From wondrous Walla Walla to Seattle’s trendy Capitol Hill region, Washington State is a cornucopia of good cuisine – much of it affordably priced. James Beard said, “Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” The common ground here is local, and the common touchstone the Pacific.
If you find yourself in the Pacific Northwest bring along your appetite, and a nose for good wine:
Ristorante Machiavelli is one of those places so reasonable, so redolent with good food and fine wait staff that it’s first-come, first-served. A Capitol Hill magnet for foodies, it’s located at 1215 Pine St. in Seattle. There are ample entrees under $10. Try the Conchiglie della Casa – spinach shells, sausage and marinara. The price: $9.95. The founders of Machiavelli are veteran San Francisco restaurateurs, and they know how to create a legitimately charming, warm ambience to go along with one of the best value-priced menus in town.
Boom Noodle. Solid, sumptuous Asian fare is the focus here – and rice noodles are available gluten-free. Prices are predictably reasonable, the service swift. Try Seafood Donburi for $11.50 – flash-seared salmon, grilled with white prawns, avocado and veggies on a bed of rice. Boom Noodle can be found at 1121 Pike St. in Seattle.
Nimbus. This epicurean enclave is on the 14th floor of a Bellingham building, with great views of the great Northwest. The premise here is local purchasing, from local farmers and fishermen. Put into practice that means dishes such as pan-seared, cumin-scented wild salmon with cucumber and cabbage ceviche. Nimbus is located at 119 N. Commerce St. in Bellingham.
Whitehouse-Crawford is one of the most respected restaurants in the state, a Walla Walla haven for fine cuisine housed in a building that’s on the National Register of Historic Places. Reservations (509-525-2222) are, as they say “highly” recommended. That’s because the menu is both extraordinary, and extraordinarily creative. Case-in-point: black bean stew with greens, pan-fried masa dumplings, feta and (ready for this?) fried egg. It all works, and the price is $24. You’ll find Whitehouse-Crawford at 55 W. Cherry St. in Walla Walla.
Coho. As the name implies, the place specializes in sea food. You’d expect as much from a restaurant located in Friday Harbor, in the San Juan Islands. That seafood comes from the cold, clean water of the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Something from the land? The beef is local, and grass-fed. Perhaps something between fish and beef? Order the creamy nettle pesto with linguini for $23. Coco is conveniently located at 120 Nicholas St. in Friday Harbor.
Washington State wines have their own faithful following, and Cheapflights resident oenophile Michael Brazile has identified a couple of the best producers:
Pacific Rim Winemakers specializes in Terroir-driven rieslings, modeled after the great riesling producers of Germany. Contact the winery for special tasting events. You’ll find it at 8111 Keene Rd. in West Richland.
Amavi Cellars specializes in cabernet sauvignons and syrah. The latter, specifically the ’08 Les Callines Vineyard Syrah, earned a 93-point rating from Wine Spectator. Amavi also produces a rosé of Cabernet Franc and a white-Bordeaux-inspired blend of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as late harvest and ice wine Sémillon. Amavi is in Walla Walla, at 3796 Peppers Bridge Road. Stop by from 10:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. daily.
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Story by Jerry Chandler
(Image: Vina Caliterra)
