Dine to Win in Downtown Bellevue!

June 18, 2013

[Photos clockwise from top: El Gaucho, Lunchbox Laboratory, Purple Cafe and Wine Bar]

Summer in Downtown Bellevue means enjoying the finest eateries on the eastside, outside seating, downtown parks and of course the beautiful views of Lake Washington and Mount Rainier. Soaking up the sun will certainly make anyone hungry. Lucky for you, Dine to Win is back! Not only will you satisfy your hunger, you might win one of many great prizes!

During July spend at least $10 (before tax and gratuity) at any participating Dine to Win restaurant and earn a chance to win a grand prize! Each time you dine at any participating Dine to Win restaurant, you will receive an enter-to-win ticket. Fill it out and give it back to your server. It doesn’t matter if it’s breakfast, lunch, happy hour or dinner. There is no limit to the amount of entries— the more you dine the more likely you could win!

Your ticket will also be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card at any of the participating restaurants. Winners will be announced every week in July via social media and on our blog. So follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook to find out if you’re a winner! Grand prize winners will be announced at the end of the month. You could win one of the following exciting grand prizes:

Napa Valley Vacation
Round-trip tickets for two to Santa Rosa (Sonoma)
courtesy of Alaska Airlines, plus hotel accommodations
for two at the Embassy Suites NapaValley

Lake Chelan Trip for Two
A two-night stay for two at Campbell’s Resort
including dinner at Campbell’s Pub & Veranda

Dinner for Two for a Year
$1,150 in dining cards to the DINE TO WIN
participating restaurants listed below.

Tickets will also be available at the Bellevue Downtown Association during regular business hours in July (400 108th Avenue NE, Suite 110). One entry per day.

Participating Dine to Win Restaurants:

520 Bar and Grill

Bake’s Place Bellevue

Black Bottle Postern

Cypress Lounge and Wine Bar

El Gaucho Bellevue

John Howie Steak

KORAL Bar & Kitchen

Lot No. 3

Lunchbox Laboratory

Pagliacci Pizza

Palomino Restaurant and Bar

PEARL Bar and Dining

Pogacha Restaurant

Purple Café and Wine Bar

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar

Suite Restaurant and Lounge

Tap House Grill

The Melting Pot

The Spot Off Main

Top Pot Doughnuts

Trophy Cupcakes

Wild Ginger

So what are you waiting for? Get your grub on and DINE TO WIN!

Downtown Bellevue is Celebrating Grads & Dads!

June 11, 2013

Nothing is better than celebrating with the entire family!

This month is probably busy for many of you with graduation and celebrating Father’s Day! Downtown restaurants are offering exclusive deals for Grads and Dads all throughout the week. Relax and enjoy this special time with a delicious meal at one of many premier Downtown Bellevue restaurants.

Read on to see where Grads and Dads are being celebrated!

Basil’s Kitchen at the Hilton Bellevue
Treat Dad to a Mediterranean feast at the Hilton Bellevue! Basil’s Kitchen is serving up a 3 course Father’s Day dinner from 4:30 to 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 16. Their Executive Chef created a special menu including all of Dad’s favorites: slow roasted prime rib, pan seared lamb chops, wild mushroom soup and more! Delight the whole family at Basil’s Kitchen for $35 per person. To make a reservation call (425) 455-1300.

Lot No. 3
Lot No. 3 is offering personalized gift cards for dads and grads! This is not just any gift card— you can personalize it to make an instant special gift. Just find a photo and add a personal message. You can purchase this personalized gift card now until Father’s Day and also receive half off of processing; promo code: dadsandgrads.

To have a special dining experience with family, what ever you may be celebrating, make a reservation with Lot No. 3! Reserve online or call, (425) 440-0025.

Lunchbox Laboratory
Dads with a ‘stache get a free burger on Father’s Day! Don’t worry if he doesn’t have one, Lunchbox will give him one to wear during his meal!

