Kirkland Weblog

Iron Chef: Here comes Cafe Juanita's Holly Smith

Be sure to tune in to the Food Network THIS SUNDAY October 4th at 9pm for the premiere of The Next Iron Chef.  As if we didn't already love Excecutive Chef and Owner Holly Smith for her Cafe Juanita cuisine, now she's about to be sprung into super foodie stardom.  With many national accolades such as the Best Chef 2008 James Beard winner, and recognition in Gourmet Magazine, Top 50 restaurants and the Robb Report it's no surprise that they came knocking on her door.   She had passed on previous opportunities, but when this one came up she figured, "what the hell!"

She flew down to LA for an interview and ended up having an uncontrollable bloody nose that cut it short.  But the network clearly recognized her personality and skills as a great match for the show.  When I sat down with Holly yesterday I was delighted by how down-to-earth and funny she is.  It's a crack up to see those serious photos on Food Network's site because she is so positive and energetic in real life that you know she is doing everything she can to hold the shot without busting out laughing. 

We'll have to tune in on Sunday to see if she was laughing or not when she found out that her main ingredient was JELLYFISH.  This season is unlike others in that everyone will not have the same featured ingredient to make a dish with and compete.  All the chefs get something different- like grasshoppers, eel, egg yolks, or stinky tofu.  I'm not sure how they will adjust scores accordingly -- seems to me the yolks would be easier than jellyfish, but I'm no chef. 

Holly said the time constraints weren't a big issue for her as she's known for being speedy.  The challenge was definitely keeping focus in between all the waiting.  When filming the battle might be done but the presentation would be later.  So you had to be ready to have your game face on at any moment.  And she said you learn as you go--the chefs all judge each other in the first episode and she was really impressed with a soup that Jose made.  This gave them all a chance to size up the competition. Of course, she said there are things that will go wrong but she's sworn to secrecy.    Darn!

When I met Holly's son Oliver (photo left) I had to ask if there is a sort of stigma with being a chef when you are in your everyday life.  I mean, what do you pack for his lunch?  He was nibbling on a tunafish sandwich and an apple, so that was reassuring (even I can make that, whew).  But he already has a discerning palate too- all the kids at school know he's got the 'good' cheese (no cheese sticks!) and at his 5th birthday party they served beets and focaccia and hangar steak with chanterelles.  OK, maybe I've got some work to do on that part. Other fun facts from Holly:

Favorite Food and Wine Pairing:     Spit roasted goat and Barbaresco (or anything w/Barbaresco!)

Pet Peeve:     Knife tappers 

Fave Snack:     Cheese/crackers, or she'll whip up an easy and delicious soup

Fave Kirkland restaurant besides her own:     Izumi Sushi

You should head in to Cafe Juanita so that you can taste Holly's unique Northern Italian creations for yourself.  Don't worry, no jellyfish on the menu!   I have been there many times and never been disappointed.  Be sure to tune in on Sunday night to see Holly in action and cheer her on!  I was thinking.......maybe the Food Network should open up a location in Kirkland with all of our local talent.  Melissa D'Arabian just got picked up for a second season of her show. You go, girls!!! ~j 

'Mr. Kirkland' wants to Celebrate his Bday w/You!

Chuck Morgan, aka "Mr. Kirkland", will be celebrating his 98th birthday on Saturday September 5th from 5-7pm at Merrill Gardens and you are invited.

He's back in town, so put on a party hat and go congratulate him! I can tell from the red boa (photo left) that this man is a lot of fun. :-)
Chuck is a local icon and longtime community activist.  He was the owner/publisher of the Eastside Journal and helped create the Kirkland Performance Center.  He also helped with the construction of projects such as Evergreen Hospital and the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge and has served on many committees. Chuck's history and love for Kirkland since he came here in 1946 has been our gain.  Happy Birthday Chuck!  ~j

Kirkland has a Winner!

Hats off to Kirkland's newest resident, Melissa D'Arabian, for taking the crown on "The Next Food Network Star."  Besides being the number one rated show on cable TV this past Sunday night with 4.7 million viewers,it was also the highest-rated most-watched telecast in food network history. Melissa won it all and will start her new show THIS Sunday August 9th at 12:30pm ET/PT: Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa D'Arabian.  She's on the fast track now (love the Kirkland shout-out )!  I've heard from a handful of people that have seen her around town so be sure to congratulate her if you see her . Don't worry, bubbly blondes with four small children are easy to spot.  Way to go, Melissa. BTW, can you bring your 4 kids over to play with my 3 kids and I'll help you make a $20 dinner?  ~j

You're Invited to "The Next Food Network Star" Viewing Party

 Let's rally to support a very new Kirkland resident (she just moved here this week!) named Melissa d'Arabian who is one of the remaining three finalists on season five of "The Next Food Network Star." (photo left courtesy of Food Network)

Wow-our city is really making it's mark on reality TV! Goodbye Jason , hello Melissa.  She and her husband and four daughters (yes, I said 4!!) just moved here from Texas.  They would love for you to join them at their viewing party  on Sunday July 26th from 5-8pm at Hector's where Chef Chris Nelson will be preparing a special appetizer dish inspired by one of Melissa's recipes.

