Seattle is a city of ever-evolving tastes, but one thing remains constant: our demand for outstanding, innovative and hyperlocal fare. Here is you guide to what is new and now on Seattle's dynamic dining scene, including the seven best restaurants in Seattle, our city's best happy hours, our readers' choice awards and a look at the 70 power players of seattle's food establishment.

Grocery Store with the best selection of Washington wines - Metropolitan Market.

Who keeps Seattle's food engines running? Who has the power, the respect and the influence to set trends, challenge the status quo and reshape the culinary landscape? We sussed out the people and institutions who have had - and continue to have - the most substantial impact on how we eat, what we eat and what we'll want to eat in the future. Here, in order of influence, is our first annual list of the 70 power players in Seattle's Food Establishment.

33. Terry Halverson - Founder, Owner, President and CEO, Metropolitan Market
At the age of 16, Terry Halverson began working at the Queen Anne Thriftway (which later became Metropolitan Market) as a courtesy clerk. Now president and CEO, Halverson, along with Dick Rhodes, transitioned six existing grocery stores to Metropolitan Markets beginning in 2003, including the Queen Anne Thriftway, which is shuttering late this summer. In recent years, Met Market launched its own wine and champagne labels; in 2010, it expanded to the East-side, opening a store in Kirkland. Met Market was chosen Grocery Store with the Best Selection of Washington Wines in Seattle magazine's Readers' Choice Best of 2011 awards.

The results are IN! We verified more than 601,000 votes to determine this year's winners. The 209 winners competed with more than 28,000 nominees to be named the BEST of KING5 Best of Western Washington. Check out the BEST of KING5 Best of Western Washington to discover something new.

Seattle Weekly readers are a heavy-eating and drinking bunch, but a number of them set down their forks and steins to record their choices for the city's best spots for corned beef, coffee, and curry--among other critical edibles. Over the coming weeks, we'll be sharing their selections on Voracious. And while the cliché that "if you don't vote, you can't complain" may hold true elsewhere, we welcome your rants about oversights and misjudgments in the comments section below.

Medals are awarded based on vote tallies, and the readers' decisions are final. Until next year.

GOLD: Metropolitan Market Best of Seattle Readers' Choice Winner

Seattle's homegrown showcase for gourmet goods is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, a tenure achieved through top-notch products, knowledgeable customer service, and unwavering community support. While the grocery's detractors complain about high prices, loyal Metropolitan Market customers are willing to shell out a few extra quarters for wines, cheeses, and meats from the store's carefully curated selection.

Voted Seattle’s Best Grocery Store.

It was 40 years ago this month that Dick Rhodes and Terry Halverson opened the Upper Queen Anne Thriftway with a simple idea: They wanted to be the area’s most progressive grocers. They wanted to always bring their customers the best.

Since 1971, many things have changed, not the least of which is the chain’s name, which today is Metropolitan Market. The company now runs six locations and the competition in the high-end grocery sector continues to increase.

Tacoma bakeries range from cute little cupcake shops to cake studios where you can find amazingly beautiful wedding cakes. They can be great places to head out for dessert and a cup of coffee as well, as some of the cake studios offer slices of cake if you just want to try it out. If you want something a few steps up from Cinnabon, these places are for you!

Metropolitan Market is a regional grocery chain, but their bakery can give almost any bakery a run for its money. Some of their items are brought in from local or even international bakeries as well, expanding the selection. Breads from Paris, cookies from a local baker, or brie and brioche baked right onsite are all just some of the selection here. They also offer cupcakes and whoopee pies that fit nicely with a sunny day in their outdoor seating area. Met Market is located in Proctor so it is ideal for outdoor seating.

Metropolitan Market: The home option. No valet or reservation needed. MM will provide you with all the top proteins you could hope to encounter while eating out, such as Snake River Farms boneless Kurobuta ham, – the Kobe beef of pork. The deli isn’t slacking either, prepped with Yukon Gold mash potatoes and various salads aimed to please. I have a feeling that champagne and orange juice might be lurking as well. After Metropolitan Market, all that will be left to you is the seating arrangements of your guests.

FRI-SUN Gardening workshops, plant sale, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Sunday; recycle home electronics, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Metropolitan Market, 1908 Queen Anne Ave. N., Seattle (206-284-2530 or www.metropolitan-market.com/events).

What: Mini green thumbs create gardens in crates, and the goat lady stops by with some very hungry friends.

Why: A bumper crop of veggies — no backyard needed.

When: Sat. & Sun., noon-5 p.m.; workshop, Sat. & Sun., 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Where: Metropolitan Market Sand Point, 5250 40th Ave. NE (206-938-6600). To register for the garden workshop (required), call 206-938-6573. Cost is $25.