December 2015

The Year in Review: The Good, the Bad, and the Meh

The Year in Review: The Good, the Bad, and the Meh

We look back at the people, places and events that defined 2015

Seattle’s boom continued, but so did the associated growing pains. We had a summer of glorious sunshine, but the hot, dry weather cost the environment dearly. Teachers finally received a fair(er) wage, but lawmakers failed to make a plan to fund our school system. Rent increases slowed, but they’re still increasing. And of course, the…

The Best Men's Winter Fashion Looks

The Best Men’s Winter Fashion Looks

We've rounded up our favorite holiday looks, from black-tie to casual Sunday

With menswear’s retail growth outpacing women’s, we keep hearing it for the boys. From black-tie trimmings to casual Sunday, we’ve rounded up the top looks for any mister to master this holiday season. : Yellow 108 “Luke”  vintage wool felt fedora in “EJ grey,” $90, and Form Function Form button-stud chronograph watch, $129, Hammer + Awl (Madrona, 1137 34th Ave.;…

Painter Cable Griffith Unveils New Works at G. Gibson Gallery

Painter Cable Griffith Unveils New Works at G. Gibson Gallery

The exhibit Sightings elicits awe and pleasure

Painter Cable Griffith’s landscapes bring an electronic pulse to pastoral scenes, fusing the order of human-built infrastructure with the chaos of the natural world. The smooth surfaces and rounded contours of his trees, islands, hills and rivers; the deeply saturated palette with its warm, backlit glow; and the stilted perspectives and cartoonish sense of scale…

Holiday Take-Out: Bread & Butter

Holiday Take-Out: Bread & Butter

Breads, rolls, biscuits and butter for your holiday table

You’ve put all that thought into the celebration spread for your holiday meal—don’t lose steam before getting to the beloved, holy staples of bread and butter. As with everything else, ’tis the season to consider some new options. Dinner RollsFor the nostalgic comfort of classic dinner rolls, hit up Macrina Bakery. Its tender and buttery…

The Ultimate Holiday Take-Out Feast

The Ultimate Holiday Take-Out Feast

Where to find the best local ingredients, main courses, sides and desserts for your holiday meal

If there’s ever a time for home cooks to show off their culinary chops, it’s the holidays. Unfortunately, the festive season is also a time for hurried gift buying, out-of-town visitors and busy days at the office. But no one ever said you had to do it all. Seattle is teeming with well-stocked specialty grocery…

Holiday Take-Out: The Essential Culinary Shops in Seattle

Go-to stops for luxe cooking staples, hostess gifts and more

ChefShopBest for: Boxed and ready dinner party sweets From escargot to chutney, verjus to heritage beans, ChefShop (Interbay, 1425 Elliott Ave. W; 206.286.9988; chefshop.com) covers a lot of culinary territory. At this time of year, the selections grow to include a particularly exquisite array of panettone ($36–$68), the traditional holiday sweet bread from Italy. With…

Holiday Take-Out: The Entire Dinner

Here's where you can bring home the entire holiday feast, from appetizer to dessert

Seattle is teeming with gourmands and grocers ready to offer up a full meal deal. So why not take them up on it? Here’s where you can bring home an entire holiday feast, from the appetizer all the way to dessert. Sweet. The Gourmet GrocerMetropolitan Market offers three complete menus for the Thanksgiving and Christmas…

Holiday Take-Out: Brunch Options

Holiday Take-Out: Brunch Options

Bakery sweets and savory local meats to round out an easy brunch at home

The food focus come December is heavily weighted toward big turkeys and honey-roasted hams, rich side dishes and decadent desserts. But the beloved brunch can be just as good a means for celebration, with the advantage of a relaxed vibe. To keep you in chill mode, here are local resources for front-loading the menu with…

Holiday Take-Out: Dessert

Holiday Take-Out: Dessert

Where to get a great dessert for your holiday feast

Let’s face it: We’re not all bakers. But banning Betty Crocker from our lives doesn’t mean we can’t take post-dinner celebrations seriously. Here’s where to start if you want to make a great dessert without actually making dessert. THE ALMIGHTY PIEBest Pies to GoNo matter how famous your grandmother’s pie crust may be, you’ll need…

Holiday Take-Out: Easy Holiday Drinks

Holiday Take-Out: Easy Holiday Drinks

…so you don’t have to play bartender all night long

FizzyA bubbly cocktail kicks off any celebration with flair. There’s the classic Champagne cocktail: a sugar cube dashed with angostura bitters, over which sparkling wine is poured. Or the kir royale: cassis (black currant liqueur) topped with bubbly. Both are delicious. But to add a little more dazzle, try the Thyme to Sparkle, which is…

Holiday Take-Out: Cocktail Party Hors d'Oeuvres

Holiday Take-Out: Cocktail Party Hors d’Oeuvres

Fail-safe gourmet grab-and-go noshes for an instant cocktail party

Yes, yes, it’s a busy time of year. So you might talk yourself out of having friends in for a holiday gathering, because there’s too much to do. But you owe it to yourself to embrace the quality time and shake off worrying about how to pull it off. These exceptionally reliable items will make…

Holiday Take-Out: Where to Buy Simple Side Dishes

Holiday Take-Out: Where to Buy Simple Side Dishes

Here’s what to buy (or make) to fill in the feast.

Our go-to farmers’ market stops have the best fall and winter produce for classic (or not so classic) side dishes—all made with vegetables grown nearby. Take advantage of what’s local without breaking the bank (or spending weeks in the kitchen) by following the loose recipes below. GREENSLacinato Kale from Willie Green’s Organic Farm (Monroe, williegreens.org)Buy:…