Shopping for deals on fine meals

Perhaps food is your passion. And like most passions, indulging tends to drain your wallet.

But there's no need to despair. There are ways to strike a balance between your budget and your desire for the finer things. And it comes with knowing where to look and using the tools at your disposal.

To compile tips on how to eat and drink well on the cheap we spoke with purveyors of fine foods, organizers of special dining events and the creator of a Web site that aims to connect us with some of the best deals. Here are their suggestions.

Timing is everything : Next month Seattle's 25 for $25 restaurant promotion returns, with 25 popular restaurants offering three-courses for $25 and, at some, three-course lunches for $12.50 a pop (The Seattle Times Co. is a sponsor of this event). Participating restaurants in the Greater Seattle area and the Eastside often see newcomers, from couples to large groups, using the event as a means to try restaurants that for many rank as a special occasion.

Beyond this type of special event, expand your timetable. Consider stopping by nicer restaurants for brunch or lunch, when many of the same great meals are available for less. Make sure to check out the daily specials or prix-fixe meals that may offer greater value. Or hit them up for happy hour if they have it. At upper-crust bakeries, look for a day-old basket for treats and breads.

The information superhighway : The Internet is your friend. So take full advantage and visit the Web sites of all the shops, restaurants and bars you frequent. Many have mailing lists that will keep you up to date with coupons and sales.

Some Web sites can take the mystery out of where to find good deals, including www.nwsource.com (part of The Seattle Times Co.'s new-media division), www.citysearch.com, or the happy-hour-centric www.sevennites.com. Seattleite Ryan Hagg created the site with his friends partly to have their own dot-com company, mostly to help friends find good happenings close to home. His site now features more than 200 options, including engines to search by neighborhood, by timeframe and by keywords, like "champagne" or "martini."

"Happy-hour hopping is pretty efficient. There are some places you can go and get a drink at 4 and get food at 5 and another drink at 6 and be set for the night," Hagg said. Happy hours seem to be on the increase, he said, especially deals that run from 10 p.m. to midnight or until closing time.

Size matters : Say you have caviar tastes but a value-meal paycheck. What to do?

One solution is portion control. Most specialty shops and even grocery-store deli counters offer smaller portions of fine foods.

"You can enjoy caviar without spending a fortune," said Betsy Sherrow, owner of Seattle Caviar Co. Chum-salmon caviar runs $5 an ounce at her shop, for example, versus $185 an ounce for Iranian Osetra. You also could just visit the shop and taste caviar for $10 a person — or with a $10 purchase, the tasting is free.

The same goes for foie gras, which can be bought by the slice, and artisan cheese, which can be had in portions as small as a quarter pound at shops such as Quality Cheese in Pike Place Market. Likewise with some of the cured meats at Salumi Artisan Cured Meats.

"Although the price may seem high when you buy it, per piece it's nothing," said Armandino Batali of Salumi. "If you get 20 slices of salami, a sandwich takes about six or eight, so you're getting three sandwiches."

"One way to save your money is to shop around a little bit," said Thomas Meloy, of Quality Cheese. He reads the papers and listens to local food shows on the radio for tips. He also shops at farmers markets, where he says he often finds a better deal on items such as fresh basil or exotic produce than he can find at the grocery store.

Broaden your horizons : Much of what you're paying for at restaurants is the wonderful atmosphere. If your palate is what really is hungry, consider heading to some of the regional culinary schools — including Seattle Central, South Seattle and Edmonds community colleges, the Art Institute of Seattle and Lake Washington and Renton technical colleges — for meals in their student-run cafeterias, bakeries, bistros, cafes and fine-dining rooms. There you'll experience great food at a fraction of the price. (For an article on culinary-school dining rooms, see related links.)

Part of dining well on a budget also calls for creativity in the face of challenge. So maybe you can't afford to take your sweetie to dinner at Canlis. So what? Head to the bar instead and enjoy appetizers with some glasses of great wine. You can still get dressed up and enjoy yourselves.

Work those connections: Auto experts always advise to build a relationship with your mechanic to avoid getting taken. Consider also pledging your allegiance to a favorite bakery, farmer at the market, coffee stand or butcher shop. Often, those folks at the counter will remember you, and reward your loyalty with a heads-up about upcoming sales or tips on where to look for that hard-to-find ingredient. In exchange, make sure to let friends know about this great place.

Along the same lines, make good use of all the random discounts hiding in your wallet. If you're a AAA member for the roadside assistance, take full use of the restaurant discounts offered. Check with your bank or credit-card company to learn what discounts you may be entitled to. If you dine out frequently, consider a credit card like the one offered by Passport Unlimited, which offers a free second entree at scores of restaurants around the Northwest.

Karen Gaudette: 206-515-5618 or kgaudette@seattletimes.com