Aching for Blueacre

Today, Rob and I had the priviledge of dining at the soft opening of Blueacre, the new restaurant owned and operated by Kevin and Terresa Davis of Steelhead Diner - something I've been waiting for since they made the announcement several months ago. I view tonight as a homecoming for Kevin of sorts returning to the kitchen at 7th and Olive and where Oceanaire once stood (and where I met Kevin), Blueacre is now truly his kitchen and his restaurant.

With headings such as "the hunger" for starters, "boil and bubble" for soups and "belly full-o-steam" for the steamed spiny goodness of crab and lobster, the menu is chock full of tasty sea treats and I could hardly decide where to start.  New things right?  OK.

We decided to begin with the Totten Inlet Geoduck Tiradito. A Peruvian seafood dish, similar to a ceviche but where the fish is cut into strips instead of diced and then is garnished with an aji amarillo or a yellow pepper sauce. Very pungent, very tasty. The crab bisque was next.  Deep in both color and flavour, it was creamy, rich and topped with a large crab leg section that was gone in two bites.  Definitely the best either Rob or I have had.  

I found my braised lamb shank under "the craggy moor" and Rob found his olive topped halibut in "the briny sea".  Both entrees did not disappoint.  As to be expected, they were full of flavor and cooked to perfection as was our "sideways" fried green tomatoes.  I was so full I couldn't finish my entree or even take a bite of the tomatoes but they did come home with us so I will consume them later.

Now just because I was full doesn't mean that I couldn't take a bite of something found in the "burnt sugar" section.  Rob selected the butterscotch pudding.  Definitely not of the Bill Cosby Jello pudding genre, this was more like a creamy but not overly whipped mousse.  Nothing like the caramel colored butterscotch I was expecting.  It was similar in color that I can only describe as cookies-n-cream with the cream appearing as itself and the cookie part being speckles of vanilla bean.  On top, a homemade vanilla wafer that was remiscent of a crispy snickerdoodle.  A fine ending to a fine meal.

Blueacre officially opens on Friday, March 19th.  Eat there. 

*Flavors of Seattle 2010, the annual dinner and auction benefitting the American Liver Foundation will be held on Monday, April 26th at the Grand Hyatt Seattle.  This is a fantastic culinary with local chefs showing off their skills.  For more information, please feel free to email me or check the Flavors website.   With his new endeavour, Kevin will not be cooking at this event but many of your favourite chefs will be. Hope to see you there.