Sunday's episode airs at 9pm on Food Network and you will get to see the remaining 3 finalists lunch with Emeril Lagasse and learn that they must create a three-course menu for a group of culinary elite inspired by a screening of Columbia Pictures' movie Julia & Julia.  One finalist will be eliminated, sending the other two on to the series finale on Sunday 8/2.  The winner receives a six-episode cooking show that will premiere in August. 

I checked out the videos of Melissa online and this woman has got some serious energy.  I thought I had lots of kids really close in age, but she has me trumped with 4 kids in 3 years AND she cooks.  AND moves across the country AND is about to have her own cooking show AND smiles/laughs a lot.  Darn it, you're making the rest of us look bad, Melissa!  But whatever-we love you anyway! Maybe you can share some of your secrets with us on Sunday night?  Welcome to Kirkland, Melissa. ~j

Kirkland, Meet Working Girl

Kirkland author, Karen Burns, has recently published her first book, "The Amazing Adventures of working girl." It's a fabulous, quick and entertaining read with many work situations we can all relate to and practical career advice.  Her matter-of-fact humor and short chapters make it an easy page turner with lots of lessons learned and laughs along the way.    I really enjoyed the "Boss from Hell" chapter and the brutal honesty of "Fake It till You Make It."  Many of the chapters have a quote at the end from somebody exemplifying when a particular lesson applied to their working life.  This book would make a GREAT gift- especially for a recent graduate or a friend ready to make a career change.  Park Place Books hosted Karen's book release party and sold out all of their copies! (that was a few weeks ago, I'm sure they've re-stocked by now)

I had the pleasure of meeting with Karen recently because I wanted to sit and learn a little more about these 59 jobs she's had over the past 40 years in 22 cities.  It took  4 1/2 years to make this book a reality (with a team of supporters, an agent, a patient husband) and it started just by chance.  She was at the Richard Hugo House in Capitol Hill which is a center for writers when she started writing about a few of her past jobs.  Then she became gripped to figure out how many jobs she had really had and her teacher encouraged her to turn her content into a book.  She's been a nanny, a doughnut girl, a ditch digger in Czechoslovakia, an editor and a 'corporate minion' just to name a few. 

We met at the Urban Coffee Lounge and I had to coerce her to come out from behind the counter before she got herself a job there too (photo left).  She's a go-getter!  So I knew that since there are so many people out of work right now that she'd have some thoughtful advice to share.  She says there are 2 things you need to do.  First....... DO LESS.  Stop job hunting for a day and go somewhere you've never been.  Take a walk, evaluate what you've been doing and think unfamiliar thoughts (Kinda like this fact-checker turned race car driver).  Ask yourself, "Is what I'm doing working?"  Then........DO MORE.  Do whatever it takes because it's a numbers game.  Have you really tapped into your network? Are you cold calling?  Start doing more of the right things that will yield you results.  And then she adds, "....and don't forget to be near people that make you feel good about yourself." :-)

Karen Burns will be giving a talk about "The Most Important Thing You Need to Know to Get and Keep a Job," this Thursday May 7th at 7pm at Third Place Books.  You should go grab a signed copy and get it into the hands of your closest job seeker.  Maybe it will save them the angst (or enjoyment?) of 59 jobs.  ~j

Kirkland's Dream Date, Jason Mesnick, Turns into a Nightmare

I've been festering over this whole thing since I watched "The Bachelor" finale and more importantly the 'after the rose' ceremony last night.   There's Jason crying (photo left)- BOOHOOO!  I didn't want to be hasty and write a nasty-gram blog post right when I got home because my outrage was still fresh.  So, after about 14 conversations, 25 text messages, and a gazillion emails later(you guys crack me up, btw),  I'll write you my I-can't-even-believe-it post now instead.  Because my feelings haven't changed even with time to stew over it.  And I know there are a lot of seething women out there-many with a renewed appreciation for our normal and stable husbands.

Our hometown sweetheart that convincingly charmed America with his nice guy persona has quickly delivered a swift but deadly stab to our hearts.   There's no turning back now, Jason.  We were so disappointed to learn that you're THAT guy.  We've all known one of THOSE and now you're the poster boy.  Branded for life- I hope Molly keeps you around b/c every other woman with a TV knows to run in the other direction.  

My problem isn't with that fact that it didn't work out with Melissa- that's ok- things happen, things change.  But to dump Melissa publicly and then be swooning over Molly 5 minutes later was just in poor taste.  I realize you have to live this saga out in the public eye, but you can still have some decency and consideration for others.  Couldn't you have broken up with Melissa privately and then updated us on the show?  I can't believe the network could force you to do that.  It was like a Jerry Springer episode.    I'm suspecting that the threesome knew this was happening ahead of time which doesn't make it any better.  That would make you just actors reaching for ratings in a publicity stunt that happens to be your twisted real life.

