Monday, September 30, 2013

Storyville has its own story in Seattle




In black and white because stories at Storyville have their own say

Storyville, the new coffee shop at the Corner Market building opens on October 1st officially but the lucky guests experienced the comfy coffee shop a few days before. This buzz-y yet relaxing space with views on the Pike Place Market and Puget Sound offers a variety of drinks, pastries and savory snacks. My soy cappuccino was perfectly balanced with the adequate amount of milk and coffee and the cheese & ham croissant was an excellent addition to the afternoon cravings.

I am sure I will return soon with my tablet. The only downsize may be this unique cafe is ideal for people watching and less writing.

Try it yourself. Storyville, 94 Pike St, Seattle, opens on October 1st, from 7 AM to 8 PM every day.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

IFBC- Urbanspoon Dinner at RN74

Urbanspoon's dinner at RN74 was exclusive, fun and endless....and here are a few pictures to share. Not the best but at least you will get the idea. 

Maitake Mushroom Tempura





Painted Hills Cote De Boeuf- Delicious!





Neah Bay Salmon


Dungeness Grab Spaghetti


Crunchy Chocolate Profiteroles - the best dessert ever!



Croustillant -Olive Oil Cake, Lemon Curd Sherbet, Huckleberry Compote

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Live Blogging from IFBC




I am currently attending the Bordeaux Wine tasting and writing workshop at the IFBC with Sam Klingberg and Ward Kadel. As we all know, Bordeaux Wines are world known for their quality and their highly priced bottles.

The session kicked off with a Crémant de Bordeaux, a fresh bubbly that is light and easy to drink.

We continued with the L' Orangerie de Carignan 2011, a clear, citrus-y Sémillon grape wine with strong aromas and earthy flavors. The Château Carignan Prima 2009 was next. This 100% Merlot, has strong blackberry aromas, is earthy and full bodied. Le Château Graville Lacoste 2012 comes with peach aromas and pairs well with salmon and creamy dishes. The wine is a blend of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc.

Château Guillou 2010 from Montagne Saint-Émilion  is a blend of 75% Merlot and a 25% Cabernet Franc. This darker red is earthy and smooth and pairs with spicy foods.

We moved to the most famous AOC of Bordeaux, the Château La Tour De Bessan Margaux 2009, a blend of 46% Merlot and 54% of Cabernet Sauvignon. This exceptional wine that can age for thirty year, is powerful and ideal for sophisticated dinners.

Finally, we tasted the Château Haut-Mayne Sauternes 2010, an easy to drink dessert wine with strong butterscotch flavors and sweet taste.

Bordeaux Wines can often be a rather rare choice from American diners but they worth a try. So next time at a wine store, grab a Margaux and give it a go.

Friday, September 20, 2013

Live Blogging from IFBC





Live from the International Food Blogger Conference in Seattle. We are in the process of opening, photographing, tasting and blogging about grocery items with Amazon Grocery.

The Junobar from Bumblebar is gluten free, non-GMO and high in fiber. I am chewing the Peanut Butter Cookie bar - it tastes healthy and is a great snack for adults and kids alike.

The Stretch Island Fruit with its all-natural Summer Strawberry fruit strip is definitely healthy and a great idea for kids who don't like fruit but personally I'd go for the real fruit.

Brookside Chocolate brings their Dark Chocolate Acai with Blueberry, a unique blend of healthy ingredients. Tasty but if you look carefully, the product contains corn syrup.

Navitas Naturals introduces Dragon Fruit, the tropical superfruit that is high in magnesium, iron and dietary fiber. The product in non-GMO, raw, vegan and USDA. I love it!

The Manuka Doctor from New Zealand brings its Manuka Honey, an antioxidant and antibacterial honey that is raw and kosher. I grabbed the spoon and have a taste and I approve. The honey is three times more expensive as any other honey but it is worth it.

YumEarth Organics fruit snacks are 100% vegan, gluten free, organic and free from everything. They are made from real fruit, are amazing and I am addicted.

More products are on the table like the Zico water, the Chia drink and the Fever-Tree Ginger Beer. I am exhausted with tastings already but I have a busy weekend waiting! It should be fun!

Sunday, September 01, 2013

Boats, pizza and Rioja wine in Seattle's Lakes

It was a wonderful day with a blue sky, friendly sun and mild winds. The perfect day to take a boat trip through Seattle's generous watery scene that includes Puget Sound, Lake Union, Lake Washington and tiny bays and canals. Our boat journey started at Salmon Bay, went through the Lake Washington Canal, then to Portage Bay and ended in Union Bay where Huskies fans were tailgating before the big game. Our company of three was happy with two Pepperoni and Deluxe pizzas, a bottle of Rioja, a plate of spicy cheese and grapes and good spirit. The photos say everything and witness a wonderful day.





Deluxe Pizza







Pepperoni Pizza









Spicy Cheese and Grapes