Want to know what makes Adam Fortuna, our Beverage Director and the main man behind the bar at Artusi and Spinasse, tick?   Eater Seattle recently profiled him in The Barkeepers, “ a monthly column dedicated to the men and women who work behind some of Seattle’s hottest bars” . Learn more about Adam’s favorite cocktails, his passion for bartending, and a word or two about karaoke outings with Chef Jason Stratton.

This is a guy who knows as much about wine, as he does a good cocktail. His favorite? “I love a daiquiri, just a standard, classic, hard-shaken, simple drink, done beautifully.”

Read the interview with Adam here.

This month, Artusi sous chef Nico Borze and fellow cooks will be at the Dining Counter ready to create a special tasting menu just for you. No need to make a reservation; just pull up a seat, watch the cooking and prepare for a fantastic dining adventure.

Depending on how hungry you are, you’ll find a selection of three menu options: $35, $45 or $55, all of which will deliver delicious dishes from on and off the menu.  Need a great cocktail or wine to accompany your dinner? Cocktail and beverage guru, Adam Fortuna, or any of our talented bar masters will be available to make the perfect pairing.

Artusi’s reserved seating does not include the dining counter or bar.

Here are sample menus to whet your appetite. Please note that all items are subject to change based on season or chef’s whim.

$35

Chicory salad with roasted pecans, parmigiano reggiano and meyer lemon vinaigrette

Glazed veal sweetbreads with saffron, pancetta, and nettle pesto

Tonnarelli alla gricia: tonnarelli with guanciale, pecorino stagionata and black pepper

$45

Poached shigoku oyster with blood orange essence, radish and buckwheat cracker

Glazed beets with horseradish cream and coffee crisp

Roasted hazelnuts with controne chile and muscovado sugar

Tagliatelle with braised crimini mushrooms and spicy pickled pearl onions

Braised quail stuffed with speck, foie gras and rye on caramelized cabbage

$55

Poached shigoku oyster with blood orange essence, radish and buckwheat cracker

Soft poached egg with prosciutto cream, broccoli and balsamic

Roasted Veal tortellini in ginger allspice brodo

Roasted lamb chop with green garlic pan jus and grilled spring onions

Opera cake: almond sponge cake, chocolate ganache, coffee buttercream, chocolate glaze and espresso gelato

It’s official. Spring is really happening; it’s now staying lighter longer and there’s signs of warmer days to come.  At Artusi, we’re equally excited about our spring Happy Hour menu, which is offered daily between 5-7 pm and from 10pm-close. During those hours, the crew behind the bar are pouring a really nice Italian white and red wine by the glass for $7 and $5 off a full bottle, Fernet Branca shots for $5, and $1 off all house cocktails.

If you’re hungry, Artusi sous chef, Nico Borzee, will be cooking up snacks to include: Butter fried potato chips with cilantro,  Roasted hazelnuts with Controne chile & muscovado sugar, along with some terrific salumi and cheese options that are a perfect match with a beer.

You can see the new Happy Hour menu here.  Cheers!

Congratulations go out to Spinasse and Artusi’s wine and spirits guru, Adam Fortuna, who recently received the nod from The Daily Meal as one of America’s 25 Best Bartenders. With over 500,000 bartenders working in the United States, this accolade is quite a testament to Adam’s skills.

Not only does Adam produce some really delicious cocktails at Artusi, he also has a passion for wine and focuses his attention on the Italian varietals featured at both Spinasse and Artusi.   Well done, Adam!

Jason and sous chef Nico Borzee have put their culinary talents together to design a delicious, 5-course menu at Artusi for Friday, February 14th.  A limited, a la carte menu will be available only at the bar.

Be sure to have one of Artusi’s noted bartenders prepare a seasonal cocktail to get you started and wine guru Adam Fortuna has assembled the perfect wines for a pairing option with the courses.

