Russell's Restaurant Review

At this Holiday Season we finally took the time to visit Russell's in Bothell, WA, which had been recommended by our daughter (in-law). Well, Christmas came early for us because this restaurant in a rather obscure office park setting in a renovating barn produced an extraordinary and rather unique dining experience! The chef is Russell Lowell www.russelllowell.com and whomever was managing the kitchen is just kicking out amazing results.  We started with the Harvest Salad and moved onto Sea Scallops and Rack of Lamb for our entrees and they were over the top good. Best Rack I have had in recent memory :) As you all know Scallops have to be seared fast and never over-cooked and these were just right on the mark. Also important, they have a great wine selection that is not marked up above what full retail would be so that is an added bonus: we had the Stag's Leap 2009 Fay Cabernet and that paired just right with our selections.They have an extensive menu and special features so we plan to return soon and further update this review. To your health and to your enjoyment, this is RJKirk, Enjoy!

Volterra at Kirkland Restaurant Review!

We had the opportunity to visit the new Volterra at Kirkland Restaurant opening a few weeks ago courtesy of our local www.opentable.com representative. We think the owners Michelle and Chef Don have done just a tremendous job here. For a soft opening the kitchen was dead on good and the service was delightful! There were a few local celebreties, some of which we are fortunate to know, there the same evening and the atmosphere was vibrant and warm. The entres we enjoyed are shown in the video and it was great to share some Italian cooking secrets with Chef Don; this truly gracious man had been around and it really show in the quality of the offerings. Michelle and Iva did such a great job of greeting guest and making everyone feel welcomed and important. Our service was Sylvester style and done with both grace and enthusiasm. As you know we do not review many restaurants and are always searching for great ones; Volterra is on the list!  http://volterrakirkland.com/ For those of you who were paying close attention to the video, the pictures and videos were taken a week apart because the first night we only had iPhones so Lauren Roberts brought her big gun on the second visit. By the way we also appreciate the fact that their wine list is reasonable and we found a new gem that is featured on the video. This is RJKirk with Cafe 1853, Enjoy!

Seafood Pasta!!!

Hi Everyone, it's been awhile since our last video production but we could not wait to bring you this one!  Over the years, we have prepared Seafood Pasta in various different combinations and renderings, but for our taste this is the best ever.  The motivation for this dish came from some less than stellar restaurant experiences while traveling on the Oregon Coast, but we had rented a house with good cooking facilities, managed to locate some really great seafood in Cannon Beach at http://ecolaseafoods.com/ , had a few mouths to feed so got into it for a dinner and loved the results. As you watch the video pay particular attention to the infusion and reduction techniques, the fact we cooked the prawns and halibut separately and please do one thing for us, taste the sauce as you go along to get it the way you want it. We made this with half and half in Oregon and duplicated in our kitchen with cream, liked the 1st version because it was lighter on the palate. Locally we get our seafood from www.geminifish.com Put as much seafood in this as your wallet can afford; this version has Louisiana Gulf Prawns, Alaska Halibut, Manila Clams and lot's of Dungeness Crab.  The sauce on this is killer due to the vine ripened tomatoes, seasonings, white wine, a little butter and lemon at the end.  To your health, this is RJ Kirk @ Cafe 1853, Enjoy!

Copper River King w Fresh Garden Greens

Cafe 1853 has been involved in numerous summer activities which has slowed down the frequency of our posts, but here we are back again with one of our summer spectaculars! This dish is just as pleasing to the eyes as it is to the palate and yes, that is a perfectly grilled piece of Copper River salmon over garden to table edible flowers and baby greens.  The flowers are Nasturtiums & Violets (you guess which is which) and herbs are from our patio and the baby lettuce from a friends garden : fresh and organic either that day or within minutes of serving. Great little link on edible flowers http://www.wildthymefarm.com/permflowers2.html Top it if off simply with your best olive oil and balsamic with a little pepper and there you have it.  The salmon was done simply  on the grill with red & black pepper, salt and garlic powder.  You can look in our posts for how to have salmon come out perfect every time, its easy once you get the temperature and timing down. For you health freaks out there, it does not get any better than this and works for Paleo also. Oh, almost forgot the Copper River King is from www.geminifish.com stuff just amazing. To your health big time on this one, this is RJ Kirk @ Cafe 1853, Enjoy!

English Pea & Ham Pasta!!

English Peas are in season right now, so don't miss using them in various recipes; this in one of our favorites. Although the peas and ham are the stars of the show, what really makes this dish is the sauce; one which we have worked for some time on to get just the right balance.  As with most sauces, it is not a cook by numbers type of thing: rather it is art,working the sequence of ingredients correctly in the pan and perhaps most of all seasoning it to your personal taste.  In this dish the shallots, garlic and tomatoes are present at the start with wine, cream, butter and lemon added in that order along the way.  Pay particular attention to the deglaze and reduction sequence and you will be well rewarded. Most of the ingredients came from www.pccnaturalmarkets.com but the unique pasta came from www.wholefoodsmarket.com. This dish will stand up to even the biggest red wine but also pairs well with Sauvignon Blanc. This is RJ Kirk @ Cafe 1853, Enjoy!.

Bolognese Sauce: Truly Exceptional!!

