Olympia Town Restaurant! Guess the Future Award-Winning Chef 👩‍🍳

This restaurant, named Chicory, usually only opens for dinner. The menu changes rapidly, making it nearly impossible to get stable recommendations from reviews, except for the universally beloved Shrimp & Grits. In seafood-rich Washington, the plump, bouncy shrimp are a given, and the American-style grits with sauce make this dish a warm comfort after days of hiking. 🍆 On this day, Chicory’s IG updated the night’s limited special dish, Eggplant Parmesan, and of course, we had to try it. Large slices of local eggplant with a crispy cheese crust that’s off the umami charts, so satisfying! The portion was a bit large, and we couldn’t manage dessert this time. 🍹 The wine list is very thoughtful and introduces many local wines. We sampled a mocktail and a special cocktail named “voyager,” which was quite good. Compared to the $20+ cocktails in the East, the value is incredible 👌 ✨ I accidentally reversed the order, but the appetizers were a huge highlight! The Ajo Blanco Soup managed to perfectly blend cherry and garlic flavors, a surprising burst in every spoonful; this Zucchini Bread combined marinated sweet peppers and cheese (I learned it! Gotta replicate it!), served with homemade zucchini mini-loaves. The only caution is that it crumbles easily, making it a bit inconvenient to dip 🤤 🏝️ The restaurant is owned by a couple, with Elise Landry as the chef, born in Kansas and raised on cajun food (no wonder it suits my taste!). Having the chance to open a restaurant, she is dedicated to using local and seasonal ingredients for creative dishes, choosing to start her business in Olympia, WA, a place rich in agricultural products. I have a feeling that in a few years, she might be nominated for a James Beard Award. Better eat now and be happy 🥳 📍Chicory #SeattleOlympia #AroundSeattle #SeattleFoodExploration #SeattleSurroundingFood #WashingtonState #WashingtonStateTravel #TravelUSA