We spent 2 days in Seattle during Memorial Day weekend and got to eat out 4 times. Back home, I went grocery shopping for ingredients to make dinner. Then, later I went through the receipts from grocery store and the restaurants where we ate. Then I had a little math exercise going in my mind… A few thoughts and questions and equations… The findings were mind boggling.

What triggered this math exercise was the pricy steak I bought at the store as well as the junk food we had for lunch a few hours earlier.

The junk food lunch was pretty gross but we had no other choices because this was the kind of food that was available where we were + there was a festival in the area and all the vendors provided that sort of low quality food; loaded with sugar, salt, and grease, or highly-processed.

So, doing the calculations of the recent 3 meals we had (All serve a family of 4), this is what I found:

The details:

The junk food meal was very unsatisfying. The food was bland, greasy, salty, tasted artificial, and highly-processed “cuisine” so typical to junk fast food. The place (the food court) was chaotic and noisy, and a bit dirty.

The previous day we had lunch at Taste, the restaurant attached to the Seattle Art Museum. Taste provides “a welcoming and modern urban gathering space… minimizing (their) carbon footprint through purchasing local, seasonal, organic and wild ingredients… an array of small and large plates from our sustainable-focused menu…”

That meal was delicious. Also the kids’ food; I always taste the kids’ food to make sure it’s well prepared. (OK, I’ll admit it. I like fries and hot dogs too… OK, OK, and Mac and cheese too…) The restaurant is beautiful and has a contemporary design, the ambience is pleasant, quiet but still vibrant. It is sophisticated for adults and at the same time kid-friendly.

The food at Taste cost $10 more than the junk food. That’s the bottom line.

When I break down the details, I think we got way more in quality and quantity in the food at Taste compared to the food court (I know some people care about the quantity to test the value, so this is for you). So, I’d say, the difference is closer to $0 between the two meals!

***

Back at home we made a quick dinner of steak and pasta in a light cream sauce, and a fresh veg salad.

I assume most people will be shocked at the price of $18.99-$21.99/pound of the organic, grass-fed beef steak. BUT, the bottom line? Compared to food court junk, the cost is the same! The quality is better. And, yes… you have to cook, but it only takes 10 minutes.

And why am I telling you this?

I’ve been thinking about it for a long long time. Ever since we spent $100 on – cheap? – junk food during a 1-day visit to Disneyland months ago. Ever since I paid about $15 on a lunch for two at the same dirty mall last summer!

It just bugs me.

And last night, I couldn’t help but wonder about this again… People believe that junk food is cheap.

I was astonished to realize that sometimes (like the examples I just gave) the price is the the same (or the difference is tiny).

Now what if we add health, satisfaction, and pleasure to the equation?

***

OK, another story.

Last summer we went to dinner in a typical steakhouse. I ordered a (6 oz.) steak with mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables. It cost $25 +/-

The mashed potatoes were bland and tasted old, the vegetables weren’t undercooked, and the steak… the steak… tasted like – don’t make me say that word – cardboard. A friend I talked to about this called it a “clunker” steak. It was a total disappointment; I didn’t enjoy it at all, and I felt like I threw my money down the trash. Such a waste of money. And no pleasure, to say the least.

The next evening, we went to another restaurant. The kind of place where people stop outside and read at the menu, and then turn away because they think it’s too expensive or high-end for them.

I ordered (4 oz.) steak fillet (a more tender and expansive cut which was organic and locally raised), with mashed potatoes and vegetables. I don’t recall all the details about that dish but I am able to report that the mashed potatoes were silky and creamy, and the vegetables (maybe mushrooms and others?) were perfectly cooked, and their was a wonderfully rich jus/sauce floating around all of it and it was DIVINE!

The cost? The same as the clunker!!!

Was I hungry because the steak was smaller (4 oz. instead of 6 oz.)? No.

Was it more heavenly? Yes!

Was I happier? Most certainly yes!

Was my head spinning in the clouds with joy? Yes!

The moral of the story? Don’t be a snob when you spot a classy restaurant.

***

So now what?

So now you are aware that sometimes, adding all sorts of factors into the equation, the bottom line dollar value is the same,

1) $$ Junk food meal = $$ Whole Foods meal

2) $$ Clunker steak at an average steakhouse = $$ fillet of steak in a high-end restaurant

3) Food portions in a good restaurant might be > or = to those of a unclean food court

So, is it a myth that you get more when you buy junk food, supposedly for less money?

Because sometimes organic, fresh, seasonal ingredients offer better quality (not to forget satisfaction and pleasure) and can cost the same as the highly-processed ones.

And sometimes it means that the expensive restaurant you thought you cannot afford… You can actually afford it.

Sometimes it means that a good quality of a 4 oz. steak is way better and more filling than a crappy 6 oz. steak.

And besides, shouldn’t be a question of quantity or quality anyway?

You do the math…

If I was a queen, I would leave my royal chambers and live in such a kitchen so I won’t have to waste any minute for the fabulous food to arrive to my table.

