Oscars, anyone?

A day at the movies is getting more expensive with each new release, so make sure that you choose wisely when you indulge. With the Academy Awards being announced last night, take the time to visit The Landing's Regal Cinema and see a winner or two.

I wish that the word "matinee" meant cheaper fun they way it used to. Now it just gives you a mere buck off the standard ticket price and a nearly empty theater to enjoy the film. I would go so much more often if the price was easier on the pocketbook and I am certain the theater would make just as much money and have more butts in those new, pretty seats. The Regal is a nice place to see a flick.

I went the other day for an early "cheap" showing of Crazy Heart, with Jeff Bridges, the winner of this year's Oscar for Best Actor and fell in love with the film. The soundtrack also won for Best Original Song and is the work of the ever talented T Bone Burnett, who does more producing than music these days, but is sooo good when he does.

Also showing is the Academy Award winning film for Visual Effects - Avatar, which you can see in 3-D for a little more pricey ticket of 13 bucks.

The new release of Tim Burton's latest work, Alice in Wonderland also just started to show. Ahhh, so many choices and such a slim wallet.

Regal Cinemas

www.regmovies.com

900 N 10th Pl
Renton, WA 98057-5540
(425) 204-9929
Get directions

Getting Greek

I love the seasonings and spices that come in Greek food. Who doesn't long for a Gyros sandwich on the regular? It was long overdue to investigate the newest restaurant at The Landing, Daphne's Greek Cafe.

While Daphne's Greek Cafe is indeed a chain of restaurants with 66 locations in California, this is one of only two spots to open in our state (the other in the Southcenter Mall), still making it unique for all of us here. A Greek friend of mine recently shared that while this was not what you would find in her Greek grandmother's kitchen, it was pretty tasty food, and that is exactly what I came to discover myself this week.

The prices were reasonable, the cafe is super cute and clean, the staff very friendly and the food was good. My companion and I had scored some coupons that we found at Liberty Cafe on S. Third Street, offering us a lunch special for under $5, and that was all the incentive we needed to head on over and try the Gryos and the Greek Chicken Salad.

The company recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and we hope that this newly opened casual dining cafe will not be effected by the proceedings. During these financially "tight" times, Daphne's " also has introduced some new, more affordable menu items, one of which includes a pita sandwich, fountain drink and two sides for under $7." As you can see from the menu board below, the prices reflect an understanding of our tightened purse strings these days.

Daphne's is open for both lunch and dinner, with a large offering of food and platters that could be taken to an office party, gathering or picnic. The first time I had the pleasure of trying a sampling of Daphne's wares was when dear Ruzielle (pictured below) came to the New Year's Day Potluck at Liberty Cafe just a mere 3 weeks ago. The baklava is really good and the platters full of hummous, dolmas, pita bread, tzatziki and more was hard to resist nibbling on repeatedly. Thanks again, Ruzielle, for bringing such tasty treats.

What did I most enjoy about my trip to the Greek side of lunch? The people. The Manager checked in on us, asked how our meal was, Ruzielle is a friendly sight and I like going where I feel my trade is welcomed.

Daphne's Greek Cafe
The Landing
815 Southwest 10th Street, Renton, WA 98057-5587
(425) 228-8811‎

Free Summer Fun - Movies for the Young (and, okay, young at heart!)

The Regal Cinemas at The Landing are hosting a series of movies that are FREE for the whole family. Trying to figure out a way to keep the younguns' occupied? For the next two Tuesdays and Wednesdays, at 10:00 in the morning, head over to the movie theater and watch a film for free. The weather will be warming up these next couple of days, so you could just go in, relax with a tub of popcorn, and bask in the chill of aircon and beat the heat.

8/18 Tuesday - 8/19 Wednesday, the following TWO films will be playing at 10 am:





Next week, 8/25 Tuesday and 8/26 Wednesday are the following films for free at 10 am:

The Landing Stadium 14 900 N 10th Place Renton ,WA 98055 425-203-9264
08/18/2009-08/19/2009	Everyone's Hero (G)
	Surf's Up (PG)
08/25/2009-08/26/2009	Igor (PG)
	Journey To The Center Of The Earth (PG)
Check for regular Movies and Showtimes

Five Guys bring home the burgers and fries

Everybody and their uncle has been blogging and talking about how great the burger and fries are over at Five Guys - one of the more recent occupants over at The Landing. I had to go. I had to eat. I had to see for myself. And it was ALL true.

When you walk in, you pass a big box of roasted peanuts in the shell, which any customer is free to munch on while waiting in line for their burger feast. Next, you will see all the bag upon bag of potatoes waiting for their turn to become fries at your side and a sign that tells you where your fries hale from today. Ours were from Rexburg, Idaho - glad to meet ya!

The good news is that you just have to decide on a hamburger or a hot dog and how big to go with your fries. There is nothing else on the menu to confuse the ordering issue (oh, except for vegetarian burgers and grilled cheese for those noncarnivores). However, be forewarned - the regular burgers have TWO patties on them and the fries come in cups where there are just as many fries in your bag as in the size cup you ordered. Be careful - I am not exaggerating here, and you could be forced to eat even more than you planned on (which may in fact be a given at this place).