Maggiano’s Little Italy
Treat dad to a memorable meal at Maggiano’s! Serving up some of Italy’s classic dishes, Maggiano’s will please the whole family, especially Dad! Your dad can choose from an assortment of specialty pastas like chicken and spinach manicotti, linguine di mare, gnocchi and Italian sausage and more! There is a lot to choose from, so treat your dad to an e-gift card so he can come back to try something new. You can choose from multiple designs and include a personal message! Make a reservation online  or call (425) 519-6476.

McCormick & Schmick’s
Make dad proud by not procrastinating and make a reservation now for Father’s Day! Enjoy succulent steaks and fresh seafood all paired with delicious, seasonal vegetables.

Grads are being honored for their tremendous academic accomplishments with a $20.13 discount with proof of graduation (diploma, diploma holder, cap, gown, student ID). This exclusive discount is offered between May 1 and June 15 and only toward an entree from the lunch or dinner menu. One entree from lunch or dinner must be purchased at full price.

If you are planning a private event, book between now and June 15 to receive a 10 percent discount. Must show proof of graduating (diploma, diploma holder, cap, gown, student ID), private even must take place between May 1 and June 15. For more information please contact the private dining coordinator.

The Melting Pot
Recent graduates can celebrate for free at the Melting Pot! Every Monday through Thursday in June, grads will be treated to a free 4 course signature dinner when another 4 course dinner is purchased (must show proof of graduating). One grad per reservation and not valid on holidays or with any other promotion.

Dads will receive a special menu on Father’s Day, with an exclusive price and endless fondue! Your dad will be happy to put down the grilling tools and be served a grand meal of fresh vegetables, delicious assortments of meat and seafood as well as a variety of delectable fondues. And dessert is included! This Father’s Day dining experience is $39 per person.  Call (425) 646-2744 to make a reservation.

Palomino Restaurant and Bar
Dine at Palomino’s during Father’s Day Week, June 10 through 16, and Dad will receive a $15 dining card good for a visit on another day! If it’s nice out make sure to get a seat on the patio. Make a reservation online or call (425) 455-7600.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Delight Dad with a gift that keeps on giving. Dine at Ruth’s Chris Steak House with Dad and he will receive a $25 dining card to use for his next visit. At Ruth’s, he’ll have many classic favorites to choose from and even a special menu for Father’s Day.

Grads are being rewarded for their hard work at Ruth’s! High School graduates will be treated to a free 3 course meal from now until June 30. Restrictions apply so please call for more details. Reserve online or call (425) 451-1550.

Trophy Cupcakes
A sweet treat for Dad is right at Trophy Cupcakes. Order a special cupcake for him from June 14 through 16.

Graduates deserve a trophy so make sure to get them a cupcake with their school colors! Trophy Cupcakes will tint their delicious buttercream and add sweet toppings to match any color scheme! You can also add a personal message or school mascot. Call (206) 632-7020 extension 1 for a custom order, or order online!

The Principles of Wine & Food Pairings with Chef Jill Silverman Hough

June 6, 2013

What makes a good food and wine pairing and where do you start? The art of pairing food with wine is an admirable talent, especially when hosting small parties or enjoying an intimate dinner with someone special. But it can also be quite intimidating. Napa Valley media personality and nationally known cookbook author, Jill Silverman Hough, believes food can be simple, yet special. Chef Hough shares her tips on finding the perfect food pairings with the wines you love.

One of Downtown Bellevue’s premier event venues, Cast Iron Studios, is presenting a wine tasting event with Chef Hough at noon, Sunday, June 9. In a fun, informal dialogue, Chef Hough will lead guests through an interactive tasting showing how different foods and flavors affect how wine tastes.

