Belles of the Sound

Another great post in our “Belles’ Man on the Street series” by local Seattleite, Henry Fitzgerald.

Over the years, I’ve developed a taste for healthy foods I never thought possible, including brown rice, squash and raw vegetable juices. I make a mean eggplant dish that even my momma loves. But after a long day, I’m just not interested in making it, or anything else, myself. I can’t manage the effort to find the olive oil, marinara sauce and cheese. Sad, huh? On my nights, with a craving for pizza and no pizza equipment in sight, I seek out the best eco-friendly establishments I can find. My local favorites never let me down.

My Favorites:

• Z Pizza (Capitol Hill, 1620 Broadway Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122, (206) 432-9158)

The Z Pizza menu offers fantastic gluten-free and vegan options. Their roasted eggplant is made fresh in-house. My friends and I appreciate that they use select ingredients including certified organic tomato sauce and fresh produce. This inexpensive option makes a great lunch or dinner when you really need it fast and you can even order on-line. Go in to enjoy their happy hour pricing on beer and wine.

• TASTE Café at the Olympic Sculpture Park (2901 Western Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121, (206) 332-1376)

During the summer, when I want a seasonal soup, I know where to go. The TASTE Café serves their soups with fresh baked focaccia bread. If you’re looking for packaged local and organic snacks, this is a great quick stop. It’s awesome that all of the packaging is biodegradable. Their commitment to composting helps us all sustain the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Furthermore, investing in local farms helps promote the environment and build the community.

• Stumbling Goat Bistro (6722 Greenwood Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98103, (206) 784-3535)

When I’m looking for something a little fancier, I head over to the Stumbling Goat Bistro with a group of friends. The menu changes seasonally. And, I like that the menu changes according to what is regionally available. For me, coming here is a treat, giving me a chance to support my local community and sustainable businesses. Their pan-roasted organic chicken with roasted oyster mushrooms and garlic confit is a crowd pleaser. For dessert, try the blackberry pear tart.

Other Options
Other places I frequent include the Agua Verde Cafe and Paddle Club, a waterfront restaurant featuring eco-friendly Mexican dishes, promoting good health and sustainable resources. I also enjoy the Chaco Canyon Organic Café, when I dine with friends with food allergies. They offer raw and vegan menu options. Molly’s Salads provides a great lunch option. They too support local farmers by purchasing their products nearby. The great part is that these places help promote the farms that provide their produce so when I have the time, I can go myself and can buy my own vegetables and cook. That’s the plan anyway!

My Pledge

My commitment to visit restaurants that serve environmentally-friendly foods is easy in Seattle because so many restaurants are dedicated to providing their customers with healthy options that also allow them to invest in local and sustainable food sources. Supporting these businesses on a regular basis keeps prices down for everyone. When you patronize local establishments, you enable them to participate in outreach programs, including school and community events to promote awareness about the importance of sustainable farming. I like knowing where my food comes from, don’t you? Get out and try some of the best sustainable local restaurants in Seattle and you won’t regret it!

If you are a regular Fremonster, you know this is nothing new. But this Friday’s First Friday Art Walk is my first! I’ve lived in Fremont for exactly five years now and I’ve never wandered down to the Fremont storefronts that feature local art, nibbles and beverages EVERY first Friday of the month. It’s like free dinner and drinks while being cultured and meeting some awesome small business owners.

Tomorrow, I will be finally checking out the scene and centering a great deal of my attention on the “Hired Hands: Paintings & Photography” at the EVO Timesinfinity Art Gallery. This exhibit features photographs and paintings that not only highlight the lifestyle and sports of EVO employees but also their artistic abilities and personal interests. Should be interesting!

But there are so many fantastic other venues to visit throughout the night.

If you’ve let Seattle Restaurant Week pass you by this year and you’re still craving a reason to get out of your desk for lunch, or hit the town for dinner, you still have an opportunity next Thursday to participate in an event that encourages dining – breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night – at many of Seattle’s favorite restaurants. While you may not find a screaming deal from Canlis, you can really make a difference by filling your  bellies.

Dining Out For Life is next Thursday, April 28. when you dine at a participating restaurant, grocery store, cafe, or bakery on this day, a percentage of your purchase is donated to the Lifelong AIDS Alliance, and the fight against illness and hunger in our community.

