The entire TASTE team is thrilled to be a part of this exiting new exhibit presented at the Seattle Art Museum, on view at SAM Downtown beginning February 9^th  and running through April 29^th, 2012.

This is the only United States stop for Gauguin & Polynesia: An Elusive Paradise a landmark show highlighting the complex relationship between Paul Gauguin’s work and the art and culture of Polynesia . The exhibit also includes about 50 of Gauguin’s brilliantly hued paintings, sculptures and works on paper which are displayed alongside 60 major examples of Polynesian sculpture that fueled his search for the exotic. Organized by the Art Centre Basel, the show is comprised of works on loan from some of the world’s most prestigious museums and private collection

The arrival of this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition is exciting the Seattle community and TASTE’s talented culinary team has created  French and Polynesian inspired menus that lends itself to traditional tastes of Tahiti and Paris. TASTE the paradise!

View our French and Polynesian inspired menus HERE

View our new exhibit hour HERE

TASTE is pleased to assist with this extraordinary exhibit. Come see us!

-the TASTE team

Credit ; photo credit

On Saturday January, 14 TASTE restaurant had a full bar for our first ever cocktail contest. Friends, family, and TASTE patrons came out to support the 5 chosen cocktail makers as they got behind the bar to play bartender for a panel of judges. It was a stimulating scene to watch as contestants each put together a cocktail representing their own personal preference, creativity, and story. The competition was friendly but stiff, (no pun intended) and after quite the deliberation, the panel of judges chose Sam Albert’s ‘The Mole’ as the winning cocktail. Sam received a $50 gift certificate to TASTE and will have her cocktail recipe published in our up and coming cocktail menu. Below you can see her winning recipe, along with the other contestants innovative concoctions.

We invite you to try our new winter inspired cocktail, “The Mole,” introduced to us by Sam Albert. It was such an exciting evening! Big thanks to our contestants, Sam Albert, Brian Johnson, Jacob Canini, Tim Kehrli, Tim Scudder, Melissa and Chris Cable and to our judges,Katy Browning, Aron Michael Thompson, Duncan Chase & Inga Walker

Gear up and get prepared to submit your recipe for TASTE’s Spring cocktail Contest-  of course we are going to do another one! More details to come when the time gets closer!

To stay up to date with our events, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. To see more pictures from this event, click HERE

-the TASTE team

photos by: Kristina Krug

Last week we were excited to be featured in Seattle Met’s Bride and Groom winter/spring 2012 issue where our expertise in tray passed and station bites was highlighted.

Event and Marketing Manager Katy Browning suggests for the couples who want to spend quality time with their guests a combination of passed and stationary bites are the way to go! Executive Catering Chef Paul Rosquita  knows exactly how to compliment every event stlye with our fork friendly and seasonal food items.

A well-balanced event takes into account the need and vision of the client while maximizing the vision with the collective knowledge of the professionals who live and breathe events everyday! We are thrilled to share a little of our collective knowledge in Seattle Met’s Bride and Grooms spread. Go pick up your copy today and turn to page 109-110 for some other great ideas from the other four local caterers featured in the spread.

-The TASTE team

Beginning January 5th  and running through March 1st, 2012, SAM Films series will be featuring Forever Young: The Films of Francois Truffaut.  

To honor this series, TASTE Bartender Inga Walker has created Paris Grey, a signature cocktail that will be featured every Thursday that a film is presented.

Paris Grey

2 oz barrel aged Voyager Gin

3/4 oz Creme de Violette

1/4 oz Benedictine

2 dashes of Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters

splash simple syrup

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass over ice cubes.

Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Enjoy!

Join us on Thursday, January 5^th for the first film in the series: Les Mistons & The 400 Blows

TASTE Responsibly

Its time to ring in the New Year! Say goodbye to 2011 with a bang and treat your senses to a locally inspired delicious Prix Fix Menu with TASTE Restaurant, $45 per person.

Reservations are  available! Call 206.903.5291 or email tasterestaurant@tastesam.com 

Prix Fixe Menu

(amuse)
 
nash’s carrot granita

starter    |    choice of one

cylinder beets, blue rose chevre tart, rapini, cinamon vinaigrette

soup gulf white shrimp consume

entrée    |      choice of one

cassoulet   |      chicken confit, scarlet runner beans, leeks, toasty brioche

winter squash ravioli   |      browned butter, fried sage, sea salt

sweet   |   choice of one

maple pumpkin bavarian

ginger and pear dessert

Make an evening out of it- Enjoy  a seasonally isnpired cocktail at the bar and check out what’s happening at SAM!