VALENTINE’S DAY 2014
$65 per person + tax and gratuity | $35 optional wine pairing
5-11 pm

Buckwheat grissini with olive butter
Hearts of palm, endive, scallop
Cauliflower, uni and Apicius crostini

Foie Gras torchon with chamomile, orange and rose jelly

Pici with duck ragu

Pork Ribs with gnocchi alla Romana, anchovy and puntarelle

Plum and chocolate crostata

Click for a reservation or call (206) 678.2516

Great food and drink are mandatory on New Year’s Eve and Chef Jason Stratton and the Artusi team are ready to deliver a delicious, multi-course dinner on this most festive evening.  For an impromptu option, a limited, a la carte menu will be available only at the bar.

If cocktails are on your celebratory agenda, you’ll find a great array of spirited specialty drinks and bubble options, too.

Artusi New Year’s Eve Menu:

Scallop Cruda with preserved matsutake

Russian salad with Dungeness crab

Tortellini in brodo

Cotechino with Lentils

Opera cake

5-courses – $60 per person + tax & gratuity
Optional Wine Pairing – $30

Click for a reservation or call (206) 678.2516

A hearty congratulations are in order to Artusi’s  beverage team, Adam Fortuna, Shattuck  Wildaner, and Tara McLaughlin.  All three recently passed the Level 1 Introductory Master Sommelier Course and Exam offered by the Master Court of Sommeliers, which is the first of four required steps to become a Master Sommelier. The program is given over a two day period with candidates receiving intensive review, instruction and training by a team of Master Sommeliers on wines and spirits knowledge, proper wine service, and blind tasting. The intent of this course is to provide wine and hospitality professionals with an extensive review of wines and spirits at the highest professional standards.

Recently, Adam was named Seattle’s Bartender of the Year on the Eater Awards, where local editors in 27 cities across the country nominated candidates for Bartender of the Year. Adam and Shattuck were both highlighted in the December issue of Seattle magazine offering advise on their favorite destinations to enjoy an adult beverage.

Tara, whom you may have read about in last month’s eflyer, has been the general manager of Rob Roy (formerly the Viceroy), spent two years at the renowned Zig Zag Café, and at the Royal Room in historic Columbia City.

With any one of these three pros behind the bar, Artusi is the perfect stop on Capitol Hill if you are looking for innovative, Italian-inspired cocktails or a great glass of wine.

If you’re looking for a warm companion on a chilly fall night, swing by Artusi and try Jason and Adam’s newest cocktails.  In addition to the drinks that you know and love, there are six great new versions to try.  Check out these teasers and view the full cocktail menu here.  Let us know which is your favorite!

Sashay Away: $11
Gin, Aperol, Honey Syrup

Sour McLaughlin: $12
Reposado Tequila, Pear Brandy, Egg White, Lemon, Sugar

This Woman’s Work: $12
Strega, Mirabelle Plum Liqeuer, Lemon, Sugar

Photo Mark Harrison/The Seattle Times

When the mercury in Seattle hits over 80 degrees, there’s nothing quite like a frosty, boozy cocktail to sip on.  Recently, Tan Vinh, Seattle Times Happy Hour reporter, made a stop at several bars around town in search of the best frozen drinks and reported on his findings that included a spiked version of an Orange Julius at Bait Shop on Capitol Hill, to the Swizzle at Tom Douglas’ new restaurant, TanakaSan.  Tan made his way to Artusi and ordered our latest slushy, a version of a Hurricane called “Water Off a Duck’s Back”, made with rum, passion fruit, lime and a bit of saffron herbal liqueur, saying that Artusi “makes some of the most sophisticated and balanced frozen drinks” and dubbed ours as the “best slushy cocktail in Seattle.”

Have a read of Tan’s story and stop in soon for a slushy at Artusi.

The weather is supposed to be beautiful and we’re ready to share Pride with you this weekend.  Check out our special slushy in tribute to Seattle’s own Jinkx Monsoon, winner of Season 5 of RuPaul’s Drag Race.  This delicious drink is called “Water Off a Duck’s Back” – Jamaican rum, passion fruit, Strega, lime and long pepper.  It will be cold, very tasty and available for $11 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

And, Seattle artist Joey Veltcamp has designed an Artusi Pride t-shirt that you can purchase right here. It’s $20 and $8 from each sold will benefit the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

Can’t wait to see you at Artusi!