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The Washington Wine Commission‘s flagship event is this weekend; Taste Washington. It is a huge party celebrating all that is good about our state’s wine industry and one that is worth experiencing. Throughout March, local wineries, restaurants and retailers celebrate Washington Wine month leading up to the grand event.

Tickets are on sale through ticketmaster for Sunday, March 27th’s Grand Tasting (at the Qwest Field Event Center) and also available at several local wine retailers including: Arista WIne Cellars, Cellar 46, Esquin Wine Merchants, McCarthy & Schiering, Pike & Western Wine Merchants, Redmond Fine Wine & Cigars, Soul Wine, The Grape Choice, The Wine Alley, Wine World – $75 General Admission $125 VIP or 2 for $240. VIP ticket includes an extra two hours of wine & food tasting (2pm-4pm). VIP tickets are limited to 1000. Ticket prices include all wine and food samples.

More than 200 wineries will be on hand at Taste Washington Seattle, pouring up to three of their wines. Try new releases of old favorites, or new varietals from some of Washington’s many brilliant new wineries.

Around 60 Seattle-area restaurants will be on hand, to prepare their favorite treats. Hip, new restaurants and historic establishments alike will tempt you with delicious fare.

Download the event program and start planning your tasting route. And don’t forget to get a DD.

How can you say no to champagne?

Say hello to Ivar’s Salmon House’ 2nd Annual Holiday Sparkler! Wednesday night (that’s tomorrow) December 1, the Ivar’s Salmon House on Northlake Way is hosting an evening of holiday cheer paired with bubbly and delicious bites. Cozy up to the waterside windows along North Lake Union, sip champagne to the tune of live jazz music, and enjoy the twinkle of the Argosy Christmas Ships as they sail by with downtown Seattle lit up in the background. Seasonally-inspired festive hors d’oeuvres will also be served from Ivar’s Salmon House executive chef Jason Bray.

But back to the champagne – The evening will feature samplings from up to 25 champagnes and sparkling wines from Argentina, California, France, Italy, Spain and Washington. See the full list here.
Tickets can be purchased for $35 online at www.ivars.com or through BrownPaperTickets.com. The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. until about 8 p.m.

The menu includes:

● Assorted imported and domestic cheeses
● Various artisan breads
● Sliced flank steak with mushroom demi-glace
● Shucked oysters
● Braised pork belly
● Prawn shooters
● Roasted and marinated vegetables
● Assorted dips and spreads
● Alder grilled salmon sides
● Assorted mini desserts

First things first, check out the progress I’ve made on my Halloween costume:

Stage 1: Conversation Heart

I’m so proud of myself. Slowly, but surely, moving on up in the costume world.

Let’s talk for a minute about the month of  October. We’re smack dab in the middle of a pretty fabulous month. October is home to Halloween, the Pumpkin Spice latte, the smell of fallen leaves, and — drum roll, please — Seattle Restaurant Week 2010! Oh, how I love Seattle Restaurant Week. Ten days of $25 three-course meals in over 100 restaurants. Foodies, fake foodies and lazy cooks alike can revel in the deliciousness that is the Seattle culinary scene October 17 – 28, 2010 (excluding Friday and Saturday).

In my opinion, the best part about Seattle Restaurant Week is the opportunity it provides for relatively broke 20-somethings such as myself to check out the award-winning, yet often pricey, hot spots that cover our fair city. For instance, I’d love to check out Crush, Portage, Spring Hill Restaurant and Bar, and Tilth some time within the next week — four restaurants I’d be unable to dine in unless I met a man looking to impress or my parents came for a visit. Mom and Dad, if you’re reading this, I miss you and I’m hungry. I think a visit to Seattle is in order. I’m available starting October 29 a.k.a the end of Seattle Restaurant Week a.k.a when I can no longer afford to eat at Anchovies and Olives. Xoxo!

Are you planning to check out the Seattle Restaurant Week festivities? If not, you probably should. If so, which restaurant(s)? Fill me in! Sharing is caring.

I know we just got started with fall, but there’s no time like the present to get a jump on winter. And I know many of you are desperately waiting to get up to the mountain for that first winter ski or, if you’re like me, you’re just waiting on pins and needles to bust out your winter coats and hats! While you’re dreaming of those days not too far off, quench your thirst at the Redhook Winterhook Winter Ale Release Party!

