Come hellfire and brimstone – I’ll be at “Brimmer and Heeltap”

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Nutkin lives down the street from Brimmer and Heeltap, so we decided to give it a try.  We went on a Thursday night, 7:30 and the small space was packed to the brim, so we waited by the door with drinks in hand.  It was an hour fifteen minute wait for a table to open up, but we managed to snag seats at the bar, so ended up waiting about 30 minutes for four spots at the bar.  Our bartender Jeff was phenomenal – attentive and well versed in drinks and dishes alike.

brimmer & heeltap - buns

buns stuffed with squash and topped with walnuts and honey – a tasty snack to pique our appetites. The buns have a firm crust that isn’t crispy with a good chew on the inside. Preparation of these buns changes often, so try them every time you go.

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Over 100 Years – Maneki

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My family isn’t exactly traditional, as my parents immigrated to the US in the 70s, we still celebrate Chinese New Year. This year, it was just my mom, my cousin, and me celebrating a Chinese holiday at a Japanese restaurant, which I find somewhat ironic as relationships between the two countries have always been tense.  However, this wasn’t just any Japanese restaurant – no, this restaurant has been in Seattle since 1904.  So they’re definitely doing something right at Maneki.I brought my camera this time, so prepare to wipe some drool off your keyboards.

monk fish liver sashimi

If you’ve never had raw fish liver – monk fish is the one to try. Creamy and delicate, no hint of iron or fishiness.

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Chef Knows Best – Billy Beach Sushi

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The Black Night goes to Billy Beach sushi almost every week with his favorite sushi chef, Hutch who was at Otodo and the Japonessa.  This was my first time at Billy Beach, although I have hazy memories of sashimi and a gigantic chocolate calazone from Otodo back in the day.  Hutch knows exactly what he’s doing and all of the sashimi is extremely fresh.

Basics: salmon (fatty), yellowtail (has that firmness on the ititial bite before melting), mackeral (perfect amount of brininess with pickled kelp and ginger on top to balance things out), kampachi (he got out a whole new fish for us!), crab salad.  Just the way they were meant to be. Continue reading »