Nosh Pit

Nosh Pit Weekly Planner: Memorial Day Edition

This week: free burgers, free ice cream, an upcoming Skelly and the Bean event, and a Seattlecentric cookbook signing.

Posted by: Anne Larkin on May 21, 2012 at 11:30AM 0 Comments

Memorial Day and National Burger Day are officially one in the same this year.

WEDNESDAY May 23
Whole Food Veggie Happy Hour Benefit
For one day only: dodge the accidental $20 hot food bar trip; there will be a $6 vegetarian dinner from 5 to 7 at the Westlake Whole Foods. Baked artichokes, asparagus, and corn fritters are on the menu, and all the food sales go to Forterra, a northwest conservation group.

SATURDAY May 26
Mischief Distillery at Tulalip
Tulalip Casino Resort is bringing the Fremont craft distiller out for the summer launch party of the patio at the Mpulse Lounge. Though the letter “i” apparently won’t be in attendance, the founder of Mischief will. The $30 ticket gets you an afternoon of live music, giveaways, liquor-laced snacks, drinks, and…mischief.

Revelry at Col Solare
The first of the summer’s Auction of Washington Wine events takes place at Col Solare winery on Saturday. Aside from the beautiful scenery and 21 winemakers planned to pour at the event there’s an even better reason to make this the highlight of your Memorial weekend getaway: it’ll be raising money for uncompensated care at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

MONDAY May 28 (Memorial Day)
Free Burgers at Li’l Woody’s
The 28th is doing double holiday duty his year: Memorial Day and National Hamburger Day. Actually, there’s some serious debate about the true day o’ the burger, whether it’s May or July 28. The Capitol Hill burger joint is celebrating the May date with free burgers for all from 2 to 5.

Free Scoops for Vets
Old School Frozen Custard is keeping its Memorial celebration, well, old school, and honoring the veterans who the holiday is actually for with free scoops for those who’ve served.

Sidetrack Distillery Feast
The berry liqueur–making crew out at Lazy River Farm is putting on a big Memorial Day party. Food, beer, wine, and sips of Sidetrack are all on the docket. The party starts at 2:30.

Raw, Vegan Potluck
Mayonnaise-y potato salad and a juicy burger not your thing? Those who aren’t taking advantage of Memorial Day as a day to indulge in an entire week’s worth of fat and sugar are meeting up at Discovery Park for a potluck. Drums and durian, that um…pungent fruit, are encouraged.

TUESDAY May 29
African Feast at Skelly and the Bean
From Morocco all the way down to South Africa in four courses for just $40 bucks. Arrive at Skelly and the Bean at 5 for drinks, and dinner begins at 6.

Seattle Cookbooks at Elliott Bay Book Co.
Seattle-o-rama at Elliott Bay. Molly Moon (of… Molly Moon’s), Mark Klebeck (of Top Pot Doughnuts), and Jess Thomson (of Pike Place Market Recipes) will all be at the bookstore signing their books from 5 to 6:30. And there’s promise of samples from all the mouth-watering books…

May Corner Table at Cafe Presse
This month’s Corner Table dinner is a benefit for Green Plate Special, the Central District nonprofit that teaches kids from primarily low-income families how to garden and cook. The Corner table menu will be put together by Laura Dewell, head of Green Plate, and the dinner is $55 with wine pairings. Call Cafe Presse to save your spot at the 6:30 dinner.

BEYOND
July 26 This year marks the third anniversary of the popular event Feast on the Farm. Ethan Stowell cooks, Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready jams, and diners get to ride tractors around the farm before sitting down to a salmon-safe, local-food dinner under the sky. Tickets went on sale May 10, and you’d better act fast to get a spot on that tractor.

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Tags: Hamburgers, Molly Moon's, Cafe Presse, Whole Foods, Ethan Stowell, Elliott Bay Book Co, Microdistilleries, Free Food, Top Pot, Washington Wines, Cookbooks, Benefit Dinners, Wine, Wineries, Skelly and the Bean

Nosh Pit Weekly Planner

This week: rhubarb in Columbia City, free fries on Pike Street, the Seattle Cheese Fest, and more.

Posted by: Anne Larkin on May 14, 2012 at 12:45PM 0 Comments

Free Fry Friday. It’s definitely got a ring to it.

