Try The Kingfish Cafe for knockout southern comfort food

Believe everything you've heard about The Kingfish Cafe. Yes it really is that good, and yes, you will wait for a table --unless you arrive ahead of the 5:30 dinner opening and hang out with other hopefuls who skipped lunch in anticipation.

The nine dinner entrees range in price from $11.25 for red beans and rice up to $18.75 for a ribeye steak. Entrees include appropriate accompaniments, such as collard greens, grits, or mashed potatoes. Starter salad or soup is not included.

For a delicious sharable starter, try the trio of Wonderful Dips. The catfish spread is the southern version of the northwest's salmon spread: fresh, creamy and rich: perfect on the sturdy and salty crackers. Slather the spicy black-eyed pea spread on a piece of crispy flat bread for a treat which puts mexi bean dip to shame. The cool artichoke garlic dip is tasty, but not as remarkable as the other two. Saying that, I must admit to mopping the artichoke dip bowl clean with the last bite of lightly toasted bread.

I had the griddled catfish entree: a generous portion of cornmeal-dredged and pan-fried fish, accompanied by a hearty scoop of tomatoey, garlicky, spicy grits and enough collard greens to make both your mom and your nana happy ($12.75) The catfish was cooked to perfection: crispy brown outer and moist, flavorful inner. The grits were mighty fine - the savory seasoning was a new thing for me. (Growing up with southern parents, grits were dressed up with butter and sugar and served with breakfast.) Collard greens hit the spot too, but if you are vegetarian, ask questions first. I'm pretty sure I tasted ham hock along with the onion and other flavors in the dish.

The menu warns that the buttermilk fried chicken entree may run out and I can understand why($15.50). I tasted a bite and it beats Ezell's chicken hands down. (Granted, Ezell's costs less and you get it quicker.)

I rarely RARELY order dessert, but couldn't pass up pineapple upside down cake. Another staple in my childhood kitchen, I imagined it would be something like the Duncan Hines kit: a flat one-layer cake, pineapple rings shining through the butter/sugar topping, and a half of maraschino cherry centered in each circle. I couldn't be more wrong. The Kingfish Cafe version of pineapple upside down cake was so right.

Check out Kingfish Cafe for the knockout southern home comfort food, attentive service, and warm and friendly staff. Well worth the wait.

Four quickie reviews of documentaries

I've started using the Seattle Public Library for videos. There's always a long wait for fiction - I think I'm number three-hundred-something for "Weeds." However the non-fiction section at the downtown (central) library has a decent selection sitting on the shelves. Here's four quickie reviews of videos I've borrowed in the last couple of weeks:

A Brilliant Madness - The real John Nash was not married to Jennifer Connelly. Grade: A -
Spellbound - Get to know kids who spell well and the families who support them. Grade: A
An Inconvenient Truth - An overlong lecture on global warming. Grade: B
Crazy Love - How an obessessive, possessive relationship goes off the chart. Grade: B+

You'll find the non-fiction video section in the book spiral at the Central library.

Blind Date with Okkervil River

I was invited to see Okkervil River at the luscious Triple Door on Wednesday. I couldn't actually name a song of theirs or even their genre, but sure! Why not? I'm open to trying something new.

Thankfully (despite what their name may imply) Okkervil River are not alt-country, or pop-harmony, or anything remotely fleet fox-y. Rather, they are confessional pop rock, fronted by a singer with mannerisms similar to young Paul McCartney. They rocked out, had a few ballads, and played a tight, fun set.

Pretty good hour spent on a blind date with a new (to me) band.



And here's one of their singles, which you might recognize.

La Cote Creperie on Madison

La Cote Creperie
Originally uploaded by JeanineAnderson

Rectangle-shaped and brown, but get over it: the savory crepes at La Cote Creperie are delicious. I ordered the l'auvergnate: proscuitto, bleu cheese, and walnuts. By "order" I mean I pointed to it on the menu. (What? I don't speak French!) I considered ordering a small salad greens to go alongside, but didn't in favor of saving room to order a lemon-sugar sweet crepe later.

La Cote Creperie uses buckwheat flour for their savory crepes, and boy, what a delight. The buckwheat provides a deep note to balance out the rich savory filling. The l'auvergnate was a nice balance of flavors and textures: salt, crunch, and cheese. The portion was perfectly sized: any larger and the rich flavors would be too much.

And the lemon-sugar crepe: I didn't end up ordering it. I need an excuse to go back to La Cote Creperie soon.

La Cote Creperie
2811 E Madison St
(between E 28th Ave & E 29th Ave)
Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 323-9800

a lazy music review roundup: Smoosh, Tokyo Police Club, Dizzee Rascal and El-P

I am a tired girl from a hot and sunny weekend and a bunch of shows. So you'll get short and lazy reviews of the four acts I saw on Sunday and Monday.