Tickets are $45-55. Your entry fee includes three appetizers from 100 Perfect Pairings, three 3 oz. wine pours (additional wines available for purchase) and the option to purchase the 100 Perfect Pairings cookbook. Ticket prices include gratuity and tax. Click below to purchase tickets:

$45 without book

$55 with book

Three fun, stress-free recipes selected from 100 Perfect Pairings-Small Plates (Wiley) will be prepared by the Cast Iron Studios kitchen and perfectly paired with current releases from these featured local wineries: Forgeron Cellars represented by Co-Owner & Winemaker Marie-Eve Gilla (Walla Walla), Kana Winery represented by Managing Partner Katherine Goodson (Yakima) and Chinook Wines represented by Co-Founder and Winemaker Kay Simon (Prosser). No matter how much you already know—or don’t —about food and wine pairing, this event is sure to be chock full of fresh and immediately-useful information. Use these straight forward, common sense concepts, also outlined in your take home cookbook, (100 Perfect Pairings-Small Plates (Wiley), for the rest of your wine drinking days.

Chef Hough’s work has been featured in Bon Appétit, Cooking Light, Fine Cooking, Napa Sonoma, and Clean Eating where she writes a regular column. Her recipe books include 100 Perfect Pairings: Small Plates to Enjoy with Wines You Love, 100 Perfect Pairings: Main Dishes to Enjoy with Wines You Love, and The Clean Plates Cookbook: Sustainable, Delicious, and Healthier Eating for Every Body. Chef Hough writes with a voice that is friendly and encouraging, and her recipes are perfect for home chefs of all levels.

This Sunday learn from the best and impress your friends with what you’ve learned about the art of food and wine pairings! Cheers!

Enjoy music over food and drinks at the 6th Annual Bellevue Jazz Festival May 29 to June 2

May 28, 2013

 

This week Downtown Bellevue will be bustling and buzzing with the sounds of jazz! The Bellevue Downtown Association invites you to three headlining performances and more than 40 free performances of renowned local and national jazz artists. You can catch a performance at several Downtown Bellevue hotspots where you can get a live show and all the things in between that makes a great evening out in downtown!

Check out the full schedule for a complete list of performances and make sure to buy your tickets for the headlining performances featuring Cyrus Chestnut and Stefon Harris, Kendrick Scott Oracle and Evan Flory-Barnes, and Carlos Cascante y Su Tumbao!

Nothing is better than enjoying music over food and drinks with good company, so read on for some options!

1Hundred Bistro
1Hundred Bistro & Bar will host free live jazz music all five nights at 8 p.m! Stop by early to get a seat before the show and enjoy their first round of happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. But don’t worry there is another round of Happy Hour from 9 p.m. to midnight!

Bake’s Place
Expect a celebration of music from Wednesday to Saturday at Bake’s place. They have the works for a good time especially during the Bellevue Jazz Festival.  Wednesdays are Ladies Night where ladies can enjoy happy hour drink specials 3 p.m.-close; Thursdays are Burger and Beer nights, enjoy $12 Bake’s Burger and Beer from 3 p.m. – close; Fridays and Saturdays look forward to Late Night Happy Hour when the entire happy hour menu available is available 10 p.m.-close. Carlos Cascante y Su Tumbao will play two shows on Thursday May 30! The 7 p.m. show is almost booked!

Black Bottle Postern
The cozy and casual tavern will host the Collaborative Works Jazz Trio this Friday from 9 p.m. to midnight. In addition to good music to start off the Bellevue Jazz Festival weekend, enjoy small plates under $10 all night. Make sure to try any of their artisan flatbreads with a glass of your favorite wine!

Cypress Lounge and Wine Bar at the Westin Bellevue
The Cypress Lounge and Wine Bar is a gem locals and visitors, alike, love to get away to. Cypress will have their usual happy hour from 5-7 p.m. with half priced small plates, selected beer, wine and cocktails.  During Bellevue Jazz Festival performances only, Cypress will offer organic Snoqualmie Naked Cabernet and Merlot, as well as Mercer Chardonnay for $6 a glass all night long.  

El Gaucho
June Tonkin will play at El Gaucho Wednesday, May 29, to Friday, May 31, and Jim Day will also join her on June 1. Tonkin will delight you as she graces the keys of the piano while you enjoy El Gaucho’s menu which is nothing short of exquisite. 

