Bellevue is actually quite far from a culinary wasteland as far as Asian food goes. I think most of my favorite not-overpriced Asian restaurants are over there.

Nibbana on 106th Ave between 6th and 8th Street (by the bus station) is a really good Thai place.

Kung Ho hidden in the corner of a strip mall across from Factoria Mall consistently has great Chinese food as well.

Here's all The Stranger's recommended places for the Eastside. You'll have to sort through to see what's in Bellevue and open for lunch, but these have all been vetted pretty carefully. Try Monsoon East if you want a fancier lunch, and Regent (which isn't showing up here for some reason, we will fix) is a good strip-mall Chinese bakery and restaurant. Chace's is a great old-school diner-type place. Some people really like Goldberg's Deli, which I think is in Factoria, but the reviews have been pretty mixed and I've never been, so it's not starred/on this list.

http://www.thestranger.com/gyrobase/LocationSearch?locationSection=2115787&feature=Staff%20Pick&neighborhood=24841&page=1

Check this out too—looks like some places worth trying:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/644381

We'll look in to What The Pho, too, and add to our listings. Let us know what you find out at chow@thestranger.com! Happy lunch!

My brother and his girlfriend live in Bellevue. Whenever we visit we go to What The Pho. Best Pho I've had in Washington. Love it. It's so good my boyfriend now pretty much refuses to eat pho anywhere else.

10680 NE 8th Street
Bellevue, WA 98004
Phone: 425.462.560

http://whatthepho.net/

Sound Organics is amazing! The cheapest you will find in all of Seattle! They guarantee their products and the customer service is top notch. They charge a lot less than other delivery services, and they deliver to more places than other companies too!

I'm not sure why you would want to restrict yourself to Starbucks equipment. There are a lot of cafes in Seattle and the non-starbucks cafes are more likely to go out of business than starbucks. Of course the best deals come from situations in which machines have NOT reached the end of their useful life at a cafe, but instead are being sold off in good condition. Strabucks also has a highly automated approach which is ok if you like that kind of thing, but not the usual for a real espresso aficionado.

There are several places to get used machines at good prices - usually places that specialize in servicing the machines for cafes. Most of them advertise on craigslist or on their own sites. A google search will get you top ones in a second.

I got my machine which is a commercial machine but perfect for home/office because it is not huge at visions. Here is their sale page but they seem to only have the really expensive ones available now.

http://www.visionsespresso.com/catalog/180

i just had a shuddering thought of the old boeing surplus but instead of rows of drill presses and engine parts and bins full of wires there were rows of half broken espresso grinders and bins full of expired coffee cards, not nearly as magical of an experience as boeing surplus was, but actually not a horrible idea if youre looking to pick up something that can make 5 drinks at once...i hope someone knows the real answer

Trader Joe's.

I routinely eat canned goods that are several years past their expiration date, although that's probably not recommended... My rule of thumb is that if it looks ok and smells ok, it's ok to eat.

I have eaten dried cherries that I found in my grandma's freezer from 1987. They still tasted good.

Eggs are essentially sterile, so unless they smell rotten, cook them thoroughly and you should be fine. I have eaten eggs that are months and months past their expiration date with no problems. The microbes that can make you sick (salmonella for instance) are just as likely to be present in fresh eggs. Rotten eggs are nasty, but they won't hurt you. And as long as they're not washed, the natural "bloom" on an egg shell will protect it from going bad for a long time - and older eggs are better for boiling, anyway.

Expired milk won't hurt you, it will just taste bad if it's no longer viable. I always smell milk, yogurt and other dairy products to insure their freshness.

Meat is another story. If there is any doubt in your mind - ANY - toss it.

We try to limit our use of the gas oven to days that are cool or cold nights, since the leakage will help to heat the house. On warm summer days, we try to avoid it for the same reasons.

However, there are some foods that you just can't microwave. But you knew that already...

