The Mill: The Perfect Spot for a Pre-Show Meal

We had a delicious casual meal at The Mill Restaurant & Sports Bar in Milton, WA. I had been searching for a restaurant to have a pre-concert dinner on our way down to the Washington State Fair. The Mill had a lot of great online reviews and I felt confident making a reservation.

Well, in a word, it was just what we were looking for. The menu was interesting and varied. It was early early in the evening, so the restaurant was quiet and the server worked hard to get us in and out in time for our 7:30 tickets. I had a bright and cold watermelon salad and a hearty Mill Burger on a fresh brioche bun. If we hadn't had a timeline, I'm sure would would have enjoyed staying and talking in this terrific new restaurant. 

#preconcert #preshowdinner #miltonwa #themill #greathamburgers 

My First Food Truck Experience: Dog House PDX in Portland

When I was plotting our weekend getaway to Portland, Oregon, I had "visit food trucks" at the top of my list.  I love watching the Food Network and the Cooking Channel (plus I read a lot of magazines) and I was tired of having a media lens between me and a delicious meal.  Food trucks aren't easy to come by in my part of Michigan and I was excited that I would be in an area full of culinary choices.

And then I ordered a cheeseburger.  I know, sounds ridiculous but by the time we'd eaten our way across the Portland Farmers Market and a gourmet brunch at Beast, I was ready for an American classic.

I found my perfect meal at a bright red food truck called Timber's Dog House PDX.  I enjoyed a cheeseburger and chocolate milkshake on a picnic table in the sun.  Everything tastes better outside and this was no exception. It may sound silly, but I've never eaten a hamburger that was this hot. Beautifully prepared and right off the grill really makes a difference. And the milkshake was thick and chocolatey with just the right amount of salt. I loved it and didn't want to share. I need a bigger one next time, that's for sure.

I promise to try Hawaiian Fusion or something with pork belly the next time I have a chance, but on this particular evening, I was happy to go with a classic. If you find yourself within reach of Timber's Dog House PDX, order from their wide variety of choices and you're sure to have a great meal.

Seattle: Burger Master: A Hot Fudge MIlkshake and Burger

I was sent to Burger Master in Bellevue by my dear friend who knows that "a burger and a milkshake" would be the perfect stop to make with my husband before heading into the Washington Park Arboretum.

Burger Master is a dine-in-your-car hamburger spot that is reminiscent of the 1950's.  They brought our order to our car on a tray which clipped to our window and we were told to turned our headlights on if we needed something - genius!  

I had a wonderful classic cheeseburger (ketchup, pickle, mustard), fries and a drank-every-drop "Hot Fudge" milkshake. The hot fudge shake was recommended by our super-friendly waitress. Of the multitude of shake possibilities on the menu, it was appropriate that she suggested the hot fudge milkshake, as my dad is famous for ordering a milkshake and asking them to "add a scoop" of hot fudge after the shake is made, as if this were the most normal upgrade in the world.  The cute thing is that the ice cream server always thinks it is a great idea.

Burger Master boasts the little bit of Americana that we need in our lives. Park, eat, reminisce, repeat as often as possible.

Washington, DC: Matchbox Restaurant

Before we headed into the National Portrait Gallery for an afternoon of art, we stopped at Matchbox in Chinatown for lunch. We sat in the airy section of the restaurant under skylights and loved our long lunch!

I ordered 3 mini burgers of
 certified Angus beef, toasted brioche, pickles with onion straws
 and they were delicious.  I also had a small apple and pear salad with mixed greens, candied pecans, Gorgonzola (I switched to Parmesan) with a honey-balsamic vinaigrette and I ate every bite of this fresh fruit-filled salad.

We happened to meet the thirty-something couple next to us (she complimented my necklace!) and talked for a long time about travel, Detroit and growing up in the Midwest (she is from Ohio).  It was really pleasant and had us lingering over lunch far longer than usual.  That's the beauty of vacation.  We weren't in a rush.

   

If you get a chance to visit Matchbox (at any time of day), you should.  There is always a crowd mingling outside hoping for a table and I've always enjoyed the food and atmosphere.

Burger Smash

To liven up dinner, we decided that custom hamburgers were the way to go.  I bought enough ground beef for four hamburgers and then prepared a slew of options to mix into the uncooked meat.  Each person could choose their mix ins, and I'd smash it into a custom burger.

I was inspired by a new hamburger place called Smashburger.  I've never been to one, but I think the concept is the same as Cold Stone Creamery or Marble Slab, where ice cream is mixed to order with the customers favorite add ins.  I thought the idea worked so well with hamburgers that I'd give it a try at home.

(***Wrong! I went to a real Smashburger restaurant and it didn't live up to my imagination.  To them, the "smash" is cooking the meat between to griddles.  The toppings you choose are all on top.  So not as much fun as my idea.  I say, do it my way at home - it's delish.)

I added sauteed mushrooms, sauteed onions, chopped green olives, a few dill pickle chunks and a little shredded cheddar cheese.  It was love at first bite and I'd choose the same combination again - yum!

We cooked them in a saute pan to help the burgers stay together (I think pieces would have tumbled into a grill) and this method kept the burgers juicy and tender too.

When "making hamburgers for dinner" just don't sound good, consider smashing something into them first.  You just might find the perfect combination.