The Breakdown:
- Occasion: Casual and/or romantic dinner.
- Attire/ambiance: Casual or dressy; quaint, rustic European decor.
- What to order: the gougeres (cheese puffs), banana bread pudding, pan-seared trout, and the risotto special - if it's still on the menu.
- Reservations? Yes.
I had my first taste of French tapas (think dim sum or assorted appetizer-sized dishes) from Pair, a cozy little wine bar & restaurant in Seattle. Perfect spot for a date night.
Everything we tried was delicious in a very refined way. Nothing was overly seasoned, and the flavors/textures were all nicely balanced.
We started off with the gougeres or cheese puffs - light, flaky biscuits with warm, melted cheese inside. So good. Then we had the special, a creamy duck risotto with a poached egg on top, as well as the pan-seared trout. Both dishes came with beautiful plating.
Not
pictured, but we also got the steak frites, a very rich but satisfying dish of
tender, juicy beef slices and thin fries covered with flavorful blue cheese
crumbles.
For dessert, we went with the
banana bread pudding (which got rave reviews) with candied walnuts, dulce de
luche ice cream, and caramel drizzle on top. Needless to say, it was
incredible. Just look at that masterpiece...
