Jacques Pepin, does he understand what fast means?

Fast food my way....

So I'm sitting here scouring the job market on the computer and just happen to have Jacques Pepin on the create channel.

He describes his "new" show as being Fast food his way.

It truly makes me wonder how long his non-fast food takes to cook. Granted he does finish a complete meal in 30 minutes....while utilizing every single pan and dish and technique ever known to man. And of course, I believe the actual cooking time takes 30 minutes...but the clean-up will most likely take at least another 30..(sorry Rachel Ray, but you can't even cook and clean in 30 minutes alone!).

I really wish that when I came home that all my ingredients were laid out and perfectly prepped for the daily meal....and not only that but having three different prep areas with three completely separate cutting boards and knives would be nice too.

No disrespect Jacques...I know you're the guy who has truly revolutionized the way people think about food (ode to Howard Johnson days), but Baked Clams Madison, Black Olive tapenade encrusted cod, peeled and tournedoed roasted broccoli, and hazelnut-chocolate creme mousse....in 30 minutes. I'd like to see him turn that out in a kitchen 1/5th the size (which I truly believe he could do with one arm tied behind his back and half-drunk on a bottle of Cotes Du Nuites while batting off his once-perky but now overly-annoying and cliche side-kick daughter).

Back to searching.

10AM Dim Sum break

Love is eating dim sum and wonton noodle soup at 10 in the morning.

False Advertising

Drove around today in the rental car....all things considered, the weather was awesome, I woke up early...AND it was my day off...who knew!?

Jody was driving and was incredibly un-impressed with his new GPS. Turn where? back there? aw bloody hell.

We went to Mukilteo where we saw....expensive houses....and cheap crack houses. We saw the ferry terminal...and a really run-down looking brew-pub called Diamond Knot. Mind you the website for Diamond Knot makes it look somewhat more glamorous than a suped up Denny's...but c'mon...this place was like a beat-down shack waiting to implode. I was expecting to see $5 streetwalkers rolling up their pantyhose and drug dealers lookin to sell their smack. And even they wouldn't go there.

Ended up exploring Mill Creek/Bothell. Ripper.

McMenamin's is famous in Oregon, and especially to Oregon afficianados...in fact one could say that it literally could replace that other McRestaurant in popularity with pasty faced teenagers and crack whores from Mukilteo...(besides the Diamond Knot).

Their properties in Portland are outstanding, the bars...amazing, and the beer perfectly satisfying...however this McMenamin's in Mill Creek must have been the brew-pub that time forgot.

Built into what appears to be the leftover Hollywood video spot in a stripmall, one could only wince as you sit in your wood booth looking out into the desolate strip-mall parking lot. The view, merely a Safeway, a busy gas station, and of course the various cars driving in and out un-ceremoniously visiting the local Department of Licensing office just next door.

An insipid and un-inspired bowl of macaroni and cheese...taking 10 minutes to bring out to my table, consisting of boiled macaroni and a liquid cheese "soup"...then sprinkled with about a teaspoon of panko bread crumbs. Oh how demeaning....to pay $9 for instant or was it frozen mac and cheese.

Where was the love? Where was the careful attention to pure food that Oregonians are famous for....it definitely was not swimming in my soupy bowl of macaroni. Nor did this level of detail come out of the pepper shaker...which by the way definitely did not taste like pepper or anything much at all....probably the same pepper from when it was a Blockbuster video store...yeah I know.

I tried the beer sampler, knowing that one of my most favorite beers of all time is the Terminator Stout. The Ruby (a horrendous raspberry ale) was disgusting, absolutely undrinkable and now I know why it's one of their best sellers...the Bud/Miller/Coors crowd would have a heyday with this one. Just like when we use to mix beer and orange juice for breakfast at the University.

Their pale ale was drinkable, their IPA was pretty much the same, the seasonal was a bland irish red ale that needed more malt but was the clearest of the 6. Their Porter...much better than I remember. In fact it was better than the Stout.

Consistency seems to be a problem for a lot of businesses these days. I just didn't expect it to show up in a bowl of mac and cheese.

uncle walter?

Isn't it just mashed potatoes?

Wombat-friendly Hotel?

"somebody's been sleeping in my bed!"

Hmm...nothing is free anymore....

Giant Squirrel..last spotted Redmond, WA

The Squirrel lives....

Huge Squirrel

It lives.

It's huge.

At least 20 inches...I've seen it.

Pictures to come soon.