Margarita Mixes, Acrobats and More

This is a guest post by Marisa Ingram.

Cinco de Mayo is almost here. To celebrate I attended a party hosted by Demitri’s to launch their new Margarita Mixes. Hosted at newish (and fun) Capitol Hill event space Fred Wildlife Refuge, this was a lively party made all the more festive by 7 piece Latin band the SuperSones . Acting as the perfect accompaniment to Margaritas, Mexican food was prepared by Executive Chef, Jaime Mendez of Los Agaves Wandering around the party I felt almost like I was at a circus gone crazy! Not only was there a performance by the mind-boggling aerialist Sally Pepper adding another layer of excitement, but there was also a photo booth and 2 miniature donkeys were hanging out upstairs!

About Marisa:
Marisa has been an indispensable part of the Foodportunity team for the last two years.
She has a lifelong passion for home baking and a growing interest in all things fresh, local, organic, and seasonal. Though a native Washingtonian, a love for history took her to Charleston, SC where she obtained her degree in English from the College of Charleston. She works in human resources by day, but would love to give it all up for a life of travel.

Frolik, the New Restaurant in the Red Lion Hotel

Guest Blogger Marisa Ingram visits Frolik, the new restaurant and bar in town.

One word comes immediately to mind when I think of new restaurant and bar Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails – FUN. Just opened at the Red Lion Hotel on Fifth Avenue, Frolik’s name alone will give you a hint of what to expect. Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as to-go options, the real party takes place between 4-10pm every night when Frolik hosts “happy evening.” Not just one “happy hour,” but 5 hours – every night of the week. To add to the engaging environment they have an enormous outdoor deck (Seattle’s largest) with seating, a fireplace table, shuffleboard, and ping pong. And the glorious views of the Seattle skyline will remind you that you haven’t, in fact, been whisked away on holiday.

The fun continues on the inside with Xbox consoles as well as board games. I very much look forward to cozying up with a board game, some friends, and one of Frolik’s craft cocktails. I tasted several and my favorite, a “Rosemary Runamok,” was slightly sweet, but still light and refreshing. The cocktail list is quite long and you may also choose from a list of local beer and wine.

With award winning Chef Shailu Salian at the helm, the real highlight of Frolik is the food. Chef Salian has created some lovely bites . Sourcing from many local food purveyors including Salumi salami, Beecher’s Cheese and Taylor Shellfish Farms – Frolik makes an effort to offer local foods on its menu. Of the many bites I sampled, tops for me were “Grape, Goat Cheese, Pistachio Bon Bons,” and “Caprese Skewers.” I also sampled a luscious tiramisu – one of the best I’ve tried.

Frolik is located at 1415 Fifth Ave, Seattle WA. (206) 971 8000

About Marisa:

Marisa has been an indispensable part of the Foodportunity team for the last two years.
She has a lifelong passion for home baking and a growing interest in all things fresh, local, organic, and seasonal. Though a native Washingtonian, a love for history took her to Charleston, SC where she obtained her degree in English from the College of Charleston. She works in human resources by day, but would love to give it all up for a life of travel.

Foodportunity October 22nd 2012

Save the date (and get your tickets) for Seattle’s premier food networking event

Foodportunity
October 22, 2012 Palace Ballroom

Sponsored by Washington’s Beef Community
wabeef.org/ facebook.com/wabeef / @WABeef
Join us as we challenge your taste buds in a blind beef tasting. Meet a local cattle rancher and learn about how beef is raised in Washington.

What: Foodportunity, Seattle food community’s premier networking event with tastes from Tom Douglas Restaurants, Din Tai Fung, TRACE, ART Restaurant, Hitchcock, Phnom Penh Noodle House, 35 th Street Kitchen + Bar and many more restaurants and companies.

Where: Tom Douglas’ Palace Ballroom, 2100 5th Ave Seattle, WA 98121

Who: Local chefs and cookbook authors will be available to answer your questions and get to know you. Come meet Brian McCracken and Dana Tough (Spur, Tavern Law, The Coterie Room), Jill Lightner (Edible Seattle: The Cookbook), Leora Bloom (Washington Food Artisans, Cookbook) and Judith Dern (A Taste of Scandinavia, Cookbook)

When: Monday, October 22, 2012, 6-9 pm

Cost: $25 early admission, $32 at a later date. Tickets available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/273178
Get your tickets before they sell out.

