I’m not sure I ever felt as glamorous as I did this past Friday at the Bellevue Fashion Week Posh Party Trend Show. There were black lights. Front-row viewing access. Amazing beats. Chocolate paired with wine and cheese (which was revelatory). The nicest hotel room I’ve ever stayed at. And brunch, mmmmm.
This past weekend was Seattle and Bellevue’s Fashion Week festivities. Travis and I were invited to the Posh Party Trend Show at The Bellevue Collection on Friday, September 28, 2015. The event was hosted by no-other than Rachel Zoe and all proceeds benefit Bellevue LifeSpring, a program that helps feed, clothe, and educate those in need and living in Bellevue, WA.
We also got to attend a chocolate tasting at jcoco chocolate’s popup store in Bellevue Square Mall alongside Brittany Streissguth of Pumps & Plaid, Jenn Haskins of Hello Rigby, and Mollie Ruiz-Hopper of Mollie in Seattle. And when our heads grew heavy, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue and ate a scrumptious brunch at its restaurant, Esques. Follow along as we take you through a very exciting 24 hours.
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The Important Stuff: What We Wore
Two days before the show, I saw a bunch of fellow Bellevue Fashion Week attendees ‘gramming sneak-peaks of the outfits they’d be wearing at the Posh Party Trend Show. All of them used Rent the Runway. I, on the other hand, did not have this brilliant idea. Instead, I spent the weeks before wondering what I could possibly wear without spending money (as I’m on a tight budget of the moment). Also, my stress was double because I’d hurt my back the week before and have creaky knees, so I was agonizing over what shoes I was going to wear.
After much deliberation, I settled on the following ensemble:
I decided to go with a very comfy, yet architectural dress I purchased at a lovely boutique in Brooklyn called meg. It’s made of a felt-like fabric and is the most gorgeous camel color. Since the shift dress is so boxy, it looks great with sleek, bright-colored pumps (particularly in cobalt blue or fuchsia). However, since none of my heels were comfortable enough to spend all night in and I don’t own said-colorful shoes (I know, heresy), I took out what I call my “Lady Gaga shoes” — or rather black, space-age faux suede platform wedges I had in my “to sell” pile. I picked them up at DSW two or so years ago on a whim and never wore them because, if I’m honest, they make me look stout. But when you’re a-hurting, beauty is not (as they say) worth the pain.
So to make up for my lack of bright shoes, I decided to go with a fuchsia lip and a clutch I purchased while in Portland last year that has neon windowpane fabric. It’s made by Pine & Plastic (you’ll see it via that link but unfortunately it is sold out).
The other accessories include a gold tribal necklace from Forever 21, a dainty square bracelet I purchased at The Brooklyn Flea, and a studded belt-like bracelet I purchased at J.Crew.
I didn’t know what to expect of Travis’ outfit. I asked him earlier that week what he was wearing and he kept saying, I have no idea. He’d been devastatingly sick for the past two weeks, so I’m sure clothes were last on his mind. Yet, he showed up looking quite dapper in all Banana Republic clothing and camel buckled-loafers I bought for him at The Rack.
Pre-Event: Chocolate, Wine, & Cheese Tasting
Before the runway show, we were invited to the new jcoco chocolate popup shop in Bellevue Square Mall (its first storefront) for a chocolate tasting. The popup is just that — it will only be there for seven months! But boy, did they make the most of drawing you into the store…
As an ex-graphic designer, I am a sucker for beautiful package design. jcoco has it in spades. Bright colors reminiscent of Kate Spade’s color story fill the store. Vibrant bars line the walls, and little stacks are carefully arranged around seasonal decor on display tables. Your eye is left constantly wandering!
Pro tip: If you purchase any of jcoco’s chocolate, we recommend unwrapping the bars carefully and flattening them under a stack of heavy books. Then, frame a few of your favorites to create affordable DIY art!
