Seattle - Postscript for Foodies
Even five weeks wasn't really enough to taste the abundance of delicious foods in Seattle. I think we did a pretty good job of never having a bad meal.
The obvious Pike Place tourist favorites did not disappoint, and we definitely ate our fill from Beecher's Cheese (mac-n-cheese), Pike Place Chowder, Pike Place Seafood (candied salmon), Chukkar Cherries, and Rachel's Ginger Beer. We also discovered new favorites, like The Crumpet Shop, where the "Life Changer" has cream cheese, Vermont maple butter, and walnuts, and Ellenos Real Greek Yogurt, where Danny introduced us to Marionberry. Delicious!
But we were eager to try the places the locals like best. There were a few pleasant surprises right there in the alleyways of Pike Place.
First, Cafe Campagne, where the ambiance was relaxed and homey, the French dishes were simple and well-executed, and Lillet Rosé Martinis were icy cold and just the perfect balance of lemony and slightly sweet. We loved those martinis so much that we went back again for more, and forgot to take a photo both times - so I borrowed this shot from the restaurant website.
Next, The Pink Door, where it was nearly impossible to get a table. They definitely lived up to the hype. We loved the relaxed vibe out on the patio, the live music (blues guitar), and the perfect-for-summer menu: roasted figs with mascarpone, vegetable risotto with fresh corn, green beans and squash blossoms, gnocchi with wild mushrooms, snap peas, and truffle, and basil cake layered with raspberry jam. If we lived in Seattle we would eat there as often as possible!
The third Pike Place gem was Sushi Kashiba. Chef Kashiba studied under Maestro Jiro Ono (of Jiro Dreams of Sushifame). We splurged on the omakase, and each of the six courses was more sublime than the last. Unfortunately, this place was a budget-buster, so we'll have to be satisfied with the memories of this one incredible meal.
Just a few blocks from our apartment, in the other direction from Pike Place, we discovered a Russian-Georgian place called Skalka. There was basically just one dish on their menu - khachapuri, and they did it really well. Each khachapuri was baked to order, somewhat like a pizza shaped like a boat, with your topping of choice on one side (chicken, veggie, or beef Stroganoff) and an egg with fresh cheese on the other side, and big pat of butter melting all over everything. Mmmmm - we definitely had Skalka again.
Some of our best dinners in Seattle were thanks to our local friends who invited us to their homes for homemade meals. Bill Wescott and his son Varun whipped up a delicious array of Indian dishes, including two kinds of idli, curry soup with okra, and paneer with yogurt sauce. Kevin Rodriguez and his wife Carolyn showed us their new patio and vegetable garden, and we had excellent pizza flash-baked at 800 degrees in their new Oomi oven.
And also thanks to Kevin and Carolyn, we had the amazing experience of dining al fresco in the "Treehouse" at the famous Canlis. Reaching this unique tent involves climbing out onto the roof of the restaurant. And as if the outstanding five-course dinner and superb wine were not enough, afterwards we were escorted to a secret nook in the kitchen for a brandy. The food was sublime, the view of Gas Works Park was iconic, and the company? Well, that was the best part. Thanks, Kevin and Carolyn!
