Hey, Big Apple! You ready for some hand-forged doughnuts?
Yup, Top Pot arrives in Manhattan later this year or early next, part of a franchise deal being worked on by the geniuses behind this now-massive operation. (This year, NYC; next year, world doughnut domination?)
No doubt about it, things are pretty sweet right now for Mark Klebeck and his brother, Michael, and their partner, Joel Radin.
Sometimes we get so caught up in the marvelous mixtures being served at our mighty local bars and lounges that we forget that the ingredients being mixed are often great by themselves, too. To narrow down what particular cocktail ingredients are worth trying solo, I asked a few local bar stars for suggestions in their own words. I also added one of my own.
Listening to the lame excuses Seattle residents spout about why they do not frequent Pike Place Market gets on my last good nerve. Especially this time of year, when there are few tourists clogging up the walkways and parking spots are easy enough to find.
Here are five damn good reasons why you should go, like right now, to our city’s tastiest treasure:
The lights, the glamour the red carpet (oh, and the movies)—they’re all part of the yearly parade that is Oscars night. But without the right cocktail at your Oscars soirée, you won’t be winning any awards. Serve up one of the following, though, and you might earn a standing ovation from your guests.
Update! Bar Sajor just announced it will opens for limited service tomorrow (Thursday, February 21) at 4pm and on Friday. Regular hours will begin Monday, February 25, when Bar Sajor will begin serving lunch and dinner on weekdays, opening at 11am (with a limited menu on Mondays). Weekend hours are still TBD.
After declaring 2013 to be the year of the pickle (see below), I've been on high alert, looking for tart and crunchy signs that my prediction was on track and -- hooray! -- there's been plenty to cheer. Let's have a toast with a pickle juice Bloody Mary from Seatown!
Justin Marx was starving when he checked into a small hotel in the remote countryside of New Zealand a couple of years ago. He phoned down to the tiny kitchen, hoping for a simple snack.
“They sent up a beautiful plate of cheese and charcuterie, but it was the olive oil that really blew me away,” said the CEO of Marx Foods. “It was a deep green and had a rich, almost grassy flavor.”
So, Valentine’s Day is all about roses and chocolates and sparkling wine, right? Well, that’s a good start, but when it comes time to sit down to a romantic dinner, pour me a sexy red, please.
I want something that’s velvety soft, yet deep and complex. Something that whispers, but says something meaningful. Like about where it’s from. Red wine is my favorite form of armchair travel, transporting my tongue to the rare earth from which the grapes are grown. If it sounds like I’ve been sampling the goods, well, I’m not going to deny it.
You got that hot date spot dialed in for Valentine’s Day?
No pressure! (HA!)
The good news is that February 14 is on a Thursday, so it will naturally spill over to February 15, which is going to set us up for a whole Valentine’s Weekend. So many options. But hurry! Your days of booking a table are dwindling down to a precious few. Here are a few (with the newest entries up top):
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, let me give you a little advice garnered from my years of experience (ha!). Instead of struggling to book a last-minute restaurant or trying to wedge your way into a crowded bar, make that special someone a deliciously flirty cocktail at home. Here are five possibilities that taste scrumptious and fit the “Be Mine” mood. [Want restaurant recommendations for Valentine's Day? Check out Leslie Kelly's picks.]
This Sunday, Speed Rack comes to Seattle. This local iteration of the national batending competition will feature top local “mixtresses” from Seattle, Portland, Spokane and Denver competing in timed heats in which they mix cocktails picked randomly from a selection of 50 classics. Judges evaluate each drink on accuracy, taste and presentation. This rounds' judging panel features cocktail heroes: Libation Goddess Audrey Saunders, amazing cocktail writer Robert Hess, Rob Roy’s awesome Anu Apte, and bar-chef angel Kathy Casey.
What a bittersweet mistake!
I sat down late last night with the February issue of Seattle mag, and immediately started drooling over the gorgeous photos and mouthwatering prose describing the city’s finest chocolate makers and treat purveyors. [Get a digital copy for your tablet here.]
Bringing you essential news on restaurants, shopping, arts and other cultural happenings in Seattle. Subscribe to our newsletters, The Must List or Restaurant Insider, for weekly updates.
