STEPH DEROSA: CHICKEN ARTICHOKE SALAD >>>

Nordstrom Cafe Bistro
Chicken Artichoke Salad
Price: $10.95
Rating: Three out of four croutons
 

In all honesty I think Nordstrom is one of the best local shopping experiences around. Originating in Seattle, this retail giant holds such high quality and customer service standards that even the most discerning shopper like myself can always be made happy. Although I’m not hanging out there as much as I’d like lately, there is still an occasional need for a friendly lunch at Café Bistro, which is located on the second floor of their recently rebuilt Tacoma Mall location.

Not only has the store been given a facelift, but so has the menu of one of my favorite lunchtime shopping institutions. With re-created salads, different entrees, and an entirely new look, I was happy to find my favorite salad still on the menu â€" given a new name and tweaked just a teensy tiny bit â€" all for the better.

Description: Organic baby greens, strips of roasted chicken breast, long and full pieces of marinated artichoke hearts, chunks of goat cheese, sweet grape tomatoes, and small garlic croutons tossed in creamy Dijon balsamic vinaigrette.

Taste: Delicious. This salad hits every taste bud my mouth craves. The Dijon Balsamic Vinaigrette was balanced sweet and sour, the goat cheese soft and flavorful, the artichokes perfectly tender, and the grape tomatoes were seeded and absolutely savory. Get this: I even ate the croutons. Even those little suckers were good. They were just the right size (small) and were tossed in that Dijon Balsamic Vinaigrette I love so much. It goes without saying that this Nordstrom’s salad lives up to Nordstrom’s standards and everything about it was delicious.

Conclusion: There are differences between the old chicken artichoke salad and the new. First of all, they got rid of that weird bread-roll camping out on the side of the plate that nobody ate. To me, when a roll comes on the side of a plate I expect to have just finished ordering Baby Back Ribs or have just exited a buffet line at a hospital cafeteria. There’s nothing fancy about a roll on the side of a plate, not even at Nordstrom’s. Secondly, the artichoke hearts are fuller and tenderer, and the mozzarella balls have changed into goat cheese chunks. These two obvious changes, along with the improvement of softer artichoke hearts make for a top-notch salad that I am happy to have in my life.

Dressing on the side
Have you visited a school playground lately? They’re mostly filled with big contraptions meant for an older kid who can climb, or stocked with plastic spinning seats meant to nauseate all the others. If all I wanted to do was climb, I’d search for a tree. What happened to all the swings? Or see-saws? Or merry-go-rounds? They’re gone for safety reasons; I’m sure, but at what expense on the fun-o-meter? Where have the dangerous daredevil days of our youth gone? Part of the see-saw exhilaration was flying high and feeling intense anticipation of whether or not you could trust your partner not to jump off and drop you on your ass. And the merry-go-rounds? Oh the different ways you could hold on for your life! Now THAT was fun! Get the older boys to spin you and you were sick for hours. Man, how I miss that.

[Nordstrom, 4502 S. Steele St., Tacoma, 253.475.3630]

MICHAEL SWAN: I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMER! >>>

MICHAEL SWAN: NICE TO HAVE YOU BACK OLD FRIEND >>>

If you’re having trouble finding Shakabrah Java, just follow the tragically bright glow of green and red neon to the source. Neon signage is good only in small Eastern Washington towns and Las Vegas, but once inside this hip coffeehouse, you’ll figure out why this is a great hangout.  This café attracts regulars like UPS students, local business people, and beginning this week â€" performing musicians!

Yes, music is back at Shakabrah Java. This Friday, 2 Thousand Dollar Puma, Rituals and Head Bands rocks it beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday, AmeriSoul will lay down some drum ‘n’ bass. And singer/songwriter Aaron Spiro will perform every Wednesday.

Also this week, Shakabrah adds dinner service to its all day and night breakfast.

Grab a beer, a glass of wine and welcome back the Shakabrah Java we have known and loved.

