You may wonder how I, a Florida transplant, hosted a beautiful Mediterranean Summer Dinner Party on a Seattle Rooftop. Technically my dinner party was 30 minutes away from Seattle. My bestie, Katherine took a job in Everett, Washington. Pacific Northwest (PNW) folks love their rooftops. The incredible view of the Puget Sound, the Pacific Ocean, and the Cascade Mountains range is quite breathtaking. The scenery could not be any more different from my tropical island Florida existence. I cannot think of a better place to host a dinner party with a few of my favorite people.
It is my mission to adhere to the Mediterranean Diet even when traveling. I try to adhere to principles of the diet even on special occasions. On social media, I often see new members on social media pages encouraging each other to “cheat”. Members often encourage one another to deviate from the way of eating (WOE). Attacking anyone who dares to suggests it is not necessary to eat food that is not good for you. They have not yet learned the secret – the food on the Mediterranean Diet is BETTER than processed, sugary, saturated, salty foods.
Why Did I host a Summer Dinner Party in Seattle?
I helped Katherine find her beautiful apartment in May. It is on the sixth floor of a beautiful building. The building boasts a lovely terrace. I knew then I would be back in August. I would have my dinner party overlooking the Puget Sound with views of the Cascades. Interestingly, I have had several friends, former students and acquaintances move to Seattle in recent years. While I had only been to Seattle once before our sojourn to find her living space, it made perfect sense to hold my birthday there.
The party was to be a leisurely series of courses. Each course paired with a delicious Washington wine. An undertaking that took quite a bit of planning. Katherine had only just moved there and did not yet have her kitchen set up. Everything had to be transported from Florida, purchased or rented – and I do mean EVERYTHING. Another challenging element of the party is that Katherine’s apartment is on the 6th floor and the terrace is on the 3rd floor. Fortunately, there is an elevator, but of course her apartment is the furthest from the elevator.
What is extraordinary about summertime in Seattle is the abundance of fruit, vegetables, and flowers. The fresh produce is exquisite and inexpensive in the PNW, perfect for a beautiful Mediterranean summer dinner party on a Seattle rooftop (or Everett). I thought seafood would be equally abundant. It was surprising how difficult it was to find fresh fish. I am sure you are envisioning Pike Place Market and the legendary tossing of whole fish. We just did not have time to hike it back to Seattle in time for my dinner. Fortunately, at the last minute we stumbled upon some amazingly fresh Tuna. Olive Sunshine’s Greek Stlye Tuna with Roasted Lemon Potatoes was a perfect compliment to this five course celebration.
The Menu for My Beautiful Mediterranean Summer Dinner Party on a Seattle Rooftop
It is My Birthday and I Can Eat Healthy if I Want To
As a society, we have been conditioned. We believe we should crave bad for us food. Especially for a celebration, like a birthday. If it is not greasy, salty, or sugary, we think we are missing out. Living on the Mediterranean Diet, I know that is false programming. I certainly enjoyed special occasion foods during my beautiful Mediterranean summer dinner party on a Seattle rooftop. But even the treats were still based on the principles of eating less processed foods focusing on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and quality cheeses and fish. As always, each course is complimented by extra virgin olive oil, my Olive Sunshine!
Special People Made my Birthday Special
An eclectic group, my dinner guests list includes best friends, former work colleagues, former students, (some fit several categories) and their significant others. My dear friend, Barbara, made the journey from Florida with me to Seattle. I taught with Rixey in the 1990s in Virginia Beach. He and his husband, Jeff, and I have maintained our friendship over the years, but have not seen each other much in the past two decades.
Luciano is one of my favorite Marathon High School (Florida Keys) students. He graduated a couple of years after my former student, former colleague, bestie Katherine. Lucy and I have a thriving Facebook interaction, debating current events. I absolutely love seeing him building his life in Washington. He is the Pie-Guy, the owner of Cay Sal Pies. Cay Sal pies is a gourmet food stand business he shares with his partner and close friend Molly. Molly, who I met that night, made a Mediterranean Diet friendly Key Lime Pie (it should have been in the freezer, but I put it in the fridge, excuse the melty appearance). It was amazing! Luciano and Molly will be making a cross country tour this fall from Seattle to Florida. Be sure to check Cay Sal out!
My Second Rooftop Birthday Celebration in Seattle
Another former Marathon students, Suzie (Dr. Suzie to you), was unexpectedly unable to make it. The next night, Suzie invited Katherine and I to her rooftop, where we enjoyed a continuation of my birthday dinner. Her rooftop is right in the action of Seattle. We had a view of the Great Wheel, the Puget Sound, and the Space Needle. Katherine and I packed up food from my stay at her apartment.
Ironically, Suzie had put together the same dishes for me that I brought from Everett. Whole food with an emphasis on fresh vegetables, whole grains and a Mediterranean flare. We enjoyed couscous stuffed avocado, heirloom tomatoes, olives, salad, and other vegetables, flatbread, and of course – wine. It was the perfect extension of my birthday party – without the work!
Why My Birthday is so Special
August is always a bittersweet month for me. I kick it off with my own birthday celebrations, where I am sure to enjoy plenty of friends, family, laughter, and memory-making experiences. The month winds down with the birthday of my brother, Patrick. Patrick’s birthday is today. I lost my baby brother in 2014, at the young age of 31. He does not have the luxury of celebrating another birthday through no fault of his own. An athlete and a healthy eater, Patrick spent his adult years courageously fighting Lupus. He always inspired me to be the healthiest version of myself. Losing someone, so precious, so irreplaceable, so young, has given my own life some clarity.
Health is a gift. Spending time with those I care about is the best use of my time. Physical activity, especially outside, is necessary to achieve a peaceful state of mind. I am what I eat. Enjoying good food that is good for me is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Whether it is your birthday today, or six months from now, I am wishing all of my readers the happiest of birthdays! May you enjoy good health, good friends, and good food! I hope you enjoyed a glimpse of my Beautiful Mediterranean Dinner Birthday Party.
