New Adventure

Eating dinner out is enjoyable to say the least. Trying new restaurants is exciting. Last night we had the opportunity to do both and meet some great people as well. We were invited out to dinner with our friends, a couple we do dinner with on a regular basis. Last night, we were meeting them with some of their friends at a new restaurant for us called Opals on Queen Ann Hill in Seattle, WA, We live in a suburb of Seattle so we don't get to some of the great neighborhoods of Seattle very often. We have our regular favorites when we go out to eat but never have ventured to Queen Ann Hill. Don't ask us why - we couldn't figure it out it out either. Needless to say, we will be going back again soon.

The owner is Orpin, an intelligent and savvy business owner, of which, Opals is her third restaurant. She is a native of Thailand so one of her establishments is of course a Thai restaurant. Opals is only 6 months old, so obviously a new venture into the realm of eateries with an amazing menu. Orpin is someone you want to sit with all night long because she is such a great story teller. She has traveled the world and has the stories to share that only she can tell. Dinner at her establishment and sitting with her while we ate was a lesson in food preparation, story telling, world travel and good old friendship.

You never know what to expect when you enter any eatery in Seattle. Our city has its fair share of the standard foods such as Italian, Mexican, Chinese and of course the standard American. But Seattle is also the best place to try new foods from all over the world. I don't think I have ever lived anywhere else where the food choices and combinations are so unique and delicious. Opals definitely falls into the new food category.

After perusing the menu, I was surprised to say the least. The appetizers were a mixture of tastes that only a gourmet chef could conjure up. One, which we did try, was french toast topped with sweet potato and asparagus with a sauce, you can't believe the taste but I couldn't tell you what it was. I know the combination sounds anything but tasteful but you have to believe me, it was delicious. Main course, wild boar. Yes, you read right - wild boar. I'm adventurous, what can I say. What would you expect that to taste like? Pork right? Wrong - it tasted like beef of all things. It was tender and very tasty. Unbelievable. Dessert was another unique but pleasant experience - a combination of apple with ice cream in an apricot crusted pie shell. We were given a coffee type pot filled with pressed cider, vanilla and cream mixed together into a hot compote to pour over the top of the sweet treat.

All in all, we had a meal that can't be repeated. We met some people we will be getting together to break bread with again and again. We learned about a new restaurant with an owner who isn't afraid to venture out and try something new and unique, not to mention her magnetic personality. What a treat! It was a great way to spend our Saturday night. Hope you had a great weekend too.