Nosh Pit

Restaurant Shifts and Shakeups

This week: Spring Hill surprised Seattle with a concept overhaul, Microsoft became home to the newest food truck pod, and Seattle Pie Company announced their move from Magnolia to a pie-boat on South Lake Union

Posted by: Anne Larkin on Feb 03, 2012 at 01:00PM 0 Comments

Seattle Pie Company is moving…to a pie boat. Photo courtesy of their website.

OPENINGS

Eat Local
Queen Anne’s prepared foods purveyor is opening a second shop in the Joule building on Broadway, according to the CHS blog. This shop will be larger than the original Queen Anne location, with a broader selection of artisan-y handmade foods that you can pretend you made yourself.

The Wurst Place
It’s finally opening today, beer and sausage lovers rejoice.

Lunchbox Laboratory
Puget Sound Business Journal reports that the Bellevue outpost of the gonzo Seattle burger shop is opening this Saturday. From that day on the location will be providing its famous giant gourmet burgers every day from 11 to 11.

Mestizo Tequila Ultra Lounge and Grill
In Belltown, what used to be Twist Restaurant and Lounge is becoming Mestizo Tequila Ultra Lounge and Grill, a lounge complete with more than 200 types of tequila, says Eater Seattle.

Microsoft Food Truck Pod
The Microsoft campus is now home to a fleet of food trucks: Where Ya At Matt, Street Treats, and the new Portland-transplant Happy Grillmore, to name just a few, are all moving east for lunch.

Restaurant Zoe
The new home in Capitol Hill is almost ready —there’s hopes to be hosting diners by Valentine’s Day. Though owners Scott and Heather Staples are bringing along most of the staff from the original Belltown location, pretty much everything else will change: menu, logo, prices. Plus they’ve got plans for a deck, kitchen garden, and even rooftop bees.

CLOSINGS

Greenwood Market
Greenwood Market is closing on Saturday, making room for nearby Fred Meyer to expand. Phinneywood reports that as the store’s inventory winds down, there’s lots of Gefilte Fish up for grabs.

Seattle Pie Company
Magnolia Voice reports that the neighborhood is losing Seattle Pie Company. The beloved pie shop is moving to South Lake Union and setting up shop on a boat, making the establishment Seattle’s first floating pie company.

SHIFT CHANGES

Cicchetti
Eastlake’s small plate drinkery has a new bartender, Kate Perry of Tango.

REVAMPS

Ma’ono Fried Chicken and Whisky
Spring Hill surprised us all on Tuesday with news of its pending transformation February 8 they’ll become Ma’ono Fried Chicken and Whisky, with a Hawaiian-inspired menu centered on shared fried chicken dinners. We’re excited.

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Tags: Pie, Burgers, Spring Hill, Fried Chicken, Seattle Food Trucks, Shift Change, Food Truck Pods, Ma'Ono Fried Chicken and Whisky

Of Dining and Design

Come hear the restaurateurs behind some of the city’s hippest spaces talk shop.

Posted by: Allecia Vermillion on Feb 03, 2012 at 11:45AM 0 Comments

Does the food at Poquitos taste better because you’re eating it in an awesome space? I plan to ask the owners. Photo by Geoffrey Smith.

I’m hardly a design expert, but I do know that a good meal takes on added layers of enjoyment when you eat in a well-conceived space. We ostensibly go out to eat for the victuals, but dining is its own form of theater…even food trucks. I’ll admit it: I enjoy a good meal or cocktail all the more in a beautiful setting.

Hence I was flattered to be asked to moderate the Seattle Architecture Foundation panel Restaurateurs and Their Spaces on Tuesday, February 7 at 7pm at Town Hall. Organizers somehow managed to get four very busy guys to in the same room on the same night to answer questions about the dozen-plus restaurants, bars, and coffee shops they have opened and owned around Seattle.

Those guys would be chef-of-many restaurants Ethan Stowell; James Weimann and Deming Maclise of Poquitos, Bastille, and Macleod’s; and partner-in-many-restaurants Chad Dale, who is involved with Staple and Fancy, Walrus and the Carpenter, and Revel. Maybe you’ve heard of them?