About jcoco chocolate
jcoco setup a table in the back of the store to tell us more about their chocolates and to offer up some yummy pairings. We were greeted by Jean, the CEO and “j” in jcoco. She explained how jcoco is a newer venture of The Seattle Chocolate Company, offering up “American couture chocolate”…a.k.a. chocolate that will run you about $8 per bar. But the premium price tag also comes with premium chocolate, packaging, and mixed-in ingredients. Each bar looks quite large, but when you open it up you’ll find three, individually wrapped nuggets. Jean explained that they do this because they know their fashion-conscious consumer is mindful of portions.
When it comes to ingredients, you’ll find things like 72% noble dark cacao from Belgium and a full-bodied milk chocolate from the tiny island nation of Vanuatu in the South Pacific. All the ingredients they use are natural, non-GMO, and kosher, and the packaging is made with 100% recycled paper.
We add only whole ingredients to our chocolate bars. What you’ll find in a four or five-star restaurant,” Jean explained.
For example, jcoco is working on a new bar coming out later this year that uses the Arabica “cherry”. I put this in quotes because it isn’t an actual cherry, but rather the red part of the cacao bean that is typically discarded. But one of the operations leaders at Starbucks is trying to figure out how to use this. He’s been playing around with grinding it into what he calls a “flour”. Jean explained it’s very stringent, but that it could be the next big super food. And, what’s more, since it’s affordable, it could be a big step in solving hunger across the world. You heard it here first, folks: keep an eye out for this new food trend!
This focus on using an ingredient that could help end world hunger is fitting. Jean said jcoco and The Seattle Chocolate Company are committed to donating food to those in need. That’s why they partner with organizations like Northwest Harvest, the Food Bank of New York, SF-Marin Food Bank, and The Greater Boston Food Bank to donate a serving of food to someone in need for every jcoco chocolate bar purchase.
The chocolate pairing experience
After explaining a bit about the company, jcoco took us through pairings for each of their chocolate bars. Before we began, they taught us that there is, in fact, an appropriate way to do a chocolate pairing tasting. Apparently, you’re supposed to:
Put a piece of chocolate in your mouth and let it melt for a second.
Take a sip of the wine while the chocolate is still in your mouth and see how the flavor changes.
Continue doing this until the piece is gone, breaking it up with just eating the chocolate to see what it tastes like solo.
With that in mind, we began the pairing extravaganza.
Chocolate bar #1: The first was a black fig pistachio dark chocolate bar, their best seller. It’s made with certified-organic mission figs and roasted pistachios, both from California. They paired it with a red Italian wine called Masi Nectar Campofiorin.
The verdict: This bar was good. I can see why it’s a best seller: it has a nice crunch from the pistachio and a gummy texture because of the figs. The chocolate isn’t as bitter as you would think for a dark chocolate, and it adds a nice creamy consistency in your mouth as it melts and you chew the pistachios and figs.
However, this wasn’t my favorite bar out of the bunch. I thought the bar highlighted the mix-ins more than the chocolate, which some people may like. I thought it overwhelmed the chocolate. And I didn’t like how the figs got caught in my teeth. The pairing, though, was incredible. The wine’s acidity really cut into the sweetness of this bar…and it wasn’t too bad when drank alone either!
Chocolate bar #2: The second bar we tried was an agave quinoa sesame milk chocolate bar. The chocolate is from Belgium and they puff the quinoa to make a bar ever-so-slightly reminiscent of the crack and pop of a Crunch bar. They paired it with a Riesling from Woodinville: Pomum Cellar’s Upland Vineyard.
The verdict: This was both Travis and my favorite chocolate of the night. It’s got a nutty flavor with a caramel finish. The sesame is subtle, but present, and the quinoa pops in your teeth. Overall, I couldn’t get over how complex, yet familiar this bar was. And that surprised the hell out of me. I’m a purist at heart; anytime I get food I want the plainest version so I can taste the nuances in the ingredients. For example, I usually only get Margarita pizza. I don’t like sundaes because of the toppings. So you could imagine my surprise when I realized I loved this chocolate bar full of strong-flavored ingredients!
