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.

A Vegan Family Thanksgiving Dinner

 

While many of us savor the smells of roasting turkey and baking pies on Thanksgiving Day, others look for creative ways to have a festive meal while adhering to vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free diets.  Seattle choices are made easy with a hearty, locally-sourced Thanksgiving dinner at Cafe Flora.

 

The talented culinary team at Cafe Flora has combined organic, sustainable, and regional ingredients in a dynamic 4-course, prix-fixe, vegetarian holiday dinner with options available for a vegan or gluten-free meal.  A full bar is offered offering choices within the same dietary guidelines.

Here’s what’s on the Thanksgiving menu:

• First Course:  Foraged Mushroom Soup, garnished with a dollop of horseradish mascarpone and served with walnut crostini (available vegan and gluten-free).
• Second Course:  Autumn Cornbread Pudding, hazelnut-sage pesto, rich cornbread, butternut squash, and Honeycrisp apple in a creamy corn custard, served with Brussels sprouts, roasted parsnips, wild mushroom gravy and apple-cranberry chutney (vegan and gluten-free) –OR- Delicata Squash Medallions, filled with Bluebird Grain Farms farro and chestnut stuffing, and topped with calvados cream sauce, roasted pears and sautéed chanterelle mushrooms.
• Third Course:  Green Bean & Fennel Salad, with Marcona almonds, pomegranate seeds and herbed mustard-maple vinaigrette (vegan and gluten-free).
• Fourth Course:  Pumpkin Tart, pecan pâte sucrée crust, roasted pumpkin and sweet potato filling, topped with cranberry caramel sauce and spiced maple pecans (vegan and gluten-free) –OR- Chocolate Roulade, with clove pastry cream, poached black plums and cacao nib brittle –OR- “Candied Apple,” warm apple cake, cinnamon ice cream, cranberry-caramel sauce and maple candy (vegan).

The kids’ menu, also 4-courses, is equally festive:

• First Course:  Carrot-Tomato Soup, served with cheesy toasts (available vegan and gluten-free).
• Second Course:  Cornbread Pudding, with fluffy mashed potatoes, green beans, gravy and apple-cranberry chutney (vegan and gluten-free).
• Third Course:  Caesar Salad with Romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, olives, cherry tomatoes and kidney beans (vegan, available gluten-free).
• Fourth Course:  “Candied Apple,” warm apple cake, cinnamon ice cream, cranberry-caramel sauce and maple candy (vegan).

Make your reservations right away – this dinner always books up!

Location: 2901 E. Madison Street (map)

Date & Time: Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25th, 2010.  Dinner seating begins at 1:30 pm with the last seating at 6:45 pm.

Price: $50 adults, $20 children (12 and under).  Price does not include beverages, tax, or gratuity.

Reservations: Required.  Reservation information available online.

Photo credit:  personal collection

Cafe Flora Reveals Thanksgiving Menus for the Whole Family

Four-Course, Prix-Fixe Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free Feast for Grown-ups and Kids

SEATTLE, Wash.—(November 11, 2010)— On Thanksgiving Day the President will be pardoning one very lucky turkey, but  Cafe Flora’s holiday menu is designed to save countless more Broad-Breasted Whites from the chopping block.

Every year, vegetarians, vegans and omnivores alike flock to Seattle’s favorite vegetarian restaurant, carving out time to gobble up a hearty, locally-sourced Thanksgiving dinner so delectable that no one ever asks, “Where’s the bird?”

The talented team at Cafe Flora draws inspiration from a combination of international culinary traditions and an abundance of organic, sustainable and regional ingredients. The result is inventive, dynamic vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free cuisine that not only tastes good, but is good for everybody. Relationships with Washington farms expand and grow stronger as the accolades accumulate: Last year, Vegetarian Times magazine recognized Cafe Flora as “Best Vegetarian Restaurant” in the Pacific Northwest.

Cafe Flora’s Thanksgiving dinner, prepared with an emphasis on local, seasonal ingredients, is $50 per adult and $20 per child 12 and under. Price excludes beverages, tax and gratuity.

The grown-ups’ menu includes:

First Course

Foraged Mushroom Soup

garnished with a dollop of horseradish mascarpone, served with Colombia City Bakery walnut crostini

(available vegan and gluten-free)

Second Course

Autumn Cornbread Pudding

hazelnut-sage pesto, rich cornbread, butternut squash, and Honeycrisp apple in a creamy corn custard, served with Brussels sprouts, roasted parsnips, wild mushroom gravy and apple-cranberry chutney

(vegan and gluten-free)

~ or ~

Delicata Squash Medallions

filled with Bluebird Grain Farms farro and chestnut stuffing, and topped with calvados cream sauce, roasted pears and sautéed chanterelle mushrooms

Third Course

Green Bean & Fennel Salad

with Marcona almonds, pomegranate seeds and herbed mustard-maple vinaigrette

(vegan and gluten-free)

Fourth Course

Pumpkin Tart

pecan pâte sucrée crust, roasted pumpkin and sweet potato filling,

topped with cranberry caramel sauce and spiced maple pecans

(vegan and gluten-free)

~ or ~

Chocolate Roulade

with clove pastry cream, poached black plums and cacao nib brittle

~ or ~

“Candied Apple”

warm apple cake, cinnamon ice cream, cranberry-caramel sauce and maple candy

(vegan)

The kids’ menu includes:

First Course

Carrot-Tomato Soup

served with cheesy toasts

(available vegan and gluten-free)

Second Course

Cornbread Pudding

with fluffy mashed potatoes, green beans, gravy and apple-cranberry chutney

(vegan and gluten-free)

Third Course

Caesar Salad

with Romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, olives, cherry tomatoes and kidney beans

(vegan, available gluten-free)

Fourth Course

“Candied Apple”

warm apple cake, cinnamon ice cream, cranberry-caramel sauce and maple candy

(vegan)

Seating is available by reservation only on Thursday, November 25, beginning at 1:30 p.m. with a last seating time of 6:45 p.m.  A wait list will be made available as required.

For reservations or additional information, call (206) 325-9100. Book early to insure that the whole family may enjoy dinner with a clean conscience and go home, fully stuffed, to a clean kitchen.

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 has also been awarded “Best Vegetarian Restaurant” by Seattle Magazine for 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. Lunch and afternoon menus are served weekdays 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 2:30 to 5 p.m. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (206) 325-9100, www.cafeflora.com.