Honestly, one of those bobble-necked drinking bird dolls could facilitate an entertaining conversation among these gentlemen. I’m guessing they have some memorable tales of design triumphs and the crazy things that happen when you tear out walls in old buildings. Also, can someone please share details about the secret spot where all these restaurants find incredible salvaged fixtures and furniture?

I’m told the key to being a good moderator is drinking wine (in moderation) before said moderating occurs. Grab your $20 ticket right over here and please do say hello.

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Tags: Ethan Stowell, Seattle Food Events, Deming Maclise, James Weimann, Chad Dale

Here Comes Another Food Truck: Off the Rez Hits the Road

Find the truck in SLU, Fremont, and serving late-night grub on Capitol Hill.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on Feb 03, 2012 at 08:55AM 1 Comments

Off the Rez, ready to roll. Photo courtesy Off the Rez.

The street food news has been flying lately, and look, here’s more.

Co-owner Mark McConnell says he’s rolling out Off the Rez for a “soft opening” on Saturday, February 4. The truck, known to elicit some lively discussion, is parking outside Big Mario’s and Caffe Vita from 10pm till bar time.

After this weekend McConnell and chef Donovan MacInnis are headed for Boren and Harrison on Wednesdays from 11 to 2 and Evo on Thursdays, same times. As for the possibility of more midnight stints, McConnell says, “We’re going to try doing Vita late night every week and see how that goes.”

The arrival of the Rez is exciting, and not solely because the Indian tacos and frybreads promise to be excellent drunk food: The Native American-inspired truck is the first of its kind here and ensures the hard-to-find cuisine—absent even at brick and mortars—is readily available.

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Tags: Street Food, Seattle Food Trucks, Off the Rez

Will Seattle, in Fact, Host Top Chef?

We’ll know in a few weeks.

Posted by: Allecia Vermillion on Feb 02, 2012 at 01:50PM 1 Comments

Earlier this week Seattle Convention and Visitors Bureau president Tom Norwalk caused a significant uproar amidst food nerds locally and nationally when he let fly to KIRO’s Josh Kerns the fact that Seattle is a finalist to host the next season of Top Chef.

Norwalk confirmed to Seattle Met that our city is indeed one of two remaining contenders for the culinary competition reality show: “We got close last year and didn’t get the nod.” He says the final decision should come within the next few weeks.

At issue for this season, and any season, is whether the host city can pony up enough money to help cover production costs, an estimated $200,000 to $300,000. In exchange, Seattle would be the setting for at least 10 episodes of chef competition, culinary hijinx, restaurant wars, man buns, and the occasional on-camera meltdown. A Seattle-based season would guarantee lots of Space Needle, fish-throwing, and local chef cameos on millions of TV screens around the country.

Top Chef won’t share the identity of the other city vying for hosting rights, says Norwalk, though we’re hearing some (highly unconfirmed) rumors that Portland was also under consideration.

If Seattle doesn’t make the cut again this year, at least we’re still in for some local restaurant television action with the upcoming premiere of Check, Please! Northwest. There’s also the Top Chef season nine finale in Vancouver.

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Tags: Reality TV, Seattle on TV, Top Chef

Valentine’s Day Dinner, Part II

Book a table for two at any of these decadent feasts.

Posted by: Emily Dhatt on Feb 02, 2012 at 01:20PM 0 Comments

Photo: Lucas Anderson

Valentine’s dinner goes Mediterranean at Golden Beetle.

Anchovies and Olives
The Capitol Hill pasta house will create a seafood-focused five-course dinner. Among the pastas are salt cod ravioli pappardelle with Dungeness crab and smoked tomato. Entrees are roasted pork loin, grilled swordfish with horseradish cream, and king salmon with fregola sarda.
Price: $80/person
When: Feb 14 from 5–11

Bastille
For a pseudo-Parisian V-Day, Bastille has cultivated a small collection of romantic dishes: a dozen Hama Hama oysters on the half shell; scallop cru with lime; golden turnip ravioli gratin with marinated leeks and Washington truffles; and entrecote for two with pommes dauphinoise and artichoke mustard. Plus, “his and hers” punch cocktails: hers is flowery and champagne-heavy, his is citrus-based and laced with bourbon and rum.
Price: Plates range from $14–$60
When: Feb 14 from 5–11

