Cooking Like It's 1929

Sitka & Spruce Kitchen @ Melrose Market - Seattle, WA

Moving into a new neighborhood is always exciting, especially one that has history like Capitol Hill in Seattle.  My apartment was built in the 1920s and still retains many of the features of the time: picture molding at the top of the walls, single paned windows that open fully and the kitchen.  My kitchen is my favorite feature of my studio.  Separate from the main room and features the original icebox and sink.  With barely enough room for one person, I am still able to pull off some amazing culinary feats.  Cooking has always been a big part of my life.  I love to cook for myself and others.  It's like meditation, it calms me down and allows me to get through rough times.  The lack of space in my apartment gives my confidence a boost when I am able to create something good from it.  It might not have great appliances or a lot of counter space but it invites you in and beckons you back in time.  This was an average kitchen size in the 20s and they made it work, so why can't I.  The past is all around me where I live.  The building facades date back to when the neighborhood was originally built.  Factories and warehouses have been transformed into boutiques and cafes with a unique sense of community.  You start to feel a part of the buildings, a part of the history and the businesses feel it too.
Walking down my block I came across this beautiful open warehouse filled with small food shops and cafes.  Melrose Market houses a butcher shop, a cheese shop, three restaurants, three bars, a flower stand, a home decor shop and a private event space.  Everything is either made on site or locally sourced and the presentation is amazing.  The bare wood supports and open floor plan allows everyone to move between the different businesses seamlessly, creating a sense of community among vendors and customers alike.  I know this will be my go to place for handmade sausages, artesian cheeses and the occasional sandwich but what really drew me in was the design of everything, especially Sitka & Spruce located in the back of the market.
French windows separate this small restaurant from the rest of the market giving me a feeling like I'm walking into someone's kitchen.  If William-Sonoma and Restoration Hardware built a house, this would be their prized room.  A gigantic butcher block serves as a prep table for the cooks and it's all open to the rest of the dining room. All of their ingredients are grown and produce locally.  They source a lot of from their own farm on Vashon Island that has a unique service for the supporting community, providing a weekly farm and larder boxes.  The boxes include a variety of produce and dairy products from the year's growing season.  I thought back to my kitchen and the way I approached food, always cooking for friends and having them try new dishes I experiment with.  It's a way to connect to people and celebrate the fact that we are alive and care about whats around us and that feeling was in full effect when I checked out the dining room.    Sadly, I was not able to sit down for a meal at that time but I will definitely be back to get the whole experience.