The Seattle Traveler

The James Beard Foundation announced nominees in this year’s culinary profession.  It’s the Academy Award of the food industry.
 As you might expect, a high percentage of the nominees came from New York and Chicago.  Seattle, however, did make an appearance in two top categories:
Nominated for Best Pastry Chef is Leslie Mackie of the Macrina Bakery & Cafe, and nominated for Best Restaurant Service is Canlis.
I’ve been to Canlis a number of times, and its easy to see why its impeccable service garnered it a prestigious nomination. 
However, I haven’t been to any of the locations of Macrina Bakery & Cafe.  Has anyone …read more

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Everyone has the opportunity to sample a little luck of the Irish during St Patrick’s Week.
Seattle and Galway, Ireland are Sister Cities, so the ties between them run deep.  A variety of activities have been planned that will recreate a little piece of the homeland here in Seattle.  It’s a lively experience, meant to be shared, by both the Irish and the temporarily Irish.
A variety of events are planned throughout the week, so there’s sure to be something to fit into everyone’s schedule.
Saturday, March 10th: 

Irish Soda Bread Contest held at T.S. McHugh’s (1st & Mercer).  Judging starts at 2 pm.  …read more

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March is Washington Wine Month.  To celebrate, the Wine Commission has organized a variety of events throughout the month to help educate and inform people about the wines made here in the State of Washington.  There are educational sessions, wine tastings, and meet ups with wine makers and oenologists.
Washington is the nation’s second largest wine producing state, and become well respected on the international scene as well.  There are over 350 Wine Grape Growers, with over 30,000 acres of vineyards in the state.
Leading wine varieties includes Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah (reds), and Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon (whites).
If you’ll be …read more

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The Taste of Walla Walla wine tasting rolls into Seattle on Monday, March 12th, giving me an opportunity to support one of my favorite causes (FareStart) and to drink one of my favorite beverages (red wine).  How can you go wrong with a combination like that?!
The Walla Walla Valley, home to more than 60 wineries and vineyards, has favorable climate, soil, and conditions to have produced some nationally and internationally acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah.  Other grape varieties coming from the Walla Walla Valley include Chardonnay, Semillon, Cabernet Franc, and Sangiovese. 
Chalk it up to the northerly latitude, and the …read more

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I’ve previously written about what a great place FareStart is, so this is just an update.
It’s a part restaurant (open for lunch daily, and guest chef nights every Thursday), part culinary skills training program, and part life training skills.  It helps to get people off the street and into good paying jobs within the food industry.
This past week they’ve overcome a big problem — lack of space!
FareStart is now located in a four story building at 7th & Virginia.  They’re still offering the same great program, and can now serve more students.
If you haven’t been to FareStart, you should.  You …read more

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When you’re in Seattle, you’ve got to make time to hear some great music. 
There are lots of venue options to choose from, but I’d strongly recommend fitting in an evening at the Triple Door.  It’s located beneath Wild Ginger restaurant, and across from Benaroya Hall, and offers a couple of options within the same building:  Mainstage and Musicquarium!
Mainstage:  This premium venue was once the Embassy Theatre.  It has now been restored and updated to seat 300-plus people in a modern, acoustically advanced performance room.  The room features classic touches in decor (the gold-framed, red-curtained stage), but solidly modern seating (tables …read more

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2006 is about to bid us all adieu, but before it slips away entirely, I wanted to share with you my list of favorites for this past year.  I’m not claiming these are the best of the best, just that this year they are my personal favorites.
Favorite special occasion restaurant:  El Gaucho, Belltown.
Favorite casual restaurant:  Dick’s Drive-In.
Favorite steakhouse:  El Gaucho, Belltown.
Favorite seafood restaurant:  The Oceanaire, downtown.
Favorite ethnic restaurant:  Indochine (Thai), Federal Way.
Favorite Hotel:  Hotel Monaco, downtown.
Favorite Museum:  Washington State History Museum in Tacoma.
Favorite thing to do in Seattle on a sunny day:  Wander around the Pike Place Market, or watch …read more

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I am, unapologetically, a carnivore.  In a world of vegetables, grains, and tofu, there are times when the call of a juicy steak cannot be ignored.
Although known for its seafood, Seattle still has a number of steak joints, including most of the better known national chains, as well as some locally owned restaurants.
My favorite of the bunch is El Gaucho.
El Gaucho is a Seattle institution.  I remember it as one of THE places to go back in the 70’s.  It’s been reincarnated, and now finds a home in Belltown, where it has been steadily carving out a niche for itself, along with …read more

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The pizza debate is alive and well in Seattle:  Deep dish vs. flat.  Thin crust vs. thick.  Heavily sauced with lots of ingredients vs. minimalist.
Now you can add another concept into the mix:  authentic Neapolitan pizza, available locally only at Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria.
The Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN) is an organization that evaluates and certifies restaurants that meet the very high standards required for genuine Neapolitan Pizza.  The organization is certified by the Italian government, and is charged with protecting promoting authentic Neapolitan pizza.  Since Naples is considered the birthplace of pizza, you can imagine how seriously they take …read more

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Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley has long been Seattle’s premiere concert nightclub, focusing on diverse jazz performances that will appeal to afficianados as well as casual music fans.
Consistently rated “Best Jazz Club” by the various magazines, newspapers, and organizations that vote and award such things, Jazz Alley originally opened in 1979 in the University District.  At that location is staked out its reputation as an intimate bistro, popular with both college students and die-hard jazz fans.
In 1985, Jazz Alley relocated to its current home downtown, and although it is a much larger, state of the art facility, it still works to maintain the original …read more

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