Nosh Pit

Neighborhood Food News: Lunar New Year Celebration, King Cake is Back at Where Ya At Matt

Plus: Free house-made Samoas, a cookbook callout, and the return of Cupcake Royale’s “Deathcake”

Posted by: Anne Larkin on Jan 25, 2012 at 10:30AM 0 Comments

20 International District restaurants are participating in the Lunar New Year Festival with a smattering of $2 dishes.

BALLARD
In the name of spreading latte love, on Valentine’s Day the cafe/flower shop Emerald City Orchids will choose two fans to receive a free latte every day that the cafe is open.

CAPITOL HILL
Zephyr Paquette’s much-anticipated community-driven restaurant Skelly and the Bean is looking for for donations of dinner plates. Mismatched plates can only contribute to the ultra-communal feel of this unique restaurant.

CENTRAL DISTRICT
Urban farming collective Alleycat Acres is putting together a community cookbook and wants your recipes (well, only if you live in the Central District or Beacon Hill.) When the cookbook is complete, it’ll be available as an eBook for less than $5.

DOWNTOWN
Free house-made Samoa cookies, inspired by the Girl Scout classic, at BOKA this Friday 11—1. Stop by on your way to the boat show for a shortbread topped with caramel, dipped in chocolate and coconut.

INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
In celebration of the arrival of the Year of the Dragon, a variety of restaurants such as Fuji Bakery and Fu-Lin Ramen House will be offering $2 dishes at the Second Annual Lunar New Year Food Walk this Saturday from 11 am. After dim sum, check out Wing Luke Museum’s exhibit From Fields to Family about the history of food in the neighborhood.

WEST SEATTLE
The newest location of ever-growing froyo chain Menchie’s is having a grand opening this weekend. The California Avenue shop will offer up free frozen yogurt 11–1 Saturday and lots of other activities and freebies all weekend long.

KIRKLAND
Lilli Pilli, the macaron-only bakery run by an local-food-loving Aussie, is offering free delivery on Valentine’s Day for orders of $50 or more. Someone in your life (or you) probably needs a couple boxes of Fleur de Sel caramel macarons, one of our favorites in last year’s taste test.

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
Cupcake Royale’s decadent Deathcake is back for another chocolate-drenched Valentine’s Day. Now available in babycake size, the Deathcake consists of Theo chocolate paired with Stumptown espresso ganache, topped with fleur de sel.

A sweet pre-Mardi Gras indulgence, sugary cinnamon-laced king cake is back at Creole food truck Where Ya At Matt.

Food tour company Savor Seattle is putting on a food hunt this February; follow them on Facebook or Twitter to get in on each day’s puzzle. For the first to figure it out each day, there will be a prize ranging in value from $25 to $200 and a ticket to enter in the drawing for the grand prize—a tour for two through every Tom Douglas restaurant.

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Tags: Valentine's Day, International District, Cupcakes, Macarons, Skelly and the Bean, Frozen Yogurt, Where Ya At Matt

Restaurant Shifts and Shakeups

This week: BBQ and froyo in Ballard, fancy fish and chips in Capitol Hill, Little Uncle expands its hours.

Posted by: Anne Larkin on Jan 13, 2012 at 11:30AM 2 Comments

Photo: Lucas Anderson

Look forward to the 20 beers on tap at almost-open Wurst Place.

OPENINGS

Yozen
My Ballard reports that the neighborhood now has its very own self-serve frozen yogurt shop right on Market Street. Choose from 12 different flavors ranging from plain old vanilla to cappuccino and cake batter.

Bitterroot BBQ
Long in the works, this Ballard BBQ joint is almost open. Owners Hannah and Grant Carter have passed their last inspections hope to start serving next week. With any luck they’ll soon fire up their custom-built smoker, fueled by grape and alder wood from Hannah’s family’s property, and crank out heaps of dry-rubbed ribs and pulled pork to be paired with their extensive collection of All-American whiskeys and beers.

8 oz. Burger Bar
The northernmost restaurant in Govind Armstrong’s California-based minichain softly opened Monday with a grand opening planned for Monday, January 16, according to Eater Seattle. In the works: humanely raised and all-natural beef and wild boar burgers, not to mention the short-rib grilled cheese sandwich with onion marmalade and a peanut butter and jelly shake.

Provisions
Madison Park patisserie Belle Epicurean opened Provisions on Tuesday, a little shop full of delightfully foodie condiments, wine, books, and—best of all—tins of take-and-bake items from the bakery. (Think warm pear almond brioche buns for breakfast in bed.)

Five Fish Bistro
Located on Broadway in Capitol Hill, Five Fish Bistro is now open softly, with plans for a grand opening in just under a month on February 7. Owner Garnet Pitre promises a refined take on the simple fare of fish and chips, with five kinds of fresh fish and seafood (and even a gluten-free option) offered every day.

La Lot
Local pho restaurateur Cynthia Hoang’s newest endeavor is slated to open in a few weeks in the Aspira building at the corner of Stewart and Terry. We can expect a more upscale endeavor than Hoang’s other cafes; “more wine and dine” than “noodles and slurp” from the sleek Vietnamese-fusion spot.

Little Uncle
The Thai takeout project from Lark sous chef Wiley Frank and his wife, has extended its hours, says Eater Seattle. It’s ow open 11–7 Tuesday through Friday, and credit cards will be accepted for orders over $10.

Fuji Bakery
This life-changing pastry destination has reopened after a two-week holiday break. Owner Akihiro Nakamura says the Bellevue location got a bit of a face lift during the hiatus. Get your green-tea danish and red-bean bun fix there or the International District location.

The Wurst Place
South Lake Union’s beer and sausage mecca will hopefully open next week, and we’ve got photos of the highly eclectic interior. Look forward to beer, of course, and Belgian frites.

The Lucky Diner
Blueberry flapjacks and pork chop sandwiches are coming to your door…as long as your door is located in Belltown. The neighborhood diner now delivers from 5 to 10 Monday through Saturday, Sunday 5–9.

CLOSINGS

Cool Whirled
East of Ballard, froyo’s not doing so hot: Fremont Universe reports that the neighborhood’s only frozen yogurt joint is closing after just four months. The Fremont Avenue storefront is now up for rent.

Zesto’s
Plagued by failed health inspections, Ballard’s long-standing Zesto’s is closing,
to be replaced by RoRo BBQ and Burgers, says MyBallard. There are two other RoRos slinging pulled pork sandwiches and sweet potato fries: one in Wallingford and one in Georgetown.

PASSINGS

Owner of Pioneer Square institution Il Terrazzo Carmine Carmine Smeraldo passed away on Wednesday, reports the Puget Sound Business Journal. The beloved owner of the nearly 30-year-old restaurant will be greatly missed; our condolences to his family and friends.

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Tags: Seattle Restaurant Openings, 8 oz. Burger Bar, Frozen Yogurt, Il Terrazzo Carmine, Fuji Bakery, The Lucky Diner, The Wurst Place, Belle Epicurean, Five Fish Bistro, Rest in Peace, Bitterroot BBQ, Seattle Restaurant Closings, Closings, Provisions