Nosh Pit

Claudio Corallo Is Now Named Marie & Freres

What’s up with the new moniker at 2122 Westlake Avenue?

Posted by: Christopher Werner on Feb 18, 2011 at 05:49PM 1 Comments

The newly christened Marie & Freres in South Lake Union. Photo courtesy the shop.

Did you guys freak, too, when you learned of the new signage at 2122 Westlake Avenue? Because my brain ran crazy with thoughts like: Are Claudio Corallo chocolates gone from Seattle? Can I still get MistralKitchen’s mind-blowing macaroons? What about Gengibre bars? Turns out, the answers are: No, yes, and probably.

The truly pleasant owner, Marie-Françoise Barnhart, tells me that the wee store on Westlake we know as Claudio Corallo is in the process of expanding its offerings. This means it will stock additional artisanal producers, not just those of the eponymous chocolatier, hence the new name (a reference to Barnhart and her two brothers).

Which cacao purveyors those might be, Barnhart couldn’t say—the list is yet to be finalized, she’s traveling to Europe next month to test some possibilities. Barnhart could confirm that the delectable brownies and macaroons made by the pastry whizzes at MistralKitchen will still line the storefront.

Why the change? Barnhart points out that Corallo edibles (maybe the world’s most singular chocolate, and that’s not hyperbole) are imported from fairly remote areas of the planet, so stocking isn’t always easy. “It’s a little bit difficult to have a steady supply,” she said, telling me of sugar shortages and elections that have held up supplies in the past.

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Tags: South Lake Union, Desserts, Chocolate, Food News

Are You Already Thinking About This Weekend’s Brunch?

No shame in it. Let’s talk options.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Feb 11, 2011 at 03:22PM 0 Comments

Sweet buns at the Harvest Vine

I’ve never tried it myself, but I’ve heard many, many raves about the brunch at Harvest Vine. The menu sounds fantastic—egg and sherry-battered fried toast with figs and orange syrup, scrambled eggs with duck confit, caramelized onions, and cream…..Brunch is from 10am to 2pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Easy Joe’s, the new comfort-food spot (the concept reminds me of that at Bing’s in Madison Park) in the former Tidbit spot, is doing weekend brunch from 9am to 2pm. Dungeness crab hush puppies? Yeah, they make that.

I had a chance today to check out Local 360, the new restaurant in the old Flying Fish space in Belltown. It serves a straightforward selection of sustainably sourced breakfast items like buttermilk biscuits and preserves, a sausage and egg sandwich, steel-cut oatmeal, grits and eggs, etc. Get there early so you can score a booth and park it for the morning. Ahhhhh.

I like the sound of duck-ham eggs Benedict, on the brunch menu at new West Seattle restaurant Avalon. Crab and cod Benedict, a root vegetable hash, and a leek quiche all also grace that menu. Brunch at Avalon is Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 2pm.

The Row House Cafe over in South Lake Union is doing brunch on the weekends. They have a build-your-own breakfast sandwich option that’s pretty cool, and who can argue with baked brie with honey and pine nuts and an Illy cappuccino in the morning?

Not you, my hungry cheese-loving friend. Not you.

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Tags: South Lake Union, Belltown, Brunch, Madison Valley, Madison Park

Lunchbox Laboratory in South Lake Union Is Now Open

The burger shop settles into cushier quarters.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on Jan 31, 2011 at 11:36AM 3 Comments

Lunchbox Laboratory is now flipping burgers in South Lake Union.

Seattleites, you love your burgers, so this sweep of new beefy joints must have you fired up, yeah?

First came BuiltBurger in Pioneer Square in November, then from the Quinn’s and Restaurant Zoe folks, Uneeda Burger in Fremont. More recent to debut was Belltown’s Dope Burger, and last week word came Ethan Stowell is launching a burger stand, Hamburg + Frites, in Safeco Field. Holy cow. And the latest bit: the South Lake Union iteration of Lunchbox Laboratory is now open daily starting at 11am.