Do you have questions? Do you want to showcase your business?
Contact: Keren Brown – kerenlovestocook@gmail.com

photo credit: Jackie Donnely Baisa

Summer in Seattle, Food and Wine Events and Bastille Day

Time to get your calendars out. Summer in Seattle is jam-packed with things to do and there is something for everyone.
For a guide with all the places to eat in Seattle, check out my book ” The Food Lovers’s Guide to Seattle” So much to do, so little time.

What kind of lover are you?

For the farm-to-table food lover…
There is Outstanding in the Field.
.

For the tea lover…
Starbucks is opening a retail tea store in Seattle this fall.

For the Pike Place Market lover…
Sunset Supper is the place to be on August 17th.

For the bonfire lover…
Tom Douglas serves food around the fire. These casual gatherings held in Victor Steinbruek park bring together locals and tourists to eat grilled salmon grilled by Tom himself for $15 a plate. All proceeds go to Seattle Parks Department in an effort to help make this city’s parks remain beautiful and used by the community. There will be 4 dinners total, and the first one started on June 30th, from 5-7 pm. For more information, visit

For the seafood lover…
If you haven’t been to Boka lately, then you definitely should go. Chef Peter Birk, formerly at Ray’s Boathouse is the new Chef at the restaurant and his food is top notch with a focus on fresh seasonal seafood. For a great deal, catch the happy hour daily from 2:30 – 6:00 pm & 9:30 pm

For the bacon, poutine and comfort food lover, don’t miss Skillet’s book launch. There will be awesome food and bacon jam!

For the cupcake lover…

Cupcake Royale just opened a new shop on Pine with Bakeshop-
inspired ice cream.

For the romance lover… Don’t miss the chance to party like the French. Celebrate Bastille Day in Seattle.

Every year there is a street party in the alley behind Cafe Campagne.The festivities include burlesque dancers, lots of wine, street food and an oyster-shucking station. You can also catch a beautiful view with some French music at Maximilien or squeeze into Le Pichet for live music and celebrations. I know from years of experience that the best way to party like the French is to make it to all three.

Madison Valley is throwing their first “Bastille Bash” on July 14, to celebrate Bastille Day with a lively, family-oriented street fair. The festivities will include French inspired food and wine tastings, sidewalk sales, kids activities, live French music and more. The event will take place along East Madison Street from 27th to 29th Avenues, with nearly 30 restaurants, bakeries, retailers and fitness studios participating. There will be food from Cafe Flora, Harvest Vine, Luc, Voila Bistro and so many more. Small plates will be available for $2-$6.
Event proceeds benefit the Children’s Response Center, a nonprofit that provides legal services and counseling to children of abuse and trauma in King County.

There is an all day celebration starting at Bastille Restaurant and Bar with drink specials and more.

Every year Seattle Center has a big event with everything French.

For the wine lover…
Mondavi Winemaker Dinner
Dine al fresco on Saturday, August 4th with the wine pioneering Mondavi’s as Marc and his family bring their legendary Napa bottling selection to Tulalip Resort Casino.

Picnic and Barrel Auction on Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 4:00pm, Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, Woodinville

Check out the Winemaker Dinner Series, or the 25th Anniversary Wine Gala on Saturday, August 18th.

What are you doing this summer?

Far Eats is Now Open in Belltown

Geogy Chacko, the chef and owner behind Belltown’s Far Eats was the chef part of the team that created the original Beba’s Delis, and the Chutneys group of restaurants. This Indian restaurant offers Chaats, savory small plates or snacks with dishes like Curried Penn Cove Mussels, Scallops Fenugreek Lamb Burgers with Masala Fries, Cilantro Calamari, Curry Leaf Beef, Eggplant Bombay and Goat Chili and Black Pepper Chicken drizzled with Honey. The prices range from $5.00- $14.00.

The hours start at 11 am and continue until the evening with a thali lunch (11 am-2pm) and a happy hour menu from 4pm-6pm. Far Eats is located at 2301 5th Avenue, Seattle WA. The phone number is 206-770 3287.

Far Eats will be at Foodportunity on Monday June 25. Come meet the chef and taste some of what this restaurant has to offer.

Owner and Chef Geogy Chacko

Food Events, Restaurants and More Seattle in the Know

Summer, Summer. People in this city are beaming with happy smiles, new energy and the restaurant scene is running around like a chicken without a head. There is way too much to keep up with but I put together a short list of things you might want to check out.

