One Sunday evening, after enjoying a viewing of Coco Before Chanel at the venerable Harvard Exit movie theater, we ambled across Broadway to see if we could get into our friend Jerry Traunfeld’s Poppy restaurant. Fortuitously, at the door, we ran into Alan Aquila, former general manager of the since-departed and lamented Yarrow Bay Grill, who led us to a perfect window seat for two.

Jerry and his partner, Stephen, were also in the house and we enjoyed catching up with all three men. By this time it was beginning to feel like old-home day, especially when the ever-generous Jerry sent over an order of the restos fabu Dungeness Crab and Herb Summer Rolls. These paired perfectly with the flute of Piper Heidsieck I’d ordered, as did the Lightly Fried Mussels with Basil Aïoli (both the crab rolls and mussels are on the appetizer menu).

Here’s my Smali, which featured a lovely serving of Black Cod along with Savoy Cabbage and Matsutake mushroom, the rare mushroom that’s a favorite in Japan, and that Jerry told me he often used when he was still chef at The Herbfarm.

Other dishes included a vegetarian Potato-Coriander Soup, Warm Leeks, a gratin of Swiss chard and oregano, burdock pickles with ginger, and naan, the traditional Indian tandoor bread sprinkled with aromatic, anise-y nigella seeds. Jerry told me the Dilled Asian Pear, Celery, and Hazelnut Salad comes straight from his cookbook, The Herbal Kitchen: Cooking with Fragrance and Flavor. This smali was a steal at just $25.

For just one dollar more, Spencer went straight for the beef–Grilled Wagyu Denver Steak–to be exact, served with farro (an ancient grain that’s suddenly popping up on every menu about town) and peppers.

His sides included several of the same ones as on my platter, with the substitution of Pumpkin, Fenugreek, and Green-Chile Soup and Roasted Beet, Quince (from Jerry’s neighbor’s farm!), and Huckleberry Salad (a yummy combo of flavors, textures, and colors).

We were too full for a dessert thali, opting instead to finish our bottle of Buty Conner Lee Vineyard 2007 Chardonnay, a not-too-oaky, not-too-fruity, perfectly balanced wine (and great with this type of flavorful and complex food).

All the strange windy, snowy, wet weather of late has sparked some gorgeous sunsets in late afternoon, once the clouds have lifted and the sun gets a few hours to shine.

Here’s a sunset over Elliott Bay from last week that really knocked our socks off. Shades of purple and magenta and royal blue and cotton-candy pink surround the golden horizon. . .

We were among the lucky Seattleites to experience executive chef and owner Walter Pisano’s special dinner at Tulio last Friday evening for loyal customers and friends of the restaurant.

Among the outstanding dishes on the five-course menu? Calamari with Toasted Garlic, Chili Flake, and Preserved-Lemon Polenta (pictured above); Grilled Escarole and Radish Salad with Bagna-Cauda Vinaigrette (!); Trofie Pasta with Barrel-Aged Feta, Tuscan Pine Nuts, Golden Raisins, and Fresh Oregano; and Swordfish with Taggisca Olives and Blood-Orange and Fennel Salad. Soulful Italian food, each and every dish.

Dessert didn’t disappoint! Chocolate Torte was served at room temperature (more flavor than chilled!) with a a cap of Cinnamon Crème Fraîche.

Earlier this fall we helped Tulio celebrate its 17th birthday by attending a special mozzarella-stretching and food-cocktail presentation. Here’s a photo of Walter concentrating on making fresh bocconccini–miniature mozzarella balls–which we sampled with a variety of olive oils, sea salts, and Walter’s housemade basil salt. Creamy perfection!

Meanwhile, mixologist Raphael Nicas offered up inspired cocktails such as the Caprese–basil-infused Ketel One Vodka, tomato juice, Bocconccini, baby tomatoes, and Trampetti olive oil, all adorned with a fresh basil leaf.

Spencer and I were taken with the Bakers Witch–Bakers Bourbon, Benedictine, Strega, and a garnish of candied butternut squash. Sweet, yet sassy!

My friend and fellow cookbook author Cynthia Lair is also a gifted actress and comedienne. She has her own online television show called Cookus Interruptus, and in a recent episode she showed how to make Yam Frosting from just five easy-to-find ingredients.

