We are proud and thrilled to welcome a new client to Team Duo, the delicious Cucina Fresca Gourmet Foods! Lucky for us, we are not an office of low-carbers or gluten-free gals, so we’ve been able to dig our forks into the rich, creamy and decadently gooey Macaroni & Cheese, made in small batches for superior quality. We’re primarily going to be working with the frozen, all-natural line of macaroni that comes in four gourmet flavors, each with handmade and perfectly al dente penne, Smoked Gruyere, Tangy Gorgonzola, Sharp Cheddar and Creamy Fontina.

Cucina Fresca creates  “real food” from real food– fresh, premium, natural ingredients readily found in home kitchens. Many of the company’s staple ingredients are locally sourced from family farms and produce growers, while others are imported from countries of origin – such as European cheeses –to create the best possible flavor and quality.

And if your mouth isn’t watering yet, we’re also going to be dabbling with their fresh pasta and sauces line that our stomachs can’t get enough of – the Smoked Tomato is a marinara game changer!

Yum. Is it lunch yet?

The holidays have a way of coming and going so quickly that we spend the first week of the New Year saying, “Next Christmas, I’m definitely doing/going/seeing…”

This year, don’t put it off!

The good folks at Ivar’s Acres of Clams and the Woodmark in Kirkland have a bevy of holiday events that will leave you with memorable photo keepsakes or give you a chance to sip tea with the Man in Red himself. Find out more about the events below:

Pose with Ivar’s Santa Clam at Ivar’s Acres of Clams (Pier 54, 1001 Alaskan Way). Ivar’s famous oversized Clam will be dressed in Santa garb for children and families to snap a fishy holiday photo. Santa Clam appears Dec. 3, 10 and 17, from 12 to 3 p.m.  

Santa Photos with Woody Sunday, December 11, 10 a.m. to noon. Join Woody for pet photos with Santa and get the perfect family photo with your furry friend snapped by Best of Northwest’s Bailey and Banjo. Suggested donations of $20 per pet will benefit the National Canine Cancer Foundation. Don’t forget to have Fido in his best dressed! http://woodyssantaphoto.eventbrite.com/

Woodmark’s third annual Holiday Tea Saturday, December 10, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Come savor tasty treats and scrumptious holiday sweets while sipping an assortment of teas and hot cocoa. Cheryl Serio and Hans Brimmer of the Kirkland Performance Center will be on hand to provide festive holiday music. Little ones will love our holiday cookie decorating station, and of course, visiting with Santa! ($45/adult, $20 children). http://santatea.eventbrite.com/

Note: Post title is intended to be sang to the tune of Miley Cyrus 2010 hit, “Party in the U.S.A.,” for full effect.

Once again, Duo eagerly teamed up with Facebook to throw the annual “Thank You” party for the social media powerhouse’s Seattle VIPs, and this year’s bash at Utina Wardroom may have been the best yet.

With a drool-worthy menu of small bites, a whiskey tasting bar and a two-part performance from local rapper Mike Champoux (not to mention a life-sized Jenga game and late night pizza run!), the packed house party kept everyone well fueled and on the dance floor.

Cheers to another success and to all who attended, see you next year!

Join the Duo crew in celebrating Jumbo Jenga Friday! Everybody deserves some office fun.