winegeek

They are closed until May 18th. While it's a good choice, it is definately not considered french bistro nor asian. It is pacific northwest cuisine. Almost their entire menu is locally sourced.

Read about my dining experience in Seattle HERE!. Caution;very long

Edited due to the fact that I posted it twice! Once was long enough.

We just go back from Seattle yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, especially from the dining perspective. Here is a LARGE rundown of all we ate. Friday Upon arrival on Friday, I headed over to Seattle Cellars and picked up a bottle of Maryhill viogier from Washington State and a bottle of Matanzas Creek merlot from Sonoma. Drank the vigonier rather quickly before heading off to The Harvest Vine for dinner. I’ll start off by saying that it was totally not what we were expecting. I thought that it would be a lot more fine dining. It was actually a very pleasant surprise. We got a couple of seats at the bar (great spot) and after much help,ordered a bottle of Tinto Pesquera. It was exactly what I wanted! For the next 2+hours we ate our way through 7 tapas. Keeping in mind my wife’s difficult culinary concerns discussed at the beginning of this thread, they were; Ensalada de Remolachas thinly sliced red and yellow beets with garlic, sherry vinegar and lagrima olive oil delicious…sopped the juices up with the yummy bread Chorizo de Soria Dry cured pork sausage We both really liked this. Great sausage Plato de Jamon Serrano dry cured serrano ham very good but a bit pricey Chaminones al AjilloButton mushrooms sautéed with garlic and finished with fine sherry heavy on the garlic but that’s never a bad thing with mushrooms! Alcachofas Rellenas a la NavarraSpring artichoke stuffed with carmelized onion, Serrano ham and piquillo pepper really good flavour Esparragos BlancosPan roasted Washington white asparagus with béchamel and dried Serrano jham This was my favourite dish!! Vieiras con Lentejas Pan seared sea scallops with Spanish lentils and Serrano ham I had this one to myself. Although I enjoyed it, the scallops were a bit overdone to my liking I would have loved to try a few more but there was nothing else that my wife would eat and we overdid the bread! There are at least another 10 dishes that I would love to try on our next visit. I did not realize how much Serrano ham we had until I typed this up. The guys in the kitchen rocked! I bought them a couple of beers to enjoy! I loved this place and would definately go back. Thanks for the recommendation! Saturday Had breakfast in our room. It comes with the price of the room. Muffins and breakfast bread from Marcina Bakery and fresh fruit and coffee. For lunch we searched out 3 sisters bakery at Pikes Market. I had a meatloaf sandwich and my wife had an egg salad sandwich. The meatloaf was great and it came with mustard, horseradish, mayo, cheddar, lettuce, onion, tomato and sprouts! Very yummy. Would definitely go back Had a mocha at Cherry Street Café. I didn’t care for it but my wife liked it. Dinner on Saturday night was at Union. Ethan was preparing a special menu for us for the reasons stated above (wife being picky). Here is a rundown of our 8 coarse dinner!! 1st. coarse Colleen- Fourme D’ambert with wild watercress and hazelnuts Great blue cheese…she really loved it Derek – Dungeness crab salad with avocado and basil oil Fantastic 2nd coarse Colleen – English pea soup with cured tomatoes and fennel pollen Derek – same soup but with seared sea scallop Both soups were great! The soup was so fresh tasting 3rd coarse Colleen – Asparagus salad with fried duck egg and reggiano She did not eat the egg (ugh) Derek – Grilled Branzino with cauliflower and ligurian olives I believe it is also referred to as striped bass. If I am wrong, please correct me. It was delicious 4th Coarse Colleen – Ricotto gnocchi with baby carrots and fava beans There was no potato in this and I love gnocchi pan fried (yes, she gave me a bite! Derek – Roasted Squab with grape marmalade and frisee Loved this dish. The squab was perfectly cooked and the marmalade served warm. 5th Coarse Colleen – Risotto of artichokes, mushrooms and leeks She was getting full by now! I liked it but found the leeks a bit overpowering Derek – Grilled striploin with hon shimeji mushrooms and shallot sauce Perfectly cooked med-rare and the demi was sooo good! 6th coarse Grapefruit sorbet with huckleberries A great palat cleanser. From here on in we had the same thing, except that I also ate about half of hers 7th coarse Pecorino Lucano with quince jam. I did not enjoy the jam at first but really enjoyed it the more I ate. 8th (and last) coarse Cognac Ice cream puff with chocolate sauce Yummy! For drinks we started off with a ½ bottle of Laurent Perrier Brut and for dinner we had a ½ bottle of Sancerre from Lucien Crochet. I also brought a bottle of ’96 Lynch Bages, which I had purchased in London during our honeymoon. The champagne and LB were great but I did not care for the sancerre. I wanted something light and crisp so It did pair well with my fish. I also had a glass of Andrew Hill gewürztraminer late harvest with dessert. The room is very minimalist but nicely lit. Not much of a view on a cloudy, windy night. Our server Mark was very personable and attentive, if slightly informal, which we don’t really mind. The portions were quite large. My fish and striploin were probably around 4-5ounces each. That works well for me and does offer better value but it was pretty hard getting up at the end of it all. I would say that the only disappointment the entire night was the bread. I had heard previously from someone on this board how amazing the bread was, so being a lover of bread, I was very much looking forward to it. It was, in my opinion, just like any other bread I have had at much lesser restaurants. Aside from that very minor quibble, I would highly recommend Union for a great dining experience. Sunday Breakfast again in our room Lunch we ate at a Brewhouse called Gordon Bierch(?). The only reason we ate there was that we were going to a movie right next to it in Pacific Place. Ordered a nice pilsner and a pulled pork sandwhich with slaw and a cheeseburger with garlic fries. The garlic stuck with us all day! Typical fare I would say. We had 7pm reservations at Zoe Sunday night. It ws recommended on this board and also by the sales associate at Seattle cellars. As it was “no corkage Sundays”, I had previously picked up a bottle of 02 Geyerville from Ridge, one of my favourite Zins. I was unable to view their winr list previously but gambled that they did not have it on their list You guessed it…they had it on their list. Right above that on the list was a wine from my absolute favourite zin producer, Turley! We ordered a bottle of the ’04 Old Vines, but not before I started off with a beer. The bread served here was fantastic! Served with OO and balsamic. For starters, Colleen had a Crimson pear salad with “salumi” culutello, almonds, reggiano and chestnut honey vinaigrette. I had a ravioli of scallops and foie gras. I’m sorry that I can not remember the sauce but both dishes were great. I had a mid-coarse of a ½ order of Wild Boar Bolognese with arugula parpadelle and reggiano. One of the best pasta dishes I have ever had, and a great compliment to the Turley! For main coarses, Colleen had a risotto of Asparagus and reggiano. Colleens risotto was delicious. I had the Lamb, which changes nightly On this night it was lamb shoulder served with shallot spinach and a yukon gold potato puree and pan jus. The lamb itself was good but the rest of the dish was great, the potato puree being the highlight. For dessert I had a moscato d’asti and we shared a unexciting chocolate cake of some sort. Our server Tom was great and we were well looked after. I would definitely go back! I’d say we were 3/3 on our dinners. Each offered a completely different experience. The Harvest Vine a fun spot with great food, if a bit pricey. Union a great fine-dining experience and Zoe for something in between. Thanks to all for all your help! We’ll be back (soon hopefully).

