New Message in at BOTL

There’s a new message in at the new Woodmark BOTL (that’s the accidental acronym for “Bin on the Lake“, not the official acronym for Brothers of the Leaf – although a cigar sounds good right about now) at Carillon Point in Kirkland:  “We’re now something for everyone.” Yes, you heard it right, dear hedonists – BOTL has moved upstairs from its old location (when it was known as the classy, wine-centered Bin Vivant, complete with a select-wine-first-then-meal menu). Now located in the old Yarrow Bay Grill space, Bin Vivant has evolved into BOTL: it now reaches out to 20-somethings as well as those who’d pay over 20-hundred (yes that’s $2000+) for a magnum of fine wine. (Your Hedonista recently attended both the VIP opening and a private media tasting.)

The food itself is punctiliously and perfectly palatable – and down-right tasty, too. Chef Scott Lents turns out some great menus items, which are thoughtfully well-paired with Manager/Sommelier Darren Nicholas’ wine selections. Some examples include: tasty tapas-style bin Fritters made of Dungeness crab with butternut squash and jalapeño honey that pairs nicely with the citrus-ascorbic nature of the 2007 French Mas Val Gireux Picpoul de Pinet Languedoc; the knock-you-off-your-feet Scallops P.L.T. Sandwich (that’s prosciutto, (bibb) lettuce, and cured tomato on 3 mini brioche buns) that gets washed down beautifully with a buttery oak mouth feel and taste that meets metallic mineral tones in a 2007 Californian Hanzell Vineyards Chardonnay from Sonoma; and a Yukon Potato Gnocchi (with Northwest mushrooms and truffle pecorino) like none other you’ve perhaps tried: Scott bakes the gnocchi in rock salt to pull out the moisture, so the gnocchi is more cake-like (think a mini Twinkie texture, here).  The gnocchi, when paired with Darren’s 1st wine love (a 1997, it was) – this one a 2007 Californian Robert Sinskey Vineyards Pinot Noir of Napa Valley’s Carneros – is absolute bliss. (Just remember, fellow hedonists: you never forget your first.)

If you happen to be torn between a menu item and one of Scott’s daily specials … take heed from your Hedonista and order the special. That’s where Scott has the chance to really strut his culinary stuff. (And strut he does … very well.) I can recall one of Scott’s special menu items served during the night of their soft opening on October 15th: Halibut cheeks – pan fried ’til a golden hue – served with couscous, broccoli and a peas ‘n’ cream sauce that literally made my toes curl.

They’re also riding the “localize it” wave, with a stress on “internalize it” – in fact, the only items not made in-house are few; they include the cheese, ice cream, baguettes, and condiments. Even their water – available both chilled and at room temperature, in both flat and sparkling  – is Kirkland water: triple-filtered and served in a large, refillable glass bottle for $2.50 a pop.

Plus nightly events are now scheduled. Monday: Sandwich du jour (chef’s whim … like soup, only a sammy); Tuesday: Brown Bag Wine Night (guess the grape ‘n’ get a free glass); Wednesday: Trivia Night (win a prize); Thursday: Live Music (arguably the best night to be hitting the BOTL, as it were); Friday: Flight Night (half-of wine flights for the ladies); Saturday (it’s Saturday night … say no more); and Sunday (half-off bottles under $100).

There’s even two Happy Hours each and every night, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and, on Sunday, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (1/2 off bar food, $2.50 draft beer and $5 house wine glasses).

So now BOTL – the new and improved Bin Vivant, if you will – serves up everything from Happy Hour bar food to fine haute cuisine, to suit all tastes: the enophile,  the neophyte, the (not-so) young and the, well … younger. All in all, an environment that is very Pacific Northwest: distinguished-yet-trendy, but without the pretentiousness.  (And don’t forget that breathtaking view.)

Regardless of your age, your budget, or your zip code, this place is worth a lil’ look-see.

Bon Appétit!

(P.S. – They’re hosting both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve dinners, FYI.)

Note: In order to comply with FTC Act 16 C.F.R. 255, Heed the Hedonist would like to disclose that it does receive media “comps” and/or media discounts – but not in exchange for favorable coverage, or for withholding unfavorable coverage, of the given venue/meal/performance/product/service.