If your kids already love noodles, it could be time to foray into Vietnamese food! Characterized by fresh herbs, fruit, vegetables, rice noodles and flour, with very little oil and dairy, Vietnamese cuisine is kid-friendly and also great for people with a gluten-intolerance. From crafting the perfect Banh Mi to sipping on flavorful Phở, these recipes are simple to make and will expand your family’s palate in no time.

Banh Mi

Rasa Malaysia

This Vietnamese sandwich from Rasa Malaysia is one of the most popular, especially because of its crusty baguette and flavorful meat. You can make it using pork or chicken and use traditional pickled carrots and may as condiments, or change to cater to your picky eaters.

Phở

Gimme Some Oven

Chilly night? Time for some Phở! While this traditional soup can take quite some time to prepare (it's all about the broth!), this recipe from Gimme Some Oven gives some easy shortcuts that gets in on the table in 45 minutes. Kids will love putting in their own veggies and meat, while cutting their noodles with a pair of scissors.

Bún Chả Giò

A Spicy Perspective

If you're opting for a lighter dinner packed with vegetables, this Vietnamese salad bowl is perfect. A Spicy Perspective has a simple recipe that combines marinated pork, a homemade dressing, noodles and fresh greens. Even better? Pair with some spring rolls to round out the meal.

Vietnamese Pan-Fried Ground Pork Patties

Vicky Pham

Even picky eaters won't be able to turn away from this delish recipe from Vicky Pham. Void of the usual lemongrass and fish sauce that is normally prevalent in Vietnamese recipes, these pan-fried pork patties pair great with rice.

Bo Kho

Pups with Chopsticks

Calling all meat lovers! Vietnamese beef stew will quickly become your fall go-to meal thanks to Pups with Chopstick. Similar to regular beef stew, this version kicks it up a notch by using lemongrass, star anise and cinnamon to give it a brand new flavor. Serve with noodles or dip in a baguette––you can't go wrong with either!

Bánh xèo

Hungry Huy

These "sizzling cake" Vietnamese crepes are great for family dinners. A savory version, Hungry Huy shares a crispy Bánh xèo (pronounced "ban say-oh") recipe involving pork, shrimp, greens and tons of flavor.

Bun Ga Nuong

Carlsbad Cravings

This fancy sounding dish really comes down to Vietnamese noodles with Lemongrass chicken. The fun-to-look-at meal involves simple ingredients that are fresh, healthy and can be customized for your fam. Head to Carlsbad Cravings for this tasty recipe.

Cha Gio

vietnamese recipes
Rasa Malaysia

The best part of Vietnamese Spring Rolls? You can customize them however you want! This particular recipe from Rasa Malaysia takes pork, shrimp, crab meat, carrots and mung bean noodles all wrapped together then fried. Don't forget the spring roll sauce!

Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken

Gimme Some Oven

Sauté, grill or bake: there's no wrong way to enjoy this lemongrass chicken from Gimme Some Oven. You'll be whipping up your own fragrant marinade, cooking and serving up the tastiest dinner of the week!

Banh Bong Lan

Run Away Rice

Vanilla sponge cake anyone? This delicious recipe from Run Away Rice is sweet and simple, with a light vanilla flavor. Chances are, you already have everything you need to make Banh Bong Lan!

 

 

RELATED STORIES
14 Restaurant-Worthy Middle Eastern Recipes Families Will Love
11 Simple Greek Recipes for Families
8 Traditional Cuban Recipes for the Entire Family
11 of the Best Kid-Friendly Indian Food Recipes

California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) recently started CPK Market at the chain’s restaurant locations nationwide. This all-new offering will provide high-quality specialty meal kit solutions and individual pantry, fruit, vegetable, and meat items to guests in cities across the country. The six fun, fast and family-friendly specialty meal kits include feature foods for Cinco de Mayo and other Spring meals.

Comprised of a few CPK classics as well as tried-and-true kitchen staples boxed-up and ready to make whenever is most convenient, these kits include everything you need to create a delicious meal. 

