Continue your Pi Day celebrations a bit longer. Visit Edmonds Pagliacci Pizza Saturday, March 19 between 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and celebrate their 10-year anniversary at the 10200 Edmonds Way location, with free slices of pizza pi(e).
Pagliacci invites you to taste the pizza that has been voted a favorite in many polls and has won many awards, including Best Pizza numerous times in the Seattle Weekly and Seattle Magazine. There is a limit of two slices per person.

So much more than a “sandwich” shop:
My first visit to Bucatini, prompted by many reader inquiries on the “sandwich shop” located in the old Girasol spot at 9818 Edmonds Way, was at lunchtime. I tasted the generous grinders and of course the desserts, well… I went back for seconds. I wanted to sink my teeth into the restaurant’s namesake pasta- Bucatini.

Here’s a quick lesson on Italian pasta. Bucatini, also known as perciatelli, is thick spaghetti-like pasta, but is a hollow tube, a hole running through the center. The name comes from Italian: buco, meaning “hole,” while bucato or its Neapolitan variant perciato mean “pierced.”

The place was packed on this Saturday evening and we were seated at the last available table.

We started with a glass of Prosecco rose´, a wonderful way to refresh our pallets and begin the meal. Take time to peruse the Bucatini wine list. Titled: In Vino Veritas, the translation “in wine, truth” is appropriate The wines offered bring out the true flavors and ingredients, in the entrees offered. Servers are knowledgeable and I enjoyed their recommended wines for both dishes.

Our basket of bread arrived in short order, followed by a Caesar salad. We shared the generous portion; half a head of crispy Romaine topped with lemony dressing, chunks of Parmesan and light croutons, almost a meal by itself.

My Bucatini pasta was served with shellfish: Gulf prawns, Penn Cove clams and mussels, and calamari, in a lightly spiced marinara sauce. I put the last of our bread to good use to sop up the flavorful juices. I swear those little tubes oozed sauce with every bite, and with all the fresh and tender Northwest seafood, I’d recommend this dish. Next time I’ll order Bucatini Shellfish, Traditional — with olive oil, garlic and herbs — and I’ll report back to My Edmonds Restaurant News readers the results of my comparison. Yeah, I know- tough job.

Tempted by the heavenly aroma from the next table, I had to order the Rigatoni Gigante. As the name implies, this is huge tube pasta and on “special” that evening with a Pork Marsala. Herb and garlic pork cutlets, mushrooms sautéed with a sweet Marsala wine and a side of steamed broccoli, all tasted divine with my red wine, Rocca Chianti.

Portions of our entrees safely tucked into “to-go” boxes for later enjoyment, meant we had room for dessert. Our choice: Anthony’s signature dessert Ricotta Cheese Cake, his Italian grandmother’s recipe, the perfect finish to a great meal.

More celebrations to enjoy at our local eateries:

Easter Restaurant Specials & Recommended Reservations for Sunday, March 27

ANTHONY’S HOMEPORT and ANTHONY’S BEACH CAFÉ, 456 Admiral Way, both offer brunch menus for Easter Sunday. See websites for menu and hours.

ARNIE’S, at 300 Admiral Way, is open from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. for Easter Sunday Brunch. See websites for menu and reservations.

BUCCA di BEPPO (Lynnwood)– Enjoy the day with friends and family at Buca di Beppo. Open at 11a.m. Easter Sunday, March 27.

CARAVAN KEBAB, 9711 Firdale Ave. A wonderful lamb dish called paidakia – perfect for Easter. They offer vegetarian, gluten free, and low carb menu items and all meat is Halal certified.

CHANTERELLE, 316 Main St., is the spot for a spontaneous Easter Brunch. No need for reservations, unless your party is larger than five people. Please do call for those big groups. Brooke says “come on in- we’ve got you covered.” See their website for full list of delicious items served on Easter Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

DEMETRI’S WOODSTONE TAVERNA, 101 Main St. Try Demetri’s Toast for an Easter brunch- Banana bread, fresh berries compote, maple syrup, candied pecans, Chantilly cream, fruit; sounds delightful.

GIRARDI’S OSTERIA – 504 5th Ave. S., is open for normal hours and service at lunch or dinner, on Easter Sunday; they recommend a reservation.

SALT & IRON – 321 Main St. Open for Easter regular hours. Brunch from 9 a.m. till 2 p.m. Dinner starts at 4 p.m. Brunch menu is online. Reservations are highly recommended.

SCOTT’S BAR & GRILL– 8115 Ballinger Way. Come in and meet their “special guest” (could it involve rabbit ears?). Brunch buffet runs from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; dinner is from 3:30-10 p.m.

THE HOOK, 76th Avenue West and Olympic View Drive, is open Easter Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Brunch menu served from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Readers and restaurant owners- Please let me know if I have missed any additional opportunities. Please feel free to SHARE in comments box.

Bon Appetite,
Kathy

A specialty gourmet food broker for over 30 years, Kathy Passage has in-depth knowledge on food and the special qualities of ingredients used in the exquisite products she helped bring to market. Kathy brings this unique perspective from the “other side of the plate” to writing about the food and restaurant scene in Edmonds.