It was our 5 month anniversary tongiht.
Dinner tonight was at Union Restaurant. Ethan Stowell's place just south of the Pike Place Market.
I like the style of the room. Simple, minimal, and elegant.
Ethan was kind enough to comp us a split of Laurent Perrier Champagne.

One of my favorite Champagnes.
I like it when I sit down and the server takes the menus away and says, "You won't be needing those tonight."
We got to have our favorite bread from Columbia City Bakery tonight!

The butter was Plugra
Our first course was fluke crudo with lime, ginger, cucumber, sel gris, and olive oil.

It was very refreshing and a great way to start the meal. I loved the ginger flavor on the fish.
Poached Japanese diver scallops in heirloom tomato soup with organic pea shoots.

Our server, also Ethan, was telling us how they cut the pea shoots at the restaurant themselves, so they are as fresh as possible. this was a wonderful soup. I'd describe it was the same as biting into a fresh, ripe, flavorful tomato but in liquid form. A decadent use of a great product.
Speaking of decadent, look at the size of this chuck of foie gras!

It was served with hazelnuts, figs, and saba (unaged balsamic vinegar.) This was one of the best preparations of foie gras I've had!
Seared Opa (hawaiian grouper) with avocado puree and basil oil.

Makes you wonder if avocado makes everything taste better. The fish was perfectly seared.
Bacon wrapped rabbit loin with Italian pear mustard and red wine reduction frisee.

This was my second favorite dish, behind the foie. Wrap bacon around a hot dog and I'll like it, but a rabbit loin?! It should be illegal! The pear mustard flavors worked so amazingly well with the rest of the dish components.
Hand made cavatelli with brasie leg of rabbit, parsley, and parmesiano.

Beautifully made pasta! Ethan is opening an artisan pasta restaurant 2 blocks from my house in the next month or two. If this dish is any indication of the food he's serving there, I'll be in twice a week. Its going to be called La Tavolata.
Seared Wagyu loin with red wine shallot demi, and chantrelles.

Lorna, "This crust is SOOOOO BUTTERY!"
The cheese was not served with bread, but a lightly dressed green salad. Champagne vinegrette.

I liked the salad at the end of the meal. We had Spanish sheep's milk blue and a triple cream cow called Moule a Affinios. Both were very strong and creamy and worked well with the champagne salad.
dessert was an almond cake with fresh berries and ginger ice cream.

It seems they just got a paco-jet in the kitchen. they made good use of it.
we stopped by the kitchen to say hi on the way out.
And also met up with Rockdoggydog at the bar for a drink.
He shared with us his snack of fried rabbit flank.

these were awesome! Just when i thought I couldn't eat another bite, stick some fried rabbit in front of me and I can find room!
It was really a beautiful evening.
thanks Ethan and Ethan!
This post has been edited by hhlodesign: 31 August 2006 - 09:14 AM