At the end of December the Ballard shack shut down in anticipation of new and spiffy digs at 1253 Thomas Street, the former home of Southlake Grill. Like at the Ballard original, mondo, immoderate burgers are the star of the menu, which has been beefed up (har) to include appetizers, paninis, and desserts (those delicious milkshakes made the move as well).

A full bar, an upstairs loft, and arcade games also distinguish the SLU spot, which, it should be mentioned, is 5,000 square feet—considering the claustrophobic digs Lunchbox once inhabited (just 400 square feet!), this literally is big news.

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Tags: New Seattle Restaurants, Seattle Restaurant Openings, South Lake Union, Burgers

MistralKitchen Makes Bon Appétit’s Best Desserts Roster

Oh look, another Top 10-er.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on Jan 19, 2011 at 07:35AM 0 Comments

Reason to smile: Bon Appétit mentions Neil Robertson of Mistralkitchen in its Best Desserts roundup.

Hoping the litany of food lists is a bygone of 2010? Don’t hold your breath, friend.

In its February issue, Bon Appétit reviews the 10 nationwide restaurants where ordering dessert is a must. At these places, the article dictates, the final course is spun “with a mix of childhood nostalgia, whimsical creativity, and homey flavors.” Getting a nod is South Lake Union’s MistralKitchen.

The pub applauds pastry chef Neil Robertson—his “resume—Joël Robuchon and Guy Savoy in Las Vegas—speaks for itself; but his true talents are better tasted”—before naming the Ultra Brownie, topped with peanut butter ice cream, the “must order.”

(We hear Robertson’s macaroons, available at nearby Claudio Corallo, also are wonders to behold.)

As you may recall, Seattle purveyors (deservedly) make frequent cameos on BA ’s Top 10 lists, in the past securing shout-outs for best pie, new restaurant, and pasta.

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Tags: South Lake Union, Desserts, Seattle in the News, Awards and Accolades, Food in the News

Update: Lunchbox Lab Cancels Move to South Lake Union Lunchbox Lab Set to Open in South Lake Union January 27

What awaits the giant-burger joint? We got the story.

Posted by: Kathryn Robinson on Jan 14, 2011 at 10:30AM 3 Comments

We’ll take three, please.

Well how dumb do we feel.

Lunchbox Laboratory isn’t sticking in its old space in Ballard, as we reported this morning; the deal is just that they haven’t changed their website in a year. A friend of Seattle Met read the site’s news of last year’s cancelled move, called us in a panic, and we put it out for all the world to tweet.

Um. Oops.

Just got off the phone with John Schmidt, CEO of Neighborhood Grill, the owner of the restaurant (Southlake Grill) Lunchbox Lab will be replacing. “Nope, Scott Simpson is full-steam ahead,” Schmidt confirmed, adding that today is the last day of business for Southlake. Schmidt’s outfit and Simpson will partner to create a new, much glossier Lab, complete with an upstairs loft and retro-80’s style arcade games.

But those behemoth burgers will still be in place. “We’re taking his concept from quick-serve to full-service,” explains Schmidt—corporate restaurant-speak for “serving booze.” Plus there will be more appetizers, a selection of paninis, and more desserts.

Not that anyone will ever get to dessert after one of Simpson’s burgers.

Look for it to open Thursday, January 27.

(And for us to never make a mistake again.)

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Tags: South Lake Union, Ballard, Food News, Burgers

Lunchbox Lab Plans Move to South Lake Union

The Ballard burger shop closes December 19.

Posted by: Hilary Meyerson and Jessica Voelker on Dec 14, 2010 at 11:36AM 3 Comments

The lunchbox wall at the Lunchbox Lab in Ballard. The restaurant is set to close this Sunday, December 19.