We spent the better part of a decade learning how to create a truly exceptional and authentic Bolognese sauce.  Finally the results are good enough to publish! Our standard for excellence was Cook at Saint Helena, CA; we believe this is a very close representation.  All of the ingredients are from scratch and organic; there are absolutely no canned ingredients whatsoever. Be patient and do this as described and you will be at least part Italian! The video is mostly self explanatory, but here are a few additional hints:1) You can speed up the Marinara Sauce by using the "garlic infused olive oil" (olive oil, fresh garlic, salt, pepper, red pepper 2) One thing you must not do, use any canned, non fresh tomatoes sauce of any kind, this will guarantee partial destruction of this recipe! 3) Do not skip or alter any of the ingredients; for instance if you were to use only lean ground beef, you will have a beef/meat sauce, not Bolognese, etc. 4) The proportions and taking the time to do the reduction is essential; no short cuts, thus the ingredients follow in some detail. All of the ingredients were acquired from Whole Foods of Bellevue, WA www.wholefoods.com All ingredients are organic.
The Stars (in order of appearance): Pancetta (5 slices chopped), Onion (1 large), Garlic (8 cloves), Carrots (2 minced), Celery (2 stalks minced), Lean Ground Beef (1 lb), Ground Veal (1 lb), Ground Pork (1/2 lb), Salt/Pepper/Red Pepper/Garlic Powder (Massaged into Meat and additional to taste), Red Wine Vinegar (4 splashes).
Supporting Cast: Marinara Sauce: Vine Ripened Tomatoes (8 medium), Salt/Pepper/Red Pepper/Italian Herbs (to taste). Parsley (as garnish to visual appeal). Ricotta (to appeal and taste).

Outpost Wines on Howell Mountain Napa Valley

Outpost Wines is located on Howell Mountain at 2200 feet, high above the Napa Valley. Those of you that have had the opportunity to taste and enjoy wines produced from this area know that some of best Cabernet grapes in the world are grown and harvested there due to unique soil and weather conditions. Outpost wines are produced from 42 acres of estate grapes and a quote from Kathy (Owner with her Husband) says it best: "The wine is produced in the Vineyard"! The setting and view from their property is nothing short of spectacular. Our tour and tasting was "down home", intimate, totally relaxing and enjoyable. Their winemaker is Thomas Rivers Brown and his talent is displayed in the results; wines of exceptional quality, character and subtle balance, exhibiting bright berries, caramel, tobacco (ok, that's an inadequate attempt) that words cannot adequately express. We have enjoyed many wines from Napa and this is quite simply amongst the very best.
Here is a small excerpt from their website that was insightful: "Under Thomas' expert guidance, Outpost grapes are harvested late in the season - by hand, at dawn - to preserve the full intensity and distinctive spicy character of the mountain fruit. The grapes are processed with as little manipulation as possible. Grapes from each block within the vineyard are fermented separately so that our winemaking team can be very selective about the lots that comprise the final blend. Wines are neither fined nor filtered allowing for the full expression of the vintages' potential". You really should have a further look at www.outpostwines.com There are many interesting facts about their history and commitment to organic vineyard management and sustainability that we are sure you will appreciate. This is RJ Kirk @ Cafe 1853, Cheers!

Redd Restaurant in Yountville, CA Napa Valley

During out many trips to the Napa Valley, we have been fortunate to dine at some of the areas premier restaurants with many favorable results.  However, this casual boutique fine dining restaurant in the heart of Yountville has become our go-to favorite, in fact we apparently have to resist eating there every day :) Redd presents an infinitely enjoyable combination of fresh gourmet fare, garden like patio setting and casual service style! www.reddnapavalley.com Invariably we encounter a couple of starters, salads or entrees that we desire to emulate. Their produce from the local farms, or just in back of the restaurant is fresh and organic and their proximity to some of the best culinary schools in the world along with Richard Reddington's passion for food innovation reflects a synergy of international components.  There is a consistency & slight edgy risk-taking flair that delights the palate and keeps the restaurant fresh and energetic. Do not miss this one when in Napa, be sure to call ahead for reservations and if you like patio dining be sure to request it and sip some wine in that great setting. http://dunnvineyards.com/wines.htm  http://www.outpostwines.com/index-2.html This is RJ Kirk @ Cafe 1853, Enjoy!

Fresh Halibut Tacos

We have eaten fish tacos over the years with mixed results so decided it was time to try making our own and after some experimentation we like the results!  One big point worthy of note is that your own kitchen does not have the same time pressure and food cost constraints that a restaurant has and this is always to your advantage.  As an example, for this preparation we are using our preference of fresh halibut in good portion, whereas at an establishment the required price point might just exceed the market.  In addition, all of the ingredients are organic making the combination just super good and super healthy. This entree is real easy with the possible exception of the "frying" the fish, so just a couple of tips along with the video: 1) Bring the fish to close to room temperature making it happy with Cajun seasonings 2) Use a high heat oil such as safflower and bring it up to medium-high temperature 3) You can place a trial "finger" into the pan to test, it should sizzle immediately allowing the fish to crisp & seal without absorbing the oil 4) The trick is to not play with it too much, just shake it around gently and only turn it once 5) It cooks fast so stay focused and only about 1-2 minutes per side at most.  This is a custom dish so ingredient variations according to taste are encouraged. Pair this with your favorite beer, Tequila (variations) or Sauvignon Blanc. Almost forgot: the amazing piece of halibut we used and the Canjun's choice seasoned fish fry came from www.geminifish.com and the rest of the ingredients from www.pccnaturalmarkets.com This is RJ Kirk @ Cafe 1853, Enjoy!

Dunn Vineyards: Howell Mountain Cabernet

During our recent trip to Napa we had the privilege of being invited to a wine tasting at Dunn Vineyards, an exclusive winery towards the top of Howell Mountain.  We have attended many wine tasting, but none of been as rewarding, entertaining and pleasant as our experience there.  As you arrive down the long drive, the vineyards and acreage of the family farm surround you leading to immediate thoughts of "can I live here"? As we parked the car by the original family home we were first greeted by Roscoe (see video) followed shortly by Kristina, one of those individuals that is warm, energetic, inviting and instantly your friend: the tour of the property, cave and facilities was relaxed and very informative; there is such a passion for wine there. So generously, we "tasted" the 2005, 2006 and 2008 vintages; all unique but similar in that they are extraordinary wines of great depth and complexity.  There was something about the 2008 that we just fell in love with; a concentration of fruit and total palate satisfaction that words cannot define. Perhaps it was because almost 50% of the grapes were lost in an late frost delivering more intensity to the remaining yield. As we were visiting, Randy & Lori Dunn arrived and exhibited the type of warm farm hospitality that is unforgettable, along with their newest puppy Dominga (ok thought it was a boy in the video)! Randy Dunn is a wine artist now passing the nuances of wine making to his son Mike; rare amongst Napa's big Cabs they are able to created infinitely drinkable and cellar worthy wines with lesser alcohol and greater results. We know we have used many superlatives in this narrative, but trust us on one little thing; words are not adequate to describe how much we appreciated our experience there.  So if in Napa, look them up at http://dunnvineyards.com/index.htm ,remember you must make an appointment.  From RJ Kirk @ Cafe 1853, Cheers!!

