October 21 2010
Posted in Seattle - Find It - Seattle

Photo courtesy Vanessa Wesley

Vanessa Wesley, the Chef at Poco Wine Room in Seattle's Capitol Hill district, has always loved food. Growing up in a busy household, her mom didn’t have much time to fuss in the kitchen, so Vanessa took it upon herself to discover what went into the perfect dish.

“My best friend’s mom was a professional cook. She was amazing. I used to bake bread and cook with her. From a young age I knew that I wanted to cook really well.”

That desire led her to work at a catering company throughout high school and then attend culinary school at The Art Institute of Seattle. It also helped her make her way to Poco Wine Room, where she crafts menus and whips up culinary creations using the best seasonal, local ingredients.

 

And when it comes to using seasonal ingredients, it doesn’t get much better than the flavors of fall.

“Fall is my favorite season. I love the food, the flavors that come from fall. I look forward to it every year. It’ the season where I like to start braising and roasting and using all the warm spices. Ahhhh,” she says with deep affection.

All those warm spices lend themselves perfectly to one particular fall fruit, one that is so versatile it can be used in virtually any course: The magnificent apple.

Vanessa, who often crafts her dishes with wine pairings in mind, was kind enough to share some of her favorite apple recipes with wine accompaniment, of course.

Apple Brioche Bread Pudding with Rum Raisins

Blue Cheese Waldorf Salad

Calvados and Cranberry Baked Apples

Steamed Mussels with Apples and Thyme Scented Cream

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