T Maccarone’s

written by Julie Lee

In the heart of one of the finest wine regions in the country is a time-tested gem. T Maccarone’s is the incarnation of Tom Maccarone’s culinary curiosity, which festooned into a career. Maccarone grew up in Walla Walla working in his parents’ restaurant from an early age. Throughout a retail career at Nordstrom and then as a buyer for Eddie Bauer, the fire to own his own restaurant some day burned hot. He kept a notebook of menu and business ideas in case the opportunity arose. One day destiny knocked, and within three months, T Maccarone’s opened in 2005. Drawing from the bounty of local produce, foraged Northwest mushrooms and meats from regional neighbors, each dish is a choreographed dance of flavors. A delightful start is Penn Cove mussels with green curry or T. Mac & Cheese with white truffle oil. The pear salad with white truffle vinaigrette is a fresh, light palate cleanser before diving into the exquisite main entrees, such as beef tenderloin with blue cheese butter, pappardelle alla Bolognese or Tagliatelle Italiano with housemade sausage and pasta. What makes this place so special, though, is the incredible staff and people, starting with Maccarone, who often visits with guests each evening. ~~~

4 N. Colville St.

WALLA WALLA

tmaccarones.com