I Can't Believe We Ate the Whole Year: 2005 in Food

Courtney:
1. Lark. The playback goes something like “Hey sweets, want to go out for dinner tonight instead of cooking? We could just grab something cheap and simple… Yeah, that new place near us, Lark? Sounds a bit nicer than I was thinking but what the hell…”. $100 later and the most amazing cheese plate and entrée I’ve ever had (elk) made for one of our most unexpected yet dreamy dinners out all year.

2. Finally going with Pioneer Organics for home delivery of organic fruits and vegetables (and other goodies). What the hell took us so long? I jump for joy every Wednesday that I see their dark brown box on our front porch – it is a mini-Christmas every other week at our house and we relish supporting local and organic farmers. Their carrots alone make the service worth it. Truly fresh carrots should smell (and taste ever so slightly) of dirt, and theirs never fail to delight.

3. The eggs benedict with orange-champagne hollandaise sauce at Crave. I can’t convey the depths of despair I was in to discover just this past Sunday that Crave was not open on New Year’s day, when I woke up that morning with absolutely nothing but that dish and a slight hangover on my mind.

Donte:
For yet another year, B & O Espresso is the best place for brunch. While I shied away from it being a weekly ritual, it was still a very regular occurrence to be there on a weekend morning, eating a wonderful scramble, relaxing and reading the Stranger. Some people don't like the idea of eating alone, which is understandable, but B & O works whether you're with company or not. Oh, and getting a couple of cookies when you leave is a great idea too, since they're great to have in your bag as you walk around the Hill.

I'm sure someone else will mention this one, but Cupcake Royale is still awesome. I'll refrain from making the SNL Chronic-les of Narnia reference, but damn do they make a tasty cupcake. It takes a lot to get me to Ballard, but making a stop at Cupcake Royale (before killing some time at the library) has always been well worth it. It's also worth it for me to remember that eating more than two in one sitting is a bad idea, but worthiness is not enough to make it so.

Steve:
This year I finally ate at a couple old greasy spoons that I'd long been intrigued by but never actually visited. The Shanty Café is that cozy diner in that little triangular block on Elliott Avenue West, made up to look like a mining-camp shack. I had a most satisfying omelet for breakfast and have been meaning to get back sometime for lunch (no dinner though -- they close at 3)… I also enjoyed my first visit to Andy's Diner, the place with the rotating neon sign on Fourth Avenue South. It's made out of seven old railroad cars, interconnected to form a sort of maze throughout. I remember all the cool railroad décor better than what I ate (probably a hamburger)... Both are fun, cheap, unpretentious eateries -- the kind I dig most.

Dan:
I went to Salty's for Sunday brunch for the first time this summer. Actually, it turned out that I went there twice in three weeks which was a little excessive... BUT, it's incredible. Each time I sat there for about two hours shovelling crab and oysters and beef into my face until my fingers were bloody from the shelling and then I hit the dessert table. Yeah, you can get omlets made, but who wants a $30 omlet? I don't know why this brunch was such a revelation to me because it's not like it's some obscure food find or anything, but for me the summer of 2005 will always be the season I discovered Salty's.

Matt:
I spent nearly every Friday afternoon in 2005 at the free wine tastings at Tarragona at Olive Way and 12th ave. I usually left with an affordable bottle of something, but not being the connoisseur type I can't remember what exactly; usually mysterious bottles of Pinot Noir and Chianti, usually under $20. The month of July stands out as the most surprising and memorable as I had never previously been exposed to anything from South Africa or New Zealand. I plan on continuing this weekly ritual in 2006 unless the owners come to their senses and black-list me.

Don:
Negronis and sage leaves made for some great happy hours and late nights at Marco's Supperclub. I am addicted to those light, slightly bitter leaves fried in rice flour. Also, Black Bottle was a great addition to Belltown with its $8 big-tapas style plates. The sardines, the flatbreads, the spicy olive salad--everything was savory and went well with cocktails. Plus, when you order a martini at Black Bottle, they give you the generous extra in a little side cup...now that's a deal worth toasting to. Hic!

Audrey:
My favorite eating experience of 2005 was the Seattle Cheese Festival, held at Pike Place. The entire market was full of cheese vendors, all sampling their wares, and I seriously overestimated my cheese-eating abilities. I started off whole-hog, trying to eat a few samples at each booth, but when I was only half-way through, I was starting to feel completely cheesed out. But I couldn't stop eating completely---instead, I just became more selective in my samples, restricting myself to crumbly well-aged cheddars, flavorful gorgonzolas, and anything that came from a goat. This is set to be an annual event, so I will definitely be there next May.

As to eating out this year, I've had some great meals at Brasa, Lampreia, Machiavelli, and Campagne.