Koral Bar and Kitchen
Collaborative Works Jazz Trio will also play all throughout Koral’s second Happy Hour round. From 9 p.m. to midnight enjoy smooth jazz music from the group and an array of happy hour cocktails and delectable small plates. Koral’s Happy Hour is seven days a week from 3-6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight. Enjoy half-off bar small plates, wine by the glass, specialty cocktails and house martinis and manhattans as well as $2 off draft beers.

The Bellevue Jazz Festival is this week, but look forward to more live shows at Koral every Wednesday and Friday throughout the month of June!

Lot No. 3
Lot No. 3 is known for its eclectic dining scene- dark drapes framing the large windows on one side and a chalkboard wall of drink choices on the other.  If you decide to catch a show at Lot No. 3 you’ll be just in time for their Late Night Happy hour. The Stephanie Porter Quartet will play from 9 pm to midnight, and Late Night Happy Hour is from 10 pm to Midnight! They will feature Jazzy Cocktails perfect for the occasion!

Paddy Coyne’s
Paddy Coyne’s Happy Hour is the perfect time to gather together for Irish food, drink, friendship and music! Come pick a good seat and enjoy happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. and then stay for Collaborative Works Jazz Trio’s performance starting at 6 p.m.!

Rock Bottom Brewery
Along with an array of beers to choose from, Rock Bottom Brewery will be serving happy hour during the Andy Clausen Trio show, from 3 to 6 p.m. Stop by, grab a seat and take in some jazz with a cold brew to end a memorable weekend!

The Spot off Main
Listen to the Jose Gonzales Trio at the Spot on Thursday, May 30. You’ll be just in time for Happy Hour that includes $1 off all draft beers, $4.50 well drinks, $5 wines (Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon). Happy hour isn’t complete without the Spot’s popular food menu— it will surely hit the spot.

 

Make it a Mother’s Day to Remember in Downtown Bellevue!

April 30, 2013

One day out of the year is truly not enough to celebrate the hard-working, loving women in our lives we call “mom.” But when we do, we do it big. We have several wonderful Downtown Bellevue restaurants you can take your mother where she will definitely be treated like the queen she is!

Basil’s Kitchen
Treat your mom to the flavors of theMediterranean at Basil’s Kitchen at the Hilton. A delicious brunch awaits on Sunday, May 12th filled with traditional favorites: crisp salads, made-to-order omelets, fresh seafood, mimosas and more. Reservations are recommended so please call (425)-455-1300 to save a spot for your mom and the family.

Daniel’s Broiler
If steak is her favorite dish, take her to a prime destination for succulent cuts, charbroiled to perfection. Moms are royalty at Daniel’s Broiler for Mother’s Day!

John Howie Steak
At John Howie Steak you can ensure your mother enjoys an exceptional evening of fine dining. Give her a gift that keeps on giving with Chef John Howie’s cookbook, Passion & Palate! Now until Mother’s Day you can purchase a copy of Passion & Palate and receive six house-made truffles. Order in advance and the gift will be wrapped and waiting on your table at John Howie Steak. Make this Mother’s Day memorable with a taste of John Howie Steak. For reservations, call (425) 440-0880.

Koral
Let Koral do the cooking for your Mother’s Day Celebration! Enjoy American classics with a Koral twist. Classic Mother’s Day brunch items include: Kids French toast, KORAL Eggs Benedict, Monte Cristo Sandwich and Smoked Salmon omelet. Make a reservation today by calling (425) 623-1125!

Lot No. 3
If you think your mom is pretty hip take her to Lot No. 3 where she will fit right into the eclectic dining scene. Along with their regular delicious brunch, Lot No. 3 will offer Mother’s Day dinner specials including both the traditional and the nontraditional. Featured apps: peach salad or artichoke and Dungeness crab dip. Featured entrée: stroganoff gnocchi or spaghetti. Try a fruit kebab or black forest ice cream sandwich for dessert! Reservations are recommended!

