It’s no big secret that I’m a huge pumpkin fan.  And my friends and colleagues often email me anytime they find a new pumpkin item on a local restaurant menu or see a new recipe that I just must try.

So you might rightly assume that October is one of my favorite times of the year, when pumpkins seem to be everywhere, and my pumpkin passion is much easier to satisfy. And that’s why I was so excited that Seattle Restaurant Week falls in the final weeks of October (Oct 17-28) – surely there would be TONS of pumpkin-related culinary choices, right?

To be clear, I was looking for the savory options featuring the Great Pumpkin, because there are MANY great choices around town if you have a pumpkin sweet tooth: pumpkin pie shake at Blue Moon Burgers, Pumpkin Cookies at Cinnamon Works, Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Scones at Starbucks, Pumpkin Spice donut at Mighty O Donuts, Pumpkin Old-Fashioned donut at Top Pot Doughnuts, Autumn Pumpkin Spice donut at Frost and I’m sure a number of cupcakes coming soon.  But how about savory?

In reviewing the 126 restaurants offering special menus during Seattle Restaurant Week Oct 17-28, I only found 10 that currently list a pumpkin-related item on their special $15/$25 promotional menu.  But alas, I don’t want to be glass half-empty (only 8% have a pumpkin menu item?!?) but rather glass half-full, so lookie here: 10 restaurants with awesome pumpkin choices to try!

  • 94 stewart Risotto: Pumpkin, fresh sage, al dente rice blend, black sherry, bacon fat caramel candied corn
  • Andaluca Pumpkin Risotto
  • Crush Brown Buttered Gnocchi with Pumpkin Sage, Orange & Organic Kale
  • Ettas Sugar pie pumpkin soup, house made chorizo
  • LaMedusa Braised Pumpkin Risotto: San Basilio Almonds, Sweet Onion and Parmesan
  • Olivar Pumpkin Soup & Grissinii
  • Rays Cafe Cinderella Pumpkin Tagliatelle Pasta: Oyster mushrooms, cipollinis, tuscan kale, fontina
  • Steelhead Diner Pumpkin pie pudding with Pumpkin Seed Brittle
  • Stumbling Goat Bistro Sugar Pie Pumpkin Risotto: Braised leeks, toasted pepitas, crispy sage
  • Tilth Oxbow Farm Pumpkin Soup: pumpkin seed hummus, creme fraiche, cinnamon

Seems to be lots of soup and risotto options, but there’s nothing wrong with that, right??  I suspect even more Seattle restaurants will be featuring pumpkin-inspired dishes in the next month or two, and I’d love it if you’d let me know what you are seeing out there.

Now I think I’m going to contact the International Pumpkin Association (or some such agency!) to see if I can get a grant to check out every one of these delicious restaurants listed above…I might be looking a little orange-hued next time you see me!

p.s.  Oct 21 is National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day, Oct. 26 is National Pumpkin Day

SEATTLE RESTAURANT WEEK: 10 DAYS. OVER 100 RESTAURANTS. 3 COURSES FOR $25.

Dine out and celebrate the fall run of Seattle Restaurant Week, October 17-28, 2010 (excluding Friday and Saturday). More than 100 local restaurant are serving up three-course dinners for just $25*-and many of them are offering three-course lunches for $15*.

* Price is per person and does not include drinks, tax or tips. Not available with any other offer.