Ronald Holden has been writing an award-winning wine and dining blog, Cornichon.org, since 2004. A Northwest native, Belltown resident and unreconstructed Francophile, has worked at KING TV, Seattle Weekly and Chateau Ste. Michelle. He has published five guidebooks to the wine country of Washington and Oregon and is the wine columnist for The NW Magazine. He is also the director of wine tours for The International Vineyard, restaurant reviewer for Belltown Messenger and editorial director of DeliciousCity.com.

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Best Restaurants: Pike Place Market

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Moon Over Magnolia

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July 17, 11:23 AM

by Ronald Holden, Seattle Food Examiner

Tis the season: fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, full flavors, full moon. If it gets any better, we'll explode.

Is it gilding the lilly when the cooks at Palisade put a chopped cherry-tomato dressing atop a slice of heirloom tomato? Not the classic Caprese, but why quibble. Are we turning the kitchen into a science lab when chef de cuisine Robin Uyeda uses liquid nitrogen to freeze basil oil and balsamic vinegar into pea-sized pellets? Nah, it actually works.

Even better, the moon rises on cue. Don't know what parent company RUI pays for this prime Magnolia real estate, but it's worth every penny.

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Comments

Best Restaurants: Pike Place Market

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September 29, 11:33 PM

From time to time, we're going to answer the question everyone is always asking your friendly Food Critic: what's your favorite restaurant?Well, there are no permanent answers. Restaurant preferences, like ethics, are situational. What kind of food?... Read More
Topics: French , pike place market , best , market fresh

Fremont's Frugal Oktoberfest

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September 22, 10:05 PM

Two of these beer glasses hold a full liter (34 ounces) of brew; that's the way they drink it at Oktoberfest and the Hofbrauhaus in Munich. (Price is 8 euros this year, about $12.) The third... Read More
Topics: beer , oktoberfest , fremont , munich

Ivar's: Life After Clam Chowder

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September 18, 11:26 AM

For seven decades, Ivar's has been Seattle's go-to spot for clam chowder and fish & chips. Still is. Fully a third of the touirsts who eat at Pier 54 order their seafood fried. But things are changing. A new chef, 33-year-old Chris Garr,... Read More
Topics: Ivar's , anniversary menus , scallops

Blackbird, Bye Bye

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September 17, 2:57 PM

Blackbird's menu in a happier timeWest Seattle's Blackbird is no more. Owners Peter Morse and Eric Cozens sent an email to the West Seattle Blog with the official announcement.With mixed emotions we are announcing that Blackbird Bistro has been... Read More
Topics: blackbird , west seattle , bohemian

There's Grapes In Them Thar Hills

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September 16, 5:16 PM

It's been known as the Horse Heaven Hills since the mid-19th century, this area roughly 50 miles long and 20 miles wide, but not until the legenday Dr. Walter Clore came along in the 1970s did anyone think to plant wine grapes alongside the wheat.. Now,... Read More
Topics: horse heaven hills , washington wine , viticulture

Anthony Bourdain Would Love Kushibar

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September 16, 1:39 PM

Grilled sardines on the spit at Kushibar From a Q & A with Anthony Bourdain today in the Kansas City Star. Are there any food kicks that you get on? I’m on a yakitori jag. There’s sort of an underground scene of casual Japanese... Read More

Suck It: Wine Through a Straw

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September 12, 11:53 AM

Keren Brown, who writes the FranticFoodie blog at the Pee Eye, posted a link this week to an article about foods that cause bad breath and stain your teeth.To counteract bad breath, Keri Glassman (a registered dietician who's paid to dispense her advice... Read More
Topics: amazon , wine sales , straws

Business Prof : Some Yelping Is Good. Arf! Arf!

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September 8, 2:23 PM

Debate continues over the value of social networking sites as indicators of restaurant quality, and whether this is good news or bad news for restaurant critics. I mean, everyone's a critic, right? Besides, everyone has a right to his own opinion,... Read More
Topics: online guides , NY Times , Zagat , Yelp , Urban Spoon

Local Vine Makes Good

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September 7, 1:43 PM

Quick toast to The Local Vine, just named one of America's ten hot new wine bars in the upcoming issue of Bon Appetit. Co-owner Sarah Munson was celebrating this weekend with a couple of visiting winemakers: Tom Hedges (Hedges Family Estate) and... Read More
Topics: the local vine , wine bars , gourmet magazine