Top 5: Leslie Kelly's Favorite Burgers in Seattle

Top 5: Leslie Kelly's Favorite Burgers in Seattle

Posted by Leslie Kelly, December 4, 2009 at 11:30 AM

Our Top 5 series continues with Serious Eats' Seattle correspondent Leslie Kelly, former restaurant critic for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

20091202-palacekitchenburger.jpg

Burger from Palace Kitchen. [Photograph: Leslie Kelly]

You can pile on toppings and douse them in secret sauce, but when it comes to burgers, it's all about the meat for me. I've always been drawn to burger joints that grind their own beef or sourced quality product, even before the E. coli outbreaks made "hamburger" a dirty word. A thick, well-seasoned, hand-formed patty cooked medium rare is the gold standard. Slide that sizzling slab of ground beef on a toasted artisan bakery bun and grab a handful of napkins. That's my strategy, because the best burgers are super juicy and are going to mess you up, in a dry-cleaner's-gonna-love-you way. Like you're at a backyard cookout.

It was tough to trim this list to just five—there are loads of mighty messy burgers served up in Seattle.

1. Palace Kitchen

Loads of diners come to Tom Douglas's Palace Kitchen just to order the Burger Royale, which is saying something considering the rest of the bistro-esque menu is filled with great options like housemade pasta and pan-fried trout. The Royale is made from Oregon Country Beef chuck, ground on premise. Take a stool at the spiffiest bar in Seattle and can watch the line cooks wrangle those patties over the apple wood-fueled grill, giving it a campfire-like quality. The outstanding buns come from the Tom Douglas bread bakery. 2030 5th Avenue, Seattle WA 98121 (map); 206-448-2001; tomdouglas.com

2. Lunchbox Laboratory

At former upscale chef Scott Simpson's Lunchbox Laboratory, you just might go crazy trying to choose one of the many clever combos featured on the daily special board. He's happy to make custom orders, too, which means endless possibilities. As far as I know, it's the only place on the planet to indulge in a dork burger—part duck, part pork. The straight-up beef burgers are sick—I'm quoting a burger-loving teenager I treated to a trip there last summer. Look for the Lab to relocate to a bigger space next year, which should make it easier to conduct more meaty experiments. [Review] 7302 15th Ave NW, Seattle WA 98117 (map); 206-706-3092

3. Zippy's Giant Burgers

The restaurant's co-owner Blaine "Zippy" Cook was the former frontman for The Fartz, a 1980s punk band, and while he still performs, he has become more famous for the homey sandwiches he and his crew crank out. At Zippy's, I like it hot. The No. 11 is named for the fire station across the street and it's smokin' with chipotle mayo, Mama Lil's pickled goat horn peppers, Tillamook's pepper jack, and smoked cheddar. Put the fire out with one of dozens of the retro cool bottled sodas. Zippy's also makes the best veggie burger in the city, a black bean beauty created by Cook's wife. 1513 Southwest Holden Street, Seattle WA 98106 (map); 206-763-7647; zippysgiantburgers.com

4. Metropolitan Grill

Metropolitan Grill is one of Seattle's top steakhouses, its entry plastered with photos of ball players and movie stars who are steak fans. Burger lovers make a beeline for the bar, the only place where you can score a sandwich made from ground Wagyu beef, the American version of Kobe from Japan. This hefty hamburger might be the best happy hour meal deal around—it's just $5 when you order it between 3 and 6 p.m. weekdays (or $12 the rest of the time). 820 2nd Avenue, Seattle WA 98104 (map); 206-624-3287; themetropolitangrill.com

5. Dick's

I know I'm probably going to get raked over the coals by some for including Dick's on my list, but I'm willing to risk it because there's no better place to come after last call. Oh yes, drunken cooks, I've seen you there too, plowing through a Deluxe. In the sober light of day, I'm impressed by this family-owned chain's commitment to quality since 1955. The meat is local and never frozen, and fries are hand-cut (though they can be limp, unless you are lucky enough to snag them straight out of the fryer). Dick's is crazy cheap—the Deluxe will only set you back $2.40, and a regular burger is $1.20. [Review from Hamburger America] Multiple locations; ddir.com

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Tags: AHT reviews, best-of lists, Dick's, Lunchbox Laboratory, Metropolitan Grill, Palace Kitchen, Seattle, Top 5, Washington, Zippy's Giant Burgers

via feeds.seriouseats.com
Tagged burgers Food Seattle

Vote for Marination Mobile on GMA tomorrow

Marination Mobile is out to prove it’s the best meals on wheels in the country and they need your help TOMORROW (Saturday) to win.  The Hawaiian-Korean curb kitchen is one of four finalists in Good Morning America Weekend’s “Best Food Cart Challenge”.  

