Josh Petersen

Should you find yourself tired of $40 plates of macadamia crusted mahi mahi, or just looking from a break from the high pressure of Wailea’s many resorts – cross the street from the Shops at Wailea and enjoy a pie at Matteo’s. We found the place staffed with Ligurean emigres who had apparently traded one beautiful coastline for another. Order at the front and grab a table. Very casual and kid friendly.

Gun Club is a new bar/lounge from Michael Klebeck of Top Pot/Bauhaus fame. It is going to be on the ground floor of the Trace Lofts project going in on 12th & Madison acrosss from the new La Spiga. It ought to be fun to see what it all adds up to - and since it is a block from our office - I’m sure we will find out.

We tried to go last week and it wasn’t quite open. They told us to check back next week (but they still had a lot of work to do). This must have been quite a project.

This is a pretty fantastic place and the tartufo infused buffalo mozzarella pizza I ate may be one of the best pizza’s I’ve ever had. You’ve got to try it!

We were visiting from Seattle, and to my mind, it was something like a cross between the thin crust goodness of Tutta Bella and the more expansive menu of Osteria La Spiga. It’s definitely top notch, and not at all stuffy or over priced, especially considering the quality of the ingredients used.

My brother sent me a link to a review of this place and it sounds promising. Any body have firsthand experience?

We tried out Restaurant Crémant last night, arriving with high expectations, and leaving early, fairly disappointed. The basics of the entrees were well executed, but almost every other part of the meal, from the greeting at the door (brusque, with a phone on the ear), the salad (tough, plain), starters (eh), ambiance (basement-ish and somehow still snooty), and noise level (loud) the experience was overall pretty disappointing.

The restaurant seemed to have a bit of a hard time getting over itself (perhaps the McMackin influence goes beyond just the oppressively grey bombshelterish interior). The whole set-up just seemed forced and unwelcoming. It is hard to enjoy a meal if you are not comfortable. And it’s no fun to pay $100 for the privilege. We skipped dessert and drinks and went elsewhere.

If I lived in the neighborhood, or could just walk in off the street, I might have a different review. But when you have to make reservations weeks in advance for a table – you have to meet the high bar of a “destination restaurant”. And for me, Crémant didn’t clear the bar. If I’m going to drop that sort of coin on a meal for two, I’ll find a different spot.

I heard a new branch of Le Pichet is headed for 12th Avenue on Capitol/First Hill. With a new Le Pichet, La Spiga, Cafe Stellina, & Licorous joining Crave and Lark on 12th, one heck of a restaraunt row is in the works.

The review I read of one of the latest chef owned foodie haunts makes this place sound pretty interesting. It sounds like a bit of good eating in a strip-mallish locale – with an interesting approach to portions and menus. Sounds like lunch might be the best time to check it out, but Anne and I are headed here for our datenight. I’ll try and take some photos and add a review soon.

Don’t miss Mayfair! This Saturday!

One of the sweetest days in the Madrona neighborhood is the annual Mayfair celebration. If you have kids in Seattle it is worth checking out.

Madrona puts on a fine kid’s parade down the mainstreet and the playfield is transformed into a carnival grounds. There are pony rides on the tennis courts, a big bouncy contraption, and loads of other family friendly entertainments.

Between Mt. Baker’s Day in the Park and Madrona’s Mayfair, it is not hard to see why South Seattle neighborhoods rule for kids!

A nice article in the NYTimes ran today on Armandino Batali, the proprietor of Salumi’s new crop of culatello.