​
Some say the original Cobb Salad can be traced to Robert Howard Cobb, the owner of the Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant. Some say in was invented in the 30s somewhere in or near Lincoln, Nebraska. Regardless of it's origins, the Cobb is an Omnivores' delight that can be found on many a menu from TGIFriday's to the fanciest of Steakhouses. It has served as a Curb Your Enthusiasm plot devise and is the go-to item for those who think the work of Dr. Atkins biblical. With so many places offering this big salad up, it can be tough to find one that is extra special.
Here are five that play with the standard Cobb model and have made it all their own:

13 Coins (125 Boren Ave N) For $16.99, 13 Coins Classic Cobb Salad should have everything. It does and then some. Theirs is a truly classic take featuring diced turkey and ham, bacon, avocado, blue cheese crumbles, chopped egg and tomatoes layered on a bed of fresh greens with a creamy vinaigrette.

More >>

​ This week's Top 5 will make you want to shed a tear for anyone who can't tolerate Gluten. Brought to America in the 90s, ciabatta bread has become a staple in most bakeries and taken the toasted sammie from to tuna melt bland to molto buono. Generally consisting of white wheat flour, olive oil, water, dry yeast and sea salt ,this simple recipe has many variations, and every spot in the city does it a little differently. Here are five local bakers who have not only mastered, but elevated, the art of Italian bread making. Divertiti!

Macrina Bakery-(615 W. McGraw St.) Available by the loaf or as a roll, Macrina scores as the top ciabatta for cold sandwiches. Macrina's recipe includes whole milk which technically makes it a ciabatta al latte as well as amazingly chewy and easy to slice.

More >>

​ This week, our assault on your New Year's diet continues with a tribute to the most absolutely delicious of obscenely caloric breakfast treats. French Toast has come a long way since the 1600s, when it was a dish of toasted bread soaked in wine, sugar and orange juice.

All five of the spots we've chosen have their own "wine free" take on the dish, but each of them are equally over the top with naughty, carb-laden sweetness and each could prove brutal on your thighs.

More >>

​
Eleven days into the New Year and those resolutions are sticking like glue.You've made it to the gym at least five times and remained steadfast to the mantra "so many salads, so little time". Good for you!

Maybe it's because it's chilly and grey or maybe it's just because we're assholes, but some carb heavy temptation seems to be in order. Get ready for the one dish that can make both Jilllian Michaels and Paula Dean simultaneously weep for very different reasons...Macaroni and Cheese.

Hate us all you want--It's time to otherwise employ that elastic waistband on your work out pants and revisit the best baked, comfort food/diet busters the city has to offer:

More >>

​
Oh, Pho! Some claim your magical properties can stave off a cold, stop the flu in its tracks and help us lose five pounds in the process. But for all the Pho-hoopla there is only one soup that will do when you've crossed the county line to Sickville and your head feels 20 pounds heavy with green awfulness. When a bizzaro virus has made your life as bleak as a Hank Wiliams song, the answer to your sorrows lies not in whiskey but in Tom Kha. Full of sinus draining chili and soothing coconut milk, this Thai staple is perfect for rainy winter evenings whether you be illin' or just plain chillin', as its potency can cut through even the worst case of gunk-coated taste buds and fill you with satisfyingly warm happiness.

Grab some tissues Snotty! The dam's about to burst! Here are five local Tom Khas that vary in style, but are guaranteed to have you breathing through your nose in no time.

More >>

​Whether it is tradition or merely a coping mechanism to get through hours on end with your relatives, there is no use denying you will be consuming at least one requisite cup of Egg Nog this holiday season. When craving this festive staple, the effort to whip up your own may seem too much to tackle and the stuff from the carton is usually disappointingly full of cloying sweetness and pours like thick, faux yellow goop. Yet there are a few quality "Nogs" out there for the taking. Here are five you can find at local markets that are affordable and great on their own or with our suggested boozy options:

More >>

This is not the only affordable Brut!

​ When it comes to our Top 5 Lists, folks are frequently prone to question the methodology by which they are created. We don't want to spill any secrets, but I can assure you, that in the case of this week's Bubbly Bruts, it is a topic I have personally researched. Extensively.

If you're a fan and frequent connoisseur of all things fermented, you know it can be an expensive habit to cultivate. Fortunately, there are some great options between high end Dom and bottom feeder Ballatore that will let you indulge without breaking the bank. Here are a few which can be easily attained at the supermarket and are perfect for "Sparkling Up" your holiday merriment:

More >>

​Eggs Benedict is the undisputed king of savory breakfast foods, and Seattle is certainly not lacking in spots to find this fat-laden favorite. But it's a harsh reality that all Eggs Benedict are not created equal. This usually spendy dish can be easily ruined by over- or undercooked eggs, poorly executed Hollandaise and soggy, bland English muffins. But not to worry. Pack up your Lipitor, brunch fans! You are in for an Eggs-cellent adventure at any one of these tried and true top picks:

More >>

​California Rolls have successfully served as the gateway drug to many a sushi addiction. Fans can easily recall the first time they broke the back end off their first roll, sank it in wasabi/ginger soy sauce and got hooked. Though sushi zealots dismiss the California Roll as the ultimate Americanization of Japanese cuisine, the combination of crab, rice, and veggies serve as a perfect alternative after days of meat and potatoes holiday fare. Let's face it, by Saturday, no matter how much you love turkey, you will have reached maximum poultry capacity and one of these top picks will have you covered.

More >>

​
When I lived in Astoria, Queens, I never had to consult a clock to guess when noon was approaching. Around 11:30 a.m. daily, the smell of roasted meat would start wafting densely through the air, serving as a mouthwatering alarm. Literally every corner in the historically Greek neighborhood housed a cart or truck featuring souvlaki--in beef, chicken and lamb served simply with a quarter loaf of French bread and your choice of sauce--for around $4.

The carts that received the most action however, served everyone's Mediterranean favorite, the Gyro. One specialty vendor, whose deluxe setup had occupied the same corner for 20 plus years, parked from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, next to the steps of the overhead N & Q trains. He served up tightly wrapped sandwiches, with just the right amount of tzatziki and neatly packaged with wet naps to be consumed on the 15-minute commute to midtown Manhattan. It was impossible to find a car around lunch and not see at least four other riders simultaneously chewing and smiling with satisfaction.

Though Seattle's air rarely reeks of roasted meat, you can still find outstanding Gyros in nearly every neighborhood. This could have easily been a top 10 list, but here are 5 joints that will do you right:

More >>