The Alley - Day 1, Friday, July 18 (clockwise from bottom): Niman Ranch beef brisket with Washington blueberry corn mojo (Miller's Guild), Massaman curry with chicken (Racha Noodle & Thai Cuisine), Honey barbecue pork buns (O'Asian Kitchen & Lounge), Chickpea salad (Purple Café), Creamsicle cupcake (Pinkabella Cupcakes), Spinach Lamb with ghee rice (hormone-free, grass-fed lamb), and Harissa quinoa with mint mint and cilantro.
I wasn't sure what to expect from "The Alley" this year, since it is no longer hosted by Tom Douglas, but it seemed to make a smooth transition. The menu changed up a little day to day, which is what has happened in the past few years, along with some classic favorites.
Friday was excellent weather. It was really sunny out, maybe even a little too sunny? However, it made it a nice environment to eat and watch all the other goings on outside. There was not a very long line to The Alley, which was nice, since my dad (who came over just for this specific event), and I were running a little later than we wanted to get there. We made it a little less than an hour before The Alley part closed, and we were able to get food. Here is my review for the first day, for more details, see photo above:
Niman Ranch beef brisket with Washington blueberry corn mojo: This must be a popular favorite, because I have had this at previous Bites, and enjoyed it immensely. It is also fun to watch them cook it over a fiery grill, just before being served on your plate. The meat is an excellent flavor, and mojo is excellent to. It compliments the meat very well.
Massaman curry with chicken: I often order a red curry dish when I go out for Thai food, because it is one of my favorites. This was very similar to dishes I have ordered in the past. It had a nice flavor.
Honey barbecue pork buns: My dad looked at this and thought it was a dessert. When he asked me, I told him that even though it had a pastry wrapped around it, it had pork inside. It did have a sweet taste due to the honey barbecue sauce, so maybe, in a way, it was dessert! Small, but very tasty. I believe I have had this at a previous Bite.
Chickpea salad: Even though I liked this, the flavor was subtle, even to the point of being a bit bland. I told my dad this, and he agreed. Of course, chickpeas themselves are kind of bland.
Creamsicle cupcake: Great flavor for summer without melting all over you! I love creamsicles, and this little cupcake did not disappoint!
Spinach Lamb with ghee rice: Probably my favorite dish of the foods I hadn't tried yet. A very nice flavor, like some Indian food I have had in the past.
Harissa quinoa with mint mint and cilantro: Like the chickpea salad, I liked this dish. It had a subtle flavor, but it too, was a bit bland. It had a nice texture, however. At first, my dad did not care for it, but the more he had of it, the better he liked it. I would have it again.
After we ate, we were thoroughly full. I saw things outside The Alley I would have loved to try, but there was no way I could have eaten them. I still looked this year for the Deep Fried Pepsi Float, but did not find one booth that had that. It must have not been very popular. There was a place that had deep fried PB&J's (peanut butter and jelly sandwiches- in case you did not know), but that did not sound appetizing at all.
There were many other fun events at The Bite of Seattle this year:
There was a great exhibit about Texas where you could get a "passport" which is just a little pamphlet advertising some of what Texas has to offer, there was a little quiz on the state, a few games featuring some of the states music, attractions, and beaches. A photo to be taken with a Texas backdrop of your choosing. There was even a possibility to win a free trip to the area as well. I thought I knew nothing about Texas. I got a few questions right, however. I guess most people don't do as well, or so I was told. It was fun.
The Geico Gecko made an appearance. So, the radio said that the REAL Geico Gecko would be at The Bite this year. I figured maybe it would be a live gecko that they used along with computer animation, or a person in a suit. This was neither. Did I miss something? This is cool, too though. He is bigger than I expected. It even looks like he is holding the Geico Pig in his hand! The people he acts with must be giants!
An over-sized Pokeball was inside the Seattle Canter, part of a display for a Wii tournament that was going on. Again, Pikachu and Ash must be enormous!
They showed the movie, "Back to the Future" for free in the park by the mural. I was hoping it would be ON the mural, perhaps covering it with a sheet first or something. My dad said, "That would be impressive."
I said, "Maybe they should think of doing that in the future" (Pun not exactly intended).
Glow sticks were passed around to everyone watching the movie, but the guy passed my dad and I! Hey! Why didn't we get one? Some people got up to get theirs, but he was too far away before I realized what was going on.
A very awesome replica of the "Back to the Future" DeLorean was there on display. It even had the Flux Capacitor! This was truly impressive to see. It also had steam come out the back every once in awhile. Apparently it can be rented for parties and events such as this.
The Alley - Day 2, Saturday, July 19 (clockwise from bottom): Honey barbecue pork buns (O'Asian Kitchen & Lounge), Creamsicle cupcake (Pinkabella Cupcakes), Fried chicken sammy with garnish (Skillet Diner), Vegetable and pork wonton with spicy sauce (Din Tai Fung), Charred Monterey Bay squid salad with chorizo & green garbanzo beans (Crush), Niman Ranch beef brisket with Washington blueberry corn mojo (Miller's Guild), and Citrus poached white gulf prawn, Demitri's Bloody Mary Mix, pickled local vegetables (Salty's on Alki).
