Pull up a chair for decadent dinner-and-show combos: newcomer Café Nordo and veteran favorite Teatro ZinZanni

"Dinner and a show." That phrase has been around at least since the ancient Greeks munched figs and olives at their marathon drama fests.

And despite the economic squeeze, more au courant dinner theater can still be a hot ticket in Seattle — but not the kind serving canned peaches and cottage cheese. We checked in on two nouvelle versions: a decade-old favorite, and a fresh upstart.

Café Nordo

The disciples of the mystery chef Nordo want you to play with your food — and, frankly, to worship it.

A fricassee of satire, zany antics and enlightened food consciousness, "Café Nordo" has a unique spin on dining, wine-ing and watching.

A squad of wired, weird waitstaff usher you into the Theo Chocolate Company's Fremont warehouse.

There producer Terry Podgorski and director Erin Brindley (both of the now-defunct Circus Contraption) set up a shabby-chic dining tent for an elaborate ritual.

From the divine opening shot of parsleyed broth, to the delish chocolate-blueberry panna cotta dessert, each course of the sit-down dinner is served with a song, a dance, a poetic sermon about the food and genius of the elusive Nordo Lefesczki, alleged founder of the "carnal food movement."

With kinky sincerity, the show spoofs chef-cult madness but sincerely honors the consumption of a well-cooked meal — the piece de resistance of which is a succulent roast chicken dubbed Henrietta. (Saying grace to the fowl you're about to eat is, well, only fair.)

Also included: wine and convivial chatter with the strangers at your table.

Café Nordo's popular debut run ends soon. But the creators are pondering a sequel for next spring.

"Beaumont and Caswell"

My, how time trapezes by when you're having fun.

One Reel's lovingly decadent dinner-cabaret attraction, Teatro ZinZanni, has been a Seattle fixture since 1998. And despite the economic pinch, the constantly evolving show is still a swell way to romance, mark a big occasion, or just blow some bucks on a good time.

The newest edition, "Beaumont and Caswell," stars two returning ZinZanni faves: statuesque funnygal Christine Deaver and invincible drag artiste Kevin Kent.

Will or won't the Noel Coward-esque vaudevillians they play marry for a third time (or is it a fourth)? That burning question is answered over a pleasant dinner peppered with bawdy interactive comedy, skill acts (by raffish acrobats Les Petits Freres, contortionist Vita Radionova and elegant aerialists Erika & Andrew); and the hot-mama R&B song stylings of Francine Reed.

The costumes (designed by spangle diva Beaver Bauer) are more spectacularly garish than ever. And the leisurely extravaganza doesn't come cheap.

But One Reel has added some lower-priced brunch shows and matinees, to spread the love.

Misha Berson: mberson@seattletimes.com