Seattle: Matt's in the Market has a Must Try Fishwich

I can count on one hand how many times I've ordered a fish sandwich, yet when I was at Matt's in the Market in Seattle last week, I knew it was the right thing to do. And the fish that day was halibut, and I love halibut.

Well, this may have been the best sandwich I've ever eaten. Truly. The Fishwich is described as iceberg lettuce, mam lil's pepper aioli, bacon and saved sweet onion on brioche. The battered fish was hot and tender; the chew of thick cut bacon gives resistance and heft to each bite; the sauce completely necessary though I have no idea what was in it and the slightly charred fresh brioche bun made me question why I hadn't eaten here sooner.

My 2 college friends were in town and while showing off Pike Place Market, the crowd started to get thick and I suggested trying a restaurant that I had heard about for lunch. It had been a busy morning and we needed a chance to sit down and absorb the experience. Bravo me. I'm so glad that Matt's name came to mind and that I was able to find it. We were on foot on Pike Street and I used Google Maps to walk to the corner of Pike and First. You have to walk up 2 flights of stairs to find it, though we found the easy access elevator once we were upstairs.

The sandwich was served with a side of watermelon strawberry gazpacho drizzled with olive oil. We loved that too and wondered all day if the hint of herb we detected had been tarragon or savory. The next afternoon, we decided to make our own batch of watermelon gazpacho. Thanks for the inspiration, Matt!   

#seattle #pikeplacemarket #mattsinthemarket #fishwish #memorablemeal #friendsintown    

Seattle: How to Cook a Wolf restaurant

My friend Tracy came to visit and we had a gorgeous early dinner at How to Cook a Wolf before my book signing at the Queen Anne Book Company.

The sun was out and the temperature was in the low seventies. Our table was indoors, but on the edge of the raised window leading to the patio. Everything tastes better outside and it really felt like we took Tracy somewhere special.

We started with Toasted Sea Wolf Leaven Bread with fennel honey butter and roasted garlic and Roasted Cauliflower Salad with a Preserved Lemon vinaigrette.

We added a Yellow Beet Salad with Pomegranate Yogurt and a savory nut topping. 

This dish was Grilled Leg of Lamb with Farro and Goat Cheese...

I concentrated on this incredibly tender and sweet Seared Halibut with Pureed Onion and Grilled Lettuce. It was absolutely delicious. 

Did we have time for dessert? Yes!

House made Banana ice cream (wow!) with a Chocolate Crunch Cake

Pistachio cannoli with pieces of toffee candy

A delicious meal in a modern but relaxed setting. I ate like I was the Queen of Queen Anne. I will be back again and again.

#howtocookawolf #seattle #dininginseattle #momentsofdelight #queenanne

Divine Dining in Issaquah: Montalcino

Halibut and shrimp and risotto, oh my! I ordered the special at Montalcino Ristorante Italiano and it exceeded my expectations for a quiet dinner out on a Tuesday night.

The halibut was light and gorgeous and topped with two enormous shrimp (one replacing a scallop because I'm allergic). The star attraction was nestled in a bed of creamy risotto and it was all blanketed in a just right lemon herb sauce. I ate every bite and was proud of it.

It was a long and lovely evening spent with new friends. As we raved over each bite (Kobe lasagna, Seafood pasta, Halibut), I think each person thought that their choice was the gem of the menu. While pricey, this restaurant serves gorgeous food in a cozy atmosphere and it is absolutely where I would take a special guest in order to woo them to Issaquah. 

Seattle: Coho Cafe Redmond: Fish Frenzy and Salmon Stats

My new friends were sure that I would like anything I ordered at the Coho Cafe in Redmond. They were right! I couldn't resist the special: fresh halibut with a blood orange glaze over sticky rice and pea pods. I ate every bite.

I missed taking a picture of our shared appetizer, but the Roasted Green Chile and Cornbread Waffle with agave butter was fantastic. Sweet and creamy and crunchy and hot. Yum. Who needs dinner?  