[Shakabrah Java, now open until 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, midnight Friday-Saturday, 2618 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.2787]

BOBBLE TIKI: BREAKFAST WITH BOBBLE TIKI >>>

In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the Justice Department secretly gave the green light for the U.S. military to attack apartment buildings and office complexes inside the United States, deploy high-tech surveillance against U.S. citizens and potentially suspend First Amendment freedom-of-the-press rights in order to combat the terror threat, according to a memo released Monday.

Destruction in Tacoma!

Now Bobble Tiki can go to the movies ... by himself.

R.I.P. The Dow Jones Industrial Average. Here’s the latest.

This is good, right? Right?

“Scientists make HIV strain that can infect monkeys.” This will come back and bite us.

Viruses steal important information on Facebook, like 25 things the hackers didn’t know about you.

The Bachelor Jason Mesnick took a No. 2.

Check out photos of what you lose when you torment puppies.

Top Dorks

RON SWARNER: IT’S RECORD RELEASE DAY >>>

Neko Case, Middle Cyclone (Anti-)

U2, No Line on the Horizon (Interscope)

The Prodigy, Invaders Must Die (Take Me to the Hospital/Cooking Vinyl)

The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Communion (Yep Roc)

Bell X1, Blue Lights on the Runway (Yep Roc)

Justin Townes Earle, Midnight at the Movies (Bloodshot)

Molly Jenson, Maybe Tomorrow (Nettwerk)

The Whip, X Marks Destination (Razor and Tie)

Boston Spaceships, Planets are Blasted (Guided by Voices)

MICHAEL SWAN: YOU CAN SIT IN THE DEN NOW >>>

urbanXchange has added vintage furniture to it’s music space, The Den. “Our new space has a great backroom where you can find groovy, swanky or just weird furniture and accessories such as lamps, cookie jars, dishes and more,” states its press release. “Have a CD release, birthday party or meeting in our back space room. Only $100 per night (7 till 10 p.m.).”

To rent the space, give them a buzz at at 253.549.6400.

Also, if you have a cool piece of furniture you would like to sell, give them a call.

RON SWARNER: COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED TO A COOLER CHICK >>>

Remember urbanXchange's Golden Ticket giveaway program? Refresh your mind here.

Good news (not for you)! Tacoma artist and Weekly Volcano cover illustrator Mary K Johnson won for the month of February. She's the proud owner of the Beautiful Angle Golden Ticket poster.

'I cannot recall having ever won anything else in my life, and to win the very icon from the story that captured the anticipation of winning something against near impossible odds," says Johnson. "It brings to mind this lyric: I've got a golden chance to make my way."

Editor's note: As you may recall, Weekly Volcano scribe Chuck Dula struck a deal with a bisexual female friend of his. If he can lose 25 pounds by May 1, then said friend - and another female to be determined later - will have a three-way with Mr. Dula. That's what I call inspiration. Chuck will be chronicling his weight loss efforts every Tuesday here on Spew. Below you'll find the latest installment in Chuck's quest to be less fat and have sex with two women at the same time. Enjoy.

Beginning Weight: 186.5

The ideal body fat percentage for males up to 30 years old is between 9 and 15 percent. For females it is 14-21 percent. This is because females always get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to being fat. Which is fine because males get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to being ugly. Supposedly, the ideal weight for a male that’s 5’10” and 27 years old is 173 lbs. That’s stupid because I weigh more than that. According to the same chart, a male who is 7’10” should maintain an ideal body weight of 237 pounds. So keep that in mind. I have grown an average of 1 foot every 5 years so I will hit 7’10” by the time I am 40. Then having a threesome will be as easy as eating a Subway sandwich lathered in mayonnaise and honey and filled with Twinkies.

Note: Jared can suck it.

The Subway diet doesn’t work. I ate the aforementioned amalgamation of tender mouth-love for 4 months and almost died.

Note: None of that ever happened.

I lost 3 pounds last week and I would like to thank Miss Cathy for the inspiration to stray away from Double Decker Supremes and Caramel Apple Empanadas at Taco Bell. But if you haven’t tried the Caramel Apple Empanada yet, you are living an unfulfilled life.

Ending Weight: 183.5