Good Food + Good Cause = Good Friends

Every year I join my friend Marc as he hosts a restaurant for Dining Out for Life in Seattle. This year was no exception. Bob and I met Marc at Sazerac in time for bubbly at the door. We had the beautiful table set for 10 in the front windows. The interior of the restaurant has changed slightly over the years but it still presents a whimsical atmosphere complete with my favorite...chandeliers. Attached to Hotel Monaco in the heart of the financial district, this restaurant attracks business-lunchers, after-work-happy-hour-goers and serves dinners to many-a-travelor.

Tonight, every table is full of supporters of the Lifelong AIDS Alliance. 30% of all proceeds, including the bar tab, goes to the cause. Soon after everyone is seated at our table the small plates are passed around. Beautiful green Castelvetrano Olives (bright green and perfectly round and plump), Sea Salt Roasted Almonds that are still warm and Crispy Truffles...which are like truffle hush puppies of potatoes and cheese dipped in Truffle Aioli. Soon to be the crowd favorite, it doesn't take long for more orders to be placed for those scrumptuous little balls of delight. My dinner started with the Heirloom Apple Salad. Layers of "Speck" (which turns out to be a cool name for proscuitto. Who knew?), apple, almonds and greens tossed in a tarragon vinaigrette. Bob had Cider-Jalapeno Glazed Pork Back Ribs that made his eyes roll to the back of his head.

Our meal was accompanied by flights of wine parings and topped off with the Ooyey Gooyey Chocolate Cake. You can imagine what that was like. No seriously. Close your eyes and imagine spoons diving in out of nowhere as the top crust is broken and my spoon sinks into the pool of hot, creamy chocolate ooyey-gooyey-ness. Nuff said. After three hours of food, laughter and a good cause, it was time to go. Leave it to Marc to bring such good people together. We left with full bellies and more friends than we had when we arrived.