Now, we invite you to explore with us and take advantage of the amazing deals we’ll be offering. Emerald City Eats is about helping you get to know your community through food and we’re going to do that by telling real stories and talking from actual experience at our featured businesses. We are committed to being local, building relationships and sharing great savings.

But to truly take in all that is edible around here, you must be ready to expand your food-loving horizons. Because the truth is, it won’t be all big-name places on Emerald City Eats. Along with businesses that are tried and true, you’ll see some that are fresh and new! That’s why we’re here – to add adventure to your eating and help you discover the places you’ll be revisiting for years to come.

So check back often, dare to discover and always stay hungry!

Your friends,
- Dan and Lisa

And even more exciting is when our friends, fans and followers share in the conversation.  Earlier today, on our Facebook page, one of our fans posted the question: “Are there any good food events happening this week?  I’m new to Seattle!”

But new to Seattle or not, this is a question on a lot of people’s minds, so we decided to do something about it.  There, on our Facebook Discussions board, we posted the following response (including one late addition):

Dear Alex,
We here at Emerald City Eats are so glad you decided to move to/visit/bless our amazing city. As you get to know Seattle better, you’ll find there’s something for everybody, whether you’re looking for entertainment, food or dreamy beach time. The Emerald City is alive with enough events to make your head spin. This week is no different. Here is a quick run down of what’s happening this week:

• Eatery Openings:
Full Tilt ice cream is growing again! Just six months after opening their second location in Columbia City, the White-Center-love’n ice cream parlor is staking a claim in the University District as well. Starting today, you can find their amazing artisan ice cream from 10am to 10pm everyday but Mondays at 4759 NE 50th St., underneath Cedars Restaurant and facing Walgreens.
Also adding to its location log, Wink Cupcakes is moving on up – the hill that is – from its commercial kitchen location at the bottom of Queen Anne, up to 1817 Queen Anne Ave, between El Diablo Coffee and Cinderella Tailors. Resolutions are broken here.

• Events that don’t involve food, but are at restaurants:
Ever wonder, “Where can I go to eat, drink, and talk about science?” Well, other than at your nerd friends’ apartments, you can also do this twice a month at Science On Tap! Tonight you can find these deep-thinkers over at T.S. McHugh’s Pub in Lower Queen Anne, starting at 7:30pm.

• Events that don’t involve food, aren’t at restaurants, but are still really cool:
If you decide not to join your neighborhood science lovers over at Science on Tap tonight, you could instead score yourself some FREE tickets to Spotlight at the 5th Avenue Theatre! Sponsored by US Bank, this popular series takes you behind the scenes to learn more about their upcoming productions. For more information, visit http://www.5thavenue.org/show/SpotlightNightforSouthPacificandLegallyBlonde0910/

• Eat! Drink! Watch Three Amigos!:
Tomorrow night, Jan. 6, at Freshy’s Coffee in West Seattle, hunker down in the cozy confines of this welcoming eatery and enjoy a movie that just never gets old (although, technically, it is 24 years old) – Three Amigos! This Chevy Chase, Martin Short and Steve Martin classic is just what the Epiphany ordered.
This gathering starts at 7pm and sombreros are encouraged. During the movie, enjoy tasty sandwhiches, fresh-made soup and beverages of all types (yes, they have beer). For more information and to rsvp, visit http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=236537372031&id=35324704678#/event.php?eid=235839447429&ref=nf

• Events strictly for cheese lovers:
Not for the lactose intolerant, Ray’s Boathouse in Ballard is hosting a Washington Cheese Maker Dinner this Thursday, Jan. 7.
For $65, you’ll be gobbling up cheese from Gothberg Farms, Whiskey Hill Farm, Mt. Townsend Creamery, Blue Rose Dairy, Willapa Hills Farmstead Cheese, Black Sheep Creamery and Estrella Family Creamery. To see the menu and make a reservation, visit http://www.rays.com/events/specialevent or call 206-789-3770 x3.

• Food Events that will make you feel warm and fuzzy inside:
Even if you’ve spent only one day in Seattle, you’ve probably already noticed our thriving homeless population (maybe “thriving” isn’t the best word). But seriously, Seattle is a city that cares and Farestart is a culinary school that cares in the form of helping these underprivileged folks transform their lives through training and job placement.
This Thursday night at Guest Chef Night, Chef Peter Levine of the Waterfront Seafood Grill will work with FareStart students to create a delicious three-course meal. On the menu are Roasted King Salmon, Roasted Butternut Squash and Pumpkin & Golden Raisin Bread Budding, and it can all be yours for just $24.95! But reservations are a must, so visit http://farestart.com/ for more info.

• Farmers Markets go year-round ‘round here:
Just when you thought it was too cold and rainy to enjoy buying fresh local produce outdoors, the Seattle Farmers Markets keep proving you wrong! It’s never too cold or rainy for these die-hard farmers and purveyors of locally produced edibles. And nothing says ‘local love’ like buying from them!
Visit http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org/markets to find hours and direction to Seattle’s two year-round markets (University District and West Seattle, every Saturday and Sunday respectively).

