Robin lives to cook another day

Despite being teamed with a grumpy partner on the "French protein/French sauce" contest and nearly biting it during the high-stakes quick-fire challenge, Robin Leventhal, one of Seattle's two Top Chef contenders (and the only one I know personally), survived tonight's episode. Various Kibbutzniks have already begged me to ask her to dinner; maybe we can get a taste of her TV-worthy cooking sometime soon, if we promise not to pepper her (no pun intended) with Top Chef questions. Having eaten many, many times at her restaurant, Crave, I know just how good her food really is.

Thai Tom closed by Public Health -- for about a day

Thanks to Steven for the info. Not surprising by any means, but certainly unfortunate, since the Tom has been serving up fast, tasty, authentically spicy food for years now. Michael even sang its praises in the Weekly a few years ago.

Update, July 27: Psych! Thai Tom is open again. I just had their spicy noodles on Aleph's patio with Dane, Steven, Masha, Ilana, and Sergey. Combined with somewhat cool beer, a delight.

Steven interviews Gorgeous George

My housemate writes a column called Chow Bio for The Stranger, and George is his latest subject.