If you know your beer you might be interested in this special brew made just for the holidays. Here’s the scoop…

The 2010/2011 Winterhook Winter Ale is a rich, full-bodied beer with a red chestnut color. It combines imported and local Caramel, Vienna, Pils, Chocolate and NW 2-Row malts for a complex profile balanced by four hop varieties added in the brewing to emphasize the end hop character (flavor and aroma). Beautifully balanced, the flavors meld to create an overall complex profile with no single ingredient out of harmony. …like I said, if you know your beer

The red carpet is going to roll out next Wednesday, October 6 at 6pm at the Forecaster’s Pub out in Woodinville at the Redhook Ale Brewery. While Redhook will offer draft and bottle specials all day in honor this seasonal release, more festivities go through the night with raffle prices and music in the Weatherman’s Room until 9pm.

The raffle includes chances to win a Redhook snowboard, t-shirts and gift certificates. Beer specials include: $3 Winterhook pints all day, $18 Winterhook cases all day.

I’m not suggesting you skip right over the spicy aromas and colors of fall, but I do suggest throwing on your ski pants for a festive night out at the brewery.

You want a chance at the best seafood in Seattle? It’s hard, I know.  Seattle is a veritable font of amazing seafood.

But, in my esteemed opinion, if you want the best of the best, in the chowder category, you head to Duke’s Chowder House.

Not only is the place award winning, but there are six convenient locations to try. Personally, Green Lake Duke’s is my favorite. I love being able to sit outside on a nice day. Those days are so few and far between, that it’s great to appreciate them fully. It’s right across from the wading pool, so if it rained during the day, but cleared up in time for dinner, you can see all the kiddies and dogs playing around.

While I have tried other items on the menu (and they were good), the chowder is the reason for heading over there. They make five different kinds, and if you’ve never been, I highly recommend the sampler so you can try them all at once.  While a couple of them turned out to be beyond my liking, it was great to try something different.

Two of the chowders – the Lobster Pernod and the Award Winning – are simply the best. The lobster is sweet, and I didn’t think I liked it after the first bite, but each bite I took made it more and more addicting. The Award Winning chowder is undefeated in the Seattle chowder cook-off. It’s more than simply addicting. It’s a revelation. Get it in a bread bowl, and I promise you’ll never want to order another thing on the menu.

If you’re in the mood for a place to enjoy an interesting cocktail (or “Duketail”), Duke’s has you covered there, too. Either of the lemon drops are fantastic, but I love the Pom Kazi, and have heard good things about the cucumber mojito. A local favorite also includes an Alki Julep.

Whether you’d like a cocktail out on the deck, or chowder so amazing you’ll never forget it (and always be comparing it to other, lesser chowders), head over to any of Duke’s locations (but you should hit up my preferred restaurant) and prepare to enjoy yourself immensely.

I know that I wrote one of my first pieces on just how amazing Umi Sake House is, but there are other sushi places in Seattle that are worth mentioning. Umi focuses on the rolls themselves, and also on coming up with new and inventive things so it can remain a standout among sushi restaurants.

I have eaten quite a bit of sushi in Seattle because my Arizona upbringing wasn’t really conducive to raw fish. I have sung the praises of Umi (and rightfully so), but there are other sushi joints in Seattle, so I present to the masses Shiro’s.

If Umi focuses mostly on rolls (as I previously mentioned), Shiro’s focuses on traditional sashimi. Where sushi can consist of anything containing fish and rice, sashimi is just the fish itself. If a bit of fish is draped over a block of rice, it’s called “nigiri sushi,” rolls are called “maki sushi,” but rolls with rice on the outside are called “yukiwa-maki.” If your chef is creating a hand roll, which are usually larger, and not put together with the aid of bamboo (coincidentally, great at Shiro’s), it’s called “temaki sushi.”

It’s a relatively small place that feels like a local neighborhood joint. Even if you don’t sit at the sushi bar, you still feel like you’re a part of the process. The chefs are nice enough to explain everything you’d ever want to know about what they are preparing (and things they aren’t).

The last time I was a happy patron, the chefs were polite and wonderful and more than willing to talk me through the different dishes they were preparing. I was still too much of a scaredy cat to try the eel, but my aunt waxed poetic about how perfectly it was prepared.

I may love me some Umi, but when I’m feeling more traditional, I’ll head over to Shiro’s, which is much quieter, and only a few blocks away from Umi. While there, I enjoy food prepared by a two-time James Beard nominee, who trained with the finest chefs in Japan. It’s a stroke of luck that Master Chef Shiro decided to settle in Seattle, so you’d be wise to try his amazing preparations.