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As the sun was coming up Sunday, Feb 24, an SUV was loaded and rode low for the short trip to Seattle Exhibition Hall. Dirty Oscar's Annex chef Aaron Grissom, operations manager Jennifer Johnson and staff drove toward their first experience at the Seattle Wine and Food Experience, a one-day event showcasing more than 50 restaurants, bars, wineries, breweries and distilleries.
The SUV was loaded with food and smiles and one sleepy person.
For the Dirty Oscar's crew, the day was a blur of smiling faces, chatting and making almost 1500 handmade s'mores for event attendees. "We had to come back and have this again; it's the best thing here," gushed a woman right before snagging another plate and devouring the sticky, sweet treat. The dessert was one of only a few sweets at the entire meat and red wine dominated event.
DIRTY OSCAR'S IN SEATTLE: From left, Kevin Mckone, chef Aaron Grissom, operations manager Jennifer Johnson and Adam Lewis. Photo credit: Derek Rowley/Rowley Services
"I wanted to create something that would remind people of their childhood, but appeal to their adult palate," says chef Aaron of the nostalgic morsel he made from Madagascar vanilla marshmallow and sea salt almond ganache pressed between hand-cut graham crackers. Finished with a drizzle of soy sauce caramel, the s'mores balanced both sweet and salty.
In the adjacent booth was the only other representative of Pierce County, Lynnae's Gourmet Pickles. Going from small booths at a few farmers markets to selling hundreds of jars at one of Seattle's premiere gastro events is an impressive jump for the young start-up company. If the number of empty cases of jars at the end of the event were any indicator, Lynnae and her helper did just fine selling the jalapeno spiked Hot Mama Pickles and Mrs. Pickles, the signature sweet and sour dill.
Good news! You can taste chef Aaron's s'mores today. Dirty Oscar's offers a scratch s'mores ice cream dessert with a marshmallow, graham crackers, almond ganache in chocolate ice cream base garnished with mini s'mores for $5 a pop.
DIRTY OSCAR'S ANNEX, 2309 SIXTH AVE., TACOMA, 253.572.0588