The Roving Pizzaioli

When you come to the 8th Annual Poverty Bay Wine Festival, (March 2–4 and the Landmark Event Center), make sure you come with an empty stomach! Not only will they have 25 wineries and two breweries at the festival, they’ll also have eight food merchants who are offering delectable Northwest cuisine and desserts.

New to the festival this year, but certainly not new to pizza fans at the Des Moines Farmers Market, is Roving Pizzaioli. Roving Pizzaioli is a mobile wood fired pizza company based out of Normandy Park. It’s easy to spot the Roving Pizzaioli because of their very distinctive copper wood fire oven, which is set on wheels. Co-owners, Marshall Hansen and Walter Smith, along with their team create all kinds of pies, but their specialty is NY style pizza by the slice. At the festival, they will be on hand all three days making warm yummy cheesy goodness, which (we might add) pairs quite nicely with a glass of wine.

Another new offering at the festival is the Poverty Bay Bistro, which will be operated by Rotarian Vince Koester, owner of Koester Landscape Management. Those who know Vince, know that his true passion is cooking. Vince can make a mean burger and is always on the lookout for the perfect burger! Some of the menu choices at the Poverty Bay Bistro will be grilled chicken cesar salad, poached wild salmon, beef stroganoff, and (of course!) a mean cheeseburger. Proceeds from the restaurant will go to fund the charitable projects of the Rotary Club of Des Moines.

Other food merchants available at the wine festival include:

• Panera Bread
• Salty’s at Redondo
• Scotch & Vine Restaurant and Bar
• Redondo Fred Meyer Deli
• M&T Smoked Products
• Forte Chocolates

For more information about the Poverty Bay Wine Festival or to purchase tickets, please visit www.dmrotary.org.

Luso will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with a special Portuguese wine and beer tasting with Latin dancing, Maria Luisa Empanadas, appetizers and more from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10th. Cover charge is just $8 so be sure to mark your calendars for this event:

Fatima Eremita Hemmons

As we do with all our Advertisers, we’re giving Luso a forum to describe their business:

The owner, Fatima Eremita Hemmons (Tina) was born in Goa, the most beautiful former Portuguese Colony on the SW coast of India. She spent many years in England and has been living and raising her family in the United States of America since 1980. Hence, most of the amazing food and wine comes from Portugal, Goa and England. Luso, is a Beer and Wine Specialty Shop. Luso is a retail store. Fatima has wine tasting from 12 to 2pm and 5-7pm and lunch from 11-7pm which includes coxinhas (Brazilian croquettes), empadas (Portuguese) and Maria Luisa Empanadas from Argentina and salad. Let Tina make you a salad with her special olive oil that so pleases the palate. Even better, just come and meet Tina, she’s as warm and inviting as her tasty treats. She also carries bread from Grand Central Bakery and Ice Cream from Full Tilt.

Fatima, as a Certified Health and Wellness Coach, provides informational knowledge to help individuals make necessary lifestyle changes. Using the eight natural laws of health, the body is able to regain a healthy balance and heal itself. Hence, the Health and Wellness Center located at Luso Food And Wine offers various classes to boost motivation, improve cardio and bring in cheer. They offer health and wellness coaching and hydrotherapy by appointment. They also offer other exercise classes as follows:

• Zumba: Features easy to follow routines of interval training to tone and sculpt your body while burning hundreds of calories. Tues and Thursday from 7 to 8 pm
• Belly Dance: Core conditioning focuses on strengthening one’s core through isolation movements. This class gives you a full body workout targeting the abs, thighs, calves, gluts arms and shoulders. Sunday from 2 to 3 pm.
• Salsa: 1 hour of footwork and fun with authentic Cali Style Salsa. No partner necessary!! Come alone with a group of friends or with your partner. Beginners 3pm to 4pm and advance from 4 – 5 pm.
• Samba: features a very prominent teacher, Dora, from Brazil. Samba is a Brazilian dance and a musical genre originating in Bahia. If you can only imagine the hip work and cheerful atmosphere! This class will start on February 23rd @ 6pm.
• Cooking Classes: Start in March to learn about spices and their health properties. This class is for bring together families and communities.

To make it special for the family, friends and supporters of Luso, Tina has invited Alma Y Azucar to create a special Valentine’s Day Performance on February 10th from 7 to 10 pm. Music, dancing, food and wine, who could ask for more! Cover Charge $8.00. Appetizers included.

Check us out on Facebook @ Luso Seattleand like us!

There's plenty of room to dance at Luso!

Luso Food and Wine is located at:

9988 15th Ave SW, Suite C
Seattle, WA. 98146

A cool new spot in White Center, offering Portuguese Wines and Beer and specialty teas and spices from India.

