<p align="justify"><a href="http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border: 0px;" title="Delicatus logo" alt="Delicatus: great food and wine in Seattle" src="http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-logo_thumb.jpg" width="184" height="244" align="left" border="0" /></a>Seattle was perfect the summer week I was there.  The kind of summer weather you dream of, friendly people and very good food and wine.  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.  Delicatus calls itself a deli, but it feels like a hip wine bar where you can also buy gourmet products.  The website has some lovely words about the concept, products and special events.  They even make their own wine!  More on that after the break.</p>
<!--more-->Delicatus is in a great central location in Pioneer Square.  The space is big and airy and on nice days, they have a nice outdoor terrace.
<p align="justify"><a href="http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Delicatus-interior.jpg"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto;" title="Delicatus interior" 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.  they make their own corned beef and pastrami, as well as salmon lox and duck confit.  The sandwiches include all the classics as well as some more creative offerings.  Starting at 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.  Despite the hipster vibe, the folks are super friendly 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 style="background-image: none; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto; border: 0px;" title="Eve Chardonnay" alt="Delicatus:  great food and wine in Seattle" src="http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eve-Chardonnay_thumb.jpg" width="364" height="484" border="0" /></a></p>
<p align="justify">I started with a really nice un-oaked Chardonnay called Eve.  It was crisp, with citrus and apple aromas, very attractive.  It’s from Charles Smith Wines.  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.  Look at the pretty presentation.  It was all lovely but the house rilletes were really something!  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 style="background-image: none; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto; border: 0px;" title="Delicatus charcuterie" 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" border="0" /></a></p>
<p align="justify">The  star wine was the house wine, made by the Delicatus team, Soussol “Vieux Escaliers”.  This is a non-vintage red, a</p>

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--></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.
<p align="justify">The wine achieves that balance and was fresh and full of personality in the mouth.  It was served a touch too hot due to the Seattle heat wave, which mostly showed through on the nose.  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.  It really showed me some of the complex flavors he’s developing in his dishes.  It was roasted potatoes with kale, garlic, pimenton, and boqueron anchovies.   Besides the kale element, it could have come right off a Spanish menu.  It was such a great balance of acid, fat, earthiness and ocean.  Very complex, yet simple.</p>
<p align="justify">Delicatus is one of those places I wish I had in my neighborhood.  A deli dedicated to offering the best local products in unique ways and such an inviting place to hang out.</p>