Grrr. Grrr. I want to call a local lunch place to see what their soup is

[LisaM]

and they have an 800 number with a 'caterer standing by' and an online form you can fill out.

ARE THEY SERIOUS?

[LisaM]

1. Oh, and PS

the 800 number is to their national headquarters. I can't call the local place?

[KansDem]

2. What's the name of the establishment?

And where is it located?

[Moondog]

3. Sounds as thought they don't want your business. n/t

[LisaM]

4. It gets better - I walked down there - and they're gone!

They were there just a week or so ago. But they've closed up.

It was called Organic to Go and they are a sort of mini chain. I ate there once or twice. Their food wasn't very good, but I was hoping against hope they might have gazpacho (it's really, really hard to find in Seattle).

So I stopped in a new place called nyc deli, and anything less like New York you'd be hard pressed to find. They didn't even have cole slaw! So I skipped that place, and found a new place that I'll definitely go back to. They have avgolemono soup, and I'm eating a delicious mozzarella sandwich on a warm pita.

[SeattleGirl]

5. Organic to Go is gone?

I was just following one of their vans on the way to work the other day.

Sheesh, these days, you blink and it seems half the businesses that were thare are just gone!

[LisaM]

6. Unless they've moved or have a second location

The one on Third Avenue downtown is gone. I have to say, I ate their once and their food was dreadful. It was a cold day and they had chicken pot pie, which sounded good. Well, first, it wasn't pot pie. It was cooked in a large pan and they put puff pastry over it. Even so, it could have been good, but it was cold and dry, and the portion was tiny (not that I finished it). It was too bad, because it sounded so good for a chilly day.

[The empressof all]

7. There is no "Deli" in the Pacific Northwest.

When I need real Rye my sister overnights it to me from NJ....Usually I have her throw in a Taylor ham too. You can usually find rare roast beef at Central Market. It costs an arm and a leg and you have to tell them to slice it thin.

I've perfected a decent coleslaw and I even can make a "faux" knish that is really quite passable.

If you are looking for real NY Pizza I can set you up with that. But it's a 40 minute drive from Seattle and you better be quick as the guy's getting old and may retire soon.

For the most part I have few complaints about the food in Seattle area. I live close to great pizza and the Seafood and Asian can't be beat. Have you been to Szecuan Chef in Bellevue? HEAVEN!

But don't you hate when places disappear like that. My favorite restaurant in Monroe up and closed all of a sudden... I was totally depressed.

[LisaM]

8. I have found two places with decent pizza in Seattle

One is a place in University Village called Delfinos. I wouldn't describe it as NY pizza, but it's good. The other place you can get an OK pizza is Varlamos, which is near Laurelhurst. Again, not really NY style, but it's good, which is more than you can say for most pizza around here (I'm from Michigan originally, lots of good delis and pizza there). I'm glad I found those places, because Pagliacci and Romio's weren't doing it for me. Large, damp slices with weird ingredients.

Do you put buttermilk in your cole slaw?

[The empressof all]

9. Delfinos is ok

The joint I go to uses cheese he ships in from NY. He makes egg creams and terrific Calzones too. This dough is really close to NY and he'll get a char on the bottom if he likes you.

I don't put buttermilk in the cole slaw. Just Mayo, Vinegar, a bit of sugar and horseradish.

And why are there no "Real" Bakeries here? The Hilltop in Bothell is close but it's the only one I've found that is even close to what I grew up with back east. They make decent cookies.

[LisaM]

10. ha ha! I've gotten burned at the bakeries too

They smell good, but it never lives up to the promise. I think there is a good bakery in Ballard that makes old timey cookies. I loved the ones growing up that had jam in the middle and melted in our mouth.

They don't like to use white flour is part of the problem.

Le Panier in the Market is quite good. I don't know if they are a chain or not. But their stuff definitely trends to the French.

[LisaM]

11. oh, and what is this pizza place you describe?

Is it north or south?

[The empressof all]

12. It's in between Woodinville and Snohomish on Route 9

It's called #1 NY Pizza. They're from the Bronx. The place is hard to find as it's set back off the road a bit and their signs aren't that great. They aren't open on Sundays or Mondays and they have very limited seating. They close early too --Around 8. It's sort of like the Soup Nazi place for Pizza. Don't ask for too much on your pie and NEVER ask for Pineapple.

There's also a great French Bakery in Silver lake. They do great pastry but not like the NJ bakeries.

[LisaM]

13. Funny.

I always get the same thing - double cheese and pepperoni (once in a while onions) and I never to pineapple. I always so, "no fish, no fruit, no fungus" - meaning I don't want anchovies, olives, pineapple, or mushrooms!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

14. Oh, you!

Nuthin's ever like the NJ bakeries, is it?

I'm teasing you.

You mentioned Taylor roll, and DAMMIT! I meant to get one today at the market, never bothered to put it on my list - that old "I'll remember it" thing dies hard as I age - and I FORGOT IT!

I had dreams, Jersey Slider dreams of a bagel, a slice of tomato, pork roll grilled, melted cheese.

Thanks for reminding me. Now I have to write it down...................

[The empressof all]

15. And I'll just Never get over it either!

With my old teeth I'm forced to suffer my taylor ham, fried egg and american cheese sammies on the Thomas english muffins. I got over the bagels when I got the bad reaction to wheat Plague. I save my lapses with the wheat for things like cupcakes, rye bread, and the very occasional English muffin. Did I tell you I'm writing to the Thomas' people every month now about the Date nut bread. I'm sure they just roll their eyes with my monthly missives begging for the recipe at least. Jeeeeze....How cruel can they be?