Cook at Saint Helena

Have you ever asked a local about where they eat lunch, checked it out and then had the most amazing culinary experience? About 3 years ago this happened to us in Saint Helena, CA at a quainte little Northern Italian restaurant named simply "Cook". You know one of those bistro retro type places that serves gourmet food in a casual atmosphere that is just over the top good. Last week we had the privilege to dine there again and it was even better then our recollection if that were possible. The salads were stunning; both the mixed green and the Caesar salad with chicken.  But the main course Bolognese was just so amazingly crafted with culinary patience that we were left speechless, a rare occurrence for us :) To be honest we have been trying for those 3 years to duplicate this dish with good results but just never quite the same. However, we spoke directly to the chef this time and think we may have discovered the secret; anxious to test and share with all of you. So when you are in St. Helena do not miss this great little gem. This is RJ Kirk @ Cafe 1853, Enjoy!

Vineyard 29 Napa Valley Wine Review

Over the years we have experienced many wine tastings in Napa: the styles or art of the wine is richly varied along with the venues ranging from intimately casual to just plain impressive. Our first experience with Vineyard 29 came through the generosity of our NetSuite software supplier in a previous corporate life. Since then, through the “research” of others we have joined their wine club and are bi-annual recipients of their Cru Cabernet non-estate offering, a truly exceptional value. We had the privilege through the advance planning of our “entourage” to participate in a private tasting at the Vineyard 29 estate.

 Our tasting began casually on the terrace overlooking a view of the Napa valley where we enjoyed a Sauvignon Blanc and CRU Cabernet. The owner, Chuck Mcminn (with wife Anne) took time to share the history of the estate and the present vision for making an extraordinary wine, approachable in its youth while also rewarding patience in the cellar. Do not miss reading the history at www.vineyard29.com Austin Gallion, our host, has a diverse culinary & wine background that enhanced the experience of the tour. The winemaker Philippe Melka, along with a remarkable staff, is responsible for turning the vision into reality.

As we toured their modern facility we were impressed by the introduction of cutting edge technology into the process and art of winemaking.  The expressed goal of “be gentle and selective with the grapes and use gravity only” is exhibit from growth, harvesting, “crushing”, fermentation, racking, and aging to bottling. The over-the-top application of technology even includes sensor measurement of watering to individual vines in order to optimize their struggle.  Other related factoids: multi-ton oak barreling with gravity to elevator “pump-over” after stainless steel vat fermentation to smooth tannins, gravity hoses to French oak barrel racking, use of native yeast in perfect balance where grapes allow, sorting of grapes with laser technology.

Upon arrival at the tasting room deep inside the cave corridor we were greeted with a well set table of wine and food pairings; the tasting order was 1) 2009 Aida Estate Zinfandel  2) 2008 Aida Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 3) 2009 29 Estate Cabernet Franc. All of these wines exhibit a great combination of power, nuance and finesse that delights the palate. Only because of our preference for cabernet, the 2008 Aida Estate was our personal favorite with a big wow factor all around; from the caramel/tobacco nose to the big complex bright dark berry over the mid-palate to the lingering finish the wine is extraordinary, making our description inadequate. Better to view the winemaker’s notes on their website at www.vineyard29.com

Located on a vista overlooking the narrowest point of the Napa Valley their address is 2929 Hwy 29 (St. Helena Hwy N.) and “coincidentally” the combination of their V29 & Aida Estate Vineyards is 29 acres! So if you cannot remember the address, no blame on our part J This is RJ Kirk with Café 1853, Cheers!

Staple & Fancy Ballard Restaurant Review

We had the opportunity to dine at Staple & Fancy on Friday and as usual we were well rewarded by the experience. Quietly situated in old Ballard in an old Mercantile building (the wall is historic) the restaurant  displays a casual trendy atmosphere to the delight of patrons. It seem that every time we join them we are served a couple of items that we would like to duplicate or at least emulate; this evening was no exception: the Corona bean appetizer & English Pea with Dungeness Crab Soup were particularly superb. Certainly, replication is the greatest form of flattery! The service style is a perfect combination of attentiveness, privacy and connected conversation. We were fortunate enough to have the manager, Senen, handle our table and on such a dynamic night we were very well served. The menu is well focused (limited entrees) which allows for the consistent strength out of the kitchen that one would expect from an Ethan Stowell establishment. ethanstowellrestaurants.com/stapleandfancy We encourage you to dine there, you will be favorably impressed.  This is RJ Kirk with Cafe 1853, Enjoy!

2009 Caymus Napa Valley Wine Review

This is our 2nd wine review at Cafe 1853 and we picked a perennial favorite, the 2009 Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet. We are not wine experts, but we know what we like and we love this one! To classify this wine as a "cocktail" wine is inadequate but is does confirm that this wine is pure candy and can be enjoyed without food or minimal compliments, in fact you might just prefer it that way.  The wine is deep in color with a very aromatic nose already (for a such a young wine) on display. It exhibits bright bold red fruit on the palate enhanced by some fine vanilla toast. The winemaker is Chuck Wagner and he just produces consistently fine wine. Be sure to read the back label, the story there is fascinating and a clue to all the art that goes into each vintage. The wine tasting notes can be found at http://www.caymus.com/#/our-wines_overview/our-wines_napa-valley-cabernet-sauvignon/nvcs_2009_vintage and we would not attempt to describe the wine better than Chuck himself. The general impression of those sharing this wine with us last evening was highly favorable, all noting the big fruit experience and the long lingering finish that seemingly went on forever. We acquired this wine at our favorite local wine supplier http://www.peteswineshop.com/ To your health and to your enjoyment, this is RJ Kirk with Cafe 1853, Cheers All!!