• Best for last?
As you get to know Seattle’s food scene, you’ll find that the name Tom Douglas gets mentioned quite often. He’s the owner of some little places you might have heard of. Do Lola, Palace Kitchen, Dahlia Lounge, Dahlia Bakery, Etta’s or Serious Pie sound familiar? They’re popular meccas of culinary cuisine that you definitely need to try at least once (at which point you may need a support group to help you from setting up camp in Belltown).
Anyhow, back to the event … next Tuesday, Jan. 12, at Douglas’ Palace Ballroom, foodie authors Jane & Michael Stern will be having a “Community Dinner” to benefit the Seattle Arts & Lectures organization. Enjoy Douglas’ award-winning cuisines, wonderful wines and get a chance to win a Weber Summit S-670 Gas Grill, donated by Sur La Table. Price of this edible experience is 75 big ones, but if you win the grill! … well … then dinner was still $75. <shrug>
For more information and to buy tickets, visit http://www.lectures.org/sternscommunitydinner.html where you’ll have the opportunity to purchase tickets to more of SAL’s lectures. Check ‘em out.

In closing, our dear Alex, thank you for asking the same question even longtime Seattle residents ask all the time: what’s happening this week? We at ECE will do what we can to keep everyone up to date on food event happenings, and we’ll even do you one better; Coming soon, we’ll be choosing local food events/openings/big deals, to go to for ECE Eat-Ups (Get it? Like meetups … eat-ups … oh, you get it). Yes, ECE Eat-Ups will be coming soon and I hope you’ll join us! Bring a friend, relative or co-conspirator, and together we’ll eat! We’ll explore! We’ll pay with separate checks! Oh yeah, good times.

Your friends in food,
- Dan and Lisa

Hey y’all. I’ve gotten this question three times in the last week: “Where are all the vegan and vegetarian Thanksgivings around Seattle, Anika?”This question is a little closer to my heart than most, because I had the opportunity to spend some time with group of female turkeys rescued by Farm Sanctuary in CA. These sweet girls were so gentle, but sickly from their ordeal, and fell asleep in our laps. I fell in love.I thought I’d collect what I know about Non-Turkey-Eating events on Turkey Day in one place. Please, please comment with any events or veg restaurants that I missed!!

Restaurants:
Plum Bistro is offering a vegan Thanksgiving prix-fixe. Reservations are likely required, but don’t have much more info. (206) 838-5333

Georgetown Liquor Co. will have a vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner. Starts at 4 pm, only costs $25, and includes dinner, desert AND wine! What. A. Deal. (206) 763-6764

Bamboo Garden will have their annual vegan Thanksgiving dinner. It’s just $17 and includes smoked vegetarian turkey, fresh baked yams with pineapple and orange sauce, stuffing mixed with nuts and vegetables and more. (206) 282-6616

Cafe Flora will be offering a prix-fixe four-course meatless menu and a smaller kids menu. Of course, vegan/gluten-free options will be available. The cost is $50. (206) 325-9100

Carmelita will have a four-course vegan and vegetarian Thanksgiving Day Feast from 3:00-8:00. Not sure about the cost, but for sure reservations will be needed. (206) 706-7703

Thrive is going all out and offering FREE food during their “Gala of Gratitude” to thank everyone who has supported them since they opened. Hours will be 10:30 to 3:00 and there will be prizes. (206) 525-0300

Squid and Ink will be offering a dinner including: pomegranate mixed greens salad, roasted root vegetable medley, apricot brandy cranberry sauce, garlic-sage mashed potato with country-style gravy, corn-bread stuffing, house made stuffed tofukey, and pumpkin cheezcake. Beer/wine/cider available. 206.763.2696 email: squidandink@yahoo.com. 4:00pm, reservations required. $25

Non-restaurant or Potlucks:

• The Seattle Vegan Meetup Group will be having “Over the Highway and Through the Streets: Vegan Thanksgiving Potluck,” 4:30 PM at Wayward 901 NE 55th. St. Join the The Seattle Vegan Meetup Group to get more details.
• Also on Meetup, the Seattle Veg Activity and Adventure Group is inviting vegan orphans or folks just just not into “Thankskilling” day to celebrate “Thanksliving” Day with a potluck. Again, log into Meetup to get the details.
• Vegetarians of Washington have a monthly meal on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. I heard that they were having a Thanksgiving potluck this month, but I didn’t find anything online about it. Call their message line at (206) 706-2635 if this sounds appetizing.

Fortunately, (or unfortunately), I’ll be spending Thanksgiving with my very carnivorous family, so I won’t get to enjoy any of these wonderful sounding meals. Eat some for me!

And if you are thinking of dragging along a non-vegetarian friend, have them check out the Top 10 Reasons to Not Eat Turkey this Thanksgiving. or watch ‘Life and Death for Factory-Farmed Turkeys,’ narrated by Shirley Jones – this might make your meal seem a lot more appealing.

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Posted by Anika at 1:01 PM 5 comments