A TOAST TO MEDINA
                FROM 520 BAR AND GRILL

Stroll along Main Street in Old Bellevue and you’ll find a unique collection of boutique shops and classic eateries. This is a street where running into the owner is commonplace.

That is certainly the case at 520 Bar & Grill where owners Joseph and Randi Brazen can often be found mingling with guests. 520 Bar & Grill has become a neighborhood gathering place where guests feel right at home. The outdoor patio is a popular place to host parties or catch up with friends.

Winner of the Bellevue Downtown Association’s 2008 Haute Picks award for Best Casual Business Meeting Spot, 520 Bar & Grill is a neighborhood bar with an upscale vibe.

The cozy 520 Bar & Grill has attracted a large following of regulars since they opened two years ago. “The bar has become a real ‘who’s who’ of Bellevue with a neighborhood ‘Cheers’ atmosphere,” Joseph Brazen said, “There’s really nothing else like it in Bellevue.”

Brazen has been surprised by the success of the restaurant and bar, and attributes it to good food and word-of-mouth marketing.

Joseph and Randi shared their signature Medina Martini and Chestnut Chicken appetizer recipes. Invite a neighbor over and give them a try.

Medina Martini
1 oz. Blueberry Stoli Vodka
1 oz. Pearl Poma Persephone Vodka
Splash of lemonade
Splash of cranberry
Garnished with a lemon
Muddle lemon and lime wedges. Add vodkas, lemonade and cranberry juice. Shake with ice, and strain into a martini glass.

Chestnut Chicken
1/2 cup ginger, minced 1 cup sugar
1/2 cup garlic, minced Chicken
2 cups teriyaki sauce Bacon
2 tbsp. sesame oil Romaine Lettuce

Whisk the above ingredients together and combine until sugar dissolves. Cut chicken into cubes and marinate for at least two hours. Take one piece of chicken and wrap in a half piece of bacon along with one water chestnut. Then bake for approximately 14 minutes or until bacon is crispy. Remove from the oven and top with a teriyaki glaze and sesame seeds. Serve with a ramekin of hot Siracha sauce and Sweet Thai Chili Sauce.
Chestnut Chicken is an appetizer with a great balance between sweet and sour flavors. It can be spiced up with Siracha Sauce or Sweetened with Sweet Chili Sauce to give it an extraordinary flavor combo.