Sirloin Steak Soup with Vegetables!!

This is the best beef vegetable soup ever, period! Yes, the ingredients are a bit pricier than normal but can you really put a price on greatness? YouTube made us select a random picture for sure, but please just watch the video :) There are several keys to the depth of flavor in this soup, so we list them in order: 1) Searing the Sirloin Steaks in the Dutch Oven, just rare so the final outcome is right on, 2) The order of introducing the ingredients to the pot matters, yes it really does big time, 3) Use the Cherry Bomb Pepper not just for heat but for flavor, 4) Use the combination of broths above 5) The splash(s) of red wine vinegar to finish is a must, we learned this from a truly great gourmet country cook from 3 generations ago, so pay attention :) All the ingredients in this soup are organic and the sirloin is clean lean meat; yes, this really does matter. Nearly all the ingredients for this soup came from www.pccnaturalmarkets.com Especially recommend you buy their country natural sirlion (ask for Barbara if she is there at Issaquah). This is about as hearty a soup as you can get so all you "big" guys out there will destroy this real fast :) You can stretch the soup with a quality brown rice (like the sprouted, partially hulled version) if that is your preference, but to truly savor this amazing broth you might want to skip it; just cleaner without it, especially for you Paleo people out there.  Oh, never add the rice to the soup, keep it separate until serving and this goes for leftovers also. Make more than you think you should, trust me it is going to disappear :) The quantities of the ingredients are fairly obvious from the video and also subject to personal preference, but we will produce the list real soon.  This is RJ Kirk with Cafe 1853, Enjoy!

Betty Restaurant Review

Last night Cafe 1853 had the privilege to dine at the Betty Restaurant on Queen Anne hill: http://www.eatatbetty.com/  Since this was our 3rd time we thought it was about time to formally compliment them on the dining experience they provide. Simple put, this is a great little casual restaurant with a really strong kitchen! Combine that with reasonable pricing and you have success. We would characterize their menu offerings as either very high-end comfort food or casual fine dining: check it out and you decide :) Perhaps the most unique feature of their entrees is that they are served over real spectacular broth based sauces; if we "discover" their secret we will share.  The 4 items we selected will be rotate at the top of this blog when you hit play. 1) Spanish Potato & Chive Croquettes with petite salad and chevre vinaigrette: this disappeared before I got a taste so had to be fantastic. 2) Asparagus Cream soup du jour: very good with a truffle oil finish, would be even better with no cream and a creme fresh finish. 3) Slow Braised Lamb Shank with creamy polenta and gremolata: very good unique twist on this one, if you like lamb order it,well braised and the base is amazing. 4) Pan Roasted Chicken with seasonal vegetable and fingerling potatoes: seared to perfection with roasted garlic and, not to be redundant the broth base is incredible. Get there early, we had 6P reservation and by 7P on a Monday night they were packed!  We would like to see their wine list enhanced a bit; we chose a Chateauneuf-de-Pape 2007 that paired well across our menu selections. Drop into Betty when in the area or make a special trip, you will be favorably impressed!  This is RJ Kirk with Cafe 1853, Enjoy!

White King Salmon w Teriyaki Finishing Glaze & Cucumber/Scallion Relish

We keep coming back to White King Salmon; both because it is arguably the best/healthiest fish in the sea, but also that it has been available in its perfect state lately!  Thanks to www.geminifish.com for the salmon. Let's go to the grill for this one.  The video is pretty complete about how to sequence this to make it come together timely and as to preparation, but here are a few more hints.  When you combine the finishing glaze ingredients; fresh ginger/garlic, Thai Birds Eye Pepper, Sake, Soy Sauce, Sugar; taste it before bringing it to a boil and after to get it the way you want it.  It should taste pretty potent in order to combine properly with the natural taste profile of the salmon (be careful with the birds eye peppers, you can always add more). Some may prefer this sweeter requiring more sugar; use brown sugar if you like a more caramelized effect. The cucumber/scallion relish needs to marinate in the vinegar & murin (again to taste) for about 30 minutes so this along with the glaze ahead of grilling the salmon.  This combination is a real taste explosion on the palette, like most great entree ideas it is hard to describe, you just must experience it.  Grilling Salmon can be difficult even though is a more forgiving fish with a larger window of "doneness" than say Halibut but it is really easy when you know how, i.e. sear it at 400 degrees face down for about 4 minutes, flip it, crank down the heat and let it cook slowly through.  You will soon get a feel for how wiggly the fish is to "touch" when it is to your desired completion.  Remember: the fish will continue to cook after you remove it from the grill, during assembly and as you rush it out to the table. This is RJ Kirk with Cafe 1853, Enjoy!