Smoosh
These girls are growing up. Now 16 and 14, sisters Aysa and Chloe are already seasoned performers having started out four years ago under tutelage of Jason McGerr, the drummer for Death Cab for Cutie. The two sisters have that young teen coltish look -- check the forelock on one and and the pony tail on the other -- although lead singer Aysa is showing she has what it takes to hold on to the stage a few more years now that the age novelty has worn off. Smoosh offers straight up pop rock with some legs, particularly for a certain market segment. (Look out, Miley Cyrus.)


Demographics: A novelty sighting at Neumos: uncomfortable-looking parent- pairs. I'm guessing they were probably parents of the girls' friends, and were accompanying their own daughters to the concert in the big bad city. (Smoosh is from Seattle.) There were not enough of these oldsters to increase the average age however, which appeared to be around 19 years old. Those skewing older (and not parent-types) were there for the headliner, Tokyo Police Club.

Tokyo Police Club
Fun band with tasty pop punk tunes. They are on the last half of a death march of a touring schedule that runs through mid-June, followed by a few festival dates thereafter. Despite their if-it-Sunday-this-must-be-Seattle schedule, they sounded fresh and put themselves out there for the set.

Demographics: average age 24, half boys, half girls. Wearing clothes appropriate for campus walking and grocery store shopping.



Hip Hop: Dizzee Rascal and El-P
I don't usually go to hip hop shows, but I wanted to catch the classic stylings of Dizzie Rascal. He didn't disappoint. He has kept his sound fresh but wasn't afraid to do a little "old school" shit about 2/3 of his way through the set. Good show. He knows how to engage with the audience and didn't rely on a the ubiquitous call-and-response thing that every other rapper brings out of their bag of performance tricks when they want to energize the crowd.

El-P was something of a disappointment after Dizzee Rascal. His DJ is great, but El-P's tracks all started to sound the same to me after the first four or so. I'm not an uber fan of hip hop, so maybe the problem is more with me than with him because I just don't know enough to hear differences that perhaps a more knowledgeable listener would pick up on. Oh well, I gave it a try.

Demographics: Another all ages show. 90% boys with an average age of about 20. Some girls and some people over 25, particularly for Dizzee Rascal's set.



I had a heck of a time getting any pictures worth saving at Monday's hip hop show. Those dudes paced, raced, jumped, lunged, danced, and everything BUT stand still long enough for a picture without flash. Will someone please remind me of this experience the next time I am tempted to raise my hand when the call goes out to shoot at a hip hop show? I am not very pleased with this weeks results. Or maybe I should get right back on that horse and ride it again...

Does it Offend You, Yeah? Not me

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeanineanderson/2474168440/
Originally uploaded by JeanineAnderson

They didn't offend me, nor anyone else at Neumos on Tuesday night. This brit group was on my "list" to see at Coachella but when I went to the tent midway through their published timeslot, the tent was quiet. Damn. Yay for DIOYY coming out to the upper left corner to play. Much better and intimate venue than the Gobi Tent. So it all worked out, yeah?

Does It Offend You, Yeah play vibrant rock electronica with strong vocals from both this dude, Morgan Quaintance, and bassist James Rushent.
Although the room was only moderately full (why so?), they put full energy into their performance and were tight. Comparisons have been made to Daft Punk, Justice, and Digitalism. They are definitely on the upswing this year: touring with Bloc Party and NIN.

My favorite song of the night was We Are Rockstars, with its in-your-face, don't-look-away blast of pulsing goodness.

Demographics: 50/50 girls and boys. A few fashionistas at play. Average age was 28. I didn't see many dates: mostly same-gender clusters of 2-3 people.

Pike Street Fish Fry: Hot Fish Now

Pike Street Fish Fry has cravable, deep-fried goodness: little chunks of fresh fish served in cups lined with paper (so old school!). You can’t go wrong here. With one bench for seating and the rest SRO, Pike Street Fish Fry is the epitome of street food, Seattle style: stand in a dry spot and eat with your hands. Drunk or sober, it hits your craving.



Pike Street Fish Fry in the old Frites location Neumos. The old Frites fryers are put to delicious use, and in an homage to the previous establishment Fish Fry offers a selection of house-made dipping sauces plus bottled Coca-Cola from Mexico.

