Am-bro’ sia: Immortal. In Greek and Roman mythology, the food of the gods, supposed to confer immortality on mortals who ate it.

It may not make you immortal, but the food served at Café Ambrosia, Seattle’s new upscale all-vegetarian restaurant, is surely fit for the gods. And the experience of dining on international gourmet vegetarian fare by the shores of Seattle’s lovely Lake Union, in the shadow of magnificent Mt. Rainier, is a taste of purest bliss.

Café Ambrosia’s food is characterized by fresh flavors, bold taste sensations, colorful presentations and fragrant aromas. The menu changes to reflect the availability of foods in season, but may include such delights as Root Vegetable Pancakes (savory pancakes made from shredded celery root, parsnip and potato, served on a bed of Gala apples and onions sautéed in red wine and balsamic vinegar, and garnished with a Santa Rosa plum reduction sauce and an almond-based sour cream), Roasted Vegetable Cannelloni (Thin slices of russet potato, eggplant and zucchini, broiled and rolled, and served on a bed of wilted baby spinach leaves and a saffron-carrot juice reduction, garnished with a fresh pine-apple relish) and Creamy Crimson Risotto (arborio rice cooked in white wine, diced beets, garlic, scallions and onions; finished with coconut milk, garden peas, plum tomato, cilantro and dairy-free parmesan cheese). Also featured is an extensive organic beer and wine list.

Owners Francis and Carol Sue Janes are long-time EarthSave members and leaders. Francis Janes, a native of Canada, is a third-generation restaurateur with an all-consuming passion for the food service industry. Francis received his culinary training at the prestigious Cordon Vert Cookery School in Manchester, England. He has taught cooking classes in numerous cities across North America, and was co-owner and chef of the Wok Inn Restaurant, a Vancouver, BC-based restaurant that specialized in fresh Asian cuisine without MSG or other food additives. Francis has catered numerous corporate functions as a private chef and has served as a cooking instructor for the Vancouver School Board. In July 1999, Francis served as chef for the World Youth Leadership Conference in Nevada City, California. Café Ambrosia is his pride and joy. Carol is a Seattle native, and a graduate of the University of Washington Law School. One of her great passions is music and singing, and she has appeared in numerous productions of the Gilbert & Sullivan Society…most recently in the title role in the Society’s 1997 production of Iolanthe. She loves to make new friends at Café Ambrosia!

Café Ambrosia offers lunch Tuesday through Friday, and dinner Tuesday through Sunday, as well as brunch on Sundays. Plans are in the works to hold numerous special events throughout the year, including organic wine producer dinners, exotic mushroom dinners, fixed-priced holiday celebration meals, celebrity chef nights and fund-raisers for non-profit organizations. Reservations are available by calling (206) 325- 7111, or on-line at http://www.opentable.com/.

Next time fortune finds you in Seattle, treat yourself to a heavenly dining experience at Café Ambrosia. After all, why should the gods have all the fun?

For more information about Café Ambrosia, including updates on special events, visit www.cafeambrosia.com.