Crusted Halibut over Organic Lentil Vegetable Medley

This recipe was inspired from an entree we had at Staple & Fancy in Ballard (if you know, you know) last summer that was particularly impressive. Staple & Fancy is an up atmosphere boutique restaurant that produces seasonal offerings with a "limited" menu allowing them to do things well; an Ethan Stowell restaurant http://ethanstowellrestaurants.com/ This is an attempt to copy (best form of flattery) while adding our own touches and seasonal variations. We know everyone (yes everyone, even non-fish people) loves Halibut but what makes this entree special is the organic lentil vegetable medley that starts with an onion, garlic, ginger, herb infusion, de-glazed and cooked in chicken broth with the addition of snap peas, cauliflower, red bell peppers, and carrots: all minced to make the amalgamated bed a taste explosion.  We love crusted halibut and this is accomplish by first searing in a grill pan using high heat safflower oil after prepping the fish with powdered garlic/ginger & salt; then allowing it to sit in the oven at 275 degrees for just 3-4 minutes to finish, getting it off the pan and resting it before placing in on top of the medley.  Be careful; it is so easy to over-cook halibut, meaning if it comes off the pan under-cooked this is perfect for how it will be upon table arrival.  Pair this with your favorite Pinot Noir or Sauvignon Blanc.  The halibut came from www.geminifish.com and ingredients for the medley from www.pccnaturalmarkets.com This is RJKirk with Cafe 1853, Enjoy!

The Stars (in order of appearance): Sweet Onion (1/3 Cup Diced), Garlic (3 cloves minced), Ginger (3 Tbsp), Red Pepper Flakes & Herbs de Provence (to taste), Organic Chicken Broth (1&1/2 cups but to consistency), Orange Lentils (3/4 cup), Snap Peas/Cauliflower/Red Bell Pepper/Carrots (1 Cup each), Green Sprouted Lentils (1/3 cup), Salt/Pepper (to taste), Fresh Alaskan Halibut (1 1/2) seasoned with garlic/ginger powder & salt.  This makes 4-6 servings. Garnish: Straight from garden fresh asparagus w stock julienned fine & complete tops, fresh chives.  If you can find micro-greens in season use them instead, i.e. they are even better!

Red Red Wine Event (Quilceda Creek Vintners) @ Cafe 1853!

From time to time we have an event at Cafe 1853 featuring some outstanding wines paired with great food! Last Saturday evening was one of those times. Through some more connected members of our immediate family we have had the privilege to get to know a great couple from Quilceda Creek Vintners who are gracious enough to share some of their wine with us from time to time. For any of you that follow Washington wines or great red wines from anywhere, the reputation of this winery exceeds any of our ability to improve upon; it is merely our good fortune to be able to enjoy it with some of our menu selections. As we have explained in previous posts we are far from wine experts but we know what we like and these wines are at the top of our list: the 2004 & 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon were the stars of the evening. Our tasting observations were that the 2004 is pure candy ready to drink and although it can be stored longer it is in its prime already. From the fragrant nose, through the complex mid palette to the long lingering finish this one puts on quite a show. The 2006 appears bigger on the palette with moderating tannins on the finish and perhaps even greater complexity; the kind where every sip gives you a slightly different and better impression. Yes, we experienced both dark and red berries with the new french oak perfectly balanced and tobacco and caramel on the finish, but as with most great wines words are simply insufficient. www.quilcedacreek.com We paired these with some great food offerings: hors d'oeuvres on the patio, a spectacular grapefruit, orange, chevre salad (will add recipe later on this), steak oscar (previously featured) and chocolate lava flow cake to die for. I want to thank my life partner and sous chef extraordinaire, Lauren Roberts, for producing salad and dessert features that were over the top fantastic! That's it for now; this is RJ Kirk with Cafe 1853, Enjoy!

Steak Oscar: Filet Mignon, Dungeness Crab, Asparagus & Bearnaise Sauce

A Classic Steak Restaurant Offering! Warning: this is on the rich side so bring out your really big reds as the anecdote :) Seriously though this is not an entree we make often but given the spectacular spring weekend upon us we just could not resist getting back to the barbeque! In addition we had a couple of special guests from Quilceda Creek Vintners join as for dinner at Cafe 1853 and needed some red meat to pair with the amazing Cabernet Sauvignons they produce. www.quilcedacreek.com Look for more about our experience with their 2004 & 2006 Cabs in a following post. Our heritage contains four generations of restaurant industry participation and our minds drift back to my father describing how to grill the perfect steak, a recollection we share with you here.  Memorize this simple approach to your benefit: 1) Make the steaks happy with your choice(s) of salt, pepper and steak seasonings while bringing them to room temperature 2) Meanwhile get your BBQ to about 550 degrees 3) Grill the steaks 7 minutes on each side to achieve Medium-Rare to Medium (make slight adjustments for "how you want it" preference and thickness of the steak) and that's it, that simple! Steam the asparagus in a little bit of water, undercook it, remove from heat and place the lid on as you wait for the filets to come off the grill.  Prep the Dungeness Crab by rinsing and patting dry (makes the crab taste "cleaner"). Right before the steaks go on the grill make your bearnaise sauce: as you can see we "cheated" by using a packaged sauce and enhancing it with butter, cream, white wine, vinegar (splash), fresh tarragon, salt & pepper.  This is a personal preference, but we like this approach not only because it is easier with so much happening at once, but also it is lighter than using fresh egg yolks. Hint: go light on the tarragon, especially if you are not a big "licorice" fan. If you want a lighter steak approach, just stop at steak completion and put the asparagus on the side.  We served this with garlic mashed potatoes to complete the plate.  This is RJ Kirk with Cafe 1853, Enjoy!

Manila Clam Pasta (Vongole) Supreme!

If you like manila clams you of course already love Pasta Vongole! This is a classic recipe which originated in Naples and the surrounding Campania region in addition to Rome.  If you pay close attention to a few of the techniques in this video it will bring the flavor of this entree to a another level: 1) Notice how the Fresh Garlic, Red Pepper, Italian Herbs, Pepper infuse into the olive oil when at kept over low heat, this dials up the intensity, 2) the Butter goes in after the Clams start to open and the Lemon (whoops, said Lime in the video narrative) and Parsley at the very end, 3) the wine along with the natural juices of the clams de-glazes the saute pan (All-Clad Copper Layered).  As in life "timing is everything" and this dish is no exception; something we learned from the owner of Stockpot Soups called "flavor profiles".  The tomatoes (use what looks the best at your local market), introduce an additional depth of taste (slight sour) that enhances the sauce that is amalgamating before your very eyes.  This offering may take you a few attempts to be seamlessly in charge but with practice you will master it! Oh amost forgot, there is an Italian pepper in this dish that I was fortunate enough to get a sample from the Martiaarch at www.montalcinoristoranteitaliano.com/  Check this small authentic Italian restaurant out soon; and make a reservation or you may not get in! Many wines will pair well with this: Chianti, Sauvignon Blanc, etc. The wine pairing featured here is 2009 Cherry Pie Stanley Ranch Pinot Noir from the famed Hundred Acre label; perhaps one of the most unique Pinots every produced; hint: it tastes like Cherry Pie! http://cherrypiewines.com/ This is RJ Kirk with Cafe 1853, Enjoy!