Store Hours:

• Tues – Sat 11- 7pm
• Sunday Noon to 6pm

Here are some videos featuring belly dance instructor Sofia-Fahd:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

We’d like to welcome back Advertiser 909 Coffee and Wine

909 is a popular neighborhood gathering place in Olde Burien with great coffee, fresh-baked pastries, excellent meals, fine wines and a cozy atmosphere. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and even have live music on Saturdays.

Coming up Valentine’s Day (Tuesday, Feb. 14) at 909 is a 4-course Prix Fixe Dinner with two seatings: 5-5:30pm and 7:30pm-8pm (view the menu here), priced at just $55 per person (sorry, the $5 off coupon is not eligible for this event) – talk about a great, romantic and local way to celebrate your love!

One other reason to frequent this great, locally-grown establishment is this – an exclusive B-Town Blog $5 Off Coupon! (limit one per table, after 5 p.m. only and Happy Hour excluded):

Click image to Print Coupon.

Proprietor Frank Ricci also wants our Readers to know that they’re now renting out 913 Spirits for private parties – just call (206) 243-7909 and ask for Frank.

If you haven’t been in to 913 Spirits yet, here’s what to expect:

Small but quaint, this bar has it all! The place next door offers our wide variety of wines by the glass, specialty beers from the northwest and beyond and our handmade signature cocktails. We also offer the delicious 909 dinner menu, so you can enjoy the whole evening at the 913 Bar.

Adjacent to the bar is our spacious, heated courtyard situated between the 909 and 913. Equipped with heaters and a fountain, it’s the perfect place to hang out year round.

When you step inside the 909 you’re almost always greeted by one of their friendly staff, who either seat you at one of their sturdy wood tables, overstuffed leather chairs near a fireplace, outside on the deck (pending weather) or offers you something to go. If you only have time for a quick glass of wine, or are waiting for your table, you’ll find their granite-topped bar area very comfortable.

Here’s more from 909′s website:

909 Coffee & Wine opened its doors in May 2007, the 3rd restaurant operated by the Ricci Family. The Riccis brings over 50 years of restaurant experience to our latest venture. As Angelo’s Restaurants have become Burien and Bellevue institutions where generations of families come together, so is our hope for 909.

909 is a warm and cozy neighborhood gathering place. If you don’t know anyone when you walk in, you’ll certainly have made a new acquaintance by the time you leave. We don’t have a television or offer Wi-Fi because we want 909 to be a place where our guests come together to share, not only food and drink, but themselves.

The 909 family is passionate about what we do and offer. That passion is why we take pride in serving locally roasted Caffé Umbria coffee, bread from Macrina bakery and gelato from Gelatiamo. We make all of our pastries and desserts in house. Our soups and salad dressings are all made from scratch. And we change our menu seasonally to take advantage of the freshest ingredients available.

We want our guests to be able to try a variety of dishes when they come in, so we offer numerous “small” plates as well as larger “entrees.” Our wine selection changes frequently, and we always have 20-30 glass pours, with several tasting flights available. We offer 8 beers on tap, with a focus on local and micro-brewed beer.

We believe that our guests deserve the best food and service we can provide. We want 909 to be more than just a place to satisfy your hunger – we want 909 to be a place to satisfy your soul.

Reserve the 909 for your special event!

For your next event or get together, have it catered by the 909 or better yet, have it at the bistro! Sundays can be reserved and catered for up to 50-60 people. To get more info, just give us a call or email.

To view our catering menu, click here.

Here’s a video review:

909 SW 152nd Street

Burien, WA 98166
(206) 243-7909
909coffeeandwine.com

913 Spirits is located at (you guessed it…) 913 SW 152nd in Olde Burien.

Their hours are:

Mon-Thu: 8a-10p
Fri-Sat: 8a-Midnight
Closed Sundays

REMINDER: If you ‘Dine for Highline’ at any participating Burien restaurant TODAY (Thursday, Jan. 26th), a portion of your check will be donated to the Highline Medical Center Foundation.

It’s a great reason to dine out locally AND help a great cause at the same time.

This is the third year for this fundraiser.

The Highline Medical Center is a not for profit, non-tax revenue supported hospital.

Each restaurant is asked to donate 10% of the Dine for Highline proceeds made today.

Here are the participating restaurants:

• 909 Coffee & Wine
• 913 Spirits
• Angelo’s of Burien
• Burien Press
• CC’s Lounge
• La Costa Mexican Restaurant
• Mark Restaurant & Bar
• Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub
• Tin Room Bar & Theater

The folks at Highline add:

“Thank you to the above participating restaurants and to you for supporting excellent health care in our communities.”

‘Dine for Highline’ at any participating Burien restaurant (see list below) on Thursday, Jan. 26th, and a portion of your check will be donated to the Highline Medical Center Foundation.

It’s a great reason to dine out locally AND help a great cause at the same time.

