What's in this Issue:
Welcome to our Tom Douglas Restaurants Autumn Newsletter. In the past we have sent our newsletter only via snail mail. If you prefer to receive this newsletter only by email in the future, please e mail
office@tomdouglas.com and let her know. Thanks.
From Tom and Jackie :
To all of you who shared your favorite Dahlia stories, from your 50th anniversary parties to engagement nights to honeymoons to divorce parties, we appreciate all the reflections on special celebrations and intimate laughs that the Dahlia has been a part of these past ten years. Our actual 10th anniversary date is November 15th and to celebrate, we will offer free coconut cream anniversary pie and a commemorative gift bag to our frequent diners who dine with us during that week (from Sunday 11/14 through Saturday 11/20). Please just show your server your Frequent Diner card when you come in to dine. We also are featuring magnums of our good friends, Kay and Clay's, just released '94 Chinook Cabernet. By all accounts, a magnum is the best way to drink red wine. Since Day One, we have always had a Chinook wine on our list and this one tops them all.
Construction has started on the new Dahlia Lounge, due to open in March 2000. For those of you who haven't heard, we are moving the Dahlia just one block north and across the street to the corner of 4th and Virginia. This beautiful turn of the (20th) century building offers more space; we are tripling the size of the kitchen, there is room for a bakery, a bar, and a 75-seat private dining room. The dimensions of the dining room itself are almost identical to the current Dahlia space. I've been asked a million times already, "Is it going to look like the old Dahlia?". All I can say is that it will have some of the old favorites such as red walls and fish lamps, but plenty of new features too. Stay tuned.
Barcelona — thanks to the long list of great e-mail suggestions you all sent in, we brought with us a list of dozens of places that we "had to try" during our six day stay. You all forgot to mention that it was going to be sunny and 85 degrees, and that Barcelona is completely surrounded by gorgeous beaches. It was difficult to make ourselves leave the breezy cabanas for the steamy, muggy streets of downtown Barcelona. Nevertheless, we managed to have many good meals and a couple of great ones. My two favorites:
- Can Sole in the Barceloneta, a great little spot in a quiet, working class neighborhood. The octopus braised in olive oil and tomato paste was a melt-in-your-mouth dish. And their version of paella, which looked completely burnt to the pan, turned out to be crunchy, greasy and fabulous.
- Cal Pep in the Barri Gotic — many of you mentioned this place, but we were warned away from it by our concierge who told us it was too touristy. Thank goodness we listened to you guys instead. By far, the best tapas of the trip and certainly the best seafood overall. Reminded me of the "KISS" acronym — keep it simple stupid. Perfect fried anchovies, perfect baby squid with garlic, perfect griddled langoustines with sea salt, perfect atmosphere (no menus, and leave it to the waiters). If you go, eat at the counter and be prepared for an hour or two wait for a stool.
Other "bests" - my favorite snack, which is served all over Barcelona, is the fried salt cod cakes. The restaurant that looked the best but we were never able to get into was Senyor Parellada - maybe next trip. The best surprise; Pou Dolc in the Barri Gotic, which is affiliated with a cooking school. My favorite place for atmosphere was off the beaten track but certainly worth the cab ride - La Parra. We knew we were in for a good time walking past a marble slab with rabbits, goat, ducks, suckling pigs and lots of little birds, all right next to a huge wood burning stove. A little Rioja, a little wood fire, a little Catalan music — hooray for Barcelona.
Always keeping my eye out for local treats that tickle our taste buds:
- The spring rolls at Saigon in the Pike Place Market
- The fresh potato lefsa, at Olson's Scandinavian Delicatessen in Ballard; get them early Saturday mornings before they sell out.
- Pho Bac at 12th and Jackson — still the best pho on the planet.
And last but not least, the Taste of the Nation 2000 date is set: Sunday, May 7th. Tickets can be reserved by calling (206) 545-FOOD. More in the next newsletter.
Enjoy the Fall!
— Tom & Jackie