Five Guys has an incredible selection of fountain drinks and also the coolest Ice Tea dispenser I have seen in a while, and they offer fresh slices of lemon on the side. Sorta like the list of toppings that you can have on your burger - numerous, and all incuded in the price of your burger. The standards plus grilled onions and grilled mushrooms, jalapenos, BBQ sauce - it keeps going. When ordering bacon, I was told you could have extra for the same price. What?!? But they use 100% Peanut Oil for their cooking - no preservatives or cholesterol. That evens up the game.

The freshness, the great energy of the place (I saw 10 people working to prepare orders and being generally boisterous), the signs that boast of Five Guys great business over the years, is sure to make this establishment fare well in Renton. THIS was the kind of place we the citizens of Renton were promised when The Landing and it's occupants were first discussed. Unique. I think this is the only one in the state so far. Five Guys first started in Arlington,VA but is best known for it's presence in the other Washington - the DC area. Glad that they are doing so well that they landed up here. You will be glad to when you have sampled their wares. Good eating.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries (425) 228 - 2286
910 N. !0th Pl. Renton, WA 98057
Open 11 am - 10 pm, 7 Days a Week
www.fiveguys.com

When you don't wanna cook and you don't have too much

I am just going to come out and say it - I like our local Panda Express.

Tonight was just too hot to cook and eat in ( I marvel that I even get to write that!) and so Panda Express it was. $5.75 will give you a choice of fried noodles, fried rice or steamed rice and two main entrees. I think that is an amazing deal. I always have food to take home, the portions are generous.
My favorite finds so far have been the Orange Chicken (okay, not healthy but really tasty) and tonight, I had an eggplant/tofu dish that reminded me of times living abroad. While not every time do I have two dish choices that I am impressed with, there is a real touch of "flavor" to some of these offerings. Sometimes, like tonight, I am just happily surprised. Because of that, I return on a semi regular basis.
The other aspect of the casual dining/take out that I like at the Panda, is you can see that everything is being prepared as you stand in line for your turn - it's fresh. The glass refrigerator doors behind which box after box of fresh veggies lay waiting to be cooked is enticement enough. Looks a helluva lot better than other places I have worked or seen - and you all know what I mean!
So - go ahead - sue me for admitting my liking the Panda. I can take it . I also have admitted to dining at Rubattiono's on the regular for breakfast. I should be shot.

Panda Express at The Landing
906 Park Ave. North Suite 104A (425) 917 - 2193
(it's close to Target - if that helps)
www.pandaexpress.com

Don't forget to Run and Nibble

This Sunday is a great day to work off a few pounds while intentionally planning to then put some back on - The Landing is having it's first 5K Run followed by the 2009 Taste of The Landing, which will showcase tasty nibbles from the eateries right there. If you are interested in running, log onto TasteofTheLanding.com and see if it's not to late to start working towards a bigger, better lunch appetite. They plan on seeing anywhere from 800 - 1,000 participants and hope that this inaugural run will become habit forming.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

While over at the Landing...

"I wanna give people a taste of food that they remember having had in their mouths before" - enter Chef CJ Houk, lover of food and travel, fluent Vietnamese speaker and the driving force in the kitchen at the Landing's new Papaya.

The restaurant is as local as you can get- restaurateur Gene Sens, of Redhouse/Blossom fame, is the owner. Chef CJ hails from studies at Renton Vo Tech. The kitchen staff includes Chef CJ's own apprentice that he brought with him, interns from Youth Service - a work program for youth at risk, and CJ's Mom, who helps in the kitchen. "It's about giving back" and Chef CJ isn't just going to stop here - plans are to have a nonprofit cooking school started as well.

The atmosphere is good and inviting (everyone greets you upon arrival) and right across the street from the Regal Cinema . The food is lovely - well presented, uber fresh and very satisfying. The prices are very easy on the pocketbook - hovering around $7.95 per entree, they have a kids menu, beer and wine selection and a range of choices from Vietnamese baguette sandwiches that come served with yam fries, to Pho noodles, to lovely bowls of vermicelli noodle salads topped with chicken, pork, salmon and more.

Chef CJ treated me to a helping of his Chocolate Ravioli with the Mango/Pomegranate sauce. I am still smacking my lips over that taste in my mouth - a food memory I don't want to forget.

Papaya Vietnamese Cafe - The Landing - Across from Regal Cinema Theater
830 N. 10th Street (425) 917-1447


Look, I also found the UPS Store...
Finally some of the spaces are filling up at The Landing. There were lots of workmen making busy sounding noises there and some store fronts seem to be getting ready for (hopefully) some "opening" action.
UPS 720 N. 10th St. (425) 235 - 7447
Mon.8-7, Tues- Fri. 8:30 -6:30 pm, Sat.10-5, Closed Sun.