You should also be aware that there are different types of date on different products.
For example, a "Best By..." date is not the same as "Expires on..."
There's also a "sell by..." date, which again, is not the same as "Expired" or "No Good".
It just means the market or store wants to move it by that date, to assure that it hasnt gone bad. It doesn't mean that it IS bad, or that it isn't going to last longer in your fridge.
Some beers started printing "Born On" dates, but as a non-drinker, I don't know if this was a stunt or a real issue.

expiration date of food is important for determining the shelf life of foods according to expiration is different, and should not be kept for more than three months after the expiration date, are also foods that can be preserved if for more than three months, and foods can be kept more than 18 months must indicate it is consumed before the date followed by month and year.

I read sometimes at the hopvine on 15th. It's a dim bar but there is definitely enough light to read there unless your vision is impaired. I second bauhuas. Cafe vita on pike is a wonderful spot but it can get crowded as well. It's open until 11 however and those later hours are often a bit slower. Also now that summer time is around the corner my favorite spot to read is cal andreson park.

Bauhaus on Pine is a great place to hang out and read. Especially upstairs.

It can be crowded but Joe Barr across from the havard exit is comfy and has crepesTop pot on summit is not as cozy but a good bet and they have yummy doughnuts

I throw stuff in tepid ovens ALL the time...EXCEPT when I'm baking! Since it's a pre-made product you are simply re-heating and browning will happen when the food is at the correct temperature. It's not going to hurt your pie or frozen dinner....but I do agree with Russ, they have it to a science on time and temp. However your oven may not even be calibrated!

I'm gonna say nope, your fine to trow it in, but with caution...keep your eye on the pie and usually it's my nose that tells me when something is done.

Russ is probably absolutely right about the safest option, but at my house we always just leave it on the counter with a thin, clean cloth over the top. The crust stays crumbly instead of mushing and the filling keeps its consistency. I probably wouldn't do this for long, though- pies usually don't last even 48 hours in the Sphinx family.

Try Pan Africa Market near Pike Market
http://www.panafricamarket.com/wp/
Not sure how the food is but I've been to hosted parties there and its a nice location

Kristen Bell's answer is actually the factor that governs your best method time parameters. How long?, as long as it still tastes good.

Refrigeration is the answer to keeping biological degradation from occurring, that is, growth of mold and bacteria on a perfect medium to support it - a high sugar gel. You can always warm each piece gently in a microwave oven to get it to room temperature or warmer to eat. Because of high sugar content use a low percentage setting for longer periods of time versus high setting for short time. Sugars absorb microwaves and heat extremely well and heat FAST. Also be careful while you are figuring the best time and settings, so when you go to eat it you avoid burning your mouth (if you have overheated it). I have found just how versatile a microwave oven can be for warming and cooking when you select partial percentage power settings over longer periods of time instead of just high power zapping.

You can also refrigerate it and just cut a piece for eating after the meal or later and leave it out at room temperature for a time to warm up naturally.

In your stommaccch!

Have you looked in the freezer section of QFC?

They have bags plastic bags of frozen fruit (for pies). I've seen almost everything from peaches to blueberries.

Poppy in cap. Hill has an ethnic-foodie spin and is well regarded. For something of a more traditional meal there's good food and drink to indulge in at pinxto, a spanish tapas place, in Belltown. For authenticity without the associated scene of the hill or crackheads of Belltown id suggest the int'l district.

Have you just considered buying a microwave?

What kind of parent are you taking a child to a bar?

Woody's has awesome shakes from a molly moon base, the salted caramel with malt is to die for.

Oh, and the (seasonal) black sesame milkshake at Katsu burger.

I recommend Peso's for these much-needed remedies. The corn gravy on the CFS is great - a little spicy and a little sweet. I haven't been there in a few years as I have moved out of the hood, but I recall it was good.

Is there any chance your water is not hot enough? The optimal range is supposed to be 185F to 205F, but if you are heating the water to the bottom end of that range, it's going to cool down by as much as 20 degrees when you pour it into a room-temperature french press. Buy or borrow an instant-read thermometer and check the temperature of the water before it goes into the press, and after it's sat in the press for a minute.