Jason, I'll report back to you tomorrow. We are off to Zoe's for dinner tonight. We have been here since Friday, staying at El Gaucho. Got a GREAT deal here and the hotel is awesome, very small, only 18 rooms. Had alot of fun at The Harvest Vine on Friday and an 8 coarse dinner last night at Union. Will report next week.

Just got back from Union after a 3 1/2 hour dinner.... 8 courses....can barely reach the keyboard...will report back when I'm mobile...

Went to The Harvest Vine last night. Absolutely loved the spot; it was not at all what I expected. We managed to grab a couple of seats at the bar and stayed there for over 2 hours. will file a complete report early next week. Tonight we are off to Union. Really looking forward to that one. We have also decided to go to Zoe tomorrow. No corkage Sundays!!

Off to Seattle this morning. We will be having dinner tonight at The Harvest Vine and dinner tomorrow at Union, where Ethan is creating a vegetarian tasting menu for my wife and I'm having whatever he decides to feed me!! Sunday dinner is still up in the air. I will report back next week (or earlier, as we have wi fi in our room).

We have now decided to come a day early and are looking at a 3rd place for dinner. It does not have to be fancy, just good. We love the menu at Volterra but know nothing of it. Any thoughts? Also, need a place to grab a coffee and light dessert.. Does Seattle have any coffee shops . Seriously, who pours a great espresso around where we are staying (Inn at el Gaucho)? No chains (starbucks, ect) please . One last request. I would like to pick up a couple of bottles of good wine. Where should I go? Preferably within walking distance of el Gaucho, but can do a short drive if needed.

Let the fireworks begin

Isn't that dangerous?

Laughing Stock wines were also carried at Village VQA in Edgemont Village. I had a chance to try their chardonnay and found it to be horribly oaked, although I must admit that I have never been a fan of new world chardonnay. Oh ya....sorry I'm off topic .

Actually, that is false. If you go back to the opening thread (which, ahem, I started ), you'll see that this thread was started because I was interested to hear from egulleters how they feel about giving negatvie feedback, and why a certain board has become like a great "love-in." It actaully had very little to do with Ms. Gill. This thread has gone off-topic many times, becoming a forum discussing Ms. Gill's writing style. That is not what it was started for. I wanted to hear from people about how they felt, not how they feel about someones writing style. I know that in certain ways, the two are connected. It was just not my intention to start a thread discussing a critics style (although it has been intersting at times ). edited because damn, it doesn't matter how many times I check my post, there are always more errors to be found!!

`I do have to agree with that statement. Here is another example. After reading the following review, After readin this, I sent an email to our Chef and management and this is what happened.