Cinco de Mayo

The Cinco de Mayo Specialty Taco Kit (also available with a pitcher of Fresh Agave Lime Margaritas made with Milagro Silver Tequila!) features cilantro, limes, roma tomatoes, serrano peppers, yellow onion, vegetarian black beans, shredded cheese, tortillas and a choice of flap steak, mahi/ono, or chicken. Kits cost $15 – $24 depending on meat selection for 4 servings of Taco Kit only; $35 for Margarita pitcher only; $32 for Margarita pitcher when bought with Taco Kit.

Spring Meal Kits

CPK’s Spring Meal Kits are perfect for Mother’s Day. They feature your choice of pan-roasted chicken, roasted salmon or grilled ribeye with a side of spinach artichoke dip, sourdough baguette, caesar salad, fingerling potatoes and butter cake with vanilla Haagen-Dazs ice cream. Kits cost $40 – $120 depending on meat selection for 2 or 4 servings.

And if you need to celebrate Mom from afar, CPK patrons can now send their Mom’s a special Mother’s Day eGift Card with a personalized message. 

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of California Pizza Kitchen

RELATED STORIES

Some Restaurant Chains Announcing Free Delivery Amid Dining Room Closures

Starbucks Temporarily Changes to a “To Go” Model in US and Canada

Local Business Financial Aid Resources: COVID-19

Dining out with kids is always a gamble. Add in a picky eater and a long wait time for food and dining out can be a parent’s worst nightmare. But that’s all about to change when you say hello to downtown Bellevue’s new Lincoln South Food Hall. This full-service dining scene not only provides unique and delish chef-driven quick serve menu choices, but has plenty of options for even the pickiest of eaters and a family-friendly vibe we love. If you’re ready to get your grub on, scroll down for the scoop on this latest dining discovery.

photo: Lincoln South Food Hall

Centrally Located
Located in the heart of downtown Bellevue, across the street from Bellevue Square and right below the new Cinemark Reserve movie theatre is where you will find the new Lincoln South Food Hall. Park in the Lincoln Square parking garage (parking is free with validation from the Lincoln South restaurants or shops within the Bellevue Collection) or access it from any of the covered skybridges that connect The Bellevue Collection and Bellevue Square with Lincoln Square North.

Communal Dining
The space consists of seven fast-casual eateries all under one roof—each with a totally different vibe—but all with communal seating. If you’re thinking this sounds like a food court, think again. Lincoln South Food Hall has one general manager, Reid Kendall formerly of some of Seattle’s top dining spots: mamnoon, Scout, The Nest at the Thompson Hotel and Tallulah’s and one executive chef, Daniel Laferriere formerly of Guy Savoy and Daniel Boulud’s db Brasserie and Wolfgang Puck. The entire Lincoln South Food Hall is under the direction of Bellevue-based Ascend Hospitality Group, in partnership with Jeffrey Frederick of Elite Brand Hospitality Group and Kevin Hee who is Frederick’s director of culinary development. The casual dining environment, which you could call part kitchen, part counter and part bar, offers a variety of quick bites made from high quality ingredients that are locally sourced from artisan purveyors. And sets itself apart from other communal-type dining settings by providing guests with extra amenities like linen napkins, stainless-steel trays and a friendly staff who are on hand to bring you to-go containers, clear your plates and even fill your water glasses.

photo: Kristina Moy 

There’s Something for Everyone
Whether you’re in the mood for poké or have a hankering for street tacos, ramen or burgers, Lincoln South Food Hall has you covered. Barrio Luchador, which serves its food out of an uber-cool airstream trailer, is the place to go for street tacos (the pork and pineapple and tender beef cheeks are our faves), quesadillas and chips and house-made salsas. Next door, Avo-Poké is the spot for customizable salad bowls, made with or without six different kinds of traditional Hawaiian poké, plus a wide selection of fresh juices and fruit waters. Crosta E Vino, an Italian-inspired counter, serves wood-fired pizzas, artisanal cheeses and salumi boards and has over 30 red and white wines served from specialty barrel taps. If you’re in the mood for quiche, fancy thick cut toasts, French-inspired sandwiches or ice cream or sorbet, Baguette Epicerie’s grab-and-go counter will surely delight your taste buds.