Golden Beetle
Maria Hines’s multi-course menu is inspired by Mediterranean flavors: grilled halloumi cheese, grape leaf–wrapped albacore, wild boar shank tagine, black walnut backlava, and more.
Price: $37/person
When: Feb 14 from 5–10

Hitchock Restaurant
Hitchcock’s prix fixe menu features entrees such as grilled Pacific octopus, smoked quail, and black trumpet and hedgehog mushroom risotto.
Price: $65/person
When: Feb 14 at 5
Menu

How to Cook a Wolf
New chef Jake Martin’s four-course menu includes casarecce with rabbit sugo, braised pork cheeks, seared day boat scallops, and grilled beef strip loin with charred eggplant. For dessert: vanilla bean panna cotta, pecan tart with bourbon ice cream, or warm chocolate cake with salted peanut butter ice cream.
Price: $80/person
When: Feb 14 from 5–11

Salish Lodge
Available Valentine’s Day and the weekend previous, the five-course menu at Salish Lodge features Northwest delicacies like vanilla bean and butter-poached lobster, duo of Oregon lamb and elk in wild mushroom demi-glace, and seared day boat scallops with white bean puree. If your sweet tooth isn’t satisfied by the honey-pear tart or the chocolate souffle, book a getaway package complete with mini chocolate fondue and port served in-room.
Price: $130/person
When: Feb 10 & 11 from 5–10; Feb 14 from 5–9:30
Menu

Salty’s at Alki
Salty’s serves up some serious sweetness with its Valentine’s menu: coconut-crusted wild prawns, spiced top sirloin with blackberry honey-glazed carrots, white chocolate mousse cake, and tableside bananas foster for two.
Price: $59–$119/person; vegetarian menu $55–$90
When: Feb 14 from 5:30–8:45
Menu

Staple and Fancy Mercantile
Chef Ethan Stowell offers up apps to share, like Hamachi crudo, pork belly with apples and walnuts, and Shigoku oysters on the half shell. Guests choose their pasta, main, and dessert courses. Enticing entrees include grilled beef tenderloin, roasted duck breast with fried Brussels sprouts, and fennel grilled swordfish. Desserts are creme fraiche panna cotta and warm chocolate cake with peanut butter gelato and peanut brittle.
Price: $80/person
When: Feb 14 from 5–11

Tulio
Tulio’s a la carte menu sets the mood with aptly named cocktails like I’ll Melt With You (prosecco and raspberry granita) and Blushing Lady (vodka, Pama lieueur, grapefruit juice, and a sugared rim). For something a little more substantial, consider the black truffle chicken, scallops with potato puree, and crispy pork belly.
Price: $12–$36/plate
When: Feb 14 from 5–10
Menu

Volunteer Park Cafe
Charming Volunteer Park Cafe will serve up a five-course dinner on the 14th. Highlights include the second-course "fondue for two,” zesty blood orange and shaved fennel salad, and lamb rack with minty white beans and pomegranate Greek yogurt.
Price: $75/person
When: Feb 14 at 7

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Tags: Valentine's Day Dinners 2012

The Wurst Place Opens

The occasion takes place February 3.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on Feb 02, 2012 at 10:45AM 0 Comments

Photo: Lucas Anderson

The Wurst Place: sausage, beer, and eclectic design.

Really truly finally—it’s happening.

The Wurst Place, the South Lake Union restaurant and deli serving sausages of all stripes, is set to open on Friday, February 3 at 5pm.

It’s been a long haul for owner Bob Liptak, who first revealed his plans to Nosh Pit in late April. Numerous delays and construction hiccups would ensue, as would a relentless stream of inquiries from fans and bloggers (yep, guilty). But the wait appears worth it. The distinctive interior, the impressive selection of beers, the exhaustive and carefully curated menu of franks and frites all suggest good things.

Gander at that interior in this First Look, and get more on Wurst Place beer here.