If I hid behind a screen name and was not in the industry myself, that may be true. As it is, I sign every post with my position (server), name (Derek) and most importantly, the restaurant where I work (Joe Fortes). Am I worried about making negative comments and having someone "come looking for me"? No, but by posting where I work, I do feel a certain responsibility to my employer. Rarely will any post I make have any severe negative connotations. I will weigh in on topics but don't feel a need to be negative, more so when it pertains to my fellow restauranteurs. If I have a negative experince in a restaurant, I will let someone know privately. I would appreciate the same courtesy. Those of us in the industry have to be a little more diplomatic than those who are not. It's a small industry.

Further to Neils dicussion upthread, I have posted a new topic HERE. I actually wrote this first thing this morning but it was found inappropriate so it was promptly removed. After some discussion amongst egullet managers, I was allowed to post it under General Food Topics. Please share your thoughts under that thread, not here. Thanks Arne!

After reading Alexandra Gill's review of Rare (Vancouver, BC)HERE, I got me thinking about the relationships between eGullet members, and chefs & restaurant owners who also happen to be eGullet members. Ms Gill, whose reviews I really don't take too seriously, does make a few points that I think warrant some discussion. An example; Now this is definately not a slam against Rare on my part . I have never been there but definately plan on doing so in the near future. This is more of a question of the ability of local egulleter's to contructively criticize local chefs, owners, managers and servers who are also a part of the egullet society. I can only speak for myself here and even though I have never attended an egullet get together (how come I'm never invited ), I still would find it difficult to post my true feelings about a local spot knowing that the owner/chef/GM are a big part of this community. I know that this is not the case with everyone, but how objective can someone be when they are invited to participate in the creation of a menu (again, just an example...not meant to slight anyone). I have in the past visited a local restaurant who is mentioned here quite often (always in a very positive light) and walked away wondering "are you serious?" If my meal was one that I enjoyed tremendously I would posted about my great experience. But as it was, I never did. What stopped me? I would be lying if I said that I did not want to "rock the boat". I would more likely send a message privately telling of my less than stellar experience. Having said that, if the restaurant did not have a "known person" posting here, I may have been more likely to post. What are your thoughts on this?

I sent an email to Ethan today at Union and he immediately responded asking me to give him a call. After asking for all the particulars (date, time, ect) he inquired about my wife's "dietary nuances". After a short discussion, I feel confident of making Union my choice for our anniversary dinner. Ethan was very engaging and seemed genuinely pleased to be asked to provide us with a special dinner for our special evening. I am very much looking forward to our visit in May! Thanks Ethan!!

I absolutely would not skip Whistler. I have met very few (if any) tourists who have not enjoyed their time in Whistler. Having said that, with your limited time here in BC, 3 days is probably too much, unless you are going fishing or playing golf. The drive to Whistler is spectacular on a clear day! Please remember that there is no right or wrong in regards to peoples suggestions; only their opinions.

:unsure: OOPS, Sorry!

Here is the link.

I just gotta laugh when I read that Lumiere wins Best Overall but comes in 3rd in Best fine Dining and that Bishops comes in 3rd Overall but 1st in Fine Dining. I am soooo confused .

The general consensas seems to be Union. I think that I will send Ethan an email and see what he can so for us. Thanks everyone for your replys. I will definately post a report after our trip. I think we've also decided to stay at Inn at El Gaucho. Seems like a great spot and the prices for rooms are fantastic. I also read alot of great comments from Trip Advisor. How about some suggestions for a casual lunch on Sunday? It does not have to be fancy. Dinner on Sunday I'm thinking either Fork or Harvest Vine. My wife really wants to try the Wild Mushroom and Onion Brioche Pudding at Fork.

Hi All, My wife and I are coming down to Seattle (from Vancouver) for 2 nights, May 6 -7. It is our anniversary on May 6 and we are looking for a great dining experience. A little about us: -I have been in the restaurant industry for 22 years and love to dine out. -Cost is not too much of a factor but everything else is - While my wife is not a vegetarian, she does not eat anything from the water (cringe) and the only meat she eats are lean cuts of beef and pork. She prefers things like risotto and pasta or anything that is vegetarian done very well. -I eat almost everything! -A great room (atmosphere) is paramount. We usually spend about 4 hours over dinner. - Great service is a must. A server can make or break your night, even more than the food in my opinion - A well thought out wine list. If any of you have been to Vancouver, I'm looking for something comparable to Lumiere or West I have read all the posts from the past year and have a few places in mind but would really appreciate some feed back from those in the know. We are also looking for a place to stay. The generic hotel chains are out. How is Seattle for boutique style hotels? We have found a few good looing B&B's but again, would love some feed back. Thank you so much for your help.

My wife and I dropped by here twice over the week end. It's definately as good as advertised! Saturday night we dropped in for a couple of chocolates, one with coconut and the other something with orange (sorry, if it's longer than 24 hours later, I'll probably not remember specifics). Yesterday, after walking for almost 4 hours, we dropped by for some hot chocolates. Colleen had a white chocolate orange and I had a hazlenut. We both preferred mine. We had a nice conversation with Themis(?). He has such a great personality that he can't help but succeed in his business.