Dietitian Dives Into Seattle Restaurant Week

 Restaurant Week 2011

Photo by Lorelle Del matto

Are you kidding – a three-course dinner for $28?  If your city has a “Restaurant Week” (RW) reserve early, as I did this October in the Seattle area.  It’s an unparalleled way to try out some of the region’s best restaurants.  If you’re an only-go-out-on-the weekend type, restaurant week forces you to kick up your heels and try mid-week fine dining.  Warning: it’s a habit one could get used to as I discovered after a series of superb meals.

Photo by Lorelle Del Matto

At the Georgian, one of Seattle’s most elegant dining rooms in the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, the chef starts you out with a little amuse bouche and a quartet of flavored butters and bread before the 3-course meal.  With such a festive start, we ordered a glass of Gloria Ferrer champagne to launch the evening. 

Photo by Lorelle Del Matto

The Olympic Caesar Salad was a creative execution of a generally mundane starter – a salad in the shape of a rectangle.  The base, black pepper pecorino cheese, was layered with a crisp rectangle of romaine, creamy  dressing and a flaky crouton on top. 

Photo by Lorelle Del Matto

The Chorizo-Wrapped Chicken with a Red Wine Risotto was very good however the Seared Scallops on Crisp Potatoes, Melted Young Leeks, Truffle Bacon Butter Sauce was the star entrée. 

Photo by Lorelle Del Matto

Stone Fruit Cream Puff with White Chocolate Sabayon was a perfect end to an elegant dinner.

Photo by Lorelle Del Matto

A few days before we visited the Northwest-style dining room of the Salish Lodge and Spa.  We didn’t think ahead to reserve a table with a view of the Snoqualmie Falls but were equally happy in front of the cozy fireplace.

The Salish offers stunning plate presentations and the food quality is a match:  

Photo by Lorelle Del Matto

The House-Cured Venison Bresaola with Truffle Oil, Arugula, and Parmesan Snow,    

Poached Sole with Salmon Mousse, Poached Pear Pancake and Meyer Lemon Butter, 

Photo by Lorelle Del Matto

Crispy-Skinned Duck Breast, Smoked Potato, Glazed Baby Turnips and Duck Jus,

Photo by Lorelle Del Matto

Photo by Lorelle Del Matto

and the Washington Apple Tart Tatin tasted as good as they looked.

Another excuse to take advantage of RW is to learn about new culinary, techniques and ingredients.  At Bin on the Lake in Kirkland, my entrée of Diver Scallops was sprinkled with grains of crunchy-crisp quinoa.   It’s a method of cooking quinoa I’m eager to try at home.  The desserts were the big stand out at Bin: 

Photo by Lorelle Del Matto

Café Vita Espresso Pot De Créme, served with mini sugared donuts, Lemon Chévre Cheesecake garnished with blueberries

Photo by Lorelle Del Matto

and homemade Caramel Praline Ice Cream. 

Photo by Lorelle Del Matto

How can a dietitian justify enjoying all the sumptuous food of RW?  My experience is that restaurants offer smaller portions than when ordering from the regular menu, so it’s hard to overeat, although the food is richer than at home, especially the desserts.  I consider the experience a special treat, that comes around only once or twice a year. 

I’ve heard that some restaurants don’t participate in RW, thinking that the event draws too many cheapskates who don’t dine out otherwise.  We are happy to “pay back” restaurants for a good experience by returning.   Last year we enjoyed the Barking Frog during RW and returned as a party of 5 later in the year to celebrate my birthday.  We’ve entertained at the Salish Lodge, too. We look forward to a special-occasion excuse to return to the Georgian and will try Bin again soon to explore the wine list which offers a number of wines as 1-, 3- or 6-ounce pours and others available as flights. 

If you missed RW don’t worry, a new promotion has just started, Dine Around Seattle.  For the entire month of November some restaurants offer a 3-course dinner for only $30, and some serve lunch for $15.  I’m off to make reservations at Dine Around Seattle .

Copyright © Lorelle S Del Matto 2011