Seafood Cioppino Secrets!!!

This recipe began its long journey towards perfections nearly 15 years ago when a not so favorable restaurant experience led us to declare "we can cook better Cioppino than this with our eyes closed and both hands tied behind our backs"! Since then we have been through various iterations sometimes trying to do too much, sometimes a bit lazy with the base, but through it all we bring you what arguably is the best dish of this type that you will ever prepare and experience. We apologize for the length of this video offering, but the dish is just involves so many steps that it was difficult to shorten.  As always, our narration cannot cover all the details so here are some additions you need to know: all of the seafood is fresh and this is the perfect time of year for it because the ingredients are all available; do not cut corners on the base by using a canned paste or puree, the flavor will just not be the same; when you are simmering the base you will need to add water to achieve desired consistency (pretty brothy); you will need to taste the base multiple times and add more seasonings to be dead-on to your preference; boil the wine off after adding to get the alcohol part out that can leave a bitter aftertaste but don't worry, if this does not happen just right the anecdote is a little sugar.  You will need to add salt as you taste along, we like the sea salt kind, tastes better.  Start 3 hours early and get the base done before your guests arrive.  When you have the base right it will taste great by itself and only get better when you add the clam and mussel juices; it should be a orange/broth color when done correctly. Prepare all the seafood in advance by washing and patting everything dry; scrub the steamer shells, de-shell and de-vain the prawns (do not buy previously shelled prawns), de-beard the mussels. (All the seafood for this entree were acquired at www.geminifish.com) Find someone who loves you to help on this stuff otherwise it does become a long day in the kitchen :) If you are serving hor d'oeuvres and salad ahead of this you will need to start the seafood portion for the cooking process when your guests are on their salads, this presents the proper timing.  From the video you can see that the preparation of each seafood is in a precise order (do not violate this, much trial and error fine-tuned this all) for reasons that will become obvious to you.  We slice to desired mouth feel and presentation as we chef, so you will be very active during this last 15 minutes, so do not become distracted; if you can multitask, namely drinking wine, slicing, searing, seasoning, de-glazing, adding to dutch oven, all while entertaining your guests so be it; otherwise get some help.  When you are finally all in you are done!  The lightly seared garlic-peppered lime de-glazed sea scallops come straight from the pan onto the top of each platted dish that has been "warmed; then comes the parsley and voila, there you have it.  For those of you that need cook by numbers, we will add those soon!  If you have any technique questions please  ask them in the comments and we will respond; sometimes many subtle things that are done in the process are obvious to us but not to others so ask away :)  Oh, almost forgot the featured wines are: 1) 2009 Quilceda Creek Palengat Proprietary Red Wine http://www.quilcedacreek.com/wines.aspx?SID=63&SSID=618BF0FD-1D3D-4304-B269-F2DD915BAC0D&CID=68  & 2) 2007 Long Shadows Pirouette http://www.longshadows.com/pirouette  This is RJ Kirk with Cafe 1853, Enjoy!

Barbequed Baby Back Ribs

Just in is this new video update on this Memorial Day Weekend! The orginal post was the first home game for the Seattle Mariners, in keeping with the season we're hit the barbeque to bring you Baby Back Ribs!  To be honest, it took us awhile to get this whole BBQ Ribs thing down; most of our early efforts involved too much testosterone and not enough patience, lots of fun but just not exactly the result we wanted :) We know that there are as many ideas on how to do Baby Backs as there are weekend warrior chefs, but this is our humble version of how to do it right and its real simple and real good.  First of all buy the best leanest and small ribs you can find; we have a bias towards PCC for any type of pork but probably so do you!  By the way, we refined this method due to very recent amazing input from Barbara in the PCC Issaquah meat department; and Barbara if you are reading this, thank you so much for those "loin" baby backs, incredible! www.pccnaturalmarkets.com And Jeff thanks for the ribs you specially prepared for us this last Saturday morning; they were fantastic! Okay let's get started: 1st make the ribs happy, we use "rub with love" baby back pork rub by Tom Douglas, rub it in both sides and let the ribs stand to close to room temperature. Meanwhile fire up the barbeque, get it real hot 500-600 degrees.  2nd, place the ribs face down on the grill and get on it hard to produce a solid sear to preference with the lid closed, turn them over and repeat.  Then crank the heat all the way down (go to a single burner). 3rd, lay out a piece of tin foil for each rack and seal them up. You want the heat to be 250-300 degrees now as you replace the seal ribs on the grill.  Cook the ribs at this low temperature for 2-3 hours (as long as your patience and time frame will allow).  30 minutes before completion time lightly pour your favorite BBQ sauce on the top side, reseal and repeat 15 minutes before completion.  Now that's a home run! We like Annie's Naturals Organic BBQ Sweet & Spicy because, well its organic, and has no high fructose corn syrup, but also like Sweet Baby Ray's Hickory & Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce.  Its that easy.  Factoid: Did you know there are 2 alternate ways to spell barbeque/barbecue? From RJ Kirk with Cafe 1853. Enjoy!

