Sonrisa

Seriously?

Chique, Warm, Delicioso!

This bar/restaurant has climbed up my restaurant ratings and is now easily one among the top of the list.

I had the Baked Chile Relleno. A Poblano Pepper stuffed with chicken, apricots and raisins. It was topped with enchilada sauce and salsa verde.

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something definitely not blue.

Something Old.
Sonrisa was old in the best sense possible. It was traditional and wasn't a Mexican Spin-off like so many modern Mexican restaurants are.

Something New.
Infused with tradition was a chique backdrop with flames, plants, a lit bar, modern tables and bar stools and a plate that not only satiated the palate but was also aesthetically pleasing.
As we started with the chips and salsa it was extremely surprising and oh so pleasant to have salsa verde that was thicker and sweeter than most restaurants.
I was blown away with the presentation of my principales when it came out. When the waiter started walking toward our table I assumed that what he was holding in his hand was for the next table down - something much too extravegent for the price that I was paying.
I was wrong! Yes! It was mine!
I cried inside after the first bite.

I have to mention the enchilada sauce. I usually hate enchilada sauce. I almost decided against this dish simply because I was afraid of the enchilada sauce. Sonrisa has washed away my fears. It was fantastic. Along with the sweet golden raisins and apricots, the creamy sour cream, and the neutralizing rice and beans, this tart enchilada sauce provided the perfect topping to a perfectly baked pepper.

Ahh!

Something Borrowed.
With all of the classic Mexican food, Sonrisa used an effect similar to Tapas. They gave you a little bit of everything on large plates with beautiful presentation.

Something Definitely not Blue.
Dinner wouldn't be complete without something sweet. The waiter suggested only the best - a creme brulee style habenero chocolate cheesecake. I have no words other than: go and partake.
A little mandarin marmalade atop a creamy chocolate cheesecake infused with bits of habenero pepper and habenero pepper whipped cream proved to be a great recommendation.

Was it worth it? I can't believe that I would even ask myself this question. It was SO more than worth it.

Crabs and Crackers

I said it's time to try a new restaurant. We were too tired to drive to Seattle. We decided against the originally planned La Carta de Oaxaca. Even driving to Redmond or Juanita felt like it would be too tiring.

So, we went to downtown Kirkland. Oh! The Crab Cracker! I've never eaten there! Neither have I.

So we drove downtown. We probably should have kept driving.

Restaurants were closed. Ones that were open seemed lackluster. So we went to the red neon lights of this reminiscent seaside restaurant for crabcakes (a given), fettucine alfredo with crab and seared swordfish atop a bed of garlic mashed potatoes and a side of sauteed vegetables.

The crab cakes were confettied with red and green peppers. If you like crab cakes, these were good. Most crab cakes tend to have the same flavor all the way through. But these were a bit more exciting than normal.

That's all that was exciting though. Passing by this restaurant for years made this restaurant appealing. When we sat down, the surroundings were disappointing. The service was ok. The room and seating - a little run down. I felt like I put on a few wrinkles just walking into this little seaside restaurant.

The Fettucine with Crab was overwhelming. The crab was okay. But, the fettucine was far from par.

I was somewhat pleased with the Seared Swordfish (unlike Julie).

While the stuff from the sea was good . . . everything that was paired with it - the vegetables, service, prices and ambiance - was a disappointment to my 4 years of built up anticipation.

Purple Cafe - A delight glass by glass

Sometimes you just need to take a break from the world and settle in to a table for two complete with the flickering of votive candlelight. When this time comes for you, we hope you'll picture Purple Cafe in your mind.

Tania and I had a much needed girls night a little while ago, and after our freshly pampered and painted nails had dried, we headed over to the Kirkland Purple Cafe and sat down by the window and awaited our night of gastronomical enjoyment.

To start, we began with the Cheese Flight, a delicious selection of three cheeses, fig jelly and thinly sliced pear to cleanse the palate between bites. We selected an aged cheese, a peppered goat cheese and the Bermuda Triangle, a sweet and savor bleu cheese. Whether it was the mix of the sweet fig jelly, the sharpness of the peppered cheese, or the tasty cracker crisps they served with the cheese, the overall experience was simply a sensational treat.

I accompanied my meal with an iced tea, while Tania expertly paired her lobster risotto with a white wine from Italy. I enjoyed the simpler fare of a mushroom pizza, complete with goat cheese and freshly shaved parmesan, and the thin crust was perfectly paired with the toppings. Our waitress was perfectably memorable, without too much intrusion, and our surroundings were perfectly balanced with enough intrigue to appease the people watcher, whereas far enough spread out to enjoy the time for two. Many couples were enjoying their night out, and other parties, such as ourselves, were taking in the moments with friends.

To finish off the night, we treated ourselves to a light and delicate almond cake, topped with a fresh strawberry and cream - a sweet note to end the lengthy dinner. Although the food is wonderfully sumptuous, and the atmosphere eclectic and brimming with conversation, I would recommend Purple Cafe for those in search of something out of the ordinary, not to cheapen the experience with consistent diners or commonality. This is truly a great end to a time of sharing and memories, and I would entreat all to treat it as such!

To the Purple Cafe, I salute you!

Mighty Leaf

Nectar from the Africas