A La Bonne Franquette puts an underdog Seattle neighborhood on the culinary map.

South of Leschi and north of Columbia City, the Mt. Baker neighborhood is an oft-ignored bleak patch in Seattle’s “Technicolor Dreamquilt” dining scene. Case in point: there is a pizza joint with pies that taste like they come from a mall and a thicket of toddlers underfoot so dense you feel like drunk Bigfoot bushwhacking through them to the register.

A choice, locally-sourced bivalve joins the celebrated bistro’s HH line-up.

As Seattle’s temperamental weather system does everything it can to keep us numb and cold, we must seek our rick flavors in order to keep winter moving right along. Luckily, Bastille Café & Bar aims to please your palette with its newest Happy Hour addition: fresh oysters ($1 each), courtesy of Washington’s own Hama Hama Oyster Company.

Couples that cook together, stay together — isn’t that how the old saying goes?

One thing’s for sure: couples that attend the upcoming culinary class from Parties That Cook will have a great time and learn a thing or two in the process (and we’re not just talking about cooking techniques). Hosted by the Seattle Wine Outlet, Date Night Couples’ Cooking Class will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 20.