LE CAVISTES DAVID BUTLER A man of excellent taste, a storyteller extraordinaire, and funny as hell, too.
  • LE CAVISTE'S DAVID BUTLER A man of excellent taste, a storyteller extraordinaire, and funny as hell, too.

Here is the best way to spend $20 in Seattle right now: Walk downtown at 4 p.m., whether through an unbelievably drenching downpour or the equally unbelievable springtime sunshine. Direct your feet to Le Caviste, on Seventh between Stewart and Virginia. Have a seat, preferably at the small, slate-topped central bar. Tell the gentleman behind it that you are interested in the poisson en papillote—any pronunciation will do, or you can just say "the trout." (This is half of the $20.) Then say you would like whatever wine he thinks you should have with it—what would he recommend? He will likely get a glint in his eye and say, "Well, the white Burgundy loves the butter in the trout..." He will talk about the white Burgundy like it is a friend who has a crush on another friend. He will also offer you another choice or two. You should probably take the white Burgundy. (Burgundy is "Bourgogne" on the chalkboard menu; this one is Domaine Matrot 2011, and, at $10 a glass, it is the other half of the $20. Okay, yes, you'll need six dollars more for tax and tip.) Now just drink and eat. I promise you will be unbelievably happy...

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