Seattle Bon Vivant

On not cooking for dinner...

Sometimes you are too tired to cook for one and can't be bothered going to a restaurant. Sometimes the best dinner is a mishmash of favorite noshie things from the market or in this case from Whole Foods.

Things I keep going back for: their mini samosas, coconut rice, chicken tikka masala, cholay chicken, mango chutney. Notice a pattern?

Or it can be a cold Asian noodle salad. Maybe Caribbean Roasted chicken, ripe plantains and grilled vegetables. Perhaps Brisket and ginger mashed yams.

Add a good friend to talk with. A bottle of wine is not that bad either. Dinner is served.

So, what do you crave for on evenings like these?

Nectarine Tart

Hasselblad 500 C/M and expired Kodak Portra 400VC

Not just any tart. A nectarine tart. Made with Washington fruit. Organic fruit. From Wapato. The fruit was delivered by the farmer. Nectarines so fragrant you'll want to bring them to your nose and take a whiff no different that when shopping for perfume.

It was served with an apricot coulis-type sauce (not pictured). I had mine with a tall glass of Harney & Sons Paris. Tea, iced. As dessert. After having a fantastic BLT. While it was 87 degrees outside. Heaven.

Local nectarines are available at farmers markets all over the city right now. Go get some today and bake you own tart. But if a hot oven is not your idea of fun on a summer day, just go to Sweet & Savory tomorrow morning and have a slice, or two.

Sweet & Savory
206. 325. 2900
1418 31st Ave S
Seattle, WA 98144

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. And did we mention Dana Cree (the fabulous pastry chef at Veil) has been thinking up delectable pairings to top the already scrumptious ice creams (balsamic reduction and seasonal fresh fruit compote anyone?)?

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

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

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

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

Open for lunch: FareStart

After much waiting, anticipation and fund-raising FareStart has finally opened at its new location at 7th and Virginia! Lucky for me, it is right here in my neighborhood, literally across the street and I could not be happier!

A good friend was kind enough to invite me over for the trial run, a Mock Guest Chef Night earlier tonight. You can read the menu in the photo above.

Not only was it delicious--they wined us and dined us like nobody's business!-- but it was a fantastic opportunity to take a peek at the inside of the building, because yes, they own the whole building. And it looks beautiful! Isn't that fantastic? I think so!

So at last, all the hard work that has gone into making this dream happen is there for all of us to enjoy and the biggest satisfaction is knowing everything goes to one of the most amazing organizations in town or anywhere.

Guest Chef Night at FareStart will begin February 8th but lunch started--albeit unofficially--today. And it will be open for lunch tomorrow. So go, please, have lunch, make a reservation for dinner Chef Joseph Jimenez de Jimenez of The Harvest Vine will be there 4/12!) and continue supporting Farestart.

FareStart
700 Virginia Street
Seattle, WA 98101
206.443.1233

FareStart on My Flickr and on my

FareStart on YouTube

The gift of French hot chocolate and cookies

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