Lecosho-- Tasty Pork I Like

I've lived in Seattle for about 6 months, and I have to say the food scene is a force to be reckoned with-- bar none to any other city I've visited in the world. Seattleites are REALLY into their local cuisine and market, which is such a refreshing turn from living in Southern California for 8 years. Not that San Diego and Los Angeles don't have pockets that eat local, support local, but I have been blown away by the real-deal community culture in the Pacific Northwest. Alas, another Californian invades Washington!

So over the past 6 months, I have been eating my way through this city. Yes, I've taken my kids to the Locks and Gasworks Parks and so on, but my real passion has been discovering the food and wine so readily available in Seattle. Amen for the hills and landscape to balance my love of calories-- living here is really that satisfying.

It's difficult to know where to begin a commentary of good food in a city filled with great food, so here's my first crack at it: Lecosho, a Chinook term for swine. My interpretation? Really tasty pork I like. 

Matt Janke and Jill Buchanan 

Chris (my husband) and I were recently invited to have dinner with some new friends at this new restaurant on the "Harbor Steps." Finding the location, let alone any real scoop on this restaurant, was initially challenging-- I was intrigued by the mystery of it all. The only obvious ticket was the "Matt" factor, but I am still so junior to the food scene in Seattle to even know what that's all about (other than eating at Matt's in the Market once and really liking it). The restaurant's location is sort of removed from the main thoroughfare and bustle, which makes it unique in an area championed by the varsity chain of Pike's matriarchs.

We started with cocktails and wine-- the wine graciously selected by our server, and perfectly suited to our taste. Chris had an "old fashioned," and he was far from disappointed in his old stand-by. Our table shared the pate and almond appetizer-- one word: YUM. There wasn't a speck left over to speak of. I later had the chicken dish, which was wonderfully enhanced by generous touches of pork, and my husband had the chop with polenta. I'm still upset with him that he didn't share much-- by the time I asked for a second taste, he had inhaled his plate. For dessert, our table shared the flour-less chocolate cake, which was rich and a perfect end to a perfect pot belly.

What will I do different when I return to Lecosho? Order more food, wear looser fitting pants, and jump quicker on the draw of my fork. Check it out: http://www.lecosho.com/