The second day of The Bite was windy. We got our food, and I had some challenges trying to photograph it well, and later I had to hold onto things to keep them from blowing over, but there it is. Three of the seven food items I already have reviewed, so you can go to the top of this blog for reference on those. Here is my review for the rest of the food items:
Fried chicken sammy with garnish: I really liked this little sandwich. It was really tasty. The flavors seemed subtle, but not bland. My dad thought it had a little heat to it. I had just eaten the wonton before it, which was spicy, so I did not really notice that the sandwich was spicy. It was served on a deliciously flaky bun (my dad did not notice the texture), but it was one of my favorites. I would definitely like to have another one sometime.
Vegetable and pork wonton with spicy sauce: My server told me this was the "best wonton," and I believe him. It was very flavorful. Quite spicy, but not too spicy.
Charred Monterey Bay squid salad with chorizo & green garbanzo beans: Apparently this is one of Jason Wilson's dishes. I didn't like it. I am starting to think I just don't like squid. I have tried to like squid, but I just don't. The texture is very bothersome to me. I did not really care for the other flavors of the dish, either. My dad liked this dish, he said the squid was very tender. It may have been his least favorite of the seven dishes served that day, but he still liked it. I would think since it says "charred" in the title, that it would have some brown spots or something. The salad did not seem to have that. I really don't know much about squid cooking, however. I don't plan to use that skill in the future.
Citrus poached white gulf prawn, Demitri's Bloody Mary Mix, pickled local vegetables: This was so good. Maybe my favorite. Very nice flavors, properly cooked. Very tasty.
Before leaving The Bite, we looked around some more, sat around the International Water Fountain, while kids soaked themselves under it's spray.
We were listening to a band from far away called "Bowievision". I told my dad I thought they were good. My dad at that point said they were "okay." I am not sure all the songs they sang were by David Bowie, but after awhile, I realized they were playing several in a row. My dad noticed, too. He then decided the band was really good, and told me he thought the singer's voice was better than David Bowie's. I liked the band, but I disagreed about the singer having a better voice than Bowie.
We decided to leave The Bite after their music set. Outside the parking garage there was a sign that said that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was open free to the public. We decided to check it out. It was very interesting and educational, it also has some fun interactive things. I did not know it was always free till that day, but you should check it out. It sits kiddie-corner from the EMP, right next to the parking garage there.
My aunt and uncle came into town on today, and wanted to go to The Bite with my dad and I on the last day it was here. It was sprinkling a little, and a bit colder than the past two days. We got our food, and luckily found one last table that had an umbrella.
The Alley, Day 3, Sunday, July 20 (clockwise from bottom): Niman Ranch beef brisket with Washington blueberry corn mojo (Miller's Guild), Chilled cucumber soup with truffle oil (on the side is a bite of marinated salmon, which was not mentioned on the menu) (Triumph Bar), Honey barbecue pork buns (O'Asian Kitchen & Lounge), Coconut chicken with cumin rice (Spice Route), Creamsicle cupcake (Pinkabella Cupcakes), Lamb and goat cheese risotto fritter with sauce tomate (The Repp), and Pork belly mac and cheese with house-made chicharrones (Manhattan).
Niman Ranch beef brisket with Washington blueberry corn mojo: I know I already reviewed this, but I have got to say we got some nice portions this time around on this particular dish. The server almost looked like, "Maybe I shouldn't give her this much..." I was telepathically saying, "Yes. Yes, you should!" So, he did. The rest of my family got good sized portions as well. The mojo seemed to taste more vinegary today. I did not really notice the vinegar before, but I liked it.
Chilled cucumber soup with truffle oil: My aunt really liked this, and I did too. It was different, but in a good way. She did not like the raw salmon on the side. I thought it was okay. I think it is a taste I could acquire. I dipped some of it in the soup and liked it better. Maybe that is what we were supposed to do. I don't know. There was no instruction to do that.
Coconut chicken with cumin rice: I really liked this. Even better than the Massaman curry with chicken from Friday, which seemed similar. Really good flavor.
Pork belly mac and cheese with house-made chicharrones: The title on this one is confusing. First it says "pork belly," then it says "chicharrones." I looked up "chicharrones," and it looks like they are pork bellies. Am I wrong? While my family was eating this, they mentioned bacon. "I didn't get any bacon!" I said. I felt ripped-off! How can you leave out the bacon? The mac and cheese was a little different than I sometimes expect from mac and cheese. The cheese was like a Parmesan sprinkled over a pasta that was not macaroni. What I had was really good, but I think it would have enhanced the flavor if it had bacon. Because of the confusing title, my family thought maybe the bacon was actually chicharrones. After my research, I think they had bacon that I did not have.
Overall, the Bite was really fun this year. I liked the added events. Especially the free movie in the park and that awesome car! I think my guests enjoyed themselves, too.
Even seagulls love The Bite of Seattle!
A share from all proceeds of "The Alley" go directly to Food Lifeline.