The menu is short and tightly-focused. Offerings include ling cod, red snapper, halibut, spearfish, salmon, octopus, and a few others I can’t remember. The uber- fresh fish from Mutual Seafood is available fried, grilled, or as a sandwich made with a schmear of slaw. Average price runs $7.00. Everything is a la carte so if “you want fries with that?” is the way you roll with your fish, add another four bucks. Upscale beer and wine are available to keep with the upscale street-food vibe. The seasonal menu currently lists fried asparagus. Word is that the asparagus is amazing. I want. Perhaps today. Or tomorrow. Or both.

Although I had trouble initially distinguishing the halibut from the ling cod, both were deliciously moist, not overly battered, and not greasy. The fish and fries are served in cups lined with printed paper. The best surprise? What I thought might be an onion ring turned out to be a sliver of a lemon circle deep fried and served on top the fish. OMG. A flavor explosion and perfect accompaniment. Really, truly, perfect.



The joint is run by Michael Hebberoy of One Pot fame and Portland restaurant infamy. Love him or hate him, the night I was there he was a gracious host buzzing between the register, the beer tap, the kitchen, the door, and checking in with patrons. He had just returned from setting up donated nosh for a Vera Project fundraiser at the McLeod Residence. Good heart, good cause, good peeps. Right on.

Auspicious re-start, Hebberoy, in this cubbyhole of a spot on Capitol Hill. Peeps, expect lines out the door summer evenings.

Pike Street Fish Fry
10th and Pike Seattle

Le Loup: a Craigslist band

Originally uploaded by JeanineAnderson

Le Loup leader Sam Simkoff found his band mates through Craigslist ads in Washington DC. The band's website goes into precious detail about it.

I dropped in on the Le Loup show spur-of-the-moment after checking out the Blush Photo music photography show opening on Tuesday night. (Read my commentary on the photo show here.)

The seven-member band barely fit on the Chop Suey stage, and reminded me of a scaled down Arcade Fire with points for instrument variety: banjo, french horn, 4 guitars, keyboards, drums, synth, computer, ummm...did I miss anything? Probably.

I stayed for most of the set, but I just didn't hear anything that blew me away or made me want to run out and buy their self-released EP. (I don't own the Arcade Fire release either.)

Demographics:
60% boys, 40% girls. Average age: 28. Attire: the same clothes seen at the neighborhood market. No fashionistas in sight. It was a Tuesday, after all. Laundry night.

Review: mashup dj Z-Trip in Seattle

Z-Trip's mashup set on Friday night included samples from led zep, stevie wonder, justice, and everything in between. Brilliant pairings, smooth transitions, smart shout-outs, and freaking mad skilz on the decks worked the crowd in a love frenzy. Wow.

Z-Trip is an energetic dj who knows how to read the room, pull people in, work 'em up, and make ya forget there's a world outside. The give-and-take between dj and audience is key to a memorable experience. Z-Trip gets it and works it just right: genuine, responsive, playful. Left us begging for more. Word.

Demographics: 70% boys, 30% girls, mostly in gender-specific groups. 20% were in boy/girl pairs. Attire: mixed. Girls more dressed up than boys, but on the cheap-sparkly side. Avg age: 24

Using Redfin to buy real estate: recommend, with caveats

Redfin is a Seattle-based real estate company which is disrupting the well-established norms of real estate transactions. I have been addicted to the Redfin site for a while now. The website is the best for searching properties for sale and researching past sales. Find out what your neighbor paid for their crib! And if you are in the market to purchase, it provides valuable property details which help you sort prospects onto either the drive-by list or the discard pile.

As a buyer with previous experience in real estate transactions, my Redfin buyer experience was great. I would use them again to purchase property in the future, no question. However, Redfin may not meet the unique needs of a first-time buyer. Here’s my take on the characteristics of a successful and satisfied Redfin buyer.

Redfin is great for buyers who are:

• Self-motivated and like the self-serve aspect of purchasing through Redfin


• Comfortable with digital communications (internet, email, scanned docs, faxing)


• Experienced in the property-buying experience (at least one prior purchase)


• Can do their own homework to determine an appropriate offer price


• Willing to be proactive in communicating with Redfin staff


• Comfortable working with different Redfin team members at different stages in the process


• Ok with Redfin staff having scheduled work hours (and not working on your deal if they are not on the clock)

Redfin caveats for buyers who:

• Are first-time home buyers, or haven’t purchased in a decade or more


• Prefer explanation and personalized coaching throughout the process


• Want to work with one person through all stages


• Need to be able to reach their agent at any time, or expect an immediate call back


• Are not comfortable using digital media as the primary communication channel

To learn more about buying with Redfin, check out the 3-minute Buying a Home With Redfin video from Common Craft. (disclosure: Common Craft are friends of mine).

Since I’m in disclosure mode, I have one other faint connection to Redfin (which I only learned about recently). My sister and the CEO of Redfin went to elementary school together. Go Ardmore!