McCormick & Schmick’s
The acclaimed steak house is serving up a Mother’s Day Feast that is nothing short of appetizing! They will be serving a brunch à la carte and will also have their regular dinner menu available all day. Call (425) 454-2606 to make a reservation!

Melting Pot
The Melting Pot wants you to celebrate everyone’s favorite lady with a festive fondue feast! The first course includes a creamy cheese fondue and the second course includes a salad of your choice. Look forward to a delightful third course entrée including lobster tail, filet mignon, zesty lime shrimp and more! This fondue feast is $43-49 per person or $38 per person for a vegetarian meal. A Mother’s Day feast isn’t complete without dessert! The Melting Pot is offering Brownies, strawberries and pound cake, just to name a few. Enjoy a special menu for kids ages 6 – 15 for $25 per person, and kids under 5 are free!

At the Melting Pot, they celebrate mom two days!
Saturday, May 11th, open at 3:00 p.m. Special Mother’s Day menu and regular menu offered.
Sunday, May 12th, open at 11:00 a.m. Special Mother’s Day menu ONLY from 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Special menu & regular menu available 4:00 p.m. to close.

Reservations highly recommended. Call for details and to reserve today (425) 646-2744!

Monsoon East
Sibling Chefs Sophie and Eric Banh are inviting you to celebrate Mother’s Day at Monsoon East. They are celebrating with their very own mother’s favorite dish— dumplings! Brunch will be served from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in a Dim Sum spread that will please your mother and the whole family.

Purple
If your mother loves to wine and dine, Purple is the perfect place for Mother’s Day. They have a delicious menu in store as well as a wide range of wines that pair perfectly with each dish, just ask your server! Make a reservation online or call (425) 502-6292.

Pearl 
Mom deserves a lush and elegant meal for Mother’s Day andPearl is just the place to take her. The sleek and modern dining room setting and fine-dining cuisine will make this Mother’s Day a memorable one.Pearl is offering dishes true to Chef Bradley’s reputation of creating unique and delectable food. What’s on the menu? Dungeness Crab Omelet, Corned Beef Hash and Eggs, Filet and Eggs, Wild Mushroom Risotto and more. Make a reservation today by calling (425) 455-0181.

Pogacha
We bet your mom makes the best food, but on Mother’s Day treat her by taking her out to Pogacha where she will enjoy a low-key, hearty Italian meal. Mother’s Day brunch begins with a cup of their house made soup, an entree selection, and their delicious buffet featuring traditional breakfast and lunch favorites like Pogacha French Toast, fresh fruit with Devonshire Cream, Chicken Dijon Pasta (a house favorite for over 16 years), fresh salads and sweet treats. This brunch is $20.95 (adult), $17.95 (senior) $6.95 (children 6-11), and also includes Coffee! Brunch Hours are from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and dinner at Pogacha will feature seasonal fresh selections as well as their regular dinner menu at 5:00 p.m. Please call (425) 455-5670 to reserve a table on Mother’s Day!

Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Get everyone together for Mother’s Day at Ruth’s Chris Steak House! They are offering an unforgettable meal of sizzling steaks, succulent seafood, fine wines and indulgent desserts! When you reserve for Mother’s Day, Ruth’s Chris will give a $25 dining card for your Mom to use on a future visit (dining card expires July 1). Call  (425) 451-1550 to make a reservation today!

Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar
Voted “Best Seafood restaurant” by the Bellevue Downtown Association’s Haute Pick’s Voters, Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar will surely provide your mom with an exceptional dining experience. Between now and Mother’s Day, purchase a copy of John Howie’s cookbook, Passion & Palate, and receive six house-made truffles. For $42, the 1st edition, hard-bound, autographed copy will entertain and inspire. Purchase Passion & Palate along with your reservation, and it will be wrapped and waiting at your table on time for your reservation. For reservations please call Seastar Bellevue (425) 456-0010.

 

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