looking through the window of Tutta Bella, South Lake Union, Seatttle

Revving up for Valentines Day - amateur hour...so we want to keep out of restaurants. However, Theo Chocolate was having a tasting at the Pan Pacific in Seattle. Can't miss that.

Left that Saturday afternoon early to avoid the 3-lane I-5 closure at Union Street. Traffic was like 1971. We got to South Lake Union in record time, with time to kill....or with time to snack.

John Howie's Seastar was just bracing themselves for that evening's service....and there was Tutta Bella, with NO LINE! Carpe dium. We ducked inside for a late, leisurely "snack" of a typically Italian pizza. Molto benne! We felt like we were in Italy. Several tables with tourists yumming and lip smacking and enjoying the perfectly sunny cool winter day, inside and beside the wood-fired oven with an equally perfect view of the iconic Space Needle.....which is instituting a deal worth considering should out of towners be in your summer plans - an annual guest pass $20 for 1 year of trips to the Observation Deck. www.dealnews.com.