Nancy Leson highlights some easy-on-the-budget edible extravagances

When times are tight, luxury food and drink may be viewed as an unnecessary extravagance. But not every edible extravagance has a hefty price tag. Besides, enjoying a meal — or a mouthful — of something luxurious can be a "priceless" experience.

Here's a taste of some of my little indulgences. So, what's on your list? Join the conversation on my blog: www.seattletimes.com/allyoucaneat.

The nonfat yogurt gelato at the fabulous Fainting Goat Gelato shop is so good I could faint ($3/single scoop). 1903 N. 45th St., Seattle, www.faintinggoatseattle.com.

Six bucks buys a slice of heaven at Seattle's Le Pichet and Café Presse: gâteau au foie de volaille — pardon my French for chicken-liver terrine. Pichet: 933 First Ave., www.lepichetseattle.com; Presse 1117 12th Ave., www.cafepresseseattle.com.

At Olives Café & Wine Bar, owner Michael Young cures and smokes his own miso and green-peppercorn bacon. Better yet, he sells it by the pound ($12). 107 Fifth Ave N., #103, Edmonds, www.olivescafewinebar.com.

I won't hesitate to drop $2.50 on a buttercream-bedecked Lemon Drop cupcake at Cupcake Royale. Capitol Hill, Ballard, Madrona and West Seattle, www.cupcakeroyale.com

Picnic provides provisions for dining in or taking out (see review, Page 10). My Picnic pick: the pork rillettes on baguette ($10). 6801 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle, www.picnicseattle.com.

Georgetown Brewing Company isn't the only local brewery to offer draft beer to go, but it's the only one that's home to Manny's Pale Ale — sold in half-gallon glass growlers ($11/$6 for refills). 5840 Airport Way S., Seattle, www.georgetownbeer.com.

There's a reason I've been deep seafood diving into the riches of a bowl of laksa (aka "Malaysian bouillabaisse") at Wild Ginger for 20 years. 1401 Third Ave. (Seattle); The Bravern (Bellevue), www.wildginger.net.

Sold by the jar, Renee Erickson's Boat Street Pickles are a glamorous garnish. My sweet addiction: the pickled raisins, available at specialty markets ($7.99 at Metropolitan Markets) and via www.boatstreetcafe.com.

Rummage through PCC's cheese-counter baskets for a little-bit-o'-this-a-little-bit-o'-that from near (Beecher's) or far (Bleu d'Auvergne). I seek out prices on either side of $1, perfect for sampling — or composing a great cheese plate at home. Available at most PCC stores: www.pccnaturalmarkets.com.

Holy roes-ary! The Caviar Pie ($14.95) gussied up with a rainbow of American caviar at the Steelhead Diner is one sophisticated slice of nice. 95 Pine St., Seattle, www.steelheaddiner.com.

When it's time to bend an elbow, I head for the bar at Licorous to sip a Shiso Fine ($10) and nosh on a foie gras-bonbon — or two ($2.50 each). 928 12th Ave., Seattle, 206-325-6947, www.licorous.com.

I'm seriously in lust with the roasted mushrooms and truffle cheese pizza at Serious Pie. 316 Virginia St., Seattle, www.tomdouglas.com.

Slurping oysters makes me very happy and the happiest hour is 3 p.m. weekdays at Elliott's progressive Oyster Happy Hour, when the half-shell hotties are 50 cents apiece, rising 20 cents per half-hour till 6 p.m. 1201 Alaskan Way, Pier 56, Seattle, www.elliottsoysterhouse.com.

I Love New York Deli's "Rachel" — Reuben's zaftig little sister — a honkin' hot pastrami on rye wit da works ($10.95). Pike Place Market (Economy Market kiosk); U-District: 5200 Roosevelt Way, Seattle, www.ilovenewyorkdeli.net.

Is there a more delicate way of getting egg on your face than eating chawanmushi? Not when it's the dashi-laced custard with black cod at Mashiko ($9). 4725 California Ave. S.W., Seattle, www.sushiwhore.com.

My spice cabinet and Sunday roasts wouldn't be the same without Aleppo pepper, the Syrian import that's king among my arsenal of World Spice ($2.50/ounce). 1509WesternAve.,Seattle,www.worldspice.com.

Pouf! The sugar-dusted Dutch Baby at Original Pancake House ($11.52) rises to new heights in Kirkland, Ballard and — a recent addition — Puyallup. www.originalpancakehouse.com.

How much is that Chinese roast duck glistening in the window at King's Barbeque House? $15.50/whole, $7.75/half. 518 Sixth Ave. S., Seattle.

Taka-san at Taka Sushi is my neighborhood sushi master and a spoonful of uni-topped wasabi sorbet ($6) explains why. 18904 Highway 99, Lynnwood, www.mytakasushi.com.

France meets Italy at Quinn's Pub, where fontina-fonduta frites also get a dose of finger-lickin' demi-glace. 1001 E. Pike St., Seattle, www.quinnspubseattle.com.

Nancy Leson: 206-464-8838 or nleson@seattletimes.com. To read her blog, go to seattletimes.com/allyoucaneat