RonClaiborne_Marination

GMA Weekend anchor Ron Claiborne (above) taped a segment at Marination Mobile during the truck’s weekly stop in Fremont (132 N. Canal St) on Wednesday.  Their kalua pork taco is the dish chosen to represent.

The segment will air tomorrow morning on Good Morning America Weekend on KOMO starting at 7 a.m.   A guest chef will recreate the signature dishes from all four finalists (the other three are reportedly from Portland, New York and Virginia).  A judging panel and online votes will then determine the winner.  Voting is on Saturday ONLY from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  This is where you’ll need to go to vote online tomorrow.  The winner will be announced on GMA Weekend on Sunday morning. 

Thanks to Emily for the photo and Jeremiah for the tip and help!

via fremontuniverse.com

Please vote for our local Marination Mobile tomorrow! I love these guys and their food just rocks! The people are amazing and always friendly!

Tagged curb_cuisine seattle streetfood tacotruck

Halloween street food and farmers market!

                 
Click here to download:
halloween-street-food-and-farmers-market-BeBAxhaJAqEmfulykJmr.zip (6834 KB)

 

 

This Halloween Saturday the wife and I headed up to Queen Anne for the first annual Halloween Street Food and Farmers Market. It was a fundraiser for the nonprofit QA Farmers Market Association

In attendance were the following vendors...

Maximus Minimus, Local Roots Farm, Marination Mobile, Full Circle Farm, Kaosamai Thai, Baird Orchards, Parfait Ice Cream, Sidhu Farm, Patty Pan Grill, Secret Stash Salts, Boulangerie Nantaise, Ward Johnson Winery, Got Soup!, Music from The Blair Street Mugwumps, Dantes Inferno Dogs, Pumpkin Pie Contest & Costume Contest, and Muse Coffee.

We had a great time and spent plenty of money supporting our local food and farmers market scene.  We stuffed ourselves with food from Maximus Minimus, Marination Mobile, and Boulangerie Nantaise.  We also went and got ourselves some great farm fresh organic produce from Full Circle Farms and Sidhu Farms.  There were a ton of people and a good time was had by all.

 

Tagged Farmers Market Halloween Local Business Organic Produce Outdoor Activity Seattle Seattle Street Food Street Food things I like

Scratch that, the Pixies are coming to America after all!

Scratch that, the Pixies are coming to America after all!

By Alex Young on July 13th, 2009

Scratch that, the Pixies are coming to America after all!

Between Frank Black’s upcoming solo endeavors and The Breeders’ newly announced U.S. tour, it was reasonable to believe that we wouldn’t be getting any Pixies reunion tour tour dates here in the states anytime soon — after all, that’s what we concluded. Well, it turns out we were completely wrong… and we couldn’t be more happy about it!

According to Spin, the Pixies will indeed hit North America this fall to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band’s legendary album, Doolittle. Following its upcoming European dates, the quartet will hit “Oakland, Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Boston, Washington DC, New York City, and ‘maybe Montreal’ this fall,” Black confirmed. Exact details have yet to be announced, but the frontman did go on to note that the band will be playing Doolittle in its entirety at each show.

And if that wasn’t enough, Spin also raises the possibility that the Pixies may continue their reunion into 2010, which will mark the 20th anniversary of Bossa Nova.

In other words, stay tuned…

Pixies 2009 Tour Dates:
10/01 - Dublin, IE @ Olympia
10/02 - Dublin, IE @ Olympia
10/04 - Glasgow, UK @ SECC
10/06 - London, UK @ Brixton Academy
10/07 - London, UK @ Brixton Academy
10/08 - London, UK @ Brixton Academy
10/09 - London, UK @ Brixton Academy
10/11 - Frankfurt, DE @ Jahrhunderhalle
10/13 - Amsterdam, NL @ Amsterdam Heineken Music Hall
10/14 - Brussels, BE @ Forest National
10/15 - Paris, FR @ Zenith

The Breeders 2009 Tour Dates:
08/05 - Newport, KY @ Southgate House *
08/06 - Indianapolis, IN @ The Vouge *
08/07 - St. Louis, MO @ Blueberry Hill *
08/08 - Lawrence, KS @ Bottleneck *
08/09 - Omaha, NE @ Slowdown *
08/11 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Cafe *
08/12 - Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre *
08/13 - Chicago, IL @ Metro *
08/14 - Pontiac, MI @ Crofoot Ballroom *
08/15 - Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Place *
08/17 - Boston, MA @ Paradise Ballroom *
08/18 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom *
08/19 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom *
08/21 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat *
08/22 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Diesel Club Lounge *
08/23 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall *

* = w/ Whispertown 2000

Grand Duchy 2009 Tour Dates:
07/16 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat
07/17 - Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwells
07/18 - New York, NY @ Siren Music Festival
07/19 - Cambrdige, MA @ Middle East
07/24 - Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
07/25 - Chicago, IL @ Wicker Park Festival

Black Francis 2009 Tour Dates:
07/14 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe
07/15 - Easton, MD @ Avalon Theatre
07/20 - Wellfleet, MA @ Beachcomber
07/23 - Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
07/29 - Denver, CO @ Walnut Room
08/02 - Seattle, WA @ Triple Door
08/04 - Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theatre

via consequenceofsound.net

Personally... I'm looking forward to the Seattle Black Francis concert where *hopefully* the Pixies will reunite to play DOOLITTLE in its ENTIRETY!!!