Here are the current participating restaurants:

• 909 Coffee & Wine
• 913 Spirits
• Angelo’s of Burien
• Burien Press
• CC’s Lounge
• La Costa Mexican Restaurant
• Mark Restaurant & Bar
• Mick Kelly’s Irish Pub
• Tin Room Bar & Theater

The folks at Highline add:

“Thank you to the above participating restaurants and to you for supporting excellent health care in our communities.”

BTB Advertiser and Friends of the Blog The Tin Theater’s FREE monthly Wine Tasting Event will be this Thursday, Jan. 19, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Wine Tastings are a regular feature at the Tin Theater, and are held the third Thursday of every month.

The Tin Theater is located at 923 SW 152nd Street, just west of the Tin Room Bar.

Here’s what will be uncorked:

GRUET BRUT NV
Made in New Mexico the wine is crisp and full-bodied, which has developed rich complexity and a fine mousse. The allure of toasty finish from 24 months on triage is a compliment the sophisticated green apple and citrus like fruit flavors. A truly fine value, and yes, it is from New Mexico. $14

CHARLES SMITH VINO PINOT GRIGIO 2010
100% Pinot Grigio from the Evergreen vineyard. The wine is fermented and aged in 100% stainless steel. This wine shimmers, glistening pale straw nectar. Terroir driven. Think mineral and stone. Bosc pear , Washington apple, orange zest and honeysuckle.

An excellent northwest take on an Italian classic. $10

CHARLES AND CHARLES 2010 RED BLEND
This wine is a collaboration between Charles Smith of K Vintners and Charles Bieler of Three Thieves. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Syrah, the wine is dark, almost black,with a brooding nose of blackberry, cranberry, tobacco and sweet oak.

The fruit carries through the palate where you find great texture, soft tannins and a long finish.

The Cabernet was raised in French oak while the Syrah was fermented and aged in stainless steel. $9

CHARLES SMITH 2009 CHATEAU SMITH CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Made from 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot and 6% Syrah. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in French oak before bottling. Savory and supple. Flavors of cassis, dark berries and pipe tobacco coat the palate for a long and satisfying finish. $16

ALLEGRINI PALAZZO DELLA TORRE 2008
From the Veneto region of Italy this wine is a blend of 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella and 5% Sangiovese. A smooth, full-bodied cru made in an innovative ripasso style.

After harvest the grapes from the Palazzo Della Torre vineyard follow 2 different paths:

70% of the grapes are vinified immediately and the remaining 30% are left to dry until the end of December. Then the fresh wine made at harvest is blended with the fermenting juice

from the dried grapes initiating a second fermentation and rendering a more highly concentrated and complex wine.The winery affectionately refers to the wine as “baby Amarone.”

Deep ruby in color, brimming with notes of dark, dried cherries, blackberries and hints of

Dates and mocha. $19

SEE YOU THIS THURSDAY!

The B-Town Blog would like to proudly welcome back Advertiser Emerald Cove Catering Company!

Emerald Cove Catering Company has been creating memorable events using the finest, freshest ingredients in the Seattle area since 1999. They moved to their location in Normandy Park in the spring of 2007.

Emerald Cove offers Corporate, Wedding and other Special Event Catering.

Owner and Executive Chef Freddie Detore II says:

“Our service and food speaks for itself and I truly believe that people can see the love and passion we put into our work.”

Fred found his passion for cooking in the family kitchen, perfecting Italian and other cuisines. In his early teens, Fred began working in the restaurant industry and later graduated from the Western Culinary Institute at the top of his class.

He is complimented by an extensive team of catering professionals who are looking forward to taking care of your needs in any and all areas of party planning and execution.

No event is too big or too small for their culinary expertise!

Emerald Cove Catering Company
17825 First Avenue South
Normandy Park, WA 98148

Phone: 206-431-COVE (2683)
Fax: 206-246-5495

Email: info@emeraldcovecatering.com
Web: www.emeraldcovecatering.com

BTB Reader Adrienne Peck tipped us to this via email – longtime Burien restaurant ‘Dragon Pearl,’ located at 15304 1st Ave South, is closing Jan. 1st.

“The owners are moving back to China,” said an employee named Lisa over the phone Monday (Dec. 26).

The current owners have operated the business for about a year, but couldn’t make it work.

Lisa told us the restaurant has been in business in Burien for “about 30 years.”

Here’s more from Adrienne’s email:

Our family’s favorite Burien restaurant is closing. Visit the “Dragon Pearl” restaurant while you can!!

This little place looks like a dive bar from the street. To be fair it shares a building with an authentic old-school south-end dive bar…but on the left side of this building is a Chinese Restaurant that rivals anything in Seattle (as good as Jade Garden & the Szechuan Noodle Bowl). It’s owned and run by a couple: he is the amazing chef & she is the service. They speak mostly Chinese, but their authentic generosity and friendliness make up for any language barrier. Everything is made so fresh. Prepare to wait a tiny extra while (if you are use to a pre-prepared Chinese food).

