The little restaurant tucked away in Madison Valley (2808 E. Madison St.) celebrated with a 20th birthday party on June 12.
The "Chef in the Hat," Thierry Rautureau invited his good friend, chef Tom Douglas, to join him in the kitchen and create a seven-course menu.
On the table: salmon head in young country curry, foie gras, sirloin steak with Walla Walla onion and potato gallette.
Seaworthy decadence included sea urchin, quail eggs, caviar and spot prawns.
Wine and Champagne flowed freely until the wee hours.
Rautureau was not the only one en chapeau: Every guest was given a decorative "chef toque" to wear during dinner, compliments of Jackie Cross, Tom Douglas' wife and partner.
99 MARTINIS ON THE WALL
Café Flora (2901 E. Madison St.) has always been known as the best vegetarian restaurant in Seattle, but did you know there is an artist-in-residence?
Operations manager James Southerland, who is not only passionate about art but also loves martinis, created 23 9-by-9-inch colorful acrylic martinis. All grace the walls of Café Flora, and his goal is to have 99 by the end of the year.
Ironically, one can't order a martini at Café Flora, but Southerland's martini paintings each sell for $125.
MOMS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN
It was "queen for a day" for six Madison Park moms on June 14 when an anonymous donor gave gift certificates for a mojito-and-manicure party at Gene Juarez Salon & Spa.
Maria Cahoon, who has her hands full with three energetic kids, invited her mommy pals Katie Phillips, Carrie James, Mary Seifred, Carolyn Cunningham and Kristin Maloney for an evening of new haircuts, manicures, massages and cocktails.
Rumor has it they ended the night looking years younger and are ready to reschedule.
HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW
Houses are coming down around the Madison Park neighborhood like yesterday's low-slung jeans.
The charming home on McGilvra Boulevard East and East Highland Street once belonging to Frank and Lynn Lindsay is now an enormous hole on the hillside.
Several weeks ago, during the demolition, the couple stood across the street, watching the last bit of their former garden become a mem-ory.
Lynn Lindsay's detailed rock garden was once the pride of the neighborhood, painstakingly dotted with new flowers each year.
SOSTANZA FOR SALE?
Overhead in line at the ladies' room at Sostanza Trattoria (1927 43rd Ave. E.) was the discussion of the restaurant being sold to someone who wants to put in an authentic Italian coffee shop.
Somehow I don't think that would work for Howard Schultz, who not only loves to dine there, but, hey, doesn't he have a coffee shop just down the street?
Dolly West, an East-Central Seattle resident, has lived in Seattle for more than 25 years.
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