If you've been to a bar on Capitol Hill lately, there's a good chance it was one opened by Linda Derschang.
Since launching the bar Linda's (707 East Pine St.) in 1994, Derschang has been on a major roll, piloting some of the hippest hangouts in the neighborhood, including Oddfellows Hall and Smith. And now she's about to open two more: the Bait Shop and Tallulah's, both also in Capitol Hill (as Leslie Kelly reported in our November issue).
Matthew Dillon is putting the pioneer back in Pioneer Square. Opening two new places early next year, the local star chef is shoving the neighborhood into contention for the city’s new hot spot.
“I grew up in Seattle and spent a lot of time in this neighborhood. I want to stop complaining about how it’s not what it should be,” said this year’s winner of the James Beard Foundation Award for the best chef in the Northwest.
It’s not only a big week for Thanksgiving drinks and eats but also a big shopping week (which may lead to more drinks).
If you’re looking for gifts for a home bartender or someone who wants to make better party drinks, I have some suggestions. And if you’re just shopping for yourself, I certainly won’t make fun—as long as you invite me over for drinks.
10-Piece Punch Bowl Set (shown above)
Maybe it’s time we flipped the bird off the Thanksgiving menu and replaced it with the original other white meat, eel. You know, the fish those first settlers probably ate instead of turkey.
Have you been wondering whether a wheaty hefeweizen, a malty amber or a chocolate stout would pair best with an oven-roasted turkey this Thanksgiving?
Marination Ma Kai has. That's the latest brick and mortar outpost of one of our favorite food trucks, which is not only located on Alki Beach, but also offers a full bar and wide selection of beers.
The runner-up on my list of Fall's Most Exciting Restaurant Openings (second only to the craziness that will surely accompany the opening of Shanik on December 3rd), Mamnoon is opening in a converted warehouse across from the Melrose Market. And that opening is happening...today, November 20th!
Wine is my absolute favorite condiment on the Thanksgiving table; it's an important supporting character at the feast, but not necessarily the star. After many years of searching for that perfect complement to all the diverse flavors at the mother of all traditional meals, Riesling from Washington State has become my go-to wine on the third Thursday of every November. Just like cranberry sauce, it’s a little bit sweet but has a snappy kick to it, too.
Thanksgiving tends to be so focused on eating that the drinks often become an afterthought.
This is a shame, as the right drinks can add extra pizzazz, help the food go down easier, and make dealing with relatives much more manageable. Following are three Thanksgiving drink ideas for each course of the meal: the first for when your guests arrive, the second for the meal’s beginning, and the third for when the meal is done.
I’m not shy about my love of Deluxe Foods jams and cocktail syrups. I wear a t-shirt, sporting the logo and tagline (“Try us on toast!”) and I used the syrups in my last Pantry at Delancey cocktail class.
I’m pals with the Chief Tasting Officer at Deluxe Foods, Rebecca Staffel. But just because we’re pals doesn’t make the jams and syrups any less worthy. Don’t take my word for it though.
Seattle loves pho (if you're new on the block: our dining editor explains what it is, how to pronounce it and where to get her favorite here). And Seattleites love to claim they know where to find the best pho.
It’s impossible to see images of the wreckage from Superstorm Sandy and not feel compelled to try and help.
But how?
How about a trip to NYC? You don’t even have to leave Seattle.
All set for Doomsday?
It’s coming right up, you know. At least that’s what the latest mailer from Pagliacci says.
Yes, we’ve been hearing about December 21, 2012 as the end of the Mayan calendar for years, and some predict the end of the world as we know it.
But for a restaurant/pizza delivery chain to actually embrace it as a sales and marketing tool?
Pretty darned crazy/brilliant!
This fall/winter newsletter pokes fun at the never-ending string of doomsday predictions. Remember Y2K? What a bust.
If, like us, you think the approval of Referendum 74 is something to celebrate, head to the Capitol Hill location of Cupcake Royale (1111 E Pike St.), where owner Jody Hall (featured in our October story about local love stories behind Ref. 74) is giving away (for free!) slices of this amazing, giant rainbow cake shaped like the state of Washington.
Last year, I took the idea of having three days in Seattle to do nothing but eat, eat and eat some more, and I used that as a guide post for the varied restaurants we included in the Best Restaurants issue.
Our list of the 7 Restaurants that Define Seattle Dining Now was—and to a large extent, still is—my idea of how to taste the best in Seattle dining in one very filling weekend.
After daylight savings, the chance for an after-work or evening cocktail accompanied by even a wisp of sunshine has vanished (at least here in the Northwest), which—some days—makes a good drink all the more necessary.
I think the perfect drink for this time of year can take two paths. It can either embrace the dark, like the first choice here, or bring its own ray of sunshine like the second. Try both and let me know which you think is best.
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