Nosh Pit

Nosh Pit’s Afternoon Snack Break

We interrupt this workday to tantalize you with some delicious local treat. Today: Luc’s souffle potato crisps.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on May 17, 2011 at 03:48PM 0 Comments

Luc’s magical potatoes. And also the hat. Because of the whole Chef in the Hat thing.

People say that pizza is like riding a bicycle.

No wait, people say that pizza is like sex, even when it’s bad it’s not that bad. And sex is like riding a bicycle because…I think because you don’t forget how to do it? Wait, I got it: Everything that you don’t forget how to do even if you haven’t done it in a while is like riding a bicycle. That’s how that one goes. Who brought up sex anyway? Pervert.

Nevermind all that. In real life, it’s fried potatoes that are like riding a bicycle. That is to say, more fun than what you are doing right now.

Especially if they are Luc’s fried potatoes, or souffle potato crisps as they are referred to in the restaurant’s vernacular. The potatoes are blanched, cooled, and fried three times.

A basket costs $9 and comes with the house aioli.

More good news: Luc now has keg wine.

Even more good news: it’s almost evening snack o’clock.

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Tags: Madison Valley, Afternoon Snack, Thierry Rautureau

Are You Already Thinking About This Weekend’s Brunch?

No shame in it. Let’s talk options.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Feb 11, 2011 at 03:22PM 0 Comments

Sweet buns at the Harvest Vine

I’ve never tried it myself, but I’ve heard many, many raves about the brunch at Harvest Vine. The menu sounds fantastic—egg and sherry-battered fried toast with figs and orange syrup, scrambled eggs with duck confit, caramelized onions, and cream…..Brunch is from 10am to 2pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Easy Joe’s, the new comfort-food spot (the concept reminds me of that at Bing’s in Madison Park) in the former Tidbit spot, is doing weekend brunch from 9am to 2pm. Dungeness crab hush puppies? Yeah, they make that.

I had a chance today to check out Local 360, the new restaurant in the old Flying Fish space in Belltown. It serves a straightforward selection of sustainably sourced breakfast items like buttermilk biscuits and preserves, a sausage and egg sandwich, steel-cut oatmeal, grits and eggs, etc. Get there early so you can score a booth and park it for the morning. Ahhhhh.

I like the sound of duck-ham eggs Benedict, on the brunch menu at new West Seattle restaurant Avalon. Crab and cod Benedict, a root vegetable hash, and a leek quiche all also grace that menu. Brunch at Avalon is Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 2pm.

The Row House Cafe over in South Lake Union is doing brunch on the weekends. They have a build-your-own breakfast sandwich option that’s pretty cool, and who can argue with baked brie with honey and pine nuts and an Illy cappuccino in the morning?

Not you, my hungry cheese-loving friend. Not you.

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Tags: South Lake Union, Belltown, Brunch, Madison Valley, Madison Park

Voila! Bistrot and Its Burger-Centric Lunch

Outside of a burger shack, this might be the beefiest repast out there.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on Feb 09, 2011 at 12:55PM 0 Comments

You know you want it: Voilà! Bistrot’s kobe beef hamburger, now available at lunch. Photo: Iris Dumuk

Diners will find a sampling of classic bistro fare on Voila! ’s new-ish midday menu, but headlining the bill is that Seattle obsession, the burger.

There are several Painted Hills patties to be had: one simply garnished with Emmenthal cheese, another topped with Bleu bits and locally sourced bacon, another with mushrooms prepped in truffle oil. All of which sounds delish, but we’re weak-kneed for the Kobe Classic, dripping with caramelized onions and brie.

Employees say owner Laurent Gabrel will likely expand the offerings, but really, there’s no need—allowing us to break up our 9-to-5 with that half pound of kobe crack already secures you a spot on our list of lunchtime favorites, Gabrel.

Voila! serves lunch Tuesday through Saturday 11:30-2:30.

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Tags: Lunch, Madison Valley, Burgers

The #2 New Dish of 2010: Luc’s Souffle Potato Crisps

Three times fried. Enough said.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on Dec 30, 2010 at 07:00AM 0 Comments

Photo: Lindsay Borden

Luc’s souffle potato crisps (Thierry Rautureau’s hat not included).

2010 was a biggie for restaurant openings in Seattle. Nosh Pit looks back on the year with a survey of new standout foods we couldn’t stop talking about.

In August, when Kathryn Robinson did her thing at Luc, she dubbed these golden beauts the best appetizers in the city. They’re souffle potato crisps—think puffy French fries—made with taters that are blanched, then cooled, and fried three times.

If that last bit about the frying didn’t have you, consider that Robinson also refers to the chips as “little miracles” with “moist, almost creamy interiors and impossibly crispy crusts.”

A basket of the crisps comes with dipping sauce and costs $8.50.

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Tags: Madison Valley, Luc, Top 10 Dishes of 2010, 2010 in Food

What’s on Luc’s Brunch Menu

Here’s what the Mad Valley bistro is cooking Sunday mornings.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on Nov 01, 2010 at 03:18PM 0 Comments

Luc launches Sunday brunch November 7. The hours are 10am to 2pm.

