Seattle Bon Vivant

Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Capitol Hill: Only a few more days to open

A few more days people and they'll be open. Maybe Saturday, maybe Monday the gal outside told me the other day. A couple more permits, a few touches to the fabulous space and come next week--if all goes as planned--we'll be happily sipping our lattes as this new joint (our all-time favorite coffee shop in Portland), right next door to one of my favorite new spots to work, eat, drink and  hang out any time of day or night, Café Presse.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters
1115 12th Avenue
(12th & Madison)
Seattle, WA
206.323.1544

*Edited to add: As of 7:54am Monday September 17th Stumptown hopes to open later this afternoon after the city gives them their final green light. 

Taste: Crazyberry in Capitol Hill

For those of you with Pinkberry envy (that über hip and colorful California-based frozen-yogurt chain) rejoicing in the fact that now we have Shnoo Yogurt (Kirkland and 4th & Pine, downtown) and Yoberry (3rd & Marion, downtown) here's some more delectable dairy data: there's yet another yogurt joint in the city. Crazyberry opened up two days ago on Broadway in Capitol Hill(corner of Olive Way, next to US Bank).

You had no idea you say? I know, me neither! But I literally bumped into it earlier today while in the area shopping for a Murakami novel at Twice Sold Tales. I had parked my car right across the street from the Pyroshki place and had at least 20 minutes left on the meter so of course I wanted to use up the time and perhaps look for some take-out or espresso in the area.

As I looked to my left, there it was. The sign made me very curious so I crossed the street and went in. After sampling their three flavors (strawberry, plain and green tea) I opted for a small cup ($2.50) of swirled green tea and strawberry yogurt topped with fresh blueberries ($1.00). It was delicious, not too sweet and a bit tangy, which is exactly how I like my yogurt. And with today's heat it was just the perfect pick me up.

The place struck me as really friendly and easier on the pocketbook than the LA version but with a much smaller array of toppings. Bear in mind, Crazyberry has not even announced a grand opening yet but if you find yourself in the area with cash in hand, do stop by and try it out. The owner is on-site, super nice and the yogurt is quite yummy. Ahh, and unlike Pinkberry, photography is not prohibited. Ha!

Crazyberry
131 Broadway Ave E.
Seattle, WA 98102
yumyum@crazy-berry.com

Taste: Queen Anne Thursdays Farmers Market

A reminder that the Queen Anne Thursday Farmers Market is going on today from 3:30 to 7pm. On my last visit I was able to take home pretty cupcakes from Wink, cherries and red raspberries and blueberries galore.

I was also absolutely thrilled to find that Cynthia Brock --of Sweet & Savory in Mount Baker-- and crew had brought up a table full of beautiful pastries, cookies and pies. There were Almond-Lemon Madeleines, Blueberry Hand Pies, savory tarts, croissants and pain au chocolat.

On my way to the car I spotted a crêpe stand and ordered--mostly to try it out-- their delectable ham, cheese and organic spinach version. It was so lovely and filling (she even added an egg) that I went home happy as a clam, with a belly full and no need to cook dinner for one.

Queen Anne Farmers Market
(parking lot of McClure Middle School)
1915 First Ave. W.
Seattle, WA 9811
3:30 pm to 7:00pm

Rainier Square Tuesdays Market

Did you know that in addition to the marvelous farmers markets happening every day of the week all over Puget Sound now downtown residents and workers can conveniently shop once a week at a little Tuesday Market right in the middle of downtown Seattle?

Every Tuesday afternoon from 4pm-7pm (through Aug 28) at the base of Rainier Square, we'll be able to shop for local produce, cheese, flowers, photography and crafts. Pretty nifty, huh?

So how about it? If you feel you are just too busy to make it out to Pike Place Market on a Tuesday evening or have yet to plan tonight's dinner give it a go. I plan to head out there this afternoon and do a little shopping after work.

With the gorgeous weather we've been having, perhaps a loaf of fresh bread, some fabulous cheese, fruit and a favorite beverage will be just the right thing to enjoy tonight's excellent forecast.

Rainier Square Tuesdays Market
Fifth & University
Downtown Seattle

Lunch @ Sitka & Spruce: No better day than today

If you have yet to make your mind up as to where to go for lunch today, have been planning to go to Sitka & Spruce for lunch or are a regular lunch crowd member at this Eastlake marvel here's a bit of information that is sure to help: today's lunch service at Sitka & spruce will be the last time we Sitka fans have a chance to eat our hearts out in the middle of the day.

Starting next week, Sitka & Spruce will be concentrating their efforts on dinner and weekend brunch. This is by no means a bottom line decision. Lunch is extremely popular, the restaurant is definitely in the black and the lunch service--which at most restaurants is a money losing proposition--here it is quite profitable.

Ever since opening the restaurant, Chef Mathew Dillon (who was just named one of the ten Best New Chefs by Food and Wine Magazine and featured in their annual July Chef Issue) and his fabulous staff have been burning the midnight oil, working all sorts of extravagant hours feeding the city with their amazing, locally sourced, carefully selected, deliciously prepared food.

Frankly they need a bit of a break.

So, how about dropping by today? I was there yesterday and the memory of the delicious grilled sardines and  onions, pine nuts and sultanas still lingers in my mind. And even though today will be a very hectic one for me, I will definitely stop by to enjoy one more delectable meal at one of my favorite places to eat anywhere.

