PEARL hosts "Libations on Location" to rave reviews.



PEARL Proprietors Mikel Rogers & Bradley Dickinson

Last night PEARL Bar & Dining owners, Bradley Dickinson and Mikel Rogers, hosted a great ZINO Society Libations on Location (LOL!) happy hour event at their upscale restaurant located in Lincoln Square in the heart of Bellevue.  ZINO Society members and guests were entertained with delicious hors d'oeuvres from PEARL's kitchen while ZINO Society Wine Professional member, winemaker Kara Castillo of Castillo de Feliciana Vineyard & Winery poured a selection of their excellent high-quality wines.

Michelle Kaufmann, Robin Carmichael
and Alex Camara

Everyone enjoyed connecting with one another in the high-energy cocktail area of PEARL.  Some of the ZINO Society members and guests attending included Patty & Jimmy Barrier, Carol Wright, Ken Hatch, Alex Camara, Heather Sullivan, Bob Wallace, Gary Ritner, Robin Carmichael, Kjell Schei, Dianna & Bill Fieldstead, Bernie & Denny Dochnahl, Ed Brennan, Pamela Rolfe, Michelle Kaufman, plus dozens of others. 

Mikel Rogers with server,
Bethany Stratton

The flavors of the hors d'oeuvres were fantastic.  I was having a hard time deciding which were my favorites, but the ones I woke up this morning still thinking about were the deep fried okra with a harissa-aioli sauce and a corn relish atop melt-in-your-mouth toasted brioche triangles. 
Bradley and Mikel are great examples of the classic story of local boys do well.  Their restaurant is located right across the driveway from the entrance to the Bellevue Westin Hotel and is one of the few non-national chain restaurants in the entertainment area of Bellevue.  Bradley and I have known each other for many years since our previous shared experience in Schwartz Brothers Restaurants in an earlier life. 

Patty Barrier, Pamela Rolfe, Carol Wright

Both Bradley and Mikel are looking forward to their new PEARL menu beginning this week which will include some delicious sounding new additions to their menu.  I look forward to going back and trying a few of the new menu items (if I can get past the yummy appetizers!).  See a sneak preview below:

 

Wild Arugula

Peaches, dates, champagne vinaigrette, parmesan

The ripe peaches balance well with the dates and dressing. Yum!

Five Onion Cream Bisque

Cheesy croutons

This is really caramelized Walla Walla’s with other goodies. A play on French Onion.

Dungeness Crab cake (appetizer)

Roasted corn-pepper relish, sweet corn sauce

Great sweet corn with a touch of truffle oil to bring up the sophistication just a notch

Hudson Valley Foie Gras

Brioche French toast, maple glaze, peach compote, herb salad

Here are those peaches again!

Salt Cod Fritters

Yukon gold potatoes, garlic, harissa aioli

Classic brandade, and the sauce is pretty good too!

Broiled Duck Breast

Chili spice rub, Bing cherry jus, wild rice pancakes

Washington Cherries, need I say more?

Alaskan King Salmon Filet

Cedar-planked, jasmine rice, Javanese sauce

The rice is embellished with Shiitake, Craisins, red peppers, ginger, garlic and more.