photo: Kristina Moy 

For ramen lovers, Fat & Feathers can’t be beat. This popular (like line around the corner popular) spot offers five versions of ramen spiked with everything from rick pork belly to roast duck to Japanese fried chicken along with delish bao sandwiches. For burger lovers, the Burger Brawler serves up hefty burgers made from a blend of short rib, brisket, chuck and dry-aged ribeye and topped with Italian Taleggio cheese. Their menu also includes two versions of gravy fries (with a foie grass add-on) as well as delish sandwiches, 24 beers on tap, a Guinness infusion draft beer system and a full cocktail bar. If you need a caffeine pick-me-up, Dote will definitely satisfy your caffeine fix and your sweet tooth. Along with espresso, lattes, and signature drinks, Dote offers a delightful array of handmade chocolates (made on site by celebrated Pastry Chef Ewald Notter) as well as pastries, all day breakfast items, seasonal and assorted sandwiches and even boozy coffee cocktails.

photo: Kristina Moy

Kid-Friendly Eats
Whether you’ve got a kiddo who won’t eat meat, a child who can’t stand the sight of veggies or an adventurous eater who will try just about anything, Lincoln South Food Hall has something to satisfy every petite palate. At Barrio Luchador, the children’s menu consists of chicken or cheese quesadillas, chicken or beef tacos with shredded cheese, tortilla chips and mild salsa and sugar and cinnamon chips and Horchata for dessert. Over at Crosta E Vino, kids can choose the cheese and salami board off the kid’s menu or go with a kid-sized cheese, pepperoni or mushroom wood-fired pizza. If a burger and fries is more of your sidekick’s thing, the Burger Brawler serves kid-sized versions of their hefty hamburgers, cheeseburgers and crispy salmon burgers along with fries and vanilla or chocolate milkshakes. Got a little ramen lover in the fam? Head over to Fat & Feathers and let your kiddo order a kid-sized version of the pork belly ramen and add on a Japanese fried chicken bao to really fill her belly. And what kid couldn’t resist Nutella toast with a salted caramel banana or grilled cheese baguette at Baguette Epicerie? Top it off with a scoop (or two!) of Full Tilt ice cream and we’re pretty sure everyone in your crew will go home with full bellies.

photo: Lincoln South Food Hall

Even More Conveniences
With technology, Lincoln South Food Hall has made procuring food as easy as a click, tap or swipe away. Options include self-serve kiosks for grab-and-go items and soon, online ordering for pick-up and delivery through the Food Hall’s website and mobile app. Third-party partners such as DoorDash, Grubhub and Caviar will also be providing delivery services in the future, followed by Uber Eats and Postmates.

Good to Know
1. The space between the tables and the food counters is fairly tight, but there is stroller parking next to the Burger Brawler.

2. In the middle of the Food Hall you’ll find a self-serve water station which makes getting drinks for your kids easy-peasy.

3. Restrooms are located to the right of Baguette Epicerie. Just follow the signs down the hall.

4. Free Wi-Fi is available, just in case your sidekick must watch Dora the Explorer with her wood-fired pizza or you need to pull a little work/lunch double duty.

5. If you’re looking for a gift, stop by Dote Coffee Bar and pick up locally roasted coffee, handmade chocolates, jars of their oh-so delicious ganache (we recommend the vanilla bean white chocolate) or a bag of milk chocolate hazelnuts. You simply can’t go wrong here!

photo: Kristina Moy

Lincoln South Food Hall
500 Bellevue Way
Bellevue, Washington 98004
425-362-6082
Online: lincolnsfh.com

Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 6 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri., 6 a.m.-11 p.m., Sat., 9:30 a.m.-midnight; Sun., 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Please note that restaurant hours may vary, especially with holidays.

Have you taken your crew to the Lincoln South Food Hall? Planning to go soon? Dish about your experience in the comments below.

