Who says food in Seattle doesn’t stack up to the Big Apple?  Tune in next week to celebrate a big-time, Emerald City shout-out from the former restaurant critic of the New York Times.  Frank Bruni is a major fan of Revel’s Rice Bowls and is telling the world about them on Monday, September 26, at 9 p.m. on the Food Network’s popular show, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, ‘Messy’ episode.

These deep bowls of rice, soy-cured egg yolk and a seasonally rotating selection of meat, fish and tofu, along with greens, kimchi and other veggies, are satisfying to the soul and to the stomach.

Photo by Jackie Baisa

If you’re on Twitter, tweet about the episode using #BestThingRevel for a chance to win a $50 dining certificate to this popular Fremont spot. Contest runs from Friday, September 23 through 9 p.m. Monday, September 26. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, September 27.

Former New York Times food critic Frank Bruni picked Revel’s Asparagus Rice Bowl for his segment of Food Network’s show “The Best Thing I Ever Ate.”

An example of Revel's delectable rice bowls - photo by Jackie Baisa

All of Revel’s rice bowls come with a luscious soy-cured egg yolk, and a variety of other delicious ingredients and flavor combinations including short ribs, with sambal daikon and mustard greens; Albacore tuna, fennel kimchi and escarole; and asparagus with pistachio olive chutney and radicchio.

The segment is filming soon and will air later next spring, once asparagus is back in season.

Spinasse chef Jason Stratton and sous chef Carrie Mashaney will make their television debut on The Food Network’s highly rated Chefs Vs. City on June 18.

“In this episode of Chefs vs. City, Chris Cosentino and Aaron Sanchez test their mettle in Seattle against two of the city’s most talented rising stars: Jason Stratton and Carrie Mashaney. From boisterous bar food in Tacoma to sugar-coated sweetness downtown, it’s a battle in Seattle as our teams throw down in a race of gastronomical proportions. The pride of Seattle is on the line in one of the closest races ever.”

Join chefs Stratton and Mashaney at Spinasse on June 22 to watch the show and get the inside scoop on what really happened in the making.

Ever wonder what the chefs and food personalities on the Food Network really love to eat on their days off? The show, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, reveals the most memorable dining experiences of these food-obsessed pros.

This summer, Holly Smith’s sorbetti and gelati from Poco Carretto will be featured on an episode of the show dedicated to fruit in all is guises. The tentative air-date is August 16, when local fruit is at the height of ripeness.

Food Network personality and host, Melissa D’Arabian will wax poetic about Smith’s Rhubarb Prosecco, Mango and Strawberry flavored sorbetti, which are available seasonally at local farmer’s markets, Cafe Juanita and PocoCarretto.com.

Other spring and summer offerings include Rhubarb Aperol, Strawberry Balsamico, Bing Cherry, Charentais Melon, Heirloom Tomato and Apricot.

Shipping is available for gift-giving and for those of you who don’t live in the greater Seattle area.