What's in What You Eat?It is said you are what you eat, from your head to your feet. So why not know… What's in what you eat?

Nearly two years ago I wrote a review of Memo’s Mexican restaurant and didn’t speak too highly of it.

Well, it’s a new day and I have a new opinion. After revisiting Memo’s on several late night excursions in the U-district, I have come to believe that they have cleaned up their act.

When you go to Memo’s, ignore the normal menu. Instead, focus on the “EXTRAS 4oz SERVING section:

I got one size of Carne Asada, Chicken Asado, Guacamole, and Lettuce. After tax this equates to $6.65. It was enough food that I went from being truly hungry to legitimately full.

In my last review I complained about the taste. They must have a new cook or manager working back there because the food is now actually good. It’s by no means a demonstration of culinary art or talent, but for the price, being open 24/7, and being able to get just a side of meat and vegetables, the food does not taste bad and is actually enjoyable to eat.

Still don’t know about quality or hidden ingredients but when you are out at 2:00am and your choices are that, pizza, or Jack-in-The-Box, I’ll take my chances at Memos.

They also have a “freebee” salad bar with marinated carrots, onions, and fresh cucumbers and radishes. Impressive Memo’s! Very impressive indeed. Note that whenever I order this I seem to thoroughly confuse the person taking the orders and typically have to physically point to everything I want, but in the end it always works out!

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that I am running a banquet with Sarah Fragoso of Everyday Paleo next month. Check it out! Hope to see you all there!!

Sign up at http://www.meetup.com/paleoseattle/

Jak’s Grill is a typical local steakhouse with a few locations around the area. Like most steakhouses, they have a lot to choose from for Paleo eaters and are overpriced.

Before I get in too deep, I feel the need to start off with a slight complaint, because so many restaurants say this including Jak’s. “ We buy only corn fed, Nebraska raised beef. The finest beef available anywhere!” Displayed promptly on the front of the menu. If you use the word “finest” in any sentence you can make people believe it is true. What I read is: “We buy only corn fed beef, because it is the fattiest and cheapest beef available anywhere!” Oh well…I can only bet if this place sold grass-fed meat it would be even more expensive, but come-on…do you really have to brag about selling grain-fed meat? Anyways, onto the meat of this review.

On Monday nights they have the Prime Rib special. For around $21 you get around 18ounces of meat, which in comparison to their other prices, is a great deal. This also comes with a salad. The meat usually comes with steamed vegetables and potatoes but they had no problem substituting the potato for more veg. Also with the meal is a side of Au Jus and Horseradish (looked creamed so I skipped it).

Taste: 8 – Meat was a little undercooked even for me. Fat was chewy. 
Nutrition: 8 – Fatty cornfed meat. Otherwise pretty darn good. 
Filling: 9
Price: $$$ (Dinner)
Overall Value: 7 – Pretty good meal, but like all steakhouses (except Brazilian!) you can do what they do at home for a fraction of the price. Also I love me some steamed vegetables but when I eat out I wouldn’t mind something a little more creative.

Right around the corner from University of Village is Chloé, a french restaurant with a hard choice of Paleo friendly options to choose from. Whether you want beef, pork, or fish – they’ve got you covered.

Here’s what I had:

SOUPE DU JOUR .........................................................................8

Was a tomato provencal soup on that day. Very good.

*GRILLED PORK CHOP............................................................. 17
10oz Grilled Pork Chop in Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Lemon, Garlic and Herbs

Usually comes with mashed potatoes but they were happy to substitute a green salad
for me, and I was happy to accept.

Taste: 8 (meat was overcooked) Nutrition: 10
Filling: 7
Price: $$$
Overall Value: 8 – Left happy, would come back. Wasn't anything too special
or crazy though. I can make a pork chop and salad at home too.

In the Phinney Ridge neighborhood there is a restaurant that makes me almost a little bit angry that it took me almost 12 years to find. Finally, I stumbled upon the Stumbling Goat Bistro. Besides a delicious looking menu, they promise local and quality products – both animal and produce. Here’s what I had:

Butter Lettuce Salad : $8 – Point Reyes blue, shaved radish and red onion, toasted hazelnuts, sherry vinaigrette (cheese left off)

Grilled Oregon Natural Meats Ribeye: $29 - Grilled Walla Walla onions, Olsen farm Ozettes, sautéed kale (Subbed ozette potatoes for butternut squash +$2)

Taste: 10
Nutrition: 10
Filling: 9
Price: $$$ (Dinner)
Overall Value: 7 – Great meal, just very expensive

I’ll be back as soon as I’m rich, Stumbling Goat Bistro!

Good news and bad news for you all. The bad is that Ipanema Brazillian Grill is no more. The good news, Amazon Grill recently opened in Bellevue which does the exact same style of cuisine that Ipanema did, and even has most of the same employees that were at the former Churrascaria.

Similar selection of unlimited slow roasted meats, “Rodizio” style.

Amazon Grill staff prepping the meats for the roaster. Like Ipanema, there is a massive deli style salad bar included in the Rodizio price. On there you will find tons of different Paleo friendly looking side dishes from asparagus to sweet potato to bok choy. Something for everyone indeed!