WEDNESDAY May 16
Rhubarb Festival
The tart pink stalk is finally getting its 15 minutes of fame. The Columbia City farmers market is hosting a sweet vs. savory recipe contest, judged by Edible Seattle editor Jill Lightner, and cooking demo with chef Nat Stratton-Clark of Cafe Flora. Also: live music and a kids tent. Fingers crossed for slices of strawberry rhubarb pie. The event runs from 4 to 6 pm.

FareStart Celebration with Thierry Rautureau
The chef in the hat is putting on a three-course meal to benefit FareStart and celebrate its 20th year. The decadent menu ranges from oxtail terrine to almond caramel, and although the VIP reception is sold out, there are still tickets up for grabs for the $150 dinner.

THURSDAY May 17

Fishmonger Face-Off
The Pacific Northwest’s best fishmongers will meet for battle at the Interbay Whole Foods from 1 to 3 this Thursday. Their knowledge and skills will be put to the ultimate test, and the victor will continue on to garner more glory at the national competition in Aspen in June. And there will be free seafood bites.

Syttende Mai
It’s everyone’s favorite holiday: Norwegian Constitution Day. Get back to your Scandinavian roots (real or imagined) at Copper Gate Tavern with happy hour from 5 to 7 (cheap Aquavit) and live music from 8 to 11. The parade will roll right by too, sometime after 6.

FRIDAY May 18
Free Fry Friday
Aka, the perfect excuse to forget the quinoa and steamed veggies you were planning on consuming, and head down to Pike Street Fish Fry for some fish and chips. From 5 to 7, two-buck New Belgium beers, free fries, and a complimentary good start to a Friday night.

SATURDAY May 19
Seattle Cheese Festival
It’s here, it’s finally here! The weekend that Northwest dwellers with the soul of a Wisconsin cheesehead all pine for. Cheese seminars, mozzarella demos, and tastings galore. Cheesemongers from around the world will set up temporary tasting shop on the cobbled street just outside the market for the two-day fest, starting at 10am both Saturday and Sunday and ending at 5 Saturday, 4 Sunday.

Classic Cocktail Course
SAM’s Taste is hosting Cocktails 101 with Duncan Chase, the restaurant’s veteran bartender. The class will cover everything from how to smoothly order at the bar to how to make and present the classics. The $30 class runs from 6:30 to 8.

SUNDAY May 20
John T. Edge at Elliott Bay
The nation’s best food truck chronicler (officially—he just won the MFK Fisher writing award from the James Beard Foundation) will be at Elliott Bay Book Co., talking about his recent release, The Food Truck Cookbook, and making everyone drool with his recipes gleaned from the nation’s best rolling chefs. He’ll be at Elliott Bay at 2pm Sunday, and at Village Books in Bellingham at 7 on Monday, for you northerners.

MONDAY May 21
Meet the Producer
The third installment of Bastille’s “Meet the Producer” happy hour will bring winemaker Tim Sorenson of local winery Fall Line Winery into the restaurant. There will be a special informational happy hour from 4:30 to 6. (Up next, on June 11, Steven Stone of Sound Spirits…aquavit cocktails?)

WEDNESDAY May 23
Magic and Wine
Though wine alone is usually all the magic anyone needs with dinner, tonight the Schwartz brothers are stepping it up, pairing Château Ste. Michelle wines with nibbles and…a magician. Local wizard G. G. Green will grace the dining room with his sleight of hand at 6:30. The enchantment occurs at Daniel’s Broiler and tickets are $70.

BEYOND

June 2
Cafe Flora’s 20th Anniversary
The sunny vegetarian cafe, beloved by vegans and carnivores alike, is celebrating its second decade with a farmers market-inspired party: bites from some of the restaurant’s local vendors, live music, CSA sign ups, and something that many farmers market are sadly lacking: beer and wine (and special anniversary cocktails for VIP guests.) VIP admission is $50, general is $30, and ticket proceeds will benefit the Bailey-Boushay House.

June 11
Naomi Pomeroy at Matt’s in the Market
Chester Gerl, the head chef at Matt’s in the Market, has been making space in his kitchen for a variety of chefs over the past few months. Planes, Trains, and Traveling Chefs has brought multiple west coast chefs to Seattle already; Portland’s Gabriel Rucker of Le Pigeon and Vikram Vij of Vij’s in Vancouver, to name a few. Up next Naomi Pomeroy, a heavily lauded Portland chef known for her fantastic restaurant Beast, will walk through Pike Place Market and put together a market-inspired dinner at the restaurant. The dinners are $125, and reservations can be made by calling Matt’s.

