Seattle seems to have a thing for French restaurants. They're all over the place in this city, with a surprising number clustered around Pike Place Market, and Le Pichet is one of our favorites. The name is French for "pitcher," and is a reference to the traditional ceramic pitchers used for serving inexpensive French wines. This should clue you in to the casual nature of the place, the sort of spot where you can drop by any time of day, grab a stool at the bar, and have a light meal. Almost everything is made fresh on the premises, and with lots of small plates and appetizers, it's fun and easy to piece together a light meal of shareable dishes. We like the duck confit, which is served on a compote of apples, turnips, and leeks. The country-style pâté, which here is served with honey and walnuts, is another good bet.