—Kristina Moy

RELATED STORIES:

8 Sunday Brunches to Make Any Weekend Special 

Just Opened: Sea-Tac Airport’s First Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurant

Scoop du Jour: Salt & Straw Finally Opens Two Seattle Shops

Hit the Bricks: Our Favorite Food Trucks Gone Brick-and-Mortar

Bellevue’s New Theatre Is Going to Change the Way You Do Date Night

“BoCoCa” — AKA, the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens — has long attracted a French-speaking and French-loving population, likely influenced by (among other things) the dual language program at area school P.S. 58. In the past year, a host of new French services and businesses have joined the BoCoCa pioneers, making this Brooklyn spot feel like a far-flung arrondissement of Paris. Click through to see how resident and visiting families can sample its joie de vivre!

For Patisserie, un Café et Petit Dèjuner (And Perhaps the Best Baguette in the City): Maison Kayser

Famed Parisian baker Eric Kayser has crossed the river and opened an outpost of his authentic artisanal boulangerie in the heart of downtown Brooklyn on Court Street, mere steps from Borough Hall. (Fun fact: a  boulangerie is an establishment where the bread and other baked goods are mixed and baked on-site all day long, which is, in fact, the case here.) There are lots of ways to enjoy this new addition to the area: sample the French pastries displayed in cases at the front of the restaurant, eat traditional French savory fare while watching bakers do their thing on the other side of a glass wall, or grab a baguette to go. (There's also a barista who can whip up a cafe au lait and more for you and grab and go options, too.)

Maison Kayser
57 Court St.
Downtown Brooklyn
718-254-9600
Online: maison-kayser-usa.com

photo: Maison Kayser/Paul Wagtouicz

Do you have a favorite place to soak up French culture in NYC? Tell us about it in the comments below!

—Mimi O’Connor

cover photo: via Jacadi London Facebook page

BLT Salad

You read right, this spin off of the classic sandwich standby is a bit “leafier,” but you better believe that it doesn’t lose any of it’s savory goodness. The highlight of this recipe ?Bill of Southern Boy Dishes insists that it’s the toasted bread. He adds the dressing to the tomato and bread mixture a few minutes before serving to soften them up and allow them to absorb all of the delicious flavors. Pair it with your grilled meat of choice and you’ve got one delicious dish. Yields 4 servings.

Ingredients
1 head of green leaf lettuce
10 oz bacon, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 baguette
3 cu cherry or grape tomatoes
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus 1 tsp
4 tbsp white wine vinegar
1 tsp honey
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tbsp minced shallots
2 tsp minced fresh thyme
8 tbsp reserved bacon grease
3 scallions, green part only sliced

Method
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. In a medium skillet, brown bacon over medium high heat. Remove bacon and drain. Reserve grease.

3. Cut baguette into 3/4 inch cubes to measure 8 cups. Place cubes in a large bowl and toss with 2 tbsp olive oil, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper. Place bread on a baking sheet.

4. Coat tomatoes with 1 tsp olive oil. Place on baking sheet.

5. Place tomatoes and bread in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Set aside.

6. Whisk together vinegar, mustard, honey, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, shallots, and thyme. Whisk in bacon grease until incorporated.

7. In a large bowl, toss tomatoes, bread, and dressing. Let sit for 15 or 20 minutes.

8. Arrange lettuce leaves on 4 salad plates. Divide tomato and bread mixture on salad plates and top with bacon and scallions. Serve immediately.

recipe and photo courtesy of Bill at Southern Boy Dishes

Take ordinary ingredients and make something extraordinary. That’s the philosophy behind Southern Boy Dishes. Bill, a lifelong food fanatic, grew up eating fresh and healthy foods. Now, he balances his time in the kitchen with living a busy life. Cooking every day is a priority, even if that means there’s only 30 minutes to get something on the table. His focus is on healthful dishes made with fresh ingredients. Enjoy all of Bill’s deliciously simple (and his more elaborate) culinary creations over at Southern Boy Dishes.

If you’re finding that there’s even more traffic on Lincoln lately, and that the cries from the cars are for “more croissants!”, it’s all due to this new spot that serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner.   Kids and parents alike happily brave the bumper to bumper for a little burrata on toast and black rice salad.  We’ve been waiting for it, it’s here, and it’s kid friendly.  Superba Food + Bread is indeed superb.