1. Duke’s Slightly Slanted Happy Hour. All 6 locations are slanting things but I recently got to attend a media event on South Lake Union and let me tell you, this is a great place to sit and have a slanted time (okay I will stop using this word) on the patio while enjoying the warm weather. The menu includes items like Naked Wild Alaska Salmon Slider with Alaska Coho Salmon molasses bread with basil pesto and sliced tomato, Fresh Dungeness Crab Slider , NW Coast Dungeness Crab with fresh avocado and homemade chipotle aioli and Goat Cheese & Pesto Slider with Laura Chenel goat cheese with homemade pesto on a mini flour tortilla. For drinks they have a Bloody Bloody Mary , Housemade infused imported Pinnacle vodka with Demitri’s All-Natural Bloody Mary Seasoning garnished with two jumbo prawns and Katy’s Naughty Lemonade, Smirnoff Raspberry with fresh squeezed Lemonade, Sierra Mist and Cranberry juice.

2. This Thursday!
Macy’s Great American Chef’s Tour, Kick off by Tom Douglas
“Macy’s Great American Chefs Tour” is embarking on a cross-country road trip, pairing the celebrity chefs of Macy’s Culinary Council with live cooking demonstrations, food tastings and a celebration of local culinary talent. MCC chef Tom Douglas kicks off the more than 15-city tour at Macy’s Downtown Seattle on Thursday, May 31. There are some amazing chefs involved and it is only $10.

3. Cafe Flora’s 20th Anniversary.

4. Evo Kitchen Tapas and Cabaret recently opened on East Olive Way. Check the calendar for details.

5. Corks and Canvas event at Pan Pacific Hotel. I am always looking for fun things to do with my girlfriends and though eating is always first on our list it is always refreshing to add another element to the evening. The Pan Pacific Hotel has these Corks & Canvas events where there are blank canvases for you to paint and an instructor or two to guide you while you paint your version of The Space Needle view. It is such an interesting concept paired with cocktails and Chef John Howie’s fabulous food.

Crumble & Flake bakery is the bakery that everyone is talking about lately. Oh and Autumn from Get Your Hotcakes opened a Molten Chocolate Cakery. Trust me that girl knows what she is doing.

And Foodportunity tickets are on sale now at the early bird price.

What did you do on the long weekend? What do you like to do in Seattle?

If you don’t have my book yet, now is a good time to map out your summer eating schedule. The Food Lovers’ Guide to Seattle is the guide to the best bakeries, restaurants and specialty shops in Seattle. Send me any questions by email about Seattle food too. I am happy to help.

Cafe Flora Anniversary Party and Ticket Giveaway

photo credit: Michael Natkin

Cafe Flora, the Madison Valley restaurant known for its charming vegetarian fare is celebrating 20 years next weekend. 20 years in restaurant years, now that is a milestone! I have tickets and you can win them.

They are throwing a big bash at the restaurant to celebrate with guests, vendors and past chefs.

The event is Saturday, June 2nd at Cafe Flora in Madison Valley. I It will be a farmer’s market style event with Cafe Flora’s beloved growers and vendors set up throughout the restaurant, atrium and tented courtyard. There will be food from Cafe Flora chefs using local vendor produce, wine and beer, live music, CSA sign ups, and former chefs to mingle with, including their founding chef Jim Watkins. Ticket proceeds will benefit the Bailey-Boushay House, also celebrating 20 years.

Details:

Tickets are available for purchase here
VIP admission 5-6 p.m. $50 – guests receive special anniversary cocktails by Oola Distillery, wine, beer, food, live music, early admission, Cafe Flora gift bag
General admission 6-10 p.m. $30 – guests receive wine, beer, food, live music, Cafe Flora anniversary gift
Located at 2901 East Madison Street http://www.cafeflora.com/

Vendors include:

Airfield Estates
Alexandria Nicole Cellars
Big Al Brewery
Columbia City Bakery
Foraged and Found
Full Circle Farms
Growing Washington
Local Roots
Oola Distillery
Oxbow Farm
Remedy Teas
Rockridge Orchard Cider
Stumptown Coffee
And more!

Giveaway:. And here is how you can win.

1) Leave a comment
2) For every tweet about this post, you get one entry.
3) For every Facebook share 3 entries

Be sure to tag @franticfoodie or @foodportunityse so I can find it.
Winner will be chosen on Monday, May 28 by random number generator.