Seattle Bon Vivant

Barolo: A very happy hour

It is 64 degrees outside, the sun is shining and there is a light cool breeze. Where are you right now? We find ourselves at Barolo, where happy hour is a fabulous bargain. Half price the regular bar menu, 7 days a week, 3:00 to 6:30.

We ordered the antipasto plate and the tuna carpaccio and two glasses each, first of the house white, later on the house red. To cap it off, their lovely Torta di Formaggio al Balsamico Invecchiato, a light cheesecake with aged balsamic; warm and creamy and not too sweet. Perfect!

Less than $40 and really, we do not want to go home yet. :)

Barolo Ristorante
1940 Westlake Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 770-9000

Holy Molly!: Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream opened today in Wallingford

It was not even three in the afternoon when the line outside Molly Moon Neitzel's eponymous ice cream shop, Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream ran a block and a half up the street.

Indeed, it seemed as if the whole of Wallingford had descended to join Miss Molly and her adorable dog <b>Parker Posey<b> in the ribbon cutting and opening day festivities.

Later, as the line moved inside and we were greeted by deejay Eric Johnson of the Fruit Bats (and lately of The Shins) scoop after delectable scoop of flavors such as Bubble Gum, Maple Walnut, Honey Lavender, Vivace Coffee, Thai Iced Tea, Mandarin Chocolate Sorbet and even Cardamom left the beautiful counter space. The smiles of the kids alone and the bevy of happy adults and dogs alike made for a very merry Saturday afternoon.

Molly Moon's ice cream is made with fresh, local, organic ingredients (such as Skagit Valley's strawberries to Sequim's and Vashon Island's lavender). Even the dairy products used to make every batch of her delicious ice cream are sourced from an organic dairy farm in Maltby, Washington.

Add to this the fact that the storefront has been built incorporating many sustainable materials and that even the cute dishes are 100% compostable. 

And that, people, makes Molly's ice cream shop a sustainable Seattle fan and locavore ice cream lover's dream come true!

We had the Balsamic Strawberry that reminded us of one of Balsamico e Fragola, our favorite Fiori truffles and the Salted Caramel, redolent of  those lovely fleur de sel caramels that we've purchased in the Marais. We are still licking our chops and can't wait to go back. Thank you Molly!

Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream
1622½ North 45th Street (Wallingford)
Seattle, Washington
206.547.5105

Reader's Choice: Seattle Bon Vivant awarded Best Local Food Blog by Seattle Magazine

It's taken me a whole month to finally talk about it (tooting my own horn is not my bag)  but I could not let the year end without acknowledging the honor of having my blog Seattle Bon Vivant awarded Best Local Food Blog in Seattle Magazine's Best of 2007 (December) issue. 

This is not only an incredible surprise (to say that I haven't posted much this year would be an understatement) and great honor (Seattle Magazine, come on!) but what makes it most meaningful to me is that the selection was made not by a group of editors at the corporate office, but by the readers of the magazine. How incredibly sweet is that?

The funniest thing: I even got my own decal to display in my place of business. Ha! Where to put it, I wonder? :)

Anyway, heartfelt thanks to Seattle Magazine but especially to you dear readers, who have been along for the ride these past four years. It means more to me than you'll ever know and I'm so grateful.