It’s the kind of recipe we all welcome and treasure during this busy time of the year. Here’s the link to her Web site and the recipe.

Last week I found out that my talented Web designer and whiz kid Christopher Prouty, founder of Studio 99 Creative, has launched another exciting venture that will be of interest to anyone fascinated by vampires and the whole “Twilight” phenomenon.

Veinom.com offers photos of gorgeous young vampiresses in various states of undress and degrees of vitality. Chris describes it in two simple words: Vampire Photography. Most appropriately, it launched last Saturday–Halloween!

Here’s a shot of Chloe looking wan and inviting.

And here’s Julia looking beautiful, but a bit “drained.”

Chris reports his new site took 48 hours, three models, and 600 photos to launch.

But it’s out of the gate like a thoroughbred, having attracted 85 fans on Facebook during its first three days in existence. You’ll definitely want to “taste” this jaw-dropping site often and become Facebook friends, “forever”. . .

Last week, we went to OpenTable.com a few days before Halloween, and ordered up a table at the venerable Flying Fish Restaurant in Belltown. We specifically asked for a table at the very front of the restaurant, for what we hoped would be a ring-side seat for the ghouls and goblins out to celebrate All Hallows Eve as they scurried about First Avenue.

While the number of spirits was a bit disappointing, the creativity and work that went into many of the costumes was truly amazing. Themes this year seemed to be an overwhelming number of angels (both black- and white-winged), “super” heroes (such as the Green Hornet and Batman), and the usual vampires and vampiresses.

Inside, I enjoyed my first oysters on the half shells of the season. I swore I’d remember their names, but after sharing a bottle of Sauv Blanc with Spencer, their monikers went right out the window. But here is their photo, captured for posterity.

And here’s that bracing bottle of wine, Craggy Range 2008 Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. Don’t you just love the name? So evocative, and perfect since the winery’s 100 hectares of vineyards used to be an old quarry.

Here’s a photo of the poor oysters after consumption. All that’s left is their ruffly shells.

I still hadn’t gotten my fill of the unctuous bivalves, so ordered chef/owner Christine Keff’s legendary Fried Oyster Caesar Salad. Four spanking fresh, just-shucked oysters perfectly fried in nothing but a light dusting of cornmeal, along with hearts of romaine, and not-too-garlic-y Caesar dressing. Simply the best in town.

Oyster lovers will get a thrill this Saturday evening as Elliott’s Oyster House celebrates its 17th annual Oyster New Year Bash. The Bash, which runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., features 30 varieties of local oysters, an oyster luge, fresh seafood buffet, and more than 50 WA wines. Although it’s already sold out, eating oysters at Elliott’s is a good idea any time!

My friend, colleague, and fellow Seattle Dame Gwen Bassetti, is the founder of Grand Central Baking Company in Seattle, which has since sprouted branches elsewhere in Seattle and also in Portland.

Gwen has long since turned daily operations over to the next generation, and the happy news is that daughter Piper Davis is just out with a lovely new tome entitled (appropriately) The Grand Central Baking Book.

Published by Ten Speed Press, it’s chock full of recipes from the bakery, family favorites, and glorious photos. This is a book for every baker’s shelf, and would also make the perfect holiday gift.

Here’s a photo of Gwen (right) and Piper during a book signing at the venerable Elliott Bay Book Co. in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square neighborhood. The day after the signing, the sad word came out that the venerable bookstore is in financial trouble and may be forced to move, essentially pulling the plug on an anchor store in this part of our town.

The Seattle Times editorial page ran a thought-provoking article about Elliott Bay in its October 27 issue.

Our dear friends, Charles and Rose Ann Finkel, recently celebrated 20 years since founding the Pike Pub and Brewing Company. We’re especially partial to the place since it’s located in the basement of our condominium building, so easy to get to for a wonderful lunch or dinner.

To celebrate the big event, the happy couple invited 450 kindred souls for a fun-filled evening of food-, beer-, and friendship.

Here’s they are with birthday cake and balloons; the staff also gave them a quilt emblazoned with logos from Pike Pub t-shirts.

And a good time was had by all!