June 25
Foodportunity
The semiannual opportunity to rub elbows with the big names in Seattle food (and hey, maybe take the first step to becoming a big name yourself) is coming around again this June. Thierry Rautureau, Jess Thomson, and a variety of other writers, chefs, and industry folks will be there to chat and nibble with. Tickets are $25 now, $32 later, and they usually go fast.

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Tags: Pike Place Market, Daniel's Broiler, Pike Street Fish Fry, Thierry Rautureau, Farestart, Matt's in the Market, Taste Restaurant, Bastille, Cafe Flora, Elliott Bay Book Co, Free Food, Farmers Markets, Columbia City, Foodportunity

Nosh Pit Weekly Planner

This weekend: Artisan cheese and Easter brunches abound.

Posted by: Anne Larkin on Apr 02, 2012 at 12:00PM 0 Comments

Beer and cheese, lots of cheese, at the Artisan Cheese Fest this Saturday. We’ve got pairings to get excited about. Photo: Olivia Brent

MONDAY April 2
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
If the trailer is any indication, this is the most beautiful ode to sushi ever created. The documentary follows sushi chef Jiro Ono and his three Michelin–starred restaurant, and it’s playing for one week only at the Landmark Egyptian. There are multiple showings every day through Friday, April 6.

WEDNESDAY April 4
Think and Drink
Greenwood’s Naked City Brewery and Taphouse is hosting a night of intellectual discussion and beer; a classic pairing. The coordinators of the Happiness Initiative will lead a discussion about consumerism and happiness in post-war America at 7 pm.

THURSDAY April 5
The Saint’s Fourth Birthday
The tequila-obsessed Capitol Hill bar is celebrating its fourth year with special tequilas, drink specials, and a mariachi band. Happy hour starts at 5, the party really kicks off at 7, and reservations can be made by calling The Saint.

Lamb Dinner
The Corson Building is shifting into spring mode with a lamb dinner from 6 to 10. Reservations are recommended for the $35 meal.

SATURDAY April 7
Washington Artisan Cheese Festival
Cheesemongers and makers from all over the state will convene at the Seattle Design Center to bring Seattle a huge variety of cheeses to taste alongside other local foods and beverages. The event runs from noon to 6, and tickets are $35.

SUNDAY April 8
Easter Brunches
It’s Easter, national day of brunch. There are tons of restaurants around town putting on special meals—Sunday holds everything from turducken to pit-smoked ham. We’ve got tons of options for you.

TUESDAY April 10
Coyote Cooks Pop Up
The downtown center for adolescents has been putting on a monthly pop-up dinner helmed by notable local chefs (Tamara Murphy of Terra Plata most recently) the second Tuesday of every month. This month’s dinner from Ocho is sold out, but maybe there’s hope on the waitlist. On the docket for May: a Caribbean meal created by Island Soul, get your tickets quick.

BEYOND

September 20-23 Farm-to-Table Photography Workshop
Local photographer Clare Barboza will lead a three-day workshop on Whidbey Island for aspiring food photographers. Students will learn how to use natural light and effectively document stories about food through photography. The $1,250 price includes lodging, transportation, instruction, and wine.

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Tags: Cheese, Matt Dillon, Terra Plata, Weekly Planner, Weekly Food Planner, Movies, Ice Cream, Sushi, Free Food, Easter , Island Soul

Neighborhood Food News: Full Tilt Gains an Ice Cream Lab, Trophy Cupcakes Delivers

Plus: Met Market gets in the Valentine’s spirit, Tom Douglas Wants to Send You to Hawaii, Wild Ginger riffs on the Gauguin exhibit, and more.

Posted by: Anne Larkin on Feb 08, 2012 at 10:30AM 0 Comments

Trophy Cupcakes now delivers. Photo courtesy their website.

BELLEVUE
John Howie is getting in on the Sunday supper trend. These new weekly meals will be sized for four and, of course, centered on a shared steak.

CAPITOL HILL
Eater Seattle reports that tonight at Bako there will be both free snacks and fashion. It’s a Wednesday night grab-bag of an event: a DJ, a fashion show, vodka drinks, and $5 Bako gift cards.

