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Saturday, December 23, 2006

The gift of French hot chocolate and cookies

French_hot_chocolate

While at Sweet & Savory I saw jar after pretty hand decorated and labeled jar of Cynthia Brock's famous French Hot Chocolate turn into delectable gifts to grab and go.

Inside the jar, the chocolate, heavy cream and spices base that goes into every dainty cup of this amazing and luxurious drink for you to take home and enjoy with friends and family.

A couple heaping tablespoons of the base, a little half and half, heated stove-top and you have a most delicious and and festive drink.

Sweet & Savory on my Flickr

Continue reading "The gift of French hot chocolate and cookies" »

Friday, December 08, 2006

Open for lunch: Crémant in Madrona

Gratine_des_halles
Gratinée des Halles (Gruyère glazed onion soup) @ Crémant last Tuesday

A couple weeks ago, while making a reservation for dinner at Crémant I could hear lots of voices and noises in the background. It was the middle of the day and I was hungry so even though I knew Crémant only opened for dinner service I had to ask if they were, by any chance, open for lunch.

No not today, but starting December 5th we will!

That was all I needed to hear. I made a dinner reservation for two (my friend Su and I) for that evening and a 12:45 for Tuesday. Later in the week I went back for a late dinner with Mr. C and while savoring our Salade d’Endives à la Crème de Roquefort, Gratinée des Halles and Steak Frites I was already thinking ahead to my little Tuesday lunch.

On most days all I have time for is a a big latte, pastry and a coffee, soup and sandwich or a quick trip home for whatever yummy leftovers are in the fridge.

However, there are days with plenty of time, motivation and opportunity to indulge in a leisure lunch that allows me to take my time, savor every bite and imagine I'm somewhere else, an escape from work and traffic stress.

And when the options are so delectable and a short drive to Madrona has the ability of instantly transporting me to Paris, with welcoming service, friendly faces and even a quick chat with the server, lunch can certainly become the best kind of quick escape and sanctuary around.

The lunch menu at Crémant just happens to be their dinner menu, the same delicious array of carefully prepared and impeccably executed dishes I've fallen in love with since this gem of a place opened in Madrona.

So it makes it very easy for me to get giddy over a lunch that may include what I consider to be the best French onion soup I've ever had, anywhere (including Le Pichet). Believe you me, this bowl of soup is a meal all by itself.

Or I can always order the frissée salad with poached egg. Or the very tasty Steak Frites when I'm in that meat and potatoes kick. Depending on time, appetite and budget you can have a very simple lunch or an absolute feast.

The most exciting aspect of the prospect of lunch service at Crémant is the fact that since securing a dinner reservation has become so tricky with the restaurant being an instant Seattle favorite, lunch will offer a fantastic opportunity to sample the fabulous work of Chef Scott Emerick to those who have yet to dine there.

Reservations for lunch are only necessary for groups of five or more but as soon as the word spreads I'm sure they'll be a wait out the pretty yellow door.

So, where are you going for lunch today?

Crémant on my Flickr

Crémant
1423 34th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98122
206-322-4600

Continue reading "Open for lunch: Crémant in Madrona" »

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Tanti auguri, Caffè Umbria!

Umbria
Vanilla latte ristretto and croissant yesterday @ Caffè Umbria

How times flies! It seems like only yesterday when we were celebrating the news that Caffè Umbria was opening their gorgeous shop at Occidental Square.

Well, it has been a year already and today the great people at Umbria are celebrating their first year anniversary by thanking their regular customers with free espresso drinks from 6am to 6pm and fabulous live jazz.

So stop by, greet the nice baristas, listen to beautiful music, sip some delicious espresso and enjoy the party!

Caffè Umbria
320 Occidental Square
Seattle, 98104

Caffè Umbria on my Flickr