Recap: Seattle Weekly’s Voracious Tasting 2012 at the Paramount Theater

SEATTLE, WA — Paramount Theatre, April 5, 2012. Featuring bites from over 40 restaurants, food trucks, and specialty food shops and libations from local mixologists, this was the foodie event of the year. The Paramount is a beautiful venue with intricate architecture and intimate lighting.  General Admission ticket holders were welcome at 7:30PM and encountered by an unlimited selection of food and drinks.

Skillet’s Fried Chicken Thigh There were many rows of booths offering savory bites and drinks on the main floor and dessert booths upstairs. My favorite savory bite of the evening was a fritter from Toulhouse Petit, located in Queen Anne. Crispy on the outside, tender and flavorful on the inside, many agreed it was a favorite. The pork belly from 35th Street Restaurant came in a close second. My favorite sweet bite was a chocolate covered salted caramel cheesecake pop from The Confectional [pictured below]. It was a thin layer of chocolate draped over a smooth, yet fluffy cheesecake inside with just the right amount of crust. I was guilty of having two, and seriously considering going for a third.  The crowd was vibrant and buzzing with excitement to taste all the food and drinks. The conversations overheard tended to be, “Have you tried this? You need to!” and “Wow, this is good stuff!” Amateur and professional photographers alike, with cameras of all sizes, were busy capturing the beautiful creations. You have to remember what you eat, right? This was the Seattle food scene at its finest.  Veraci Pizza Mobile Truck Mini Profiteral Sandwiches Albacore Tuna Crudo & Avocado on chip at Barrio Trophy Cupcake’s Display 35th Street Bistro’s Pork Belly Liberty’s Display My favorite bite from Toulouse Petit Poquito’s Tamales Housemade Spam from the SAM Taste Sweet Iron Waffle Smoked Salmon Crostini with Pickled Onions This event sold out and the line for regular entry at 7:30PM was down the block! Next year, I plan on purchasing my ticket early and maybe even splurging for the more expensive, but worthwhile VIP tickets that includes early entry to the event and a swag bag!  Contributing Writer:  Whether it’s eating, taking pictures, or cooking, Jenni Liu has always had a passion for food. Her days are spent in an office, her nights baking up a sugar storm for her online business (Jenni’s Sugar Shop). As a Bellevue native, she was seeking a place to share her foodventures in the city. Find her on Twitter @JennisSugarShop