Sunday, August 12, 2007

Crush


Crush
2319 E. Madison Street
Seattle, Washington 98112
http://www.chefjasonwilson.com

Last night we returned to Crush to have dinner with some good friends. Crush is a Seattle neighborhood restaurant perched near the intersection of 23rd and Madison. Chef Jason Wilson and his wife Nicole have transformed a century old house into a slick upscale destination restaurant. Futuristic white decor adds visual contrast to the Victorian styling of the restored building. Everything is slick about this restaurant from the professional service, lovely white designer dishes, quality stemware, and Seattle's hip restaurant crowd. With only about 40 seats, reservations are a must. The wine list is top notch and has received awards from Wine Spectator magazine. The menu is well thought out and features a wide array of fresh and seasonal ingredients that will satisfy the most demanding foody. Selections of starters run the gamut from fresh tuna tartar, heirloom tomato salad with fried anchovies, goat cheese and fig tart. Try the delightfully charred, grilled octopus with chorizo and pearl couscous. Entrées offer chicken, fish, duck, beef, lamb and more. Each is artfully created with distinguishing sauces, a complimentary companion (veggie, grain, and herb) and methods of preparation. The halibut with lobster butter, pea shoots and basil was lovely. The upscale version of beef short rib, braised in wine, served over trufflled garlic creamed potatoes, is rich, homey and memorable. There is a wide range of desserts with a high level of style and finesse that perfectly completes the package. The price of the food has recently risen, but it is still worth every penny. Thank you, Chef Jason, and Nicole, for adding to Seattle's quality culinary scene.

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