The Seattle Times’ Tan Vinh dropped a Twitter bomb on Saturday when he announced that beloved Ballard burger shop Lunchbox Laboratory was shutting down on Sunday, December 19, with hopes to reopen in South Lake Union sometime in January.

We followed up with Lunchbox Lab co-owner Allegra Waggener, who said she and partner Scott Simpson are currently negotiating a lease on a new 5,000 square foot space in SLU—more than 10 times larger than the Ballard shop. Plans for the new restaurant include sit-down service and a more formal menu that extends beyond the massive burgers that made it famous.

“We’re constantly amazed how many people come to our 400-square-foot space," said Waggener. "It’s just not comfortable, and the building has really fallen apart in the last few years. We didn’t always used to be just burgers—we had to focus on them when people went crazy for them. We figured we better do one thing well in the space. Now we’ll be able to do more of the original concept.”

Waggener says she hopes the new SLU space will open by late January.

Photo Source

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Tags: Seattle Restaurant Openings, South Lake Union, Restaurant News, Closings, Ballard, Seattle Restaurant Closings

Where Ya At Matt Hands Out Free Beignets

Get to SLU before the irascible rain clouds return.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on Dec 08, 2010 at 11:03AM 0 Comments

The craptastic weather seems to have ceased, so there’s really no excuse not to hightail it to South Lake Union. There you’ll find Where Ya at Matt handing out free beignets with the order of an entree or sandwich (get the oyster po boy). All you have to do is say you saw the post plastered above.

And if the rain does return before the food truck decamps at 2pm, know that these beignets are, in a word, delicious. They’re worth a soggy boot.

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Tags: South Lake Union, Street Food

Serious Pie Comes to South Lake Union

The second location of Tom Douglas’s popular pizzeria will open at the corner of Westlake and Harrison.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Nov 04, 2010 at 10:39AM 1 Comments

Serious Pie Part II shares a space with Dahlia Bakery and a wine shop/tasting bar from Pike and Western’s Michael Teer.

We’ve known for some time that Tom Douglas was planning a second location for his Dahlia Bakery at the corner of Westlake Avenue and Harrison Street in South Lake Union.

But this morning when I stopped by the building to see Michael Teer, who is opening a wine shop and tasting bar on the ground floor (look for details on that coming shortly on the Sauced blog), I learned the space will also house a second Serious Pie restaurant.

The new pizzeria will occupy the second floor, visible from below and accessed via a wide staircase, above both the bakery and the wine shop. The bread production line at the first Serious Pie, visible to the restaurant’s dining room through glass windows, will move to South Lake Union, says Robyn Wolfe of Tom Douglas Restaurants. Wolfe says that no definite decision has been made about what to do with that newly vacant area behind the glass at the original pizzeria, though it may be used for additional seating.

Look for openings at Westlake and Harrison within the next three months. The Tom Douglas project on SLU’s Terry Avenue is set to open early next spring.

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Tags: Seattle Restaurant Openings, South Lake Union, Restaurant News, Tom Douglas

Half-Priced Breakfast This Week at SLU’s Row House Cafe

Baked brie in the morning? That could work.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Nov 01, 2010 at 08:07AM 0 Comments

A fruit bowl at the Row House Cafe.

Happy first of November, friends in food. I come bearing good news. Row House Cafe starts serving breakfast this morning, and, to entice you to try it, they’re charging half price all week.

The menu includes breakfast sandwiches (on bagels, English muffins, and croissants); vegetarian and meat frittatas; cheesy grits; and—what’s this?—baked brie with a choice of fresh berries, maple syrup and walnuts, honey and pinenuts, or fruit preserves.

For the virtuous among us, Row House is offering up oatmeal and fruit bowls. That said, it is my feeling that far too few weekday mornings begin with baked brie. Breakfast runs from 6:30 to 9:30 am.

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Tags: South Lake Union, Breakfast, Restaurant News, Deals

Slideshow: Lake Union Floating Farmers Market

Before the floating market moves indoors and onto a ship, say goodbye to the outdoor version with scenes from the season’s last hurrah.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Oct 29, 2010 at 10:06AM 0 Comments

A visitor scopes out the goods.

