it almost makes me think that your entire palet is off, that you dont know anything about food, and you are a complete fake. explain yourself."

Hmmm. Now, how do I possibly answer that? 

Here's the deal. I got a call the night the review was posted from Mark Canlis and he was damn gracious, he said they will learn from it. That's exactly the point, and to give the potential customer a heads up about what they can expect. And, I am so happy they already have such a fiercely loyal fan base to throw flames at anybody who is critical. That's what a review should do.

Sounds like a really good time!

I love it when music and food come together, so I'm really excited about an event March 19 at Showbox that features bands and restaurants for "One Rockin' Night."

Check out the details about this fundraiser for Vera Project and other worthy causes by clicking on this link.