Cafe Flora Rings in 2011 with Luck-Themed New Year’s Offerings

Special Dishes on December 31 and January 1 Designed to Bring Good Fortune

SEATTLE, Wash.—(December 21, 2010)— To ring in 2011 on a prosperous and healthful note, Cafe Flora is doubling diners’ chances for good fortune. For the first time, in addition to offering their popular New Year’s Day brunch, Seattle’s favorite vegetarian restaurant will also feature a special New Year’s prix fixe dinner.

Certain foods are thought to bring good luck when eaten at the New Year. Cooked greens and cabbage look like folded currency, and thus are symbolic of economic fortune. Anything flat and round brings to mind coins, or money; round cakes, pastries, and other foods in the shape of a ring symbolize “coming full circle”. In China, the kumquat is considered a particularly lucky plant, bringing happiness and wealth; and long noodles represent longevity and prosperity.

Offered alongside the regular menu on both December 31 and January 1, the three-course, prix fixe Lucky Dinner Menu includes: 

Lucky Dinner Menu

1^st course

Winter Rolls—with water chestnuts, ginger, seitan, cabbage and carrot, stuffed into a crispy roll served with orange-kumquat dipping sauce and grilled jicama pomegranate salad.

2^nd course

Fresh-Made Linguini—tossed with sun-dried tomato olive tapenade, and topped with a sauté of winter greens, fennel, pine nuts and goat Gouda cheese.

3^rd course

Triple Chocolate Fortune—a white chocolate disc, flourless chocolate cake, chocolate ganache, lemon truffle center, yuzu foam and a crescent cookie. (Gluten-free)

$45 per person. Reservations available for parties of eight or more. Includes a complimentary glass of Champagne. All bottles of bubbly offered at half-off listed price.

Available only on New Year’s Day, the special Brunch Buffet will feature:

Brunch Buffet

Fruit and Pastries

A variety of fresh fruit and fresh baked pastries, including:

· Blueberry tea bread

· Vegan orange-glazed mini cinnamon roll bites

Salads

Freshly made salads, featuring a variety of organic wild greens, house-made dressings and local produce, including:

• Vegan Caesar with crisp romaine and fried capers
• Organic spinach and endive with green apple and crumbled Roquefort
• Winter greens with quinoa, dried cherries and toasted almonds
• Marinated grilled-vegetables with a balsamic reduction

Entrées

Signature breakfast scrambles and more, including:

· Fall Forager Scramble—locally-foraged golden chanterelle and crimini mushrooms with roasted butternut squash and fresh sage.

· Flora Morning Scramble—fresh spinach, caramelized onions, and chopped Roma tomatoes with fresh herbs.

· Crème Brulée French Toast—handcrafted Columbia City Bakery brioche baked in a rich cinnamon-orange custard with glistening caramel, and topped with fresh tropical fruit.

· Potato Latkes—traditional potato pancakes served with warm house-made applesauce and chive crème fraîche.

Buffet will also feature a variety of traditional breakfast accompaniments.

$20 per person/$12 per child 12-years and under. Saturday, January 1, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reservations available for parties of eight or more.

Cafe Flora focuses on utilizing predominantly local, organic and sustainable produce and herbs, and remains dedicated to nurturing strong and direct relationships with Washington’s farmers and foragers. The culinary team draws inspiration from international traditions along with abundant, locally grown ingredients to create imaginative and dynamic vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free cuisine. Regularly featured on Seattle’s numerous “Best Of” lists for vegetarian and vegan dining, Café Flora has also been named the Best Vegetarian Restaurant in the Pacific Northwest by Vegetarian Times magazine. 

“Since we’ve added dinner to our New Year’s dining options, we’ll be providing all the luck our guests need to get 2011 off to a terrific start, so we’re requesting they leave the lucky rabbit’s foot at home,” adds owner Nat Stratton-Clarke.

Cafe Flora’s award-winning menu features modern and sophisticated vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free cuisine inspired by international culinary traditions and created with local, organic and sustainable ingredients. Voted one of Seattle Weekly’s “Favorite Restaurants 2006,” Cafe Flora was also awarded “Best Vegetarian Restaurant” by Seattle Magazine eight years running. In 2005 The Cafe Flora Cookbook was published with more than 250 house recipes. Located at 2901 East Madison, Cafe Flora serves dinner Sunday through Thursday 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday 5 to 10 p.m. Breakfast and lunch are served weekdays 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (206) 325-9100 www.cafeflora.com.