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Tags: Seattle Restaurant Openings, South Lake Union, The Wurst Place

An Opening Date for Skelly and the Bean

This most unusual of restaurants opens officially on February 23.

Posted by: Allecia Vermillion on Feb 02, 2012 at 09:30AM 3 Comments

Don’t let that insouciant pose fool you: This woman has been busting her posterior to open later this month. Photo courtesy of Skelly and the Bean.

Zephyr Paquette, a memorable personality in Seattle’s already colorful world of chefs, is less than a month away from opening her restaurant Skelly and the Bean. She has amassed tables and chairs and burnished the floors in rice bran oil. Upended old barn planks now line the walls like some sort of bucolic wooden fence beneath a sky-painted ceiling. She has also set a February 23 public open date.

To say this Capitol Hill establishment is community-driven is a comical understatement. Thanks in part to a membership program she devised last year, Paquette, a veteran of Cafe Flora, Elliott Bay Cafe, and the former Dandelion, is somehow managing to open a 50-seat restaurant without taking out a single loan. She has relied instead on member contributions, the kindness of strangers, and support from friends and acquaintances acquired through her career. And lots of her own manual labor, of course. Paquette won’t say exactly how many members she has, but she’s planning on capping the list soon and releasing a few memberships each subsequent season. She also meets each member in person before bringing them on.

The former Easy Joe’s space on 10th Avenue is now home to a most decidedly mismatched assortment of tables and chairs. Every item in the dining room, says Paquette, was donated or purchased with member contributions. This means every piece of furniture has a story, from the table some friends grabbed from the side of the road while en route to the airport (they still made their flight), to the freebie table from Craigslist. The owners originally promised it to another taker, says Paquette, but revoked the offer once they read about the restaurant.

The menu will also contain its share of stories, like the “Rowley bites” mussel po’boys and geoduck salad, named in honor of sustainable shellfish superstar Jon Rowley. Other items sound like the chef herself: deadly serious about sourcing, but pretty damn fun. There’s the “buckets of rain” dessert (yes, named for the Dylan song) that’s an actual bucket of raindrop-shaped doughnuts with chocolate and jam to dip. Or the secret half-chicken: It could be stuffed, fried, braised—you won’t know till it arrives at the table. But do know this: There will be tater tots, made in-house and dubbed “petit paquets” (har).

In addition to dinner service, Paquette plans to open her space to classes and an incubator series that give young chefs and other un-restauranted talent a chance to do their thing. She’s already signing up chefs for the incubator calendar but is looking for more “upstarts” who might be interested.

Members get a monthly dining stipend and a few other perks, but the rest of us can start making reservations shortly after Valentine’s Day.

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Tags: Coming Soon, Skelly and the Bean, Zephyr Paquette

More Details on Ma’ono

Marjorie Chang Fuller explains the reason behind the big changes at the Restaurant Formerly Known as Spring Hill.

Posted by: Allecia Vermillion on Feb 01, 2012 at 12:00PM 1 Comments

Ma’ono’s fried chicken: kind of a big deal. Photo by Geoffrey Smith.

Yesterday I caught up with Marjorie Chang Fuller, who was busy fielding a torrent of calls after she and husband Mark Fuller broke the news that Spring Hill will be Spring Hill no more as of next week. It seems the public’s unbridled love for fried chicken helped inspire the decision to change the destination restaurant into the more casual, Hawaiian-focused Ma’ono Fried Chicken and Whisky.

Fuller says the couple was considering the name and concept change this past fall when they re-launched the revered Monday night fried chicken dinners under the Ma’ono name (the Southernist original recipe remains on the menu, along with more Asia-fied preparations). The chef-owner decided to retire these weekly feeding frenzies a few months earlier, prompting a torrent of emails, comment cards and even in-person visits from diners who objected to a world without such brined and battered goodness.

“It was so popular and when we took it away, we didn’t realize the impact that would make,” says Marjorie Fuller.

But flipping back and forth between elegant destination dining and greasy-fingered fried chicken fest didn’t sit right. “I think people got mixed messages as to what we were about,” says Marjorie Fuller.

