Roses are red, violets are blue, I like to eat, I hope you do, too.

That, my friends, is the extent of my poetry writing skills. Instead, let me help you plan a month of dining and drinking excursions—Dry January is over and Punxsutawney Phil says we’re heading towards an early spring, so there’s plenty to celebrate.

Discover a neighborhood favorite in the making.
It’s been a couple of months since Raiz opened on NW 65th Street in Ballard, replacing that quirky spot that sold only baked potatoes with plant-based toppings. The menu at this all-day modern Mexican café, which recently added dinner hours (read: it’s still pretty quiet in the evening), is the doing of chef Ricardo Valdes, who also runs the taco stand El Xolo inside Nacho Barracho in Capitol Hill. At Raiz, he’s flexing beyond fancy tacos—look for whole trout with goat horn escabeche and herbs, smoky potatoes with salsa macha, spicy tuna tostada with avocado and a not-to-miss dessert featuring freshly fried churro dough and ice cream.

Make money for the koalas.
Looking for an altruistic excuse to drink beer? Reuben’s Brews has your back: From Feb. 3 through 9, Reuben’s will be donating a portion of sales on their Crikey IPA (clever) to WIRES Emergency Fund, an organization supporting wildlife relief efforts in New South Wales, Australia. If you purchase at the Ballard tasting room, you can throw some dollars in the public donation bin as well, but your grocery store-purchased six-packs count as well. 

Eat your way through a history lesson.
I feel the need to tell you about the Soul of Seattle, chef Edouardo Jordan’s curated feast—a collaborative effort with other Seattle chefs of color—to raise money to empower local black youth… Unfortunately for you (and me, for that matter) the event is sold out. On Feb. 7, smart people who already got tickets will first experience tastes from 10 chefs throughout the Northwest African American Museum; VIP ticketholders will get to partake in an edible history lesson on African American food put together by Jordan and fellow James Beard Award-winner (and food journalist) Toni Tipton-Martin. Keep this on your radar for next year.

Ring in the new year (again).
So you missed Soul of Seattle? Enjoy a different cultural event with no pre-purchase required: Seattle Night Market is celebrating the Lunar New Year on Feb. 15 at Magnuson Park’s Hangar 30 with a massive indoor food market noon to 9 p.m. Expect some 100 local vendors—largely of the Asian food variety.

Come hang with us.
We’ll be at the Seattle Wine and Food Experience Feb. 20 to 22. Will you?