SNOHOMISH COUNTY SIPS FROM A
BY OWEN BARGREEN
Secret Wine Hot Spots Three restaurants in Snohomish County with fine dining and fine wine for affordable prices PHOTO BY IAN TERRY
BHU-PING THAI
6600 Evergreen Way, Everett; 425-405-3783; bhupingthairestaurant.com Hidden alongside the bustle of Evergreen Way, there’s a fantastic Thai restaurant with an incredible wine selection. Bhu-Ping Thai boasts an array of domestic and international wines, with prices that tend to be less than half of Seattle prices. Owner Choosak “Noi” Chuenchowwai has been collecting wines for years. Have him guide you to a great wine that will pair beautifully with Thai cuisine. Classic pairings for Thai cuisine include riesling, pinot gris and gewurtztraminer from the Alsace region of France or riesling and gewurtztraminer from the Mosel valley of Germany. Any of those offerings, which typically have a strong minerality and a touch of sweetness, will be a gorgeous complement to the spice and sweetness of Thai food. Consider pairing one of these wines with Bhu-Ping’s excellent noodles, phad thai or phad see ew, as well as their tangy panang or red curry dishes. For a non-traditional pairing, check out Bhu-Ping’s excellent selection of Oregon pinot noir or French burgundy as a pairing with Bangkok fried chicken or chicken satay.
TABLAS WOODSTONE TAVERNA
15522 Main St., Mill Creek; 425-948-7654; kafeneowoodstonegroup.com/tablas Located in the Mill Creek Towne Center, Tablas is a vibrant spot for Spanish tapas. Take advantage of their great-looking and expansive bar area. Tablas has a surprisingly good wine list that connects beautifully with executive chef Clara Gutierrez’s small tapas plates. If you are looking for a great white wine, the 2014 L’Ecole Chardonnay ($45 per bottle) has a touch of butter with tree fruit flavors that pair beautifully with garlic mushrooms, Manchego cheese and ham, shrimp skewers or the shrimp-and-swiss or ham-and-cheese croquettas. For a red wine, the 2012 Cune ‘Crianza’ Tempranillo from Rioja ($9 per glass, $30 per bottle) features smoky and citrus accents that make a lovely pairing with the cold cuts plate, the Pincho Mourono (pork with Brava sauce) or the pork mignon. Another red at Tablas, the 2013 Catena Malbec ($11 per glass, $38 per bottle), is a wine I reviewed last year for International Wine Report. It is one of the best Malbec values out of Argentina and is priced right to match with Tablas’ beef skewers or grilled chorizo crostini.
BISTRO SAN MARTIN 231 N. Olympic Ave., Arlington; 360-474-9229; bistrosanmartin.com Make a trip to Arlington for a wine and food pairing extravaganza. Bistro San Martin boasts a well-constructed wine list that has some excellent bargains and good pairings. If you are thinking red wine, try the 2010 Kontos ‘Alavus’ Red Wine ($54 per bottle), which has some nice bottle age, the 2012 Woodward Canyon ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet ($72) or the 2012 Fidelitas ‘Optu’ Red Wine ($72). Consider matching any of those with the restaurant’s flat iron steak or filet mignon. Looking for a richer, bolder wine selection without breaking the bank? The 2013 Mollydooker ‘Blue Eyed Boy’ Shiraz ($68 per bottle) will also work with any of the steak options. Good white wine offerings include a good price on the 2013 Woodward Canyon ‘Washington’ Chardonnay ($63 per bottle), the 2012 Jordan Chardonnay ($52) or the 2014 Dusted Valley ‘Boomtown’ Chardonnay ($34). All would taste great with the Dungeness crab cakes or gnudi ravioli.
WASHINGTON NORTH COAST MAGAZINE | FALL 2016 | 5