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A visitor scopes out the goods.

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The Cha Doua Gardens stand stocks fresh flowers and seasonal vegetables.

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Flowers from Cha Doua Gardens.

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Onions and rosemary from vendor FarmBoat.

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“Captain” Dave Petrich, founder of the market.

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The historic Virginia V steamship. The market will be housed in the ship on Thursdays starting November 11 until December 23.

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Hayley Richardson helps out at the FarmBoat stand.

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Bag and bags of Holmquist Hazelnuts, which is based in Lynden.

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Tis the season for pumpkins. More produce from FarmBoat.

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“Gourmet olive bliss”: pickled goods from McSweet, based in Maple Valley.

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Visitors leave with stocked totes.

Thursday, October 28—otherwise known as yesterday—was your last chance to check out the weekly outdoor floating farmers markets along the dock at Lake Union Park.

No big deal though. The plan for November and December, according to the blog belonging to Farmboat (the group organizing the market), is to host vendors indoors aboard the Virginia V, “the last remaining survivor of a vast fleet of independently operated vessels that transported farm products around Puget Sound in the early 1900s.”

Meantime, peace out October’s bobbing bazaar with this slideshow of scenes from yesterday’s market, captured by photographer Anne Dixon.

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Tags: South Lake Union, Farmers Markets

Buy Your Veggies From A Boat

Maritime farmers markets floats up to Lake Union Park.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Oct 19, 2010 at 07:32AM 0 Comments

The floating farmers market pulls up to Lake Union Park this Wednesday at noon.

Photo: farmboat.org

Wednesdays this month, a floating farmers market is docking up at Lake Union Park from noon to 7pm.

The market was created by an organization called Farmboat, which aims to revive a century-old tradition of dockside delivery in the Puget Sound. The Lake Union market is something of a test run, according to the website Farmboat eventually hopes to run three delivery boats between “Orcas, Lopez, Friday Harbor, Bellingham, Anacortes, La Conner, Coupeville, Langely, Port Townsend, Port Angeles, Poulsbo, Everett, Edmonds, Port Orchard, Bremerton, Seattle, Des Moines, Tacoma, Gig Harbor, and Olympia.”

So what can you buy? In addition to produce, there are homemade crafts, jams and honey, premade baking mixes, garlic, onions, and potatoes from Willowood farm in Coupeville, fresh flowers, and dried fruits and spices.

Farmboat is also planning a CSA—members will pick up fresh produce at a designated dock.

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Tags: South Lake Union, Farmers Markets

Just Eat It: Shrimp Salad Sandwich
at On the Fly

Delicious, and only $6.50.

Posted by: Christopher Werner on Oct 04, 2010 at 01:02PM 0 Comments

Like the other items at On the Fly, the shrimp salad sandwich is wallet-friendly.

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Like the other items at On the Fly, the shrimp salad sandwich is wallet-friendly.

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The takeout counter is right around the corner from Flying Fish.

There are maybe 150 shrimpies cramming into that baguette there. They’re of the bay variety, and they’re lathered with just enough dill-flecked dressing to give the guys a splash of sprightliness. The lengthy bow of bread is a reminder that the sandwich, even with its $6.50 price tag, is meant to satisfy the most eager of eaters.

The other offerings at On the Fly —several more sandwiches, salads, make-at-home meals—are also priced to move and maintain the stamp of Chris Keff, whose Flying Fish is right around the corner. She debuted this grab-and-go offshoot maybe two months back.

Smart ones will get to On the Fly before the lunch hour floodgates open. Otherwise you and a friend may mosey there, both with your sights set on the shrimp sandwich, and upon arrival discover only one remains. And that’s just a bummer.

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Tags: South Lake Union, Food Finds, Lunch, Takeout