Bored? Some Random Fun Online

In between finding myself writing restaurant reviews I will entertaining myself online, my PC is currently being upgraded, but on my laptop I have found the list of the following to be fun.

GameHobbit

Provides a selection of the best rpg games online, I personally like the selection of physics based games, such as this one called crush the castle. Also be sure to check out the other cannon shooter games, there is the add-on pack also. Another one I will give credence to is Hansel & Gretel. A story based on the famous fairy tale, you control the little girl in a hand drawn adventure.

Kongregate

Another neat site which has leaderboards and a large selection of games. Some faves include Infectionator. The basis for this is to infect the general world population with a viruses. Good fun!

666Gamer

Provide a rather cool selection of scary games. You might want to turn the lights off on this site as you get scared often on many of the games including one of my faves the scary maze.

So there you have it a few sites and games to keep you busy for a while inbetween cooking or reviewing restaurants.

Volterra

An ideal spot for brunch, Volterra offers an accessible and outdoor setting (weather permitted) for those looking for a mid-day bite. After arriving at Volterra, I ordered the “Milano” herb breading pudding with scrambled eggs and brie. The food arrived promptly and every morsel was exquisite. Each item perfectly complimented one and other and came at such an unbelievable value.
My brunch guest a more meat heavy order, poached eggs with Italian sausage and toast. The eggs with poached to perfection and the sausages were crispy. Even the toast was just the right crunchyness and Volterra offers a wide variety of jams for you to slather on the toast.
While I’ve experienced the dinner menu at Volterra, I don’t find it quite compares to the quality that is offered during brunch. Overall, Volterra offers a well balanced menu no matter which time you show up.

Restaurant Zoe

It’s all about the gnudi according to local Seattleites who’ve dined at Zoe. What is gnudi you may ask? Well, gnudi is effectively bare gnocchi or in ricotta without the starchy shell. The process for this is simple, just leave the bare gnocchi out to form its own shell and voila gnudi. Now apparently Zoe had the best gnudi in town and after sampling it myself, I can confidently say this is the best gnudi in the Seattle area.
Dessert wise, Zoe offers a small yet satisfactory selection of chocolately and not so chocolately concoctions. I sampled the peanut butter brownie which comes covered in gold-flecked banana ice-cream with a nice drizzle of caramel. Decadent would aptly describe this dish, a tinge on the sweet side and could have used a bit more salty bite but overall delicious and well presented.

Harvest Vine Madison Park Seattle

Harvest vine is a very small tapas restaurant featuring an intimate setting and seasonally rotating dishes. Given its size and popularity, I highly recommend making a reservation at Harvest Vine then risk having the sometimes extended wait to grab one of the precious few tables.

Now because of Harvest Vine’s policy of having a seasonal rotation of dishes, you can expect a high degree of variation in the dishes. The dishes themselves can easily be labeled as gourmet. If you’re lucky enough to be seated near the chefs, you can see them work their magic in their tiny little kitchen area.

As for the food, I sampled the foie gras and squash and can safely say both were immaculately prepared and delicious. The octopus salad was also very fresh, covered in some sort of citrus based dressing with crumbled blue cheese. Harvest Vine also offers a large selection of wine’s for one to sample. The wait staff seems to all have a grasp of which wine will compliment which dishes so don’t be shy on asking.

Paseo - Freemont Seattle

Nothing beats a good sandwich.

If you stop by Seattle make sure you try out the Midnight Cuban Press, which is a porky delight - and worth the wait. The cost is reasonable at this sandwich joint, and you will be pleased with the sides on offer. The grilled pork sandwich ($6.75) is also a winner. This place can get busy so make sure you call to place your order:(206) 545-7440

Synopsis:
Simple food, well prepared, nicely seasoned, generous portions, reasonably priced, with friendly staff and service.

Fonté Wine and Coffee Bar

What makes an exceptional café? It would seem that Fonté has captured that almost je ne sais quoi essence that makes a café a truly exceptional experience. Fonté is well known for its more than reasonable prices. Despite my extended stay at Fonté and large sampling of dishes, my total bill came under $50 which is a rarity these days.
Fonté boasts a large selection of wines to compliment any dish you may order. The food was magnificent. Fonté’s cheese plate in particular was rather unusual in its assortment of goodies but they were both incredibly delicious and surprisingly complimentary. As well, the complimentary bread seemed to be freshly made and was simple and elegant
The main courses put interesting twists on some classic dishes including a spicy macaroni and cheese dish which was almost too much food for a single person. Fonté also has an all day breakfast and on the particular day, their special was French toast which they apparently rotate every day. For the price, level of service and quality of food, it is hard not to recommend spending an evening at this café.

Toulouse Petit

If your ideal meal consists of either seafood, pork and any other meat than Toulouse Petite may just have what you’re looking for. Toulouse features many exceptional dishes including, crispy pork cheeks confit, garlic sausages and shrimp cakes. Portions can air on the smaller side so it may be recommended you sample a variety of dishes.
Aesthetically, Toulouse, features a clean and plush interior with moody tones which is a nice change of pace from their former occupant who stylings were less than appealing. Pricing wise, Tolouse, is more than reasonable given the exceptional quality of food. If you’re after some delicious Creole styled dishes at affordable prices, then you are going to want to sample this restaurant.