The Triple Door - Black Francis on 8/2

Amazon Music - Doolittle by The Pixies only $9.99

Tagged Awesomeness Music Reunion Seattle The Pixies

Dumpster diving: The new food fad

via mynorthwest.com

By ERIN COVEY
KIRO Radio

One by one, a steady stream of people stop by the Essential Baking Company in Wallingford to get some of the cafe's specialty loaves. Rather than go through the front doors however, these customers head around back to the dumpster to get their bread.

The majority of bakery dumpster divers are younger, well-dressed and driving newer cars. They visit several stores in the Seattle area, including the Grand Central Bakery headquarters, Trader Joe's, Theo Chocolate, and Pioneer Organics.

"I haven't bought bread in a like year at a store," said Travis, a frequent Essential Baking Company dumpster visitor. He estimates he's saved hundreds of dollars and has his diving down to an art.

"It's hit or miss, so it takes a little bit of time because you have to do different days," he explained.

Bethany and Kaley drove up to the Wallingford bakery in a new car. Like most other dumpster patrons, they're professionals and students.

"We normally get four or five loaves. We eat what we can and when it gets bad, we throw it out," they explained.

The two women said that dumpster diving for food was almost becoming the "in" thing to do.

"There's so many people who do it and rave about it," they said.

A few miles south, a woman gets inside a dumpster at Pioneer Organics looking for vegetables for that night's dinner for her and her husband. She finds some celery and starts snapping off sticks to get to the middle, but ultimately offers the vegetable to someone else.

"It's a little too shrively," she said. "I think I can find better."

Tagged bakeries and cafes mynorthwest.com News Rant Seattle things you wish you could forget

Tequila + Beer Brats = Great Friday at work!!!

Please Note:  That no one single employee *cough... me* is responsible for the emptying of that tequila bottle.  Rather, it was a group effort and can be considered one of the finest *team building* exercises I have ever had the pleasure of participating in.  At 11am.  On a Friday.  At work.
 

     
Click here to download:
Tequila_Beer_Brats_Great_Frida.zip (239 KB)


-- Email sent with the "Multi-Photo Email" iPhone application --

Tagged Awesomeness Drinking Fridays Grilling Seattle Work

Video: Seattle Sunset

*note: If you skip to about 1:25 of the video you'll get to the really good stuff*

I have to say that I love living in Washington, specifically the Seattle area.  This video captures just a glimpse of the beauty that is Seattle.  Check out this great site for visitor's information... www.visitseattle.org.  Oh, please don't mind the marketing genious behind "MetroNatural".

Tagged Awesomeness MetroNatural Seattle Video Washington State

Activity: Hiking St. Edward Park - The first hike of the year!!

Today the girl and I had a "walk for exercise" or a "hike" as some
call it at a great local park. It's called St. Edward Park and it has
a great trail system for hiking, walking, biking or just about
anything. We did about 3.5 miles and had a great time chatting and
enjoying this thing called fresh air.
 
Here's a bit of history about the park and a few pics from the old iphone.
 
In the late 1920's the land for Saint Edward Seminary was donated by
Bishop O'Dea to the Diocese of Seattle for use by the Sulpicain Order
of Catholic Priests. In 1931 Saint Edward Seminary was constructed. In
1956 the ground breaking ceremony took place for a new Saint Thomas
Seminary designed by architect John Maloney. The Rev. Thomas A.
Connolly had contributed many ideas in the initial design that had a
major impact on the project. The Seminary was completed in 1958 and
became a school for theology and collegiate students. In 1977, because
of declining enrollment and changes in the education of seminarians,
the diocese sold 316 acres, including Saint Edward Seminary to the
state of Washington for use as a state park. In 1978, the property was
dedicated and received its current name, Saint Edward State Park.
Saint Thomas Seminary which is just adjacent to Saint Edward park was
renamed Saint Thomas Center and became a full-time conference center.
Saint Thomas Center is now leased to Bastyr University from the
Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle and is no longer used by the church.
Due it it's superb acoustics, the 5 story main chapel has become one
of the premiere film scoring stages in the US.

 See Also -- Bastyr University www.bastyr.edu

                       
Click here to download:
Activity_Hiking_St._Edward_Par.zip (4013 KB)

Tagged Awesomeness Hiking MetroNatural Outdoor Activity Parks and Recreation Seattle things I like
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