Tantalizing terroir cuisine at T. Maccarone’s

Over the past decade Walla Walla, Washington has seen a stratospheric surge in its wine industry, going from a couple dozen vineyards, to well over one hundred today. The growth of high quality vino being produced in the Walla Walla Valley has spawned a world-class culinary scene.

Located in the heart of Walla Walla, jutted off Main Street is a modern, Italian-influenced American bistro called, T. Maccarone’s. I’ve had an opportunity to dine at this intimate and vibrant establishment a couple of times now. My most recent trip included the following menu items:

STARTER: Pear salad, mixed greens, shaved Parmigiano, Reggiano cheese, toasted pine nuts and a white truffle vinaigrette.
ENTREE: Red chili-rubbed Alaskan halibut with baby vegetables and coconut basmati rice.
DESSERT: Pumpkin Crème Brûlée with house-made ginger snap cookies…can you say “oh my!”

With an abundance of locally grown and hand-crafted ingredients, T. Maccarone’s is able to craft dishes that reflect the community which help produce it. The nouveaux “farm-to-table” movement has never been more evident than in Walla Walla. As a matter of fact, earlier this year “BootsnAll” named Walla Walla one of the best foodie small towns in America. The town was also one of six small towns selected by Rand McNally and USA Today’s, Best of the Road for “Best Food.”

T. Maccarone’s is named for founder and co-owner, Tom Maccarone–whose dedication, presence and watchful eye help assure guests have a wonderful experience. While I’ve only visited T. Maccarone’s a couple of times, I have noticed that Tom seems to personally know half his patrons at any given time, which adds to the comfort, warmth and vibrancy of the restaurant.

On my previous visit I tried the following culinary creations:

Upper Dry Creek Ranch braised lamb spare ribs with honey soy glaze and smoked with Alder wood.
Beef Strip Loin with heirloom tomatoes, white anchovies, seasoned with sea salt.
For dessert I had the “Cherry Pie” made with local tartlets cherries .

If you find yourself in the charming town of Walla Walla, do yourself a favor and stop by T. Maccarone’s for some terroir cuisine and a dining experience that will make you feel like you’re one of the family. T. Maccarone’s can get quite busy, so reservations are recommended.