i don't want to be anything

So...I may have, in the recent past, promised a giveaway for today. HOWEVER, I was feeling kind of run-down and not at all in the mood to do the post yesterday, so we went out to dinner instead. I apologize, and the giveaway will start TOMORROW!

Wheeeee.

In any case, we went to Purple Cafe in downtown Seattle last night because we had been there once before and had to leave because I was feeling unwell, so we wanted to go back and try again! (just so you know, I don't bring the real camera with me to restaurants because it makes feel uncomfortable ((hooray anxiety...?)) and the lighting in Purple is super low, so my iPhone camera kind of hates me trying to take pictures of food and makes them ridiculously unclear. This is a roundabout way of saying I have no pictures.)

Unfortunately, they don't have the small plates that they did before -- we had AWESOME beef carpaccio there, as the one thing we ate, for like, $5, last time (on a side note: we talked to the waiter about it and he said they've gotten lots of people asking about the small plates, so they're planning on bringing some of them back in a couple weeks -- YAY! an excuse to go again ;) -- but they do have a variety of cheese plates and a variety of starters to choose from.

We contemplated getting the calamari and fried brie, but ultimately decided against them because those are the two appetizers we always get an Contour (one of our other favorite places.) We decided to go for a semi-hard cheese called 'Slightly Buzzed' that came with fresh wildflower honey and the Meze Plate: a set of two or three spreads and some warmed pita. We opted for two spreads, the feta-walnut and the white bean-garlic. Both were delicious, but Nate favored the feta-walnut and I liked the white bean-garlic better. We both thoroughly enjoyed the cheese, which we enjoyed with the fresh-made sweet and salty crackers they brought out at the same time.

We also got a small plate of goat-cheese stuffed dates with pine nuts, because we asked (we did not complain -- we very rarely do) if we could be moved to different table. The one they put us at (incidentally, it was the same one the first time we went) is right next to the door and kind of on the very cusp of being in the middle of the walkway, so it isn't terribly private or warm. They didn't, which was fine, but we got the dates and a discount on our wine because of it. We felt kind of bad about this, because they really didn't need to do it, so we tipped the waiter to make up the difference. Which feels good to be able to do!

For our entree we shared the wild mushroom, roasted garlic and goat cheese risotto. It was fabulous and creamy, although a little too peppery for my taste (as someone who is not fond of pepper, I really wish restaurants would list it among the ingredients for a dish, if it's something that is going to be present in every bite. I know it's like salt for most people, but it isn't for me and sometimes it can ruin a dish for my delicate palette. Man, I sound awesome douchey.) and we ate every bite! Well, Nate finished the last couple bites of mine, because I was feeling full from the apps.

We had decided not to get dessert, but I changed my mind at the last second (my food had settled and I had some more room, what can I say?) and we wound up getting a chocolate torte. Which was incredible. I tried to take a picture of it, because it was also beautiful, and this is what happened:

Now you know. At least you can kind of see the beauty.

I guess to sum up: everything was awesome, tasted awesome and they are very nice. You should go there!

(p.s. Purple Cafe didn't pay me to write this -- they probably don't even know and won't ever see it. I just liked it a lot!)