Last week we told you Luc was entering the Sunday brunch biz, with details of the menu to surface soon. Without further ado:

Your expected egg-centric fare is there—for example, a smoked salmon omelet with chive; two eggs with a meaty side; poached eggs with ham and harissa-lemon hollandaise on ciabatta—as are four more heartier entrees. Those include a fish of the day, croque monsier, an Alsatian tart, and grilled beef onglet steak.

For the sweet teeth, there are two types of crepes, french toast, beignets, and coffee cake. Though you won’t find baked brie, two cheese plates—one with three selections, the other with five—round out the offerings.

Egg dishes run from $10-$15; sweets and cheeses start at $5 and top out at $16. At $9.50 the Alsatian tart is the cheapest of the entrees, with the fish of the day going for market price.

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Tags: Brunch, Madison Valley, Luc

A Quick Shout-Out to Rover’s, Celebrating 23 Years

The restaurant hosts an eight-course meal to mark the occasion.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on Sep 28, 2010 at 11:04AM 0 Comments

Photo: Lindsay Borden

Thierry Rautureau’s Rover’s celebrates its 23rd anniversary.

Hats off to Chef in the Hat Thierry Rautureau. On Wednesday his perennially revered Rover’s celebrates 23 years in the biz. To fete the occasion, the Madison Valley restaurant is arranging an eight-course meal promising 23 flavors. As of Monday afternoon all seats were booked, but the Rover’s rep we spoke to said interested persons could be placed on a waiting list.

The dinner starts at 6pm and costs $150, with wine pairing an additional $80. To inquire, call 206-325-7442.

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Tags: Food Events and Festivals, Madison Valley

New Venture for Voilà! Bistrot Owner

Laurent Gabrel will bring a seafood-focused restaurant to Laurelhurst this summer.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Apr 29, 2010 at 07:00AM 0 Comments

The epicenter of Little France.

“Little France” is what Laurent Gabrel calls the stretch of Madison Valley that is home to Rover’s, Gabrel’s own Voilà! Bistrot, and La Côte Crêperie, which he created but has since sold.

Now, the gregarious Gaul is expanding his empire to 3515 NE 45th Street, where he’ll open a new restaurant called Chloe Bistrot this summer. Gabrel says Chloe will be a lot like Voilà! from a price perspective, but with a more seafood-focused menu. There will be a bouillabaisse, tripe a la Normande, and mussels, another other oceanic options. On the appetizer menu: salmon rillettes, oysters, and escargots.

Voilà’s! beloved Kobe beef burger will be among les viandes, and Gabrel spoke of a flank steak and shallot dish too.

I asked Gabrel if he would have half-price wine bottles on Sundays as he does at Voilà! He laughed at me and said he hadn’t gotten that far. Then he whipped his scarf around his neck with a flick of the wrist and sped off towards Laurelhurst in his red Mercedes C300. Okay that last bit didn’t really happen, but he does have a red C300. I have that on good authority.

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Tags: Seattle Restaurant Openings, Madison Valley

Bill the Butcher to Open in Madison Valley

The new local chain of neighborhood butcher shops announces a fourth location.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Mar 30, 2010 at 03:08PM 2 Comments

I recently learned that Bill the Butcher, the local chain of artisan butcheries that has fast set up shop in Woodinville, Laurelhurst, and Redmond, will open a fourth location. The new store will be in Madison Valley, between City People’s and Cafe Flora, according to CEO J’Amy Owens.

If you haven’t been to BtB yet, prepare yourself. You are in for some beautiful grassfed meats and housemade sausages. Each location caters to the neighborhood it serves, and if you ask for it (you want goat? you want goose?) they’ll find out how to get it for you. Stores are staffed by a head butcher with a culinary background, and, in addition to meats, stock local sundries like scavenger chicken eggs, Boat Street Pickles, and milk and cream from Golden Glen creamery.

Bill the Butcher part IV is scheduled to open in April.

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Tags: Seattle Restaurant Openings, Locavore News, Madison Valley, Butchers

A Four-Course Dinner at Rover’s for $49?

Chef Thierry Rautureau opens his casual new Mad Valley bistro Luc in April. Sample the food today.

Posted by: Caitlin King on Mar 09, 2010 at 01:30PM 1 Comments

“The corner of 28th is happening baby,” says Thierry Rautureau, chef and owner of Madison Valley’s fancy French food mecca Rover’s.

It’s just not happening yet.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t preview the food. Luc, Rautureau’s much anticipated bar, kitchen, and to-go counter at the corner of Madison Street and 28th Avenue East is now set to open in April. Between now and opening day, Rautureau is serving items from the upcoming menu at nearby Rover’s.

Beginning this week, “A Taste of Luc” is a four-course meal for $49. Dishes include smoked salmon tartine with herbed goat cheese and capers, trout Almandine with potato, a grilled pork chop with Dijon mustard rub, sage, parsnip and spinach, and desserts like butterscotch creme brulee.

This being Rover’s, you might still want to dress fancy.

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Tags: Seattle Restaurant Openings, Madison Valley, Chef in the Hat