Saturday, March 12, 2011

FOOD NEWS: James Beard Foundation Award Semi-finalists


The semi-finalists for the James Beard Foundation Awards has been announced. The Pacific Northwest has a good showing in each category. The nominations will be announced on March 21, 2011. Below are the lists of semi-finalists from Seattle and Washington state.

BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Staple & Fancy Mercantile - Seattle, WA

OUTSTANDING CHEF
Holly Smith, Cafe Juanita - Kirkland, WA
Jerry Traunfeld, Poppy - Seattle, WA

OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT
Cafe Juanita, Kirkland, WA

OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR
Tom Douglas, Tom Douglas Restaurants (Dahlia Bakery, Dahlia Lounge, Etta's, Lola, Palace Kitchen, Seatown Seabar & Rotisserie, and Serious Pie) - Seattle, WA

OUTSTANDING SERVICE
Canlis - Seattle, WA

OUTSTANDING WINE SERVICE
Canlis - Seattle, WA

OUTSTANDING WINE & SPIRITS PROFESSIONAL
Alex Golitzin, Quilceda Creek Vinters - Snohomish, WA

RISING STAR CHEF OF THE YEAR
Blaine Wetzel, The Willows Inn - Lummi Island, WA

BEST CHEF IN AMERICA
Chris Ainsworth, Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen - Walla Walla, WA
Seif Chirchi & Rachel Yang, Joule - Seattle, WA
Matt Dillon, Sitka & Spruce - Seattle, WA
Ethan Stowell, Staple & Fancy Mercantile - Seattle, WA

REVIEW: Endolyne Joes


I haven't been to Endolyne Joe's since they opened. Tonight I had dinner there with some friends. I have been to all the Chow Foods restaurants and I like them all. Chow Foods likes to have menu themes at their establishments. The theme at Endolyne Joe's right now is Route 66. They do a great job decorating the restaurant with the theme. 

Tonight I had the buttermilk fried chicken dinner. The dinner comes with three pieces of chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, coleslaw and a buttermilk biscuit. The buttermilk fried chicken was delicious. I'm really picky about my fried chicken, and this was really good. The chicken skin was fried perfectly. It wasn't over-fried. I don't like it when it is too crunchy. The chicken itself was very juicy. Let's just say that all that was left on my plate was a small pile of chicken bones. The mashed potatoes were okay. They could have been a little bit more creamy. The coleslaw was good and crisp.

The service tonight was great. Our server was very attentive. He was very informative of the specials and made some good recommendations. I like the atmosphere of Endolyne Joe's. It's a comfortable restaurant. You feel "at home" there. It is also a very family friendly restaurant, which was evident by the number of children who were there tonight. I wish my parents took me to a restaurant like this when I was a kid!


Endolyne Joe's on Urbanspoon