Piecora's and Krafty Kuts

A long-time friend was in town from Japan, so most of the usual gang got together for American food and a dance night.

We pre-func’ed at the townhouse with pizza and killer hot wings from Piecora’s. And I do mean killer hot: as in make-you-lips-numb hot. Delicious. The wings are cooked perfectly with a crispy outer layer and baked with what I suspect is a house-made wing sauce. (Did I see jalapeno chunks?) The wings are served with bread for mopping up the tasty sauce and also includes blue cheese or ranch dressing for dipping. Messy goodness for carnivores.

The pizza from Piecora’s is reliable. The crust is a little thicker than I prefer but the toppings are fresh and they don’t use any foodstuffs that look like dog kibbles. They have a by-request thin crust available for pies with two or fewer toppings.

After too much food and drink, we talked and laughed (loudly, I'm sure) the three blocks to Chop Suey to catch Krafty Kuts.

Krafty Kuts is a popular award-winning breaks DJ, mixer, and producer from Brighton, UK. I was looking forward to his set at Chop Suey. He spun great mixes and his transitions smooth. However there were only a few moments of the give-and-take between a DJ and the audience which make a good show turn great. KK didn’t appear to be having as much fun as the crowd. Or maybe he just isn’t a very expressive fellow. But dude: try looking up from the decks a little more frequently.

Our group of eleven was able to secure cozy couch seating in the desirable back bar area where the floor is raised up a step, sightlines are good, and the sound is crystal clear. It’s the best hangout spot when not on the dance floor.

Demographics: Two-thirds boys, one-third girls. Average age in the bar: 30. Attire: upscale casual. Jeans and t-shirts, hoodies, or button-downs for boys, jeans and shiny shirts for girls. A few skirts with boots.

The Program: Blue Scholars

the blue scholars close out thursday
Originally uploaded by JeanineAnderson

Regionally popular Blue Scholars close out day 3 of The Program: five nights of hip hop at Neumos.

At the all-ages shows, adult beverages are available only from the upstairs bar and it stays upstairs. Merch is located in the dance floor bar on the far wall.

When we say north, you say west! North! West! North! West!(repeat)

Demographics: 70/30 of boys to girls; average age 24; mostly white folk; Attire: skull caps and print hoodies for boys, jeans and sweaters or hoodies for girls.

Scooter smitten

Since moving to the Capitol Hill neighborhood I've entertained the idea of owning a scooter. Nevermind that I probably wouldn't use it 6 -8 mos of the year (that Seattle rain thing). I just think they are uber-cool. Even before hitting the opening of Roq La Rue's Motorino show by Shag.
He is smitten, too.



I chatted with the artist for a minute and let him know my favorite of the show was "Bantam." Look for that piece if you go and see why I laughed out loud. Literally. (Not just "LOL" which is more often than not just a polite acknowledgement of someone's attempt at humor.)

Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings

Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings
Originally uploaded by JeanineAnderson

So Amy Winehouse may have opened the pop door to the soul/R&B influence this year, but Sharon Jones is the real deal. I mean the REAL deal. Dap Kings are great accompanyment to Sharon Jones' voice and presence.
Out now: "100 Days, 100 Nights"
Check it.

Moving Units, VHS or BETA: A Low Investment with Good Payoff

A 2-block walk, 12 bucks, and 2 recommendations got me out to Chop Suey Tuesday night for 2 bands I hadn't listened to prior to a quick MySpace search hours beforehand.

Los Angeles-based Moving Units opened and I liked their pop-y, dance-y sound well enough to pick up their new CD "Hexes for Exes" at the merch table. Solid beats, firm control of guitars, and melodic, if not sharp, vocals. Mix up The Cure and Nada Surf, then throw in some buzz and bleep and you'd get close to their sound. That buzzy, bleepy goodness shines through clearly on the CD, less so live. Interestingly, about a quarter of the audience were apparently there just to see Moving Units: the crowd thinned out before VHS or Beta hit the stage.
Demographics: 2/3 boys, 1/3 girls. Avg age: 24. Attire: jeans, t-shirts, sweaters. Boys in hats, girls with knitted scarves.

VHS or BETA played a groovy mix of pop, rock, and funk in their set. I particularly enjoyed the instrumental funk rock piece, which Craig Pfuder (guitarist, vocalist) said they hadn't played together in quite a long time. I didn't stay until the very end (it was a school night after all, kiddies), but when I left shortly after midnight the dance floor was still 1/2 full with VorB enthusiasts.
Demographics: 3/4 boys, 1/4 girls. Avg age: 30. Attire: jeans, t-shirts, sweaters. Fewer hats and scarves.