Sauced

Jamie Boudreau Up for Spirited Awards’ Bartender of the Year

Canon (and Seattle) represents in the cocktail industry’s most significant form of recognition.

Posted by: Allecia Vermillion on May 17, 2012 at 04:15PM 0 Comments

Clearly this man knows what he’s doing.

Major congratulations are in order for barman and Canon proprietor Jamie Boudreau, who is nominated for the American Bartender of the Year at the Tales of the Cocktail’s annual Spirited Awards. The James Beard Foundation may have (finally) added a cocktail category to its restaurantcentric awards extravaganza, but for people who serve, sell, or mix spirits for a living, this is the big time.

Boudreau is one of ten final nominees, along with major names like Jeffrey Morgenthaler of Clyde Common in Portland. Most of the list of nominees reads like a love letter to New York and Los Angeles, so cheers to some Seattle representation. Local spirits writer Paul Clarke, whose grasp of all things booze is both fearsome and inspiring, is nominated in the Best Cocktail Writing – Author category, and former Seattleite Brad Parsons is getting more kudos for his book Bitters: The Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All.

The winners will be announced July 28, at Tales of the Cocktail. This is the tenth year for this epic industry event, which blends seminars and brand education with lots of good old-fashioned New Orleans hijinx.

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Tags: Awards and Accolades, Jamie Boudreau, Tales of the Cocktail, Canon Seattle

A New Chef for Canon

Tavern Law’s Andrew Cross takes over, but the buns remain.

Posted by: Allecia Vermillion on Jan 23, 2012 at 09:00AM 0 Comments

Another departure from Tavern Law; a new food program at Canon.

Canon, a little bar on 12th Avenue that you’ve probably heard of, has a new chef. Per the Twitters, Andrew Cross arrived on Friday to take over the kitchen. He didn’t have far to move; Cross previously worked just up the street at Tavern Law, right up until the night before he reported for duty at his new job. Cross was, according to Canon owner Jamie Boudreau, the kitchen manager and lead cook over there. Before that, he worked in the kitchen at Canlis.

While Cross is still settling in, Boudreau says patrons can expect the menu to expand, change more frequently, and offer more specials and food pairings. He’s also hoping for more special dinners like Canon’s New Year’s Eve celebration and, as soon as it’s feasible, brunch.

“It’s our goal to have our guests talk about the food as much as they have our drinks,” says the barman, a lofty goal considering the roster of behind-the-bar talent, and the love that has rained down on Canon since it opened. Boudreau was also quick to note that the pork belly buns, an item so in demand at Canon that they are listed at the top of the menu inside a thick black box, aren’t going anywhere.

Boudreau says that Canon’s opening chef, Melinda Bradley, left to pursue another career, but he was “pleased with the direction that she has steered our ship.”

Cross isn’t the only Tavern Law alum that’s changed things up lately. Former lead bartender Ian Cargill now spends his weekends running the Trophy Room over at Shorty’s.

In totally unrelated (but still enjoyable) Canon news, partner Andrew Fawcett informed me that the bar called in a former BBC announcer to record its voice mail message. So next time you find yourself with a moment to spare during daytime hours, dial 206-552-9755 and revel in the fact that everything sounds more classy with a British accent.

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Tags: Jamie Boudreau, Tavern Law, Canon Seattle, Shift Change

2011: The Year in Drinking

Posted by: Allecia Vermillion on Dec 30, 2011 at 11:00AM 2 Comments

Canon: Kind of a big deal.

Oh 2011. Drinking-wise you were a year of highs and lows, and I’m not just talking about general intoxication and subsequent hangovers. Here are five of the year’s major moments in the realm of beer, wine, and spirits. Some are seminal events in our drinking lives, others merely a sea change that will alter the way we imbibe in 2012 and beyond.

1. Initiative 1183 Passes
It’s still not entirely clear exactly how privatizing liquor will affect our state’s distillers, brewers, bar owners, distributors, and, of course, drinkers. The Liquor Control Board’s wind-down has already caused some hardships for bartenders; cutting off special liquor orders is but one example of how the legislative process will impact your drinking in 2012. However with the June 1 deadline looming (and March 1, when distillers and distributors can start selling directly to restaurants), we’re likely to see some concrete answers in the coming months.

2. Washington Wine Drama
Remember the blogger drama that ensued when a rep from the Washington Wine Commission called out Matt Dillon for not serving regional wines at his otherwise locally oriented restaurants? Truthfully, though, it’s been a solid year for Washington’s wine. The State Department is pouring Yakima’s Treveri Cellars sparklers at its holiday events, local somm Shayn Bjornholm is now heading up the education program for the Court of Master Sommeliers, and just a few weeks ago, Yakima Valley’s Naches Heights was designated as the state’s 12th and newest American Viticultural Area.