I will certainly miss having all those delicious lunches at Sitka & Spruce. I'll just have to make it in more often for dinner and brunch. :)

Sitka & Spruce
2238 Eastlake Ave. E.
Seattle, WA 98112
206.324.0662

Sitka & Spruce on my Flickr

Cafe Amati: A coffee oasis inside Shinjuku Station

AGFA Ultra 100 on Rollei Prego 90

We had our Japanese breakfast with the fishmongers at the market then took the JR back towards Shinjuku, to go back to our hotel and take a nap before heading back out to Roppongi.

But we had not had any coffee that morning and we were a little bit sleepy after such an early wake up call. While walking towards the station's west exit, we came across a tiny and beautiful coffee house that looked just like the place we need to rest our feet (the fish market is a few football fields too big) and get some much needed caffeine.

Café Amati offers table service, it is lovingly lighted, with pretty silverware and a collection of Wedgwood porcelain. Every place setting is different, all of them beautiful and the thimble-like silver creamers cute as a button and small enough for Thumbelina to take a bath in.

The coffee, was dark, creamy, strong and delicious and the toast, my gosh, the toast! Thick and eggy, brioche-like served hot and golden with a choice of jams and Hokkaido butter.

In such beautiful and warm surroundings and with coffee so delicious, we were no longer in a hurry for any nap. Who says you can't find Zen while having a cup of coffee?

Café Amati
Shinjuku Station
Shinjuku, Tokyo

*For more Tokyo photographs please visit my Tokyo Monogatari Flickr set. As always, new photos--from Seattle and everywhere else--are uploaded everyday. :)

Postcard from Tokyo

Wake up call at 330am. Auction. Breakfast. Sashimi with fish market workers. A fabulous time was had by all.

We are having a wonderful time. It has been non-stop food, wine, trips, walking, talking and metro and JR hopping and frankly when you are enjoying yourself so much sitting at the computer is the last thing you want to do.

But I wanted to check in and say hi. Many photos have been taken, many wonderful things to tell you. Soon, soon!

Off to Japan!

For the last two months we here at Seattle Bon Vivant have been preparing for a trip to Japan. We have been learning Japanese, immersing ourselves in Japanese culture and language, film and books to get us ready for our  journey.

The bags are almost packed, the iPod is fully charged and in a few hours we'll be driven to the airport. The laptop and the mobile are staying home. Other than a few cameras (okay, about seven!) this is an experience we want to enjoy with all our senses and no distractions.

I'll try to check in from the road. I might moblog a bit using my Sidekick3 until our United Airlines flight departs SEA-TAC later today but that's about it. I promise to tell you all about it next month!

Let Suntory Time begin! :)

Chew on this: Air France announces non-stop service from Seattle to Paris!!!

Sunday breakfast for two at L'etoile Manquante in the Marais

Here is one more reason to love living in Seattle and a bit of news that will make all of us local Francophiles very happy.

Seattle Times travel writer Carol Pucci (who by the by just returned from Paris herself) reports in today's paper that Air France will start daily non-stop service from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Paris this summer with a new flight into Charles de Gaulle Airport starting June 11.

How cool is that?

So, no more having to endure 6am departures from Seattle with connecting flights through Atlanta or New York, Pittsburgh, Newark, Houston, O'Hare or the worst offender, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport.

No more schlepping of bags across terminals, with minimum connecting times between flights and the resulting running through long and maze-like concourse corridors, up and down escalators and stairs to make the next shuttle and catch the next flight to Paris only to have the connection delayed or canceled.

Or worse! To arrive in Paris like it happened to us in March 2005 only to find that our bags never made it to our JFK-CDG flight. And it was winter! And a blizzard was covering the country and England. And we were taking the Eurostar to London that week too! I still get very cold when I think about it.

And-sorry Boeing--but we will be flying Airbus with those personal televisions at every seat and over 9 film and TV channels to keep this cinephile happy. Just thinking about it is making me giddy already.

Now all of you fellow gastronauts out there, isn't this the best incentive to make Paris your next travel destination? Imagine this: early dinner in Seattle, a few fab films along the way, perhaps a long nap et voilà!... brunch in Paris the following day? Dreamy huh?

Mais oui, bien sûr!

Air France to start non-stop service from Seattle to Paris

Tavolata

There is no sign yet. And if you do not know Tavolata is there you'll miss it. Don't.

Dinner was lovely and we had a perfect view of the kitchen with Ethan Stowell and Patric Gabre-Kidan in it.

Last night Whole Roasted Branzino was on the menu. Homemade pasta--we had the Rigatoni and the Conghilie-- came piping hot to the table. The wine list, short, sweet and affordable, offers plenty of quaffable options (we had the Cusumano and the Ciro) and Vitta coffee (we ordered latte and got Cappuccino instead but it was so good we didn't say a peep) here is no wimpy affair.

Our server was super friendly and efficient. The room tastefully and minimally appointed, unpretentious yet elegant--what with that impressive chandelier above our heads and the beautiful reclaimed wood communal table. The lighting in general is superb and you'll be as comfortable here at a romantic rendezvous for two as you will with a group of ten of your best friends. Oh, did I mention they serve until 1am daily?

And that Octopus salad...

Tavolata
2323 Second Avenue
(between Bell & Battery)
206-838-8008