She describes the new incarnation of Spring Hill as her husband’s style of comfort food. Mark Fuller grew up splitting his time between Kauai and the Puget Sound area. Some of the menu items, according to his wife, are riffs on the picnic lunches Fuller would back with his grandparents before setting off for the beach. Front and center on the new Ma’ono website is a family photo of Mark Fuller’s grandparents, mother, and uncle.

The new menu does maintain some other original dishes, and brunch is largely unchanged (for now). The restaurant’s interior will mostly stay the same, says Marjorie Fuller, save the handy substitution of paper napkins for linens, a savvy idea when trading in mass quantities of fried fare.

As for the Whisky part of Ma’ono, Mark Fuller is a big fan of the spirit, and has been working with bar manager MiNan Ahn to expand the liquor inventory and create a list of more than a dozen whiskey-based cocktails. Ahn, whose bar experience includes Tamara Murphy’s former restaurant Brasa, is also focused on food and spirit pairings, says Marjorie Fuller. According to Eater Seattle, Ma’ono will also add a counter to the bar for more seating.

And in case you’re wondering, the Fullers did consider changing the name to Spring Chicken.

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Tags: Spring Hill, Fried Chicken, Ma'Ono Fried Chicken and Whisky, Mark Fuller, Marjorie Chang Fuller

New Food Truck: Happy Grillmore

The Portland transplant is big on burgers.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on Feb 01, 2012 at 10:40AM 1 Comments

Ingredients are locally sourced and organic whenever possible, says McGill. Photo courtesy Happy Grillmore.

Among the fleet of trucks at the new Microsoft pod is Happy Grillmore, which comes here by way of Portland.

The menu is heavy on burgers and fries but rotating items highlight the foods Darren McGill and wife Kryse Martin-McGill grew up eating. He’s Hawaiian a member of the Miwok tribe, she’s Filipina. Past specials include a chicken adobo sandwich, a salmon teriyaki burger, and pork sliders with heaps of pineapple slaw. The duo also runs a cart in downtown Portland but have momentarily shuttered operations there. Worth noting: last year that cart won an Eater Portland best burger contest for its Chubs angus patty finished with Tillamook, spinach, arugula, red pepper aioli, and spicy mustard.

Yes, the Chubs is available up here. But Darren also suggests trying the Happy burger. It comes with bacon, those same greens, and “really, really creamy” Gorgonzola on a ciabatta bun, which soaks up the sauces nicely.

Seattleites may remember Grillmore from last year’s Mobile Food Rodeo, where Darren says he was pleasantly surprised with the enthusiastic response. So far Darren and Kryse have found similar success at Microsoft, he added.

Happy Grillmore is slated to serve the Redmond crowd through mid-May; the truck is parked on campus weekdays 11–2. After that the couple hopes to settle elsewhere in Seattle (maybe they could team up with fellow Portland transplant Crème de la Crème?) Darren mentioned South Lake Union, Fremont, and a forthcoming downtown pod, and possibly some late-night spots.

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Tags: Street Food, Seattle Food Trucks, Happy Grillmore

Neighborhood Food News: Globetrotting Mondays at La Bête, Late-Night Cheese at Art

Plus: A Super Bowl Facebook competition at Skillet, Raclette at Cafe Presse, and Valentine’s Day plans.

Posted by: Anne Larkin on Feb 01, 2012 at 09:45AM 1 Comments

TASTE at SAM has a new Polynesian-inspired menu to go along with the Gauguin exhibit. Photo courtesy of the SAM website

CAPITOL HILL
Skillet is celebrating the Super Bowl with a Facebook competition. Help them get to 10,000 likes and suddenly become the most popular person on the block with a Skillet-catered party this Sunday. If the restaurant and food truck empire achieves 8,000 likes, it opens up a drawing for dinner for two at the diner, while 9,000 likes means dinner for four.

Mondays are going international at La Bête. The two chefs at the helm of the French-influenced restaurant have started a series of global Monday night menus—they’ll be exploring India through March, then on to Eastern Europe, Mexico, Japan, Italy…

Raclette, the perfect warm dish for a cold February evening, is back at Café Presse. Loosen your belt and prepare for some bubbling melted chalet cheese with potatoes, salami, and two kinds of ham.