When we walk in (which the first time was a fluke) they hug our daughter and immediately put the humbow (her favorite food) in to the steamer. Sadly we are usually the only customers. We have eaten glorious whole fried fish, every dim sum item, shrimp stuffed tofu, crispy orange beef, the divine sliced fish fillets with mixed vegetables & nearly every menu item. We’ve found that each dish is better than the one before. Last night we ate our Christmas dinner there…and I had to stop myself from saying magical & awesome (because I said it so much that it was ridiculous and embarrassing).

Yesterday they hugged us with tears while we ate. They are closing on the 1st of January. Their last day is the 31st. It’s our favorite restaurant in the Seattle Area (and we consider ourselves connoisseurs of some swanky Seattle food paradises). We will miss them terribly. Do yourself a favor and eat there while you still can. ooh, and bring your quarters for the Foosball & billiards tables. Bummer!

Best Wishes,
Adrienne Peck

The Dragon Pearl is located at 15304 1st Ave South; phone: (206) 246-0776.

BTB Advertiser The Barrel Tavern will be holding ‘Another Chicken Friday Christmas’ this Friday night (Dec. 16) from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

This will serve as a benefit for the White Center Food Bank.

“Buy a plate for $10,” reads a note on their Facebook Event Page. “There will be music, readings, fun and games.”

This event is sponsored by Top Hat Taxes, and hosted by Rat City ABATE.

This is an open event, and everyone is invited.

The Barrel is located at 11051 1st Ave South in Burien.

More info at their Facebook Event Page here.

Germaines will be moving from its location on Ambaum Blvd. SW at the end of December.

by Guy Harper

Ever had the hankerin’ for a hearty breakfast of three eggs, hash browns, toast and coffee on one of these cold winter mornings? Well, guess what? You’re in luck!

Germaine’s Country Kitchen is fixin’ to move from their current spot on Ambaum Blvd. SW to 127 SW 153rd street near the old E B Foote Winery, and will be opening probably late December in a larger, more modern location.

Burien needed a new restaurant on 153rd with the closing of Sal’s Deli and this is just the answer, yes, siree…

But wait! They’ll still be in their current location at 14901 Ambaum SW for a couple more weeks yet…and what could be better right now than having a great breakfast at a Cheer’s type restaurant where after a few visits “everyone knows your name?” They welcome kids, casual attire and there’s always a pleasant greeting as you come in the door…and then you really unwind as you get settled at a table and get started with a hot cup of Joe!

Yes, personal service, really good hot never ending coffee, lots of smiles and really great food is the trademark that Jacki Cote, her daughter, Jennifer Dunagan and the third partner, Vicente Arrendondo have developed over the years. Care to sit at the counter? No prob…and the morning’s free newspaper is waiting for you…now what is better than that? A very friendly server, probably Logan or Julie, will take your order while filling another’s coffee and joking with one of the other usual customers.

Germaine’s is really a barometer of Americana type food and has a marvelous selection from which to choose to suit your taste. You want a pancake? Well, they got one…and it’s about 9 inches in diameter with an egg and your choice of bacon or sausage…getting’ hungry…yeah, me too…in fact, think I’ll go up there tomorrow…how does a little home made country sausage gravy and biscuits sound on these cold winter mornings?! UmmmUmmm…lip smackin’ good! As noted, all ages are served…and in a typical family-like setting. No need asking for jellies for the toast..they’re already on the table – and lots of ‘em.

Jennifer, Vincente and Jackie of Germaine's.

Germaine’s Country Kitchen is dedicated to the memory of Jacki’s grandmother, who came to America in 1919 and became a wonderful and well-known Eastern Washington cook. There are daily specials thru the week, so take a glance at the reader board when entering, or just choose from other selections such as omelets, breakfast sandwiches, scrambles, hot sandwiches, chicken and fish, burgers….but who’s counting! Senior and Junior menus are also listed and priced accordingly.

The proportions are very generous, so come looking for some great vittles to fill you up…and you’ll love these prices too! They also offer concession catering and can assist other tasty outside events as well…just ask.

They’re open at 7:30 in the morning until 2:30 in the afternoon on weekdays and then on weekends they open bright and early at 7:00…also there is lots and lots of parking for your wagon. Additionally, rumor has it that there is to be another Germaine’s opening soon in Federal Way!

So, drop by today and get a head start with the Germaine crew and share the family warmth…you might even wonder why on earth you have not been a steady customer in the years gone by…or maybe you have! They will also probably have customers pictures on the wall of their new diggings as they did in the old place so just going into this place is like going into your own grandma’s kitchen! Now what could be better than that! Cheers!

This is where Germaine's is moving to at 127 SW 153rd Street.