The Seattle Cheese Festival

So today was Seattle's Cheese Festival down at Pikes Market. This even was full of all kind of cheeses from goat, cow and some sheep. Some of the stands had cheese more focused on artisan cheeses or world styles. All of the stands let you try their cheese and could of course buy them if wanted. Depending on the cheese the price would range from 5 to about 11 dollars at most. All are also local which can be bought in limited grocery stores but you end up paying way less for the cheese at the festival. The festival also included a wine tasting tent which cost 10 dollars and had a wide range of red and white wines to taste and sample with cheeses. I would highly suggest this event to any cheese lover in the Seattle or even Washington area. Other states might have the same kind of event so go out an check out your local cheese providers if you have an event like this.

The Good Kind of Mole

So in Salt Lake City, UT there is a small local Mexican chain called "The Red Iguana".  I will not be giving a full review but i did get to try their moles. For those who do not know what a mole is, it is a sauce that uses fruits, vegetables, spices and cocoa as the base of the sauce. It is the equivalent to a "curry" in India but originated in the Latin American region. The Red Iguana's main specialty are these moles. When i went i had it on the go but you still get a sense of how much food and flavor you get when you order one. Just one of the dishes could easily serve two people and maybe even still have leftovers. Flavor wise they are unique in many ways; they are homemade moles so all of the ingredients are fresh. These moles also range in the area of flavors, most moles are heavy in cocoa but you can select from more fruit or vegetables oriented moles. Overall this has to be one of the best places i have tried to get a very great quality mole. I will say i have not tried anything else BUT i assume it would be just a great as the moles. They have many locations located though Salt Lake and i would suggest going to check it out if you have a love for Mexican food or want to try something new. 

The Grand America

So this mothers day me family went out for a brunch at the 5 star hotel, "The Grand America". This high class hotel hosted a fine dining buffet. This all sounds very fancy and high class when really it is a bit of an overstatement. The dining room was set up in a very professionally manner as with the whole music set up and how the chefs presented. The plating was very nice and all the servings were a good size (though traditionally much smaller). One thing i though was a great idea was how they had a kid section full of kid friendly foods. On that note, kids are allowed to dine there and it does provide great service to them. The rest of the food served might to a bit too complex in flavors or have too much vegetables to their liking. For me the down side was the flavor aspect. It was all unique and had interesting flavor combination but none really performed the way i imaged it would. On a fine dining scale i would give this just a 2 out of 3 Michelin Stars if i could. It is a great place to try something new but lacked a little bit in the whole fine dining aspect. With a cost of 60 a person it is a little bit pricey but you can get your moneys worth. This hotel is located in Salt Lake City, UT.

The Hurricane

No far from where I live there is a restaurant that looks like it is in a bit of a shady area but makes up for it with its food. The red brick colored building with the dim, yet noticeable painted writing of “The Hurricane” on the side. When you enter you are seated by the casual waiters who seat you in what looks like a 70’s style hamburger shop. The next step is to order; from juicy burgers to cold shakes to creamy pasta, the Hurricane has all of the classic American food. The burger of choice is the “Hurricane Burger”, stacked high with crispy bacon, a juicy hamburger patty, a side of assorted crisp vegetables and freshly fried French fries. After your meal you will be glad you went to this hole in the wall restaurant for their delicious burgers. Overall i Would give them a 5 out of 5. This is a great college hangout place or even for the family who is just traveling through.

The Art of Sausage

Today and yesterday i have learned how to make sausages. To be honest i wasn't as hard as i though it was going to be. Its a simple blend of flavors, grinding then packing them into casings. I have also learned what a scotch egg is, a boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat, battered then deep fried. It sounds a bit goofy and gross but overall was a great item. The mix of egg and sausage went very well together and would gladly order them if i every found one in a restaurant.