 We can’t think of a TASTE-ier way to usher in 2012. Happy New Year!

 TASTE Responsibly

Benaroya Hall and the Seattle Symphony

Shakespeare once stated, “If music be the food of love; play on” Just like music touches our soul, so does the delicious meals prepared at TASTE.

We love our performing arts neighbors and throughout the month of December, we’re inviting guests who attend events within the local arts community to enjoy a meal at TASTE before or after attending a show, including:  Seattle Symphony, Paramount Theatre, ACT Theatre, 5^th Ave Theatre and the Moore Theatre.  Present your ticket stub to your server and enjoy 20%* off your dining experience with us.  ‘Tis the season for warm and welcoming meals paired with beautiful holiday festivities.

Looking to fill your social calendar? Visit any of these sites to view their Holiday Schedules:

 Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall

Paramount Theatre

ACT Theatre

5^th Ave Theatre

The Moore Theatre

This is our way of saying thank you for supporting the Arts we value so much.

Happy Holidays!

*Excluding tax, gratuity and alcohol

Try our Roasted Tomato  Soup this winter! Pair the soup  with your favorite grilled cheese  sandwich! An easy dish to make for a gathering. Swing on over to World Spice Merchants  (a place  we can spend hours  in) for all the spices and while your down there, head up to Beecher’s for the  grilled cheese ingredients!

MAKES 8 SERVINGS

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 Walla Walla onion, diced

2 carrots, peeled and diced

2 stalks celery, diced

4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped

2 shallots, chopped

1 cup chopped fresh basil

1 cup chopped fresh oregano

1 cup chopped fresh thyme

1/2 cup chopped fresh rosemary

1/2 teaspoon chili flake, optional

1 cup red wine

2 16 oz. cans fire roasted tomatoes

1 quart vegetable stock

sugar to sweeten

salt and pepper to taste

In a 2 gallon soup pot, heat the oil over medium heat. When the

oil is hot, add the onions, carrots, celery, garlic and shallots.

Sweat the vegetables, stirring often, until the onions turn translucent

then add the basil, thyme, rosemary, oregano, chili flake and

red wine. Cook further until the red wine is almost evaporated.

Add the cans of roasted tomatoes and vegetable stock and stir

all the ingredients together. When the soup comes to a boil, turn

the heat down to low for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

To puree, turn off heat and use a submersion blender and puree

until smooth. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. If you prefer

a sweeter soup, you can add sugar.

Enoy!

-The TASTE team

The Holiday Season is officially upon us and the hustle and bustle has begun!

The TASTE Team believes that everyone deserves a break while  checking off their Naughty or Nice List and we think wine is the perfect reward. Beginning  Saturday, December 3^rd stop into TASTE every Saturday throughout the month of December to enjoy Specialty Wine Tastings from 2pm-4pm. For $5 enjoy 3 wine tastings  hosted by the TASTE Staff.

Love what you tasted? We invite you to purchase some of our finest small production wine at a special retail price. We can’t think of a better gift for your loved ones!

Should you stay for dinner, we will happily  honor the purchase of any featured wines and waive any corkage fee while you dine with us.

Wine? Shopping? We can’t think of a better Holiday Tradition!

Shop Responsibly!

The TASTE bartenders love  creating  unique  and custom craft cocktails with new and  interesting spirits to construct the next seasonally inspired drink.

This month, we want to shake things up a bit and ask you, our TASTE audience, what is your favorite Winter Inspired Cocktail? We challenge you enter our first ever Craft Cocktail Contest. How does it work? Easy. Send us your favorite recipe, our panel will review the  entries  and choose the top 5 contestants. Next, we will invite those 5 talented contestants to share space in the TASTE bar and mix up their cocktails for our judges.  The prize? The winning recipe will be featured on our Winter Bar Menu and  showcased on the TASTE Blog. In addition, the contestant chosen will receive a $50 gift certificate to TASTE Restaurant.  Did we mention the winning recipe will be featured on our Winter Bar Menu? We can’t believe TASTE Bartender Duncan Chase agreed to that!  

The contest begins Friday, November 18^st and will run through Monday, December 19th (all entries must be received by 12am, TS) Please send your recipes to Kristina.Krug@cafebonappetit.com

What we need from you:

-Your favorite Winter inspired craft cocktail recipe
- A short description on what inspired you
- Your E-mail address

We are looking forward to see what you come up with!

Mix responsibly!

Credit: photo taken by Vera Chang, designed by Kristina Krug