Thematic Photographic - Favorite Photos of the Year

Carmi, at Written, Inc., posts a weekly photographic challenge, based on a theme. But this time, it's different. To wrap up the year, Carmi urges us to post our FAVORITE PHOTOS OF THE YEAR. The challenge goes on through January 6, 2011. Go visit Carmi's site and see who else shares favorite photos.

When we traveled to Seattle this autumn - returning to a place we once lived - we discovered a new restaurant in an old and historic neighborhood.

The Corson Building, in Georgetown, is not your ordinary restaurant. It crafts each evening's meal according to the best ingredients available, and according to the chef's inspiration. Most of the ingredients come from Pacific Northwest local suppliers. Many of them come from the gardens on the restaurant's property.

So some of my favorite photos of the year are of a glimpse into the kitchen - typically an unseen space, for most diners - where the chefs concentrate on putting together the meal that I am about to enjoy.

I stood in the doorway and took this photo.

I took another photo from the pantry - which is rich with ingredients, and a library of cookbooks, and the hanging pots and pans used in the craft of making delicious meals.

Immediately beyond the windows of the kitchen lie the tracks of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail lines, and beyond that a city park's soccer field active with a local neighborhood league. In the photo that opens this post, the athletic field lights shine through past the ranked jars and glassware.

This is a different kind of restaurant. It's a different way of thinking about sharing meals. They welcomed guests into the kitchen and I'm glad I could record the experience and share it with you through my photographs.