Did you Miss the Clam Eating Contest?

Don’t you worry, we’ve got it all right here. Watch as Ryan Foss eats 100 clams faster than the other four finalists. The afternoon was beautiful, the sun shining, the clams tasting delicious. There were plenty of samples to go around and Chef Kevin taught everyone in the crowd how to make the Atlas Clamwich while we waited for the finals to start. Major League Eater Erik “the Red” Denmark stopped by to say ‘hi’ toward the end and gave a thrill to all the aspiring eaters.

When asked how he felt at the end of the competition as he was handed his $100 prize, Mr. Foss grinned and said, “I’m happy as a clam!”

Ryan Foss, Atlas Foods Clam Eating Champion

Farmer’s Market Tasting at Endolyne Joe’s

To market, to market. Joe’s is hitting the Farmer’s market this fall for our new menu, full of fall bounty and local products.

That there, in the front of your screen? A deep fried chunk of delicious Mt. Townsend Creamery’s award winning Seastack cheese. Served with a seasonal greens salad with hazelnuts and a cranberry vinaigrette, this is a great way to start off a meal. It was, along with the pepper roasted pork floating along in potato boats in a sea of paprika chive sauce, one of the staff favorites.

The entrees were equally delicious and equally full of local farmer’s market products. The roasted chicken comes made with Mt. Rainier’s Fireweed Honey, giving a delicious kick to this herbed delight. It comes with brussel sprouts and house made gnochhi. But the one that we all loved was definitely the mighty serving of brisket braised in black radish. It comes with an amazing collection of local vegetables including onions, garlic, baby carrots, red potatoes, fingerlings, green beans, Yakima tomatoes, sage and thyme. Whew. And all you wanted was the pic!

The menu will begin Wednesday, August 27th, so be ready and waiting for your all your local fall delights!

Harvest Menu at the Hi-Life

Sometimes ideas evolve and become a new idea, better than the original. When we first hatched the Harvest Menu, it was going to be all local. Unfortunately, the reality of that is we would have to raise prices and compromise some of the underlying philosophies of the Hi-Life–good food at affordable prices. So the menu, inspired by the ingredients that we were able to source locally, became a celebration of the bounty of delicious food that we have this time of year in the northwest. Whenever possible, local ingredients are used, but only to the point that everyone has the opportunity to eat the food.

Case in point, this delicious small plate of Poutine. A French-Canadian delicacy that is a palate pleasing fall dish inolves french fries, cheese curds and gravy. This here is our Hi-Life version using Seattle’s own Beecher’s Cheese curds. A snack for the patio or a stomach warmer for when the nights cool off, this is our local spin.

Next up was a dish that embraces all of what the Northwest is. Salmon cakes, fried up good and crispy are served over bok choy in a soy glaze. Local fish, Asian heritage, its all here in amazing little bites.

The Harvest menu will begin on Wednesday, August 13th, so get your locavore appetites roaring!