DOWNTOWN
Another downtown restaurant is finding menu inspiration at the Seattle Art Museum. Wild Ginger is creating a menu inspired by Gauguin’s Polynesia, on exhibit at SAM through April 29. The menu will be available tomorrow, but here’s a teaser: twice-cooked Indonesian wings, first simmered in a myriad of Southeast Asian spices, then fried and coated in hoisin barbeque sauce. Even better, these dishes are accompanied by a new tropical cocktail.

GREEN LAKE
Free babysitting at Café Bonjour on Valentine’s Day. Parents eat, kids play under supervision. (But if you have scored a sitter, boy have we got Valentine’s dinner ideas for you. Here and here.)

QUEEN ANNE
Metropolitan Market is going all out for Valentine’s: from 5-7 on Thursday there will be a champagne tasting, crab cakes, oysters, and chocolate covered strawberries at the Mercer Street location. And from 4-7 that same day, sample Cupcake Royale’s Deathcake and Macrina Bakery’s chocolate cherry heart loaf. Both pastries will be at the Queen Anne Ave location for sample and for sale on Saturday.

WEST SEATTLE
Full Tilt Ice Cream is expanding, though not with a new retail location this time (yet.) According to the West Seattle blog, the ice creamery is taking over a 6,061 square-foot space to use for manufacturing, storage, and as a laboratory, with tentative plans for retail space and perhaps a gallery in the future. The new space will allow Full Tilt to crank out more goodness, as well as give kids mouthwatering tours.

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

Tom Douglas wants to send you to Hawaii. Two tickets to Kona, three nights at a swanky hotel, and a big seafood dinner are up for grabs. Drop by any of his restaurants to pick up the contest questions, or download it here and drop it off.

Dangerous: Trophy Cupcakes are now available by delivery. A day’s notice and a minimum order of a dozen cupcakes (maybe a batch of February’s special dark chocolate raspberry cupcakes…) will get you delivery for $15 in Seattle, $20 in Bellevue.

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Tags: Tom Douglas, Full Tilt, Neighborhood Food News Roundup, Cupcakes, Food News Roundup, Wild Ginger, Sunday Suppers, Free Food, Contests, Trophy Cupcakes

Yogurtland Hands Out Freebies

Get free froyo on February 6.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on Jan 27, 2012 at 02:43PM 0 Comments

Photo: Lucas Anderson

How much froyo can you fit in a five-ounce cup?

The powers that be at Yogurtland have decided to hand out free froyo in honor of National Frozen Yogurt Day. Yes, such a thing exists. Stop by one of the locations (FYI: the Bellevue branch just opened) on February 6 between 4 and 7 to get the complimentary goods.

Alas, it’s not those ridiculously large tubs Yogurtland is providing, rather five-ounce cups. Lest you find that portion prohibitive, a rep says “the cup is theirs [Ed note: meaning yours] to fill with a combo of frozen yogurt and toppings—all included.” Game on.

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Tags: Free Food, Froyo, Yogurtland

Tavolàta Dispenses Free Rigatoni January 22

Ethan Stowell’s longest-standing restaurant is turning five. He’s celebrating by giving you pasta with sausage.

Posted by: Allecia Vermillion on Jan 11, 2012 at 03:40PM 0 Comments

Tavolata is turning 5. And here’s a reason to celebrate.

Most of our free food alerts center on tacos, fries or other more walkable items. So here’s a new one: free rigatoni. According to a recent press release, prolific chef Ethan Stowell will celebrate the fifth anniversary of Tavolàta (now his most senior establishment) by handing out gratis bowls of rigatoni with spicy Italian sausage on Sunday, January 22 to “everyone who walks in the door.”

Really? Everyone? I sent his rep a note to confirm that the release meant “everyone who walks in and drops cash on a full dinner.”

She confirmed that Stowell actually meant everyone. Obviously it’s classy to actually order food. But if you have the chutzpah to come in, order an iced tea at the bar and suck down free rigatoni, your bowl will be dispensed with a smile (but at least leave a decent tip, cheapskate). However you will actually have to be seated somewhere; there are no to-go bowls.

You will probably want to stay for a full dinner anyway, since Stowell will be joining Tavolàta’s excellent chef Brandon Kirksey on the line for the night’s dinner service. Reservations = a very good idea.

