[addtoany]

‘Tis the season to be jolly—and eat your weight in cookies. But let’s see if we can bypass the obvious (Sun Liquor’s unparalleled eggnog, Gelatiamo’s infamous panettone) in favor of these five suggestions for December food and drinks:

Taste the impossible.
I had dinner at Carlile Room last week—it’s my go-to spot when I’m going out with a group that includes vegetarians because the plant-based dishes there are simply SO GOOD. Well, I couldn’t resist trying the Impossible Burger, that much-talked-about vegan patty that’s said to bleed like beef (though that’s something most vegetarians I know are not looking for). Brave Horse Tavern was the first restaurant in Seattle to serve the burger and Carlile Room debuted it in early November. It’s good! The bun could use some work, but this is one of the best veggie burgers I’ve had—though I still haven’t tried ‘Table. 

Plan a dinner date… for March.
So, I intended to use this space to plug the return of Matt’s in the Market amazing Planes, Trains and Traveling Chefs series, which features nationally renowned chefs collaborating with Matt’s executive chef Jason McClure on a singular prix fixe meal. The first meal will take place Dec. 6 with offal-loving San Francisco chef Chris Cosentino, but I just got word that it’s already completely sold out. The good news is that Texas chef Tim Love is coming March 7 and you’ll want to get in on that meal as soon as seats are available. Follow Matt’s on social media and you’ll be the first to know.

Speaking of T-Doug and Chris Cosentino…
They’ll both be at the 11th annual Cookbook Social hosted by Tom Douglas Seattle Kitchen at Palace Ballroom on Dec. 4. You should be there, too, for the chance to pick up the best cookbooks of 2017, try a few recipes and rub elbows with your favorite chefs. It’s $20 to get in the door.

Feast on the fishes.
There’s an Italian tradition of eating a big meal full of seafood and fish on Christmas Eve—the idea being that it’s a kind of fast before enjoying meat again on Christmas Day. In the U.S., it’s turned into the Feast of the Seven Fishes, featuring seven different types of sea creatures. Delancey is throwing theirs on Dec. 11 and 18 (look for “wood-oven roasted oysters, albacore, Dungeness crab, Penn Cove mussels, lobster, anchovies, seasonal produce, and a butterscotch pot de creme for dessert”); Anchovies & Olives is doing theirs Dec. 23 (oysters, Hamachi crudo, grilled octopus, steamed clams, whole branzino, crab with gnocchi and panna cotta). Tickets are $125 (including beverages) for either restaurant.

Cheer on some badass lady bartenders.
Speed Rack, the all-female bartending competition, is back on Dec. 3. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door (of Washington Hall) and include samples of the cocktails. Most importantly, proceeds go to breast cancer research. Bartenders from Canon, the Nest, the Hideout, Ocho, Navy Strength, Barnacle and more will be there (check the full roster here).