The Loft in Edmonds

Once upon a time (a few years ago), I set foot into the city of Edmonds for a special occasion. One of my dear friends was getting married. Even though I had to wear a baby blue taffeta bridesmaid dress, the ceremony was beautiful. At the end, as the bride and groom exchanged rings with a beach view in the background, I cried. Most recently, however, my trip to Edmonds was to visit the semi-newly opened cafe and social lounge, The Loft. Like the wedding, the meal was beautiful, in a different sort of way than a ceremony of course, and at the end of the meal, I cried. Well OK, maybe I didn't cry. But the meal was so wonderful, I could have made myself cry if it showed how much I truly enjoyed it.

The Loft, advertised as being a cafe and social lounge, is much more than just that. It's a great place to go for drinks and an energetic yet intimate restaurant at which to entertain guests. In a recent article, Seattle Times food writer Nancy Leson described The Loft as a place "all my friends and neighbors are blabbing about." Located in picturesque downtown Edmonds, The Loft has already made quite a name for itself in its first year of operation. Leson, an Edmonds resident, ran into Mayor Gary Haakenson and he made sure to let her know she needed to visit The Loft, which he described to her as being "great!"

Walking down Main Street, two red umbrellas cover some outdoor seating and mark The Loft's entrance. It doesn't take more than a glance to see what the fuss has been about. The Loft exudes a lively and hip, comfortable sophistication that attracts people to come and stay for hours. Black chandeliers hang from the ceiling of the small and cozy space, while elegant coppery orange walls with gold detail create a vibrant look where tables sit before a small bar. Looking up behind the bar revealed a flight of stairs leading up to a loft. The loft area accommodates more seating where large floor-to-ceiling windows allow patrons to look out over the courtyard where miniature lanterns hang and bamboo plants line the perimeter.

As I walked through the main floor of the restaurant to the back into the covered courtyard, I couldn't even begin to count the number of martinis, cocktails and wine glasses I spotted at every table. If that wasn't a sure sign that the drinks had to be amazing, I don't know what was. The friendly waitress seated me onto a cushy patio sofa at a corner table and I couldn't wait to see the menu. Perusing the menu I found salads, small plates and Loft (or large) plates. Intrigued by the interesting menu, I was excited to see what Chef Taylor Park would present me with.

The Loft Tomato Salad ($8.50) came out on a long rectangular dish where cherry tomatoes, soffrito, Salumi salami, shavings of Pecorino Toscano, truffle salt, balsamic reduction and crispy shallots united. Every bite was a blast of strong flavors, leading one of my tablemates to exclaim, "It's really good and I don't even like tomatoes!"

The Quinoa Tomato Salad ($8) was somewhat of a surprise since I had never heard of the star ingredient. As I bit into the organic mixed greens, the cherry tomatoes, soffrito, smoked paprika oil and balsamic reduction, I was also greeted by the cool crunch of the quinoa that had been formed into a patty and quickly fried and seared. The texture had a bite similar to al dente pasta and a pleasant, mild, nutty quality. Chef Taylor later informed me quinoa is a South American grain-like crop great for vegetarians because of its heartiness, high protein and amino acids, even suitable for those on a gluten-free diet.

After the salads, I knew the rest of the meal would only get better. Each plate came decked out in a mouthwatering display, making it hard to refrain from digging in before it hit the table.

Pancetta Wrapped Black Tiger Pesto Prawns ($9) were sautĂŠed with a chili basil pesto and kicked up a notch by a spicy butter sauce. The crispy pancetta enhanced the flavor of the shrimp, creating a sweet and saltiness with great balance and a spicy kick.

Smoked Pacific Salmon ($8) was wrapped around perfectly grilled asparagus stems, plated cleanly in three stacks with pancetta vinaigrette, mild chili oil and roasted Oregon hazelnuts rounding it out.

The Risotto di Mare ($8) was absolutely divine. It was cooked in prawn broth with an herb mix, salpicon and tomato confit. "Since risotto is usually heavy," Chef Taylor said. "I try to make it as light as possible with the vinegar and with as much fresh vegetables as possible." That was exactly what was accomplished. The bright and light risotto had a great acidity, balanced out by the chopped celery leaf atop the dish. It created a freshness that could easily be enjoyed every day, which might explain why I cleaned that plate up so well.

The Kurobuta Pork Belly, ($12) a generous piece of grilled lushness, was glazed with a sweet hoisin sauce, a spicy pesto, sautĂŠed garlic confit and green onion. The comforting flavor was topped with a fresh hot pepper slice and decorated by cherry tomato halves.

Even the drinks throughout the meal are well worth mentioning. The Loft Mojito ($10) was topped with champagne instead of the usual soda, a great alternative to the norm. A special order cocktail consisted of an ideal blend of regular vodka, pear vodka, cranberry, pomegranate juice and a splash of lemon.

Not to be outdone was the dessert. The Chocolate Birthday Cake ($6/$12 with shot) came out in a contemporary and elaborate manner. Mascarpone cheese was sandwiched between two rounds of a rich chocolate cake, drizzled with espresso glaze and dusted with bits of pistachio and hazelnut. A small tower of caramelized sugar was positioned from the cake and when broken up and eaten together, it was unforgettable. On the other end of the rectangular plate sat a birthday cake shot with a lemon wedge and thinly sliced strawberries. It was enough to make me feel like the luckiest birthday girl (sans birthday) of the night.

So involved in the food was I that at times I almost forgot to see what was going on around me. Fortunately, it didn't take much to notice the merriment in the air. The twinkling lanterns illuminating the patio, the music playing and the laughter of couples, groups of friends and family in the air made it all the more enjoyable. As I sat in my daze of contentment, already daydreaming of the chocolate cake I'd just devoured, I faintly heard someone say, "I could sit here all night and be perfectly happy."