But we did, of course and everyone seemed very happy with their selection.  I had a bite of Paula's "limited edition" salmon, known as the Copper River Salmon, and it was deep red and so rich I described my bite as salmon pudding. 

In a region where fish is king, there is extensive seafood knowledge that I know nothing about.  The girls told me that when the first plane arrives from Alaska this time of year full of the beloved Copper River Salmon, the pilots walk off the plane holding up a fish (could I make this up?). I read an article in the Seattle Times that says the pilots then present the salmon to three chefs that cook it right then at the airport to kick off the season. You must see the article here.  I love this place.

On a whim, I ordered an Elderflower spritzer. It was light, non-alcoholic and tasted like a honey-flavored herb fizz.  What a great drink to enjoy with fish! Elderflower is all the rage right now and this is a fun way to try it.    

My husband worked late and missed dinner that night, but I promised him that he would have his day at the Coho Cafe before we flew home.

Seattle: Salty's on Alki Beach: We went just for the Hal-i-but

The stars and moon aligned and we had time to enjoy a relaxing dinner in Seattle. After flying all day, we had landed in the afternoon and instead of the limiting "find a place to eat that's not to far from work" scenario that we are usually faced with, we had time to enjoy dinner on the water.

I had been encouraged to visit "Salty's on Alki Beach" for seafood and since I knew that my husband had never seen the city of Seattle from this angle (looking back from the East) I thought it would be perfect.

It was more than perfect, really. A great view, delicious dinner...and we got right in! I ordered a Diet Coke to pep me up (I am not good at changing time zones!) and we settled in with our menus and had a chance to talk.

I started with a petit salad (greens with champagne-thyme vinaigrette, 
plucked mint, pecorino cheese, grape tomatoes and focaccia croutons) and though it was very good, it was light on the mint. Someone must have missed sprinkling it on my plate because  I only had one sprig in one of my last bites and I immediately noticed and said, "The mint! That's what I was missing." The bright flavor did a lot to enhance the pecorino cheese and vinaigrette.  On the whole, the salad was light and delicious and I would certainly order it again.

Dan started with a sherry-topped clam chowder that was so delicious he didn't speak until it was finished.  I tried a spoonful and loved it. Next time I'm getting my own cup!

We both ordered the special: honey soy-glazed halibut on rice with a spring pea, corn and onion topping drizzled with chili oil.  Look at the darling pea shoot showing off the perfect row of peas - that's art!  We loved the dish and enjoyed it even more since we were able to snag a table with a view of Puget Sound (below).  We were on the other side of the country and it felt like it!

Thank you, Salty's on Alki Beach for the warm welcome back to Seattle.

Seattle: Montalcino Ristorante in Issaquah: Heavenly Halibut

My dinner at Montalcino Ristorante in Issaquah, Washington was the best meal I have had in a long long time. Heavenly Halibut, if there is such a thing.

The Montalcino, a darling Italian restaurant tucked on a side street in Issaquah, is a gem not to be missed.  A new friend tipped me off to this lovely restaurant and suggested that I book a table for a romantic dinner for two.  I am so glad I did!

From the reservation link on their website, I was happy to see that they use Open Table, an online restaurant reservation system that I love to use when I travel.  What I like is that my name, cell phone etc. is already in my Open Table profile, so when I log in and make a reservation, all the confirmation work is done for me.  Bravo. 

Okay, back to the dinner.  We were seated at a table for two in the window, and the two dinner specials sounded so good, we ordered them both.  Dan had a lamb dish (roasted with tomatoes and love) that he devoured and I had halibut with lemon risotto and spring vegetables.  I.Loved.It.  The fish was light and delicious. The risotto was flavorful and creamy, and the vegetables (carrots, roasted squash and broccolini) were perfectly cooked. It felt like it should have been our anniversary dinner. 

The meal was definitely expensive, but we really enjoyed the ambiance, service and of course, the meal.  We looked at each other over the candlelight and agreed that we will go back as soon as possible.