My friend traveled all the way from Tokyo, and people think that he wants Japanese food, in Seattle. He was born in Seattle and Japanese food in Tokyo is much better than any Japanese food you could get in Seattle – hands down. Tokyo has more Michelin starred restaurants than Paris and even more stars overall. It kind of puts things into perspective if you think about Japanese culture and their attention to detail and their craft, that it makes sense that the same sort of reverence and obsession would be applied to food. However, a trip to Japan and dining at one of the finest Italian restaurants is quite expensive, so we’re sticking to Seattle. There are a few top notch Italian places on my list: Cantinetta, Café Juanita, La Rustica, Agrodulce, Rione XIII (this is more comfort food), Tavolta, and Cascina Spinasse.
Today’s choice was Cascina Spinase, after having dined at Aragona earlier this year and remembering a pretty fantastic poached egg with fontina, I thought it was time to return. We were not disappointed and ordered a smattering of dishes to get a better taste of the kitchen’s talent. We watched, with rapture, a chef handmake pasta and breadsticks. The food was impeccable and truly highlighted their mix of ingredients.
proscuitto and zucchini salad – this was the first half of the antipasti sampler; prosciutto with melon, which featured a very sweet melon, in this classic pairing; and charred zucchini with cheese – like a deconstructed zucchini parmesan (fresh zucchini without a hint of bitterness plays well with the mild cheese)
prosciutto and radish salad – part 2 of the antipasti sampler: prosciutto paired with fennel and arugula (a carnivore salad); radish salad with parmigiano and anchovy vinegrette (lots of bite with bold flavors)
sage butter pasta – this is what they’re known for, a simple preparation of their handmade pasta that really allows the texture and taste of the pasta to shine; you’ll notice hints of the sage, but the creaminess without the presence of a real cream sauce is quite amazing
pork chop – with cherries, nuts, cherry tomatoes, and green beans; they made the pork tender and flavorful and paired it with the tart fruits and tomatoes to give it more pop
insalada verde – our obligatory veggie of the night, though one might argue that we had plenty of vegetables in the antipasti, but we didn’t know what we were getting in the antipasti, so we ordered a boring salad. Completely boring and totally normal, also perfect for cutting the heavier dishes.
Overall, I really enjoy Cascina Spinasse with its variety of flavors and exceptional pasta. My friend said it was second only to the world class Italian restaurants in Japan, which cost three times as much. They also serve a lovely cup of coffee – no espresso here, but that cup of coffee is bold. Once you tame it with a bit of cream and sugar, the flavor remains, and the bitterness all but dissipates. We passed on dessert – nothing against Spinasse – it’s just that Italians are really only known for 3 desserts (tiramisu, gelato, cannoli, + panna cotta). You won’t regret going to Cascina Spinasse.
SUMMARY
Overall: happily ever after
Highlights: sage butter pasta, coffee, pork chop
Footnotes: this place is busy – it’s been open for over 3 years and it’s still impossible to get a reservation to on a Thursday night two nights in advance; sit up at the bar, you’ll have the best seat in the house to watch the kitchen; service is a bit slow, but all good food takes time