DOWNTOWN
The new late night happy hour at Four Seasons restaurant Art starts today, reports Eater Seattle. The insane spread of cheese and antipasti that lures crowds in the early evening resumes once again between 9 and 11. The all-you-can-eat spread runs $7, with discounted wine selections to boot.

SAM’s Taste restaurant has developed a Parisian-inspired, Polynesian-based, Northwest-leaning menu to complement the Gauguin & Polynesia: An Elusive Paradise exhibit, on display through April 29. A good example of this three-pronged inspiration: seared scallops with ginger and pine.

Boka is joining the dollar oyster club. Sunday through Thursday, 9:30 to close, stop in for $1 oysters and $5 glasses of sparkling wine.

EASTLAKE
To make sure all their pals working a restaurant industry schedule can make it in, owners Rene Gutierrez and Charles Walpole have extended the hours of Blind Pig Bistro. Walpole and new arrival Matt Fortner will be in the kitchen Monday through Saturday, beginning February 6.

PHINNEY RIDGE
418 Public House is now family friendly, till 8 o’clock at least, ways the PhinneyWood blog. The restaurant is now open to those under 21 until 8 pm, and has a new kids menu too.

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
We’ve rounded up some Valentine’s Day dinners from around the city. Your guide to everything from chocolate cherry jubilee to caramelized shallot consomme with braised oxtail is right over here.

Don’t forget—Savor Seattle’s foodie hunt begins today. A puzzle and a prize a day, leading up to the grand prize at the end of the month: a tour for two through every Tom Douglas restaurant.

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Tags: Valentine's Day, Contests, Skillet, Spring Hill, Fried Chicken, Neighborhood Food News Roundup, Cafe Presse, La Bete, Ma'Ono Fried Chicken and Whisky

Asian Night Market Coming to South Seattle

Come for the celebrating, the beer garden, and some secretly awesome vegetarian food.

Posted by: Allecia Vermillion on Jan 31, 2012 at 03:00PM 1 Comments

For a certain subset of food geeks, the term “night market” is code for “lots of awesome food,” as evidenced by the annual event in the International District, or Capitol Hill’s short-lived food truck version.

Now South Seattle’s new-ish Othello Public Market is celebrating the Year of the Dragon with a four-weekend Asian night market starting February 17 (recent weather shenanigans resulted in a slight delay). This means the normally utilitarian market space is gearing up for a multicultural influx of food, games and festivities. Oh, and a beer garden on opening and closing nights.

The converted warehouse near the Othello light rail station is already home to craft vendors and a diverse array of food stalls indoors and out. Organizers are teaming up with Washington Night Market, which put on a similar event in Bellevue in September. Thomas Ho, who organized the Eastside event, says many of those same vendors and performers will be coming to the Othello Public Market.

One of the food offerings that has everyone excited is Co Lam Pagoda. The Vietnamese Buddhist temple apparently has a bit of a reputation for putting on destination-worthy vegetarian meals. Ho also says the food vendor roster is heavy on desserts and sweets.

The fair runs Friday and Saturday nights from 5pm till midnight through March 10. The opening ceremony happens February 17 at 4:30pm.

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Tags: Night Markets, Othello Public Market

New Pod Alert: Microsoft Campus

The Eastside finally gets more food truck action.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on Jan 31, 2012 at 11:29AM 0 Comments

Take note, Microsofties: a Street Treats ice cream sandwich makes for an ideal midday snack. Photo courtesy Street Treats.

Food trucks have largely stuck to Seattle proper, but as of late last week the Eastside is getting a slice of the action.

Renovations of several cafeterias on the Microsoft campus have prompted pods at three locations throughout the Redmond facility. According to a flack for the company, more than a dozen trucks are rotating through the three spots, with at least three operators at each one. It’s an impressive roster, with the likes of Where Ya At Matt, Bigfood, and Street Treats, to single out a few.

This all happens on weekdays at lunchtime and is expected to continue for four months. The pods are open to the public, but the rep hastened to say the trucks are primarily intended to serve Microsofties.

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Tags: Street Food, Seattle Food Trucks, Food Truck Pods