Taste: 10
Nutrition: 10? (No idea on meat quality, but its mainly leaner cuts at least at lunch time)
Filling: 10 (If less, its your own fault!)
Price: $$ (Lunch) $$$ (Dinner)

Right now Yelp has a great deal for $40 off $80 worth of food there. Check it out!

Also be sure to read Gil’s guide to Rodizio, found on the Ipanema review page.

I love this place, but I don’t think they make much money off me.

A relatively new restaurant one block from University Village is 50 North. What used to be an unimpressive non-paleo pizza place has been replaced by a much better option. They claim to serve grassfed meat, have a gluten free menu, and very easily list on their menus and accommodate to gluten and dairy restrictions. This is a restaurant where they don’t like to say “no” to special requests – a feature that works great for people who follow a Paleo lifestyle.

Here’s what I had:

Appetizer;

‘Taylor Shellfish’ Mussels (gluten-free) $9/$12
Local fresh shellfish, skillet steamed with white wine, shallots,
bacon & granny smith apples.

I asked if it was dairy free and they said they could do it that way…my guess is using oil instead of butter or maybe leaving out a splash of cream. Whatever they did, it did not affect the taste as it was delicious. I shared the large portion and it was a very decent size.

Main Course:

Grilled Steak Salad (gluten-free) $15
On apple pumpkin hash sauteed with winter greens and tart dried cherry gastrique

A little small on portion but not on taste…steaked was cooked perfectly…other components worked very well together. A little sugar in the gastrique? Sure, but in the small quantity consumed as a garnished – not too worried about it. The camera flash makes it look blander than it was.

Side Dish:

Handcut Sweet Potato Fries with aioli , $6

Probably not the best oil used but it would be unlike me to pass up on handcut sweet potato fries. These were great. Thick, fluffy, great dipping sauce. For $6 though I would have liked to seen a bigger pile.

So in total – how is 50 North?

Taste: 9
Nutrition: 9
Filling: 8
Price: $$$
Overall: 8

Little pricey for the portion sizes but I definitely didn’t leave hungry and will come back for more sometime soon!

Just a few blocks away from Seattle Center is a “typically” lively place with a good paleo friendly menu. I say “typically” because it just so happens that when I was there yesterday with 7 family members, we were the only ones in the entire restaurant from the time we got there until the time we left. It is a huge restaurant and normally very busy. Was extremely weird to see it empty, but in their defense, it was a Monday. One thing I really like about this place is that they have a gluten free menu and are very quick to inform you if the specials and other items are at all questionable. The regular menu has more meat options and they said they can prepare them to be gluten free if the GF menu is too limited. Customer service bonus points.

Started with:
Grilled Romaine Salad: feta, kalamata olives, English cucumber, smokey grilled tomato vinaigrette. Asked for no feta.

Main Course:

Washington Chicken: garlic-crusted pan-roasted Washington chicken, rosemary garlic fingerlings, seasonal vegetable, pan jus. They did extra vegetable for me instead of potatoes. First time ever having that vegetable in my life too. Its basically the consistency of cauliflower but green. Chicken was served with some fried leeks on top.

Taste: 7
Nutrition: 10
Filling: 8
Price: $$$
Overall Value: 7

I’ve been here once before yesterday and it was excellent. This time it was not. Maybe the head chef took the night off yesterday. It was fine, but wasn’t great. For $20+ an entree, it needs to be great. But if you are in the area and looking for an upscale place to try, definitely keep it in mind as it has the potential to be great, and at the very least has even more options other than what I chose.

Here’s a fine dining option for those of you looking for a fancier Paleo option. Located in Madrona area, this restaurant is a small local place with some nice, tasty options including kebabs, seafood, and shanks.

Here’s what I had:

They were very willing to leave out the potatoes and substitute more salad instead of grain based sides.

Taste: 10
Nutrition: 10
Filling: 8
Price: $$$
Overall Value: 9 (Fine dining is expected to be overpriced, so do expect).

Sweet!

Tucked in the Ballard Blocks area of Seattle is a gourmet burger chain that happens to be one of the most Paleo friendly restaurants in the city. You know how when trying to order at most restaurants you have to make a list to the waiter / waitress of the stuff you don’t want? Well here it is the opposite as the “build your own burger” option lets you express exactly what you do want.

After studying the allergen statement, this beautiful display above shows the items that are all gluten, dairy, and soy free. There is some conflicting and confusing information (ie why is the chicken breast not gluten free?) I will try to clear these up and report back. The fried egg is delicious but it says it contains soy, meaning they likely fry it in soybean oil. Keep in mind these items still could have added sugar, but the 3 big allergens are not present if you go by this selection.

Bonus: As stated on the menu, all their meat is natural, with no hormones, antibiotics, or CAFO conditions. Not grass-fed but close enough for the type of place it is!

Now, the part you’ve all been waiting for…pictures of the food!

This was the market selection, which happened to be Bison. Was it good? Yes. Did it taste exactly like beef? Yes. That being said was it worth $6 extra for the bison instead of beef? No!
Bison, mixed greens, grilled onions, hard boiled egg, black olives, bacon, avocado, sauteed mushrooms, dijon balsamic dressing

Taste: 9 (Meat was over-cooked)
Nutrition: 10
Filling: 8
Price: $$
Overall Value: 9 (Could have pretty much made this exact same thing for 1/3 the price in my kitchen. But for a restaurant, I’ll give it a 9).

Rock-on The Counter!