And the pairing: bahh, so good. The Riesling was incredible on its own. Everything in this batch is highly recommended!
Chocolate bar #3: The third bar was an edamame sea salt milk chocolate bar. It’s made with soy sauce and, you guessed it, toasted edamame. They paired it with the Italian Pighin Pinot Grigio.
The verdict: This bar was very milk chocolate-y, which was great because you could really taste the chocolate. However, I couldn’t taste the edamame at all, so it wasn’t as complex or exciting as the others we tried. The pairing, again, was amazing.
Chocolate bar #4: Next we tried the cayenne veracruz orange white chocolate bar. It’s made with real cocoa butter, which isn’t common in the sugar-filled varieties you’ll find from the big-box mass producers. They paired it with a “smokin’ hot Italian” cocktail made of scotch, galliano, and aperol.
Do you know the makeup of the different types of chocolate? Jean explained it to us: dark chocolate and milk chocolate use the liquid that comes out of the cacao bean. Milk chocolate, obviously, has milk while dark does not. White chocolate doesn’t use this liquid, but rather uses the cocoa butter that comes out of the bean. It’s sweetened with milk, sugar, and vanilla.
The verdict: This was definitely the best white chocolate I’ve ever had. Right away when you put it in your mouth you taste the bitter acidity of the orange. Then it transitions to a milky white chocolate, followed by the slightest tinge on your tongue and down your throat as you finish. But don’t fret if you don’t like spicy food! I don’t either and it was beyond manageable.
Despite the wild ride as the bar changes in your mouth, I personally thought this was too sweet and orange-y. I couldn’t eat it in large quantities. And since scotch gives me a gag reflex, I will say this was my least favorite pairing (but shhh, I tried it with the pinot grigio and thought it was a better pairing!). If you can handle sweet things and like orange, you’ll probably love this bar. It was a very interesting experience, and, as put by Mollie of Mollie in Seattle: “I wouldn’t normally get white chocolate for myself, but this…”
Chocolate bar #5: The fifth bar on our tasting journey was the vanuatu coconut pecan milk chocolate bar. They paired it with (gasp!) a Parmesan-style cheese from Wisconsin called BellaVitano.
The verdict: This was an amazing pairing. In fact, it ended up being Travis’ favorite. The chocolate had caramel notes and was sweet and rich. The coconut was subtle, adding a slight nutty flavor. In all honestly, writing this now, I don’t remember much about the chocolate itself like I do the others, but the pairing was mind-blowing.
Chocolate bar #6: The sixth (!) tasting we had was a 72% noble dark with cacao nibs bar. They paired it with…get ready for it…BLUE CHEESE. Yes, you heard me right. Blue cheese.
The verdict: While the agave sesame quinoa was my favorite chocolate, this was my favorite pairing. Okay, sure, it might have been because I love blue cheese. But this wasn’t just any blue cheese. It’s a Rossini blue, which is an Italian blue cheese washed in red wine, wrapped in grape leaves, and left to age in Italian caves (I know, wtf!). It’s pungent, obviously, but it’s also sweet and has a smooth finish. And when paired with the bitter dark chocolate? Unreal. So, while the chocolate itself wasn’t particularly memorable, that pairing made it extraordinary.
Chocolate bar #7: Finally, the last thing we tried was the peanut strawberry baobab dark chocolate bar. The baobab is a super-fruit from Africa. They turned it into a pate and paired it with Virginia-style peanuts to make an homage to Jean’s favorite snack growing up: the PB&J. Then they paired it with none other than milk.
The verdict: I am pretty sure this was my least favorite, unfortunately. It was just fine, but I didn’t think it tasted like PB&J. Rather, just peanuts. Additionally, the milk didn’t necessarily do anything for the pairing. I believe it was skim milk. Maybe if they paired it with a thicker whole milk from a local dairy, it would have been more memorable.