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Tags: Free Food, Ethan Stowell, Tavolata, Brandon Kirksey

Free Food Alert: Marination Hands Out Tacos and Sliders

Get the freebies on November 2.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on Oct 28, 2011 at 12:29PM 0 Comments

Yours for free on Wednesday. Photo: Nick Feldman.

The good people of Marination Mobile slash Station, the ones who just launched their own line of condiments, are deeming hump day Aloha Customer Day. That means a free taco or slider for you.

Get the goods either at the brick-and-mortar Station on Capitol Hill or at the truck, which will be parked in Fremont at 160 North Canal Street.

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Tags: Street Food, Free Food

Today in Free Food: Street Treats Giving Out 100 Ice Cream Sandwiches

Head to Denny Triangle before noon to score your ’wich.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Aug 17, 2011 at 10:08AM 0 Comments

Street Treats gives up the goods for free today in Denny Triangle.

Photo: Street Treats via Facebook

Update: Street Treats will be handing out the ice cream sandwiches at the corner of Terry and Lenora.

Seen on Twitter: Word from roving bake sale Street Treats that it will give away 100 free ice cream sandwiches today (Wednesday, August 18) beginning at noon.

The great ice cream giveaway will happen somewhere in Denny Triangle. Check Street Treats’s Twitter account at 11am for a location announcement.

Meantime, watch our video about the ice cream sandwiches at Street Treats. There’s a funny pregnant lady in it.

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Tags: Desserts, Free Food, Street Treats

Free Food Alert: Pretzel Dogs at Boka

Two occasions to get the beef-filled bites.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on Aug 03, 2011 at 10:56AM 0 Comments

Gratis: Boka’s pretzel dogs.

Downtown’s resident free food slinger is at it again. On August 5 and 19 (both Fridays) Boka is giving away hand-rolled pretzel dogs—like donut holes but stuffed with Wagyu beef.

Swing by between 11:30–1:30 for the freebies, they’ll be handed out curbside.

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Tags: Free Food, Downtown Seattle Restaurants

Free Food Alert: Where Ya At Matt Hands Out Cupcakes This Wednesday

Plus: free chocolate chip cookies in Westlake Park.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Aug 01, 2011 at 11:28AM 0 Comments

Red velvet cupcakes: Yours for free this Wednesday.

Photo: Mymadisonbistro.com

Cajun food truck Where Ya At Matt, it of the light-as-a-cloud beignets and the well-dressed po boys, celebrates its first year in business this Wednesday, August 3, and owner Matt Lewis is showing the love by handing out free red velvet cupcakes to customers.

The truck will be at its South Lake Union location Wednesday—the address is 309 Pontius Ave N.

In other free-food-on-Wednesday news, Voracious says there will be free chocolate chip cookies in Westlake Park that day.

For your viewing pleasure: Watch Nosh Pit’s Chris Werner school the Cooking Channel on the virtues of Where Ya At Matt’s consumables.

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Tags: Street Food, Free Food, Cookies, Cupcakes

Get Out of Town: Free Ice Cream (and Hot Dogs) this Saturday in Maltby

Also, Caspar Babypants.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Jun 21, 2011 at 10:42AM 0 Comments

Get this free on Saturday.

Photo courtesy: icecreamjournal.turkeyhill.com

Looking to get out of town?

Maltby, a Snohomish County town about 30 miles from Seattle, will be the site of free ice cream and hot dogs this Saturday, June 25. Called “Snoqualmie Ice-Cream-O-Rama,” the event takes place at Snoqualmie Ice Creamery and Café and celebrates the unveiling of the company’s new sustainable farm. Arrive between 11am and 4pm to take advantage of the comped consumables.

Caspar Babypants—the kid-friendly band from the Presidents of the United States guy—performs at 2pm.

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Tags: Free Food, Ice Cream, Get Out of Town

Free Burgers for Dad at the Counter

Have him say “BFD” when he orders.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on Jun 17, 2011 at 09:06AM 0 Comments

A Counter burger: free for dad on Father’s Day.

Here’s another one to file under celebrating Father’s Day with food. And, bonus! This one is a freebie. Kind of.

The Counter in Ballard is handing out no-charge burgers to any daddio who requests the “BFD”—aka “burger for dad.” As long as he’s with someone willing to pay for their own, Pops gets a 1/3 lb beefwich. Premium toppings—there are quite a few —will cost you.

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Tags: Free Food, Father's Day 2011