I couldn't stay awake for the Jimmy Kimmel episode w/Jason that followed the show, but you can find it here on you tube.  Kimmel is a crack-up poking fun at Jason who's clearly spent some time prepping with PR.  I was listening to the radio this morning and there was a guy that called in to thank Jason for lowering the bar for the rest of the men.  Friends of Jason's seem to be surprised and confused and hopeful that there is more to the circumstance that what we all saw last night.  Everyone who knows him insists he 'really is' a great guy.  Well then, he's got some serious explaining to do. And for her sake, I hope Jillian has changed her phone number.  ~j   

The Bachelor: My Jason Predictions

Jillian is on her way out tomorrow night and Melissa is just one step closer to winning herself a Kirkland man.  There.  I said it. 

I don't believe all the other over-edited crap.  So maybe DeAnna will come back, but she won't be begging for forgiveness, she'll be doling out some advice.   Jason doesn't need it- he's making good choices.  Especially since he unleashed the crazies (Megan, Shannon) and uncovered a few more- like Naomi's parents.  Sweet Jesus.  Literally- that dad was over the top with the religious messages on our poor little shell-shocked Jewish boy.  And I'm not sure about that crying scene, but I think the only thing that would make him sob like a baby on national TV (aside from happiness) would be Ty.  Maybe he misses him, maybe Ty broke an arm or wants to go home, I dunno, but you get my drift.

What are your predictions? 

And would you be up for a finale party at a local Kirkland restaurant if we could pull it together?

Jason: Kirkland's Kissing Machine?

A few of you dinged me for not commenting on Kirkland resident Jason Mesnick's "Bachelor" premiere on ABC last week, so I figured I'd give you two weeks worth of my commentary now -and I'm SURE you will fill in the blanks!  First things first, he seems to have maintained his sincere, honest, likable and totally adorable persona from last season- not to mention he's clearly been spending some time at the gym. Way to go, Jason! These factors must be what forces these bachelorettes that are practically strangers (but all feel like they know him) to do otherwise ridiculous things to capture his attention. I feel like it's elevated this season, the competitive nature of it, and as we saw last night the claws are starting to come out.

As I'm watching his interactions with each of these women, I can't help but wonder what he's really thinking.  Does he have it narrowed down to 3 or 4 in his mind already?  Because he is definitely doing a kissing survey of as many of them as possible.  Which seems perfectly logical if you want to walk away from this thing with a wife, right?  These ladies are love hungry, so let's crank it up to warp speed.  I agree with most of his choices to evict from the palace so far- the 'vision board' girl (weren't those from middle school?), the obsessive wedding planner, but why is that giddy stalker hygienist still there?  She must be for the entertainment value.  I had to laugh last night when the cameraman panned into Nikki's cleavage as Jason was telling her she has "amazing attributes, and they're very obvious." 

At this point, everyone seems to have a different favorite choice which is interesting to hear.  I know you men pretend you don't care, but all my girlfriends keep telling me that their husbands are on the end of the couch waving their arms and yelling at the show as if it was a football game.  Very suspicious.  As for the bachelorettes, the Jersey girl makes me laugh now and again (Lauren), and I think that Melissa from the blimp date was cute and fun.  Others seem more mature- Jillian, Stephanie (has she had some work done?). The jury is still out for me, but  I can tell you that it wouldn't have been too difficult to choose 3 more to oust last night.  Definitely still some dim stars in the mix that grate on my nerves, but I think Jason is on the right track, so long as he doesn't let each of the girls opinions about each other distract him.  

This might be the year Steve and I have to break down and get a TiVO.  Despite my curiosity about Jason's fate, it sure is good to see "24" back on too.  Kiefer is out of jail and I love that far-fetched action packed show.   But we're sticking with Jason on this journey- which of the ladies is your money on??? ~j

Jason's "Bachelor" Premiere Airs Monday Night

OK Jason fans.  It's the moment you've been waiting for since last fall. Local heartthrob Jason Mesnick is back on ABC kicking off a 2-hour premiere for his debut on "The Bachelor" starting at 8pm pacific time on Monday.  He finds love again (and gets engaged!) so don't forget to tune in and watch our Kirkland boy turn on the charm. ~j

Kirkland's Jason Mesnick: Ready for Love Again

The chatter is all around us-in January 2009's 13th season, Jason is slated to be ABC's next "Bachelor."  This is no big surprise- he was clearly a favorite with the fans as he took the runner-up spot for bachelorette DeAnna Pappas's heart.  So, if you've been casing Kirkland neighborhoods trying to find his house it's time to give it up- he's headed Hollywood again.  But I wonder if they have selected his eligible ladies yet?  There might still be time for you.   And even more concerning- can they please do the home visit in Kirkland this time?!  Show us some love, Jason! Bring her for a stroll in Marina Park or windsurf in Juanita Bay or catch a game at Peter Kirk baseball field.   We'll be watching !!  ~j