Double Healthy Feature: (1) Simple Grilled Halibut (2) Avocado Grapefruit Salad

Spring has sprung and so today, boys & girls, we bring you a double header of recipes that are a real tasty and real healthy way to get those beach bodies ready for summer!  For you vegetarians and vegans out there the 2nd feature is for you; and for you paleo people this is all paleo along with those great fats that will fire up your metabolism for even the toughest workouts.  First, we have simple grilled fresh halibut thanks to the runs being back in full swing. Get it from a great fish market that air freights their fish in; if in Issaquah or the "east-side" don't miss www.geminifish.com Wash the fish off, pat it dry, set it on a plate and season with salt, pepper, garlic power and just a light coating of olive oil to keep it from sticking to the grill.  While the fish is warming up (yes you want it warmer than just out of the fridge) preheat your BBQ to medium. When up to heat, place the fish on the grill face down, move it around a bit "in line" and watch it for 3-4 minutes while it gets the sear you desire. Flip it onto the skin side and crank down the hit to medium-low; depending on the thickness of the fish it should take 10-12 more minutes to cook perfectly through with the lid closed.  We make a "garlic-olive oil-Italian herb-salt-red pepper infused spread (instructions below) that can now be spooned over the top of the fish to add flavor and enhance the BBQ effect. The 2nd feature is a Avocado Grapefruit Kalamata Olive Salad that will please virtually all of your senses!  The idea for this salad came from a local Bellevue restaurant; we thought this was their best dish. It is important that you pick these ingredients right, so if in doubt ask the produce person at you local organic store for help, don't be shy; and if at the Issaquah PCC ask for Brian, nice guy that loves his job. Start with the grapefruit (this takes some time) and remove the skin using a real sharp paring knife, then remove avocado from the pit half-wise and slice with long strokes of a utility type knife.  Assemble these ingredients for an artistic flair, place chopped (Santoku or Chef knife) kalamata olives on top, add fresh ground pepper, drizzle your highest quality olive oil and voila! This is RJ Kirk, Enjoy!
How to make Garlic Infused Spread: This is actually an attempt to duplicate the "spread" served with the bread at our favorite Italian restaurant in Redmond, Tropea. http://ristorantetropea.com/ will review them soon. Use a good quality olive oil, add fresh chopped garlic, red pepper flakes, Italian herbs, salt, pepper; just want the oil to cover the top of the garlic and a bit more; play with this to suit your own palate. Hint: the longer it sits (or overnight(s) in the fridge) the better it is; to a point of course :)

Barons Winery 2012 Spring Release & Review

This is our first winery review at Cafe 1853 and we are bringing you one of our favorites.  It was our privilege to attend the Barons Winery spring release party this past Saturday on an extraordinary spring day! As a point of reference, we were introduced by a friend to the 2003 Barons Cabernet Sauvignon and it matched our palate perfectly; we drank through about 4 cases of that release and have been huge fans ever since :)  To us, this wine was big fruit, vanilla, with a backbone of complexity that had us coming back for more.... In short, it was the Silver Oak of Washington. We were pleased to discover that Matthew Loso, once the winemaker for Matthew Wines had become the consulting winemaker for Barons V, a new boutique project in the great Northwest. Over the years our appreciation for the talents of the winemaker, sourcing of the grapes, selection of the barrels and dedication to infinitely drinkable wines has only grown. Now, although a growing commercial enterprise, the winery still is small enough to make everyone feel special that walks into their tasting room in Woodinville. Newly released, were the 2011Sauvignon Blancs from both Napa and Columbia Valley (perfect tasting comparison) and the 2009 Petite Barone Columbia Valley Red Wine: we have a slight preference for the Napa version of the Sauvignon Blanc but this is just a terroir thing. The Petite Barone is the first Bordeaux style wine they have produced and we just cannot stop drinking this one; 75% Cabernet and 25% Merlot and much of the fruit is from Red Mountain, so no wonder we like it. The winemaker's tasting notes along with their complete wine offering is at www.baronsv.com These wines are in limited supply so try them soon. Ask for Grace, Victoria or Kelsey and tell them Cafe 1853 sent you. This is RJ Kirk with Cafe 1853. Enjoy!

Hearty Chicken Vegetable Soup

This is the chicken soup your mother should have made and probably did :)  All the ingredients are organic.  It is the "double feature' of the seared and roasted organic chicken with fresh herbs and finishing sauce posted yesterday.  We know that's not a bowl of soup but You Tube fought me on thumbnail on this one and appears to have won!  Over time I suppose our personal preferences are refined along with our recipes.  To us, this is just a killer, clean but savory soup that even fits the paleo deal, i.e. lean meat (ok pretty lean) and vegetables.  There is a bit of work and sequence detail to the preparation, but trust us, you will love the results.  Make a big pot of this because it's going to go fast and it reheats really well; but not in the microwave please, just slowly on the stove top.  In fact, do me a personally favor; walk over to your microwave, rip it out of the wall and throw it in the street (just kidding or maybe not)!  Like in the movie "Loves Kitchen", great watch for us food lovers.  Oh, by the way, I forgot to have you add a bit of red wine vinegar at the end of the preparation; just that slight bit of sour pops the flavor up and compliments the intensity of the broth confluence.  This is RJ Kirk with Cafe 1853; to your health. Enjoy!