Our final review of jcoco chocolate
jcoco chocolates blew us away. While some chocolates were better than others, the pairing expertise demonstrated by their friends at Metropolitan Market was amazing. I’ve never had chocolate and cheese paired together, but it is now something I want to always do at dinner parties. We highly encourage you to throw one yourself, and if you don’t know where to start, use this tasting tour as your guide!
The Bellevue Fashion Week Posh Trend Party Show
After our tastings, it was onto the fashion show. Before it began, there was an opening reception where attendees could grab drinks, mingle with others, and visit some of the sponsor booths to get, say, a manicure or blowout. Travis and I arrived to this a bit late so we didn’t get to experience the sponsor tables.
We went into the area where the show would be and were blown away: there was a big wrap around, U-shaped runway and we were sitting in the center of the “U”…in the front row…bah! We were definitely not expecting this, but were delighted because it meant we’d be able to get unobstructed views and photos.
To begin, a program director came out and let us know that the ticket sales for this event raised $37,000 for Bellevue LifeSpring! Whoa! Then, she introduced the star of the show…drum roll…Rachel effin’ Zoe!
That’s right. We were that close to Rachel Zoe (okay, with the help of some zoom). She spent the majority of the time talking about how she loved the weather here because we could actually wear fall clothes, and that she should move here. While I’m sure she wouldn’t leave her glamorous life in LA, it was still cool to be close to “the queen”.
Then, the lights dimmed, the crowd gasped (okay, not really), and the show began! There were nine different collections, all embodying different themes or moods. We took lots of photos, but…despite our previously-mentioned excitement about unobstructed photo ops sitting front row…all our pictures came out pretty terrible because of the fast-paced walks and lack of a tripod (my bad!). So please forgive the next four photos displaying some of our favorite looks in a not-so-sharp way (bonus points for effort, right?).
All-in-all, the fashion show was a ton of fun. The music was great (seriously, I Sound Hound-ed some jams) and we loved how there were looks for both men and women. Our one complaint was how quickly the event went. I’d say it lasted about 30-minutes. It’s a testament to how much fun it was — we wanted it to go longer!
The Digs: Hyatt Regency Bellevue
Alas, the night was done, my feet were aching, and it was time for some shuteye. The event was held at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue and they were gracious enough to provide me a complimentary stay for the evening. My boyfriend and I had both never been there before and we were shocked when we walked in and saw a huge, light-filled atrium lobby and bar pumpin’ great beats for the wild nightlife crowd. But not as shocked as when we walked into the executive suite.
HELLO! I’ll admit, when I travel I prefer to stay at Airbnb’s because it’s more intimate and, let’s face it, affordable. But I’ve done a fair bit of business travel and I can say hands down this is the nicest hotel room I’ve ever had. It was (borderline obnoxiously) large…I’m talking it’s bigger than my apartment! It was clean as hell and the views were amazing, even being on the third floor like I was. The only way the room can be improved is by having more comfortable beds (too firm for my liking). But that’s it. We seriously felt like the biggest ballers ever!
The Fuel: Brunch in Bellevue, WA
After a good-night’s sleep and watching a few episodes of Four Weddings, we headed downstairs to the in-hotel brunch spot, Eques.
Now, you might be saying, “Girllll, I thought you said you were a foodie?” And trust me, the inner hipster, food elitist in me stuck my nose up at the thought of going to a hotel restaurant when there are so many great options nearby. However, it had 4-stars on Yelp and the menu sounded yummy as hell. Plus, when would I ever be in Bellevue for brunch…and if I was, why would I pick a hotel? So I put my prejudice aside and tried it out.
Eques offered both a buffet and a la carte option. The buffet has a made-to-order omelet station, meats, cheeses, fruits, yogurts, baked goods, and hot breakfast items. My boyfriend went for the buffet and was gracious enough to let me try some of his picks.