From the family-friendly restaurateur/dad Paul Hibler (who redefined parental pizza preferences with Pitfire) Superba Food + Bread goes beyond the neighborhood bakery. The sweet doughy aroma of freshly baked specialties beckons babes to climb around the outdoor planters onto the patio and plop down for a fruity muffin of the day, buttermilk biscuit or homemade pretzel croissant. Roll up on your beach cruiser with toddler trailer and Fido in tow: Superba Food + Bread is just what the neighborhood ordered.

Commerce Meets Comfort Food
What to choose? On any given day Superba’s bakery counter touts a half dozen handmade loaves, from traditional French baguette to whole spelt to omega 3-rich chia seed sourdough spirals. Tempt your little ones with toast topped with homemade jam, made from the season’s freshest offerings. The signature pain au levain (like sourdough, yet lighter) is good all by itself, as most teething tots can attest, while older kiddos might opt for cheesy scrambled eggs to greet the day.  While the in-house bakery uses wheat in most of its breads, there are gluten-free options like their tasty sweet-tart lemon cake, made with rice and almond flour.

Park or park?
There’s easy beach access from Superba’s corner (on the SE side of Marco Place), a veritable café campus, with oversized patio planters enticing little squirmers to climb and explore adjacent to the outdoor bench and bistro seating. The dedicated parking lot accommodates equal numbers of cars and bicycles, with ample stroller and scooter parking safely shielded from the line of traffic. In addition, there’s street parking on Lincoln for overflow so everyone can find a spot.  And with new shops popping up regularly (see the super-duper toy emporium Huzzah just steps away), you’ll be a regular.

Watching the World Go By
Sit down, take a load off. Superba’s open. All day. Breakfast. Brunch. Lunch. Dinner. Giant glass garage-like doors roll up creating a seamless space, indoors joining outdoors. Your kids can cozy up to on a patio cushion while you kick back with a beverage; maybe a piping hot cappuccino with a vanilla brioche sticky bun big enough for sibs to share. Or take a break to sip something more relaxing during their nightly supper, ranging from rotisserie duck to fried chicken with biscuits. Delivery service is in the works.  Cue the Hallelujah chorus.

Superba Food + Bread
1900 So. Lincoln Blvd (corner of Marco Place), Venice
Open: Mon- Sat 7 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sun 7 a.m. -10 p.m.
Online: superbafoodandbread.com

– Kim Orchen Cooper

What’s your favorite spot that serves B & L & D, where you can bring the kids?  Let us know in the comment section!

Visions of sausage might bring muscly macho men and meat-hangovers to mind, but there are lots of light, summery links showing up on the menus of sausage-makers around town. All of these suggestions are made on the premises with a refreshing, seasonal spin. In other words, everyone is invited to this sausage party.

Pig and Pie‘s banh mi sausage sandwich
At this quaint 24th Street newcomer, chef-owner Nate Overstreet takes a housemade garlic- and pepper-infused pork sausage and then gives it the traditional Vietnamese banh mi treatment. It’s layered on a baguette with a slab of chicken liver pate, pickled daikon radish, thinly sliced carrots, jalapeno, cucumber, cliantro, and a swizzle of Sriracha.

Bluestem Brasserie‘s Berbere spiced lamb sausages
These surprisingly elegant sausages are seasoned with the traditional Ethiopian berbere spice–a mixture of chiles, paprika, cinnamon, cardamom, and a handful of other spices and herbs. The vibrantly flavored meat is delicately adorned with watercress salad, cooling mint yogurt sauce and a healthy dollop of pureed eggplant on the side.

Finish the mouth-watering list over at 7×7 by clicking here.

This is our weekly guest post from our friends at 7×7, a site that keeps you up on the best of SF. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a fantastic Date Night idea each week. Be sure to check out their blog for hourly doses of the best of SF.

photo credit: chowbacca

Living so close to the coast, it’s a crime not to take advantage of all the fresh seafood the area has to offer, but it’s not always convenient to prepare fish in your own kitchen. Luckily, Seattle’s best chefs realize this and are offering a diverse array of salmon dishes sure to make your next date night tastier than ever. From sashimi to sandwiches, these delicious plates all pay homage to the versatility of our favorite fish.

