Dine Around Seattle is one of my favorite dining programs that happens bi-annually! And this Spring they’ve partnered with a variety of spectacular restaurants to present some of the best meals Seattle has to offer, at an incredibly reasonable price. For $22, $33, or $44 (varies by restaurant) you can treat yourself to a delicious meal that is typically presented in 3 courses.
What makes Dine Around Seattle so great is that they give back to the community. Not only do they help promote local businesses, but they also donate to Rainier Valley Food Bank for every reservation made through their website www.dinearoundseattle.org. So if you are thinking about taking advantage of this fantastic deal, consider making your reservation through their site.
For Spring 2017 Dine Around Seattle, I had my eyes set on Le Petit Cochon in Fremont. To be honest, I’ve been scoping this place out for some time, and I can’t believe it took me so long to make the first visit. I’m not sure if you guys are like me, but I find myself usually dining out in my hood. Admittedly it has to be a special occasion or event to pry me from my 5 block radius. There’s just so much good food in Downtown Seattle, it’s hard not to eat somewhere that doesn’t require driving, but I digress… #firstworldproblems (I know).
Le Petit Cochon is well known for their mastery of all things pork, including a nose-to-tail cooking philosophy. They are also dedicated to using local ingredients sourced from farms around the Pacific Northwest.
The dining room at Le Petit Cochon is warm, inviting and a bit rustic infused with shabby chic elements. We got there fairly early and by early, I mean like 4:45 pm so basically, perfectly timed for the early bird special… hahaha… However, we were able to take advantage of the longer evening sun and the gentle light streaming in from the huge bay window. 
Once we settled in, we were handed the regular and the Dine Around Seattle menus to select from. The Dine Around Seattle menu featured 2 savory courses and a dessert course with both seafood and pork options.
Being pregnant has definitely limited my libation choices, but it’s cool to see what creative concoctions a restaurant can come up with behind the bar that does not contain alcohol. I always appreciate when they go the extra mile to make me something that’s a little bit more intriguing than a Shirley Temple. 
The hubs decided to start his meal with the Mackin’ Blood Sausage – Blood Sausage Mortadella, Dinah’s Camembert Mac & Cheese, Kale, Huckleberry Vin, Toasty Pecans. All of the ingredients that comprised this plate worked in unison. The sausage held together nicely, not dry or grainy and had a rich, hearty texture. It was perfect with the mac & cheese and slightly wilted kale. I would definitely order this dish again.
For our second course, Adam ordered the Oven Roasted Pork Belly Bacon – Pork Belly, Cheddar Waffle, Collard Greens, Maple Walnuts, Mustard Soubise, Ghost Pepper Vin. There’s not much to say here, I mean PORK BELLY! The flavor of the pork belly was nice and smoky, and there was a good amount of juice when I bit into the fattiest part. The waffle was the perfect accompaniment, and I loved the collards.
I selected the Alaskan Weathervane Scallop – Pacific Oyster Potage, Fennel, Tobacco Oil, Pickled Kumquats, Spinach, Fennel Oil. The scallop was the perfect representation of PNW seafood; fresh, sweet and generous in size. It was nicely seared and just the right amount of firmness, not overcooked at all. The fennel in this dish paired nicely with my orange fennel soda. 
For our dessert course we ordered the Salted Carmel Panna Cotta – Forbidden Rice Crispy, Rosemary Apples, Parsnip Puree, Chocolate Granola, Caramel Corn and Strawberries and Cream –Beignets, Preserved Strawberry Rhubarb Jam, Bourbon Vanilla Ice Cream, Candied Pistachios, Whipped Cream, Coconut. Both desserts were beautifully presented and tasted wonderful. My favorite part of the panna cotta were the bits of caramel popcorn, it added a pleasant texture to the creaminess of the custard. As for the beignets, they were served nice and warm, and I had a small taste of the bourbon ice cream on the side, it was sooo good.
Overall, I would say we got a heck of a deal with a 3-course meal being $44 per person. Personally, I liked how each dish wasn’t overflowing with food. There was the right amount to satisfy your appetite, without being overwhelming. While a heaping plate of food dropped down in front of you certainly makes for a wow-factor, so does a beautifully executed dish. I tend to prefer smaller portions that allow me to finish my meal in one sitting. That way I can enjoy the food the way it’s meant to be, at the optimal temperature with the ingredients at peak freshness.
I’m glad I finally had the chance to try out Le Petit Cochon, I’m looking forward to returning to try their Pork Chops because they sound amazing.
Let me know how your Dine Around Seattle adventure went in the comments below! And if you haven’t gone yet, there’s still time. It doesn’t end until 3/23.
2 comments
Le Petit Cochon I had some physical therapy sessions a few floors above this place and never knew where the porky smelling goodness was coming from until it was too late, my last PT session.
If you are ever in the area again, I would recommend checking it out. The food is delicious!