While the buffet was above average as buffets go, it wasn’t spectacular. But there were some highlights. First, the best salmon lox we both have ever had, seriously. It was thick-sliced and super fresh. Second, a Greek yogurt mini parfait with poached cinnamon apples. Um, yes please! This was a super yummy pairing because the acidic Greek yogurt was cut by the sweet apples.
Since I know it’s difficult to make buffets good because it requires food to sit on hot trays, I perused the menu. After seeing quite a few things on the menu that looked yummy, I decided to go the a la carte route. When the waitress came she saw I was struggling and offered to make half portions of the two dishes I couldn’t decide between: the corned beef hash and crab eggs Benedict. Double yes please!
While I waited anxiously for my meal (my boy was done with his by the time I got it), they brought out a complimentary banana Nutella french toast. A nice gesture!
The french toast was more like a fritter filled with cream. It was dry and much crunchier than I would have liked. I was also disappointed that it wasn’t ooey-gooey cooked bananas, but rather banana chips. All-in-all, unmemorable. The best part was that it reminded me of a Boston cream doughnut.
Given the average offerings we had up to this point minus the lox and parfait, I was concerned about my dish. But that proved to be unfounded. It. was. phenomenal. The corned beef hash, which the waitress said was locally made, was incredible. Upon first look I was disappointed that it was ground vs. my-preferred shredded chunks of corned beef. But the texture reminded me of the scrapple my mom used to make me growing up. If you haven’t had scrapple, let me put it another way: it was as if corned beef and steak tartare had a love child.
The corned beef wasn’t as salty as corned beef usually is, which was surprising. It literally melted in your mouth. Hell, the corned beef on its own could have been enough, but the ingredients it was paired with were just as noteworthy. It sat on top of a root vegetable puree, which I’m pretty sure was carrots and sweet potato. This puree was so creamy, but the vegetable flavors weren’t overwhelmed by cream or butter. It was also served with a poached egg (which makes everything better) and a homemade Riesling mustard. The acidity of the mustard and the creaminess of the vegetable puree and runny egg yolk created this incredible party in my mouth. This is definitely in my top five favorite brunch dishes ever.
All this gushing you may have thought I hated the crab Benedict. Not true. While the corned beef was better, this was very, very yummy. First, it won points because 1) they didn’t skimp on the crab and 2) they didn’t deep-fry the crab, but rather let the huge chunks of crab meat shine. It was super creamy, particularly because of the poached egg. If you’re a Benedict lover, trust me, you will love this. I, unfortunately, am not a 100% Benedict devotee, and so the corned beef hash trumps this. I personally thought it was too rich and one note: you tasted mostly the hollandaise and the pepper relish served on top of it (which, to not discredit them, were both homemade and well-made to boot!). I just thought the corned beef was more complex and, ultimately, better.
My final review of Eques restaurant
Overall, I would say the restaurant is a solid 3-star. It’s way better than any hotel restaurant I’ve been to, and the buffet was better than most. I also really appreciated how they used a lot of high quality, locally-sourced ingredients.
But, despite the 5-star standout corned beef hash and really great customer service, I am not sure I’d come back here unless I was in the area and craving that corned beef (which, is a possibility).
Overall we had such a great experience at Bellevue Fashion Week. The fashion was inspiring, yet wearable; the night was filled with chocolate, wine, and cheese; I slept like a baby; and I discovered a surpisingly-great brunch place in a hotel of all places. If you’re considering going to Bellevue Fashion Week in the future, we highly recommend it.
Did you attend Fashion Week this year? If so, which events, and what were some of your favorite looks?
Disclaimer: A PR representative of jcoco Chocolate and the Hyatt Regency Bellevue invited us to the Bellevue Fashion Week Posh Party Trend Show free of charge. They comped us the fashion show ticket, the tasting at the jcoco popup store, a one-night stay at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, and complimentary brunch at Eques. Despite their graciousness, we expressed our honest opinion of our experience.
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