Seared & Roasted Herbed Organic Chicken with Finishing Sauce

What can we say?  "This is Chicken Delight so Cook Tonight". Expressing that we have cooked chicken 100 ways would be an understatement, but this is one of our favorites.  Searing to crisp the skin while sealing in the natural juices, followed by oven roasting in white wine and fresh herbs to add tenderness and infuse flavor, produces a unique and outstanding result.  Truly, this is comfort food at its best!  The audio take on this should say that we used a Pinot Grigio for the de-glazing; we like to use a wine of enough quality so that we can sip some along the way :) As far as wine pairings, this dish will easily stand up to the biggest of red wines.  Mashed potatoes seem like an automatic thing, but one hint is to quarter these Yukon Golds adding just enough water to cover and do not overcook them to prevent a gluey result; just until a fork can start to penetrate. Add cream, butter, salt to your preference. Develop a relationship with the butcher at your favorite grocer and ask to for help with the prep; buy a whole organic chicken and have them remove the back, breast bone and tip knuckle of the wing; quarter it later yourself to get the skin to lay the way you want it. We cooked the first 1/2 of this tonight, will pull a repeat on the 2nd 1/2 to make a chicken vegetable soup; that recipe is on its way. This organic chicken was purchased at PCC http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/ if you are at the Issaquah store ask for Barbara and tell her Cafe 1853 sent you.  This is RJ Kirk with Cafe 1853. Enjoy!

Clio Jumilla Spain 2009 Wine Review

Clio Jumilla Spain 2009

Cafe 1853 will review some special wines that we find along our journey and share them with all of you!  Could not hold off on reviewing this wine out of Spain.  the 2009 Clio Jumilla, is 70% Monastrell (Mourvedre) and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Murcia province. Clio boasts Chris Ringland (who made Penfolds Grange for 20 or so years) as their winemaker. An opulent, powerful wine with sweet oak, espresso, creme de cassis, layers of flavor and an incredibly long finish. If you ever thought you did not like Spanish wines you must try this one.  I would be the first to admit that my palate is not as refined as others, especially my wife Laurie's who's nose comes close to our Golden Retriever's, but this wine is so bombastically (is that a word?) opulent that it will just, in short, blow your mouth and then the rest of your cloths off (good for dates) ! :) What would you expect from this amazing combination of grapes; these ones had to struggle producing a concentrated character to this wine that simply defies description. It is still available in limited quantities and at about $45-48 it is an extreme value in our humble opinion. You can pick it up at Pete's in the Seattle area; talk to Reesa or Jan, two great ladies!  Here is their link for your convenience. http://www.petes.cc You can enjoy this wine now and into the future; open some tonight and let us know what you think.  Just remember to decant it early and take some good long "sips" before your guests arrive (whoops that's a secret) :)  From Cafe 1853, this is RJ Kirk. Enjoy!

BBQ Salmon with Ginger-Lime Sauce

We promise you that we are not going to be stuck permanently on fresh King Salmon but I was going for Halibut at Gemini Fish in Issaquah and well the salmon was just better this time :)  This is perhaps the last iteration of an idea we got from Food Network and have enhanced several times; in our humble opinion the BBQ works the best.  The video explains most of the preparation so we will keep this brief and just explain how to BBQ the Salmon; this can be difficult, but like everything else in life, it is simple once you know how: preheat the BBQ to 350-400, place the slightly marinated room temperature result face down on the grill for 7 minutes, when you first place it, move it around for a couple of minutes but keep in line so the marks still line up, flip it over onto the skin side, reduce the heat to low; depending on the thickness of the salmon it should take 10-15 minutes longer to cook to perfection.  A word of caution here: you have to know your own BBQ.  We work with a Broil Master that has a lot of BTU per square inch and ceramic coals underneath and not to be redundant but every BBQ times differently, that's just a fact.  I did not put the quantities for the sauce, but this is just part of the art of chefing; let your personal preference be your guide and the results will amaze you.  This is RJ Kirk with Cafe 1853; stay focused and go light on the wine while preparing this one because the timing of everything is important :) If  you have helpers, use them and remember you are the King or Queen of your kitchen :) Enjoy!

The Stars (in order of appearance): Fresh King Salmon (1 lb in Ginger People Marinade for 20 minutes, then cooked on BBQ). The Bed: Fresh Basil (3/4 Cup Lightly Chopped, English Cucumber (1 de-seeded and julienned), Red Bell Pepper (1/2 sliced & diced). Ginger-Lime Sauce: Thai Bird Eye Chillies (2, but be carefull!), Fresh Garlic (2 Cloves), Ginger (2 tbsp), Fish Sauce (2 tbsp), Juice of 1 Lime, Water (1/4 Cup), Salt (to taste), combine and let stand for 30 minutes. Garnish: Garlic (3 Cloves Roasted in olive oil), Peanuts (12 Shelled and chopped). Supporting Cast: Jasmine Rice in desired quantity as instructed.

Miso Ginger Sake Wild King Salmon

Miso Ginger Sake Wild King Salmon
This idea for this recipe originated from the fish department at Whole Foods; think his name was Ted.  We were impressed by the potential Asian fusion elements of the recipe.  Over the past several years this recipe has been refined at Cafe 1853 and we have enjoyed sharing it with our by invitation only guests to consistently positive reviews.  The freshest and highest quality ingredients, along with the arts of searing, deglazing and precise timing produces a result that will amaze even the most discerning palates. By the way, White King Salmon in our opinion is the best of the best but sometimes a little hard to find; we get ours at Gemini Seafood in Issaquah from "Jimbo" fresh from his fishing buddies in Alaska http://www.geminifish.com/ Strongly suggest that you prep everything in advance in order to keep pace with the process.  Break out a special bottle of wine with this one! From RJ Kirk with Cafe 1853, Enjoy!
The Stars (in order of appearance): Ginger Powder, Red Pepper Flakes, Salt (light prep for Salmon), Sesame Oil (to prep pan), Alaskan Troll Caught White King Salmon (1 lb), Ginger (3 tbsp julienned ), Green Onion (3 chopped - some reserved as garnish), Baby Bok Choy (3 diced stalk portion here), Red Bell Pepper (1/2 chopped), Sake (~1 cup), White Miso (3 heaping tbsp), Soy Sauce (3 splashes) Judy Fu's Hot Oil (1/2 tsp or to taste), Savoy Cabbage (1/3 head) & Baby Bok Shoy (sliced leaf portion). Supporting Cast: Basmati Rice (per instructions and desired quantity).