Joe Livarchik of Seattle Magazine writes:

Sushi Kappo Tamura
This Eastlake hot spot’s savory salmon sashimi is as fresh as it gets, sliced and served with wasabi, soy sauce and tart lemon slices. $18. Eastlake, 2968 Eastlake Ave. E; 206-547-0937; sushikappotamura.com.

Market Grill
The Market Grill’s grilled salmon sandwich is one of the best. Blackened wild coho salmon is served on a baguette with fresh tomato, buttery grilled onions and silky rosemary mayonnaise. $12.95. Pike Place Market, 1509 Pike Place, Suite 3; 206-682-2654.

Hungry for more? Keep reading Seattle Magazine‘s full article here.

This is our weekly guest post from our friends at Seattle Magazine, which keeps readers on the pulse of restaurants, personalities, arts, entertainment and culture that reflect the tapestry of our dynamic landscape. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a weekly dose of fantastic Date Night ideas throughout greater Seattle.

For many of us, it’s not a tough trade: swapping a reliable cell signal and ubiquitous wi-fi for a sweet slice of small town heaven. Tucked away in all corners of the Northwest are tiny backwater hamlets, perched seaside, on idyllic bays or in mountain clefts, brimming with character, friendly locals and a peaceful main street to stroll. Slow your pace a while and explore these 14 tiny towns; the city, and all its cares, will be here when you get back.

Bow Edison

Be hungry. That’s the first rule of any visit to darling Bow Edison, a pair of tiny twin towns about a half-hour north of La Conner and a quick detour off farmland-scenic Chuckanut Drive. Bow is actually marked just by the turnoff to Edison; you’ll see the Rhododendron Cafe and the Bow Post Office at the Bow Hill Road intersection. Make your way into Edison.

Your first stop should be at Farm to Market Bakery (Bow, 14003 Gilmore Ave.; 360.766.6240), where you can pick up a lime-soaked polenta cake or two for breakfast or a snack. But if you’re lucky enough to be visiting on a weekend, save room for the gorgeous farm-to-table lunches awaiting in the town of Edison at Tweets (Edison, 5800 Cains Court; 360.820.9912; open Friday–Sunday only). Chef David Blakesley creates ever-changing menus that showcase the area’s sensational produce.

Browse through town and stop in at the Edison Eye Gallery (Bow, 5800 Cains Court; 360.766.6276) and the Lucky Dumpster (14044 MacTaggart Ave.; 360.766.4049), where recycled materials become gifts and reclaimed wood becomes gorgeous furniture.

Next, pop over to the Breadfarm (Edison, 5766 Cains Court; 360.766.4065; pictured left, photo by Gabriel Rodriguez) to pick up a loaf of the sensational bread (black olive baguette, Tonasket rye or multigrain) and then head back toward Bow to the Samish Bay Cheese shop (Bow, 15115 Bow Hill Road; 360.766.6707), where splendid cheeses await (the Ladysmith and Port Edison are standouts).

Bread and cheese in hand, it’s time for a scenic drive and an impromptu picnic on your way to The Wild Iris in La Conner. (There’s no in-town lodging in Bow Edison, though there are several house rentals in the area, some of them waterfront. Check vrbo.com for those listings.) It’s a pleasant trip, especially if you take Farm to Market Road or the longer (but worth it!) trek via Bayview Edison Road, which winds through farmland and offers sensational views of hidden inlets and wetlands.

Summertime visitors, don’t miss the Mount Vernon Farmers Market on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., where both Samish Bay and the Breadfarm sell their wares. —ALLISON AUSTIN SCHEFF

GETTING THERE: About 90 minutes north of Seattle via Interstate 5. See map. 

To read the full list of 14 small town getaways, click here for the entire Seattle Magazine story. 

This is our weekly guest post from our friends at Seattle Magazine, which keeps readers on the pulse of restaurants, personalities, arts, entertainment and culture that reflect the tapestry of our dynamic landscape. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a weekly dose of fantastic Date Night ideas throughout greater Seattle.