We love to go to the Palace Kitchen for a late bite and a good drink. It is the perfect place for that. Lots of action, very dim lights, casual and fun, and of course, it has great food and drinks.

Last time we were there, I started with a Clementine margarita ($10) which was the most perfect margarita I have ever had. Loaded with enough alcohol to make you giggle silly and bounce back to your normal self just in time when the food arrives (so you can enjoy the food without being tongue-numb by the alcohol), but it did not feel too alcoholy. It had just the right balance between the Grand Marnier and the fresh fruit juice. The Husband had Winter gin and tonic ($8), not my drink, but it had a lovely gentle bitterness to it. I liked it. He did too.

Then the server brought us a plate with fresh Daliah bakery bread that was excellent served with sweet balsamic vinegar and a very fruity and smooth extra virgin olive oil. Perfection in simplicity. The bread was amazing. Thick, rustic and and crunchy crust, airy inside. It made me want to rent an apartment above the bakery.

We ordered a few appetizers because it was already 9 pm.

Fire roasted Penn cove mussels in a broth of coconut, tangerine and mint ($14) were soft and tender, the broth light and fragrant but a little overpowered by the flavor of the shallots. Very good.

Seared lobster tail with spring onions salad and lemon aioli ($13), was sweet and perfectly cooked with a bit of smokiness. The salad was lovely and refreshing, just like spring, with tender lettuce and delicate lemon flavor. The Husband said – “These are the best croutons I have ever ate in my whole life. They taste so good and they melt in my mouth!”

Pan fried Minterbrook oysters, garlicky aioli, green tomato relish ($9) were perfect. I have mixed feeling about oysters. I love them but I tend to avoid them. Well, not anymore. These were coated with a crispy fried batter and very tender inside, served with fantastically garlicky aioli – who wouldn’t love that?!

“plin” piedmontese style ravioli filled with pork and chard ($14/$18) was on the heartier side after the seafood plates we had but it was very good. We were full but we ate every piece. beautiful dish.

The service – excellent and professional. Our lovely waitress had lots of smiles and was fun, answered all our, OK my, questions. We were impressed that even the water guy knew what plin” piedmontese style ravioli is (a traditional recipe of north Italy).

We had wonderful food and a fantastic time.

I felt like a queen.

Palace Kitchen
2030 5th Ave
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 448-2001
Palace Kitchen

On the road from Redmond to Woodinville there’s a cute neighborhood mall, Bella Bottega, where you will find Coho Café. We first dined at Coho before we had kids. We sat at a table by the warm fireplace on a Saturday and had lunch. This is a nice place to go to for either lunch or dinner, or to meet friends before/after a movie for drinks and appetizers (there’s a movie theater at the mall).

The place is usually packed with people and is a very lively and energetic spot (but not too loud that you can’t hear yourself think). Coho’s menu offers Pacific-Northwest food, classic American, and Asian inspired dishes. There’s a weekly menu – which I encourage you to order from – featuring seasonal dishes and local wines (mainly from Washington and Oregon).

I consider Coho to be a family-friendly restaurant. In general, any restaurant that is noisy enough to conceal a child’s squeal and doesn’t have a too sophisticated menu is considered a family-friendly restaurant by me (especially if you have young children).

Last night we went there with friends – all with young children – for an early dinner (always a good idea with little kids). While we waited for our food to arrive, the kids were busy coloring their kids menu with crayons provided by the restaurant. Coho’s kids menu is offered to kids 12 and under, and has a nice selection of dishes like Grilled Salmon or Grilled Chicken Breast with Mashers & Veggies ($6.50 you), or Fish n’ Chips with Fruit and Chicken Strips with Fries & Fruit ($5.99).

I tried Basil-Pancetta Prawns with Mediterranean Couscous salad ($16.99), (see photo above) which was very nice, paired with Washington Hills “Summit Reserve” chardonnay ($6.75/glass), lovely wine. My husband and one of our friends both ordered Horseradish and Panko Crusted Halibut Fillet served with Potato Hash, Crispy Onion Rings and Smoked Tomato Tartar Sauce ($18.99). It was delicious and satisfying. I actually liked it better than my prawns. Another friend ordered Soy-sesame glazed salmon, Ginger-Jasmine rice, Stir Fried Edamame, Braised Shiitake & Crispy Soba ($14.99). The kids chose Fish and Chips ($5.99) and I took a bite. It was wonderful.

Soy-Sesame Glazed Salmon with Ginger Rice and Edamame

A word of advise: ask the waiter to tell the kitchen to be easy with the salt on the kids fries. I have found them to be waaaay too salty on previous occasions. It’s really unnecessary and not so healthy. Also, I always check out the kids meal to make sure it’s fresh and tasty. The Fish & Chips were wonderful. I wish I could order that.

Bottom line, dinner was wonderful. It’s a place we go to again and again.

Horseradish Crusted Halibut Fillet, Potato Hash, Crispy Onion Rings and Smoked Tomato Tartar Sauce

Inside the Cafe

Busy kids…

Coho Cafe, Redmond

Address: 8976 161st Ave. NE
Phone: (425) 885-2646

www.cohocafe.com