<p align="justify"><a href="http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo.jpg"><img title="Delicatus logo" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Delicatus: great food and wine in Seattle" align="left" src="http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo_thumb.jpg" width="184" height="244" /></a>Seattle was perfect the summer week I was there.&#160; The kind of summer weather you dream of, friendly people and very good food and wine.&#160; For food and wine, it was maybe a little less exciting than I thought it would be, some exciting ventures seem to have a hard time taking root. But there are some happy exceptions…one of them is Delicatus.&#160; Delicatus calls itself a deli, but it feels like a hip wine bar where you can also buy gourmet products.&#160; The website has some lovely words about the concept, products and special events.&#160; They even make their own wine!&#160; More on that after the break.</p>  <div align="justify">   <pre class="csharpcode"><span class="kwrd">&lt;&lt;!</span><span class="html">--more—</span><span class="kwrd">&gt;&gt;</span></pre>
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<p align="justify">Delicatus is in a great central location in Pioneer Square.&#160; The space is big and and airy and and on nice days, they have a nice outdoor terrace.</p>

<p align="justify"><a href="http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior.jpg"><img title="Delicatus interior" style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="Delicatus  great food and wine in Seattle" src="http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior_thumb.jpg" width="360" height="480" /></a></p>

<p align="justify">The place is primarily known for its sandwiches at lunch, sandwiches based on great local products and house-made deli products.&#160; they make their own corned beef and pastrami, as well as salmon lox and duck confit.&#160; The sandwiches include all the classics as well as some more creative offerings.&#160; Starting a 5PM, there are some more elaborate dinner plates that changes quarterly.</p>

<p align="justify">The Delicatus team also offers catering and an events space and experimental kitchen. </p>

<p align="justify">My trip to Seattle was too short to return, so I was pretty sad to visit just once.&#160; Despite the hipster vibe, the folks are super friendly and and love to chat about the products. The bar in the back offers a good selection of cocktails, but I was there for the wine!</p>

<p align="justify"><a href="http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay.jpg"><img title="Eve Chardonnay" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Eve Chardonnay:  crisp un-oaked Chard from Washington State" src="http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay_thumb.jpg" width="364" height="484" /></a></p>

<p align="justify">I started with a really nice un-oaked Chardonnay called Eve.&#160; It was crisp, with citrus and apple aromas, very attractive.&#160; It’s from Charles Smith Wines.&#160; Super cool labels, the wines are mostly from top area Walla Walla. The retail price of this wine is a very attractive 12$!</p>

<p align="justify">I couldn’t resist the charcuterie plate before my next wine and I wasn’t disappointed.&#160; Look at the pretty presentation.&#160; It was all lovely but the house rilletes were really something!&#160; Perfectly seasoned and so flavorful, these are the perfect rilletes to get people hooked to a somewhat intimidating product. </p>

<p align="justify"><a href="http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie.jpg"><img title="Delicatus charcuterie" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle" src="http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-charcuterie_thumb.jpg" width="644" height="484" /></a></p>

<p align="justify">The&#160; star wine was the house wine, made by the Delicatus team, Soussol “Vieux Escaliers”.&#160; This is a non-vintage red, a <style type="text/css">
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.csharpcode .lnum { color: #606060; }</style>Cab blend from the Yakima Valley region of Washington State. The Soussol team, with the “Vieux Escalier” Cuvee, is looking to make a European-style, elegant red wine, with lower alcohol, higher acidity and a food-friendly balance.&#160; </p>

<p align="justify">The wine achieves that balance and was fresh and full of personality in the mouth.&#160; It was served a touch too hot due to the Seattle heat wave, which mostly showed through on the nose.&#160; But I really thought it was a pretty unique wine…it stood out Washington State wines during my trip.</p>

<p align="justify">As a special treat, the chef treated me to a taste of a dish he was preparing for a catering job.&#160; It really showed me some of the complex flavors he’s developing in his dishes.&#160; It was roasted potatoes with kale, garlic, pimenton, and boqueron anchovies.&#160;&#160; Besides the kale element, it could have come right off a Spanish menu.&#160; It was such a great balance of acid, fat, earthiness and ocean.&#160; Very complex, yet simple.&#160; </p>

<p align="justify">Delicatus is one of those places I wish I had in my neighborhood.&#160; A deli dedicated to offering the best local products in unique ways and such an inviting place to hang out.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </p>