Cold soups were the dish du jour at the 13th annual Sunset Supper at the Market, held on Friday, August 15, from Serafina’s Chilled Cauliflower and Leek Soup with Salsa Verde to Le Pichet’s Chilled Summer Melon Soup (garnished with a yummy smoked prawn and chive crème fraîche) to Andaluca’s Gazpacho with Dungeness Crab.

Cocktails in many forms were also popular items, the most innovative being Volterra’s Bellini Gelée (upscale Jell-O shots, anyone?!?!).  Sangria BalMar, from the popular Ballard cocktail bar (BalMar), paired well with the Gazpacho. 

Other popular dishes included the Paella Mixta from Tango Restaurant & Lounge, which chef Mike Bruno serves up from his huge paellera (paella pan) each year; Cafe Campagne’s Petite Lamb Burgers; and the Sorrento Hotel’s Anderson Ranch Lamb Chops with Northwest Bing Cherry Glaze. 

My favorites included Kaspar Donier’s Northwest Red Snapper Tacos with Corn Salsa and, for dessert, Rose’s Chocolate Treasures Sunset Rose–a dark-chocolate, gold-dusted rose filled with creamy caramel.