3. Murray-Gate
First Seattle’s most storied barman was at Zig Zag Cafe. For a long time. THEN… he was going to RN74! But wait. Maybe he wasn’t. Then, he definitely wasn’t. After popping up briefly at the Pan Pacific Hotel, Murray Stenson seems to have settled in over at Jamie Boudreau’s Canon. And as for the frenzy surrounding his whereabouts? Consider it either proof that we take our drinks, and their makers, seriously…or proof that Jess Voelker and I lack for outside-of-work hobbies.

4. Seattle Embraces Beer in a Can
Washington Beer Blog’s Kendall Jones has a nice post recapping the brew-based highlights of 2011. And while events and growler car carriers are indeed awesome, our craft breweries’ embracing of cans will probably do more to change the way the average beer drinker kicks back after a long day. Seven Seas Brewing in Gig Harbor lays claim to being the first Washington brewery to can, back in 2010. Two Beers went the can route this summer, and newcomer brewery Hilliard’s only offers its beer in cans and kegs. Opened-this-very-minute beer bar the Publican has jettisoned its bottle list entirely in favor of cans.

5. Canon Opens
Local barman Jamie Boudreau had long planned to open his own place, and when Canon arrived, the reality somehow exceeded the ridiculously high expectations. Seattle has a score of cool cocktail bars; why is this one such a damn big deal? Maybe because it encapsulates everything that’s good about our local drink scene (a crazy array of spirits, bartender-patron drink collaborations, Murray Stenson) and very little of the bad (OK, it can be damn hard to get a seat sometimes).

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Tags: Wine, Beer, Murray Stenson, Canon Seattle, Retrospectives, 2011 in Drinking

Repeal Day 2011: Where to Celebrate

Monday is all about pinstripes, punch bowls, and the end of Prohibition.

Posted by: Allecia Vermillion on Nov 29, 2011 at 01:30PM 3 Comments

Celebrate the anniversary of Prohibition’s repeal on Monday. Canon might actually be this crowded.

There are lame pseudo-holidays, like Sweetest Day. And then there are fantastic ones, like Repeal Day. December 5 marks the anniversary of Prohibition’s official demise, when the ratification of the 21st Amendment let America bid farewell to the days of underground hooch and non-ironic speakeasies. It’s a day that ushered liquor back into legality, accompanied by no small amount of indulging.

And every year a few Seattle bars celebrate this historical turning point all over again.

Vessel was historically a go-to for Repeal Day imbibement. But since the bar is still counting down to its new downtown location, owner Jim Romdall is joining forces with Jamie Boudreau over at Canon. Plans are still being finalized, but Romdall will do a special menu of past and future Vessel cocktails, and Boudreau promises happy hour food all night long, 20 percent off punch, and most likely some deep discounts on a special bottle of whiskey.

At Knee High Stocking Co., a bar that managed to pull off the Prohibition vibe without it feeling cheesy, you’ll still have to pass muster at the door, speakeasy style. But once you’re inside, Repeal Day festivities include punch, drink specials, and a few cocktails from the new winter lineup. BUT…you must be sporting period-correct attire.

Any other Repeal Day events in the works? Let’s hear ’em.

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Tags: Drinking Culture, Canon Seattle, Repeal Day, Knee High Stocking Co.

Murray Stenson Joins Canon Crew

The legendary barman surfaces.

Posted by: Seattle Met Staff on Oct 17, 2011 at 12:00PM 1 Comments

Murray Stenson: find him behind the bar at Canon.

Even on her way out she delivers the big stuff.

On Sunday evening Jess Voelker—whose last day at Seattle Met was last week —was the first to tweet huge news: that Murray Stenson has joined the crew at Canon, the new cocktail emporium of Jamie Boudreau.

In May the legendary barman departed from his longtime post at Zig Zag. His plan was to take a gig at Michael Mina’s RN74. That never panned out, however, and Stenson has laid low since.

According to Eater and Seattle Weekly, Stenson will tend three nights a week; which ones are yet to be determined.

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Tags: Jamie Boudreau, Murray Stenson, Canon Seattle

Even More Details on Canon Seattle

Jamie Boudreau describes the food concept at his new bar.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Aug 09, 2011 at 07:57AM 1 Comments

The way in at Canon Seattle.

Photo: Canon via Facebook

But wait, there’s more! I asked Jamie Boudreau for some follow-up details on the food menu at Canon Seattle, his new bar on 12th Avenue East slated to open later this summer.

He said the menu will change at Chef Melinda Bradley’s whim, “weekly, monthly, whatever, not just with the seasons.” It will consist of about 12 dishes (compare that to the cocktail menu, which will requires customers to choose from 100 distinct concoctions).

“Everything is meant to be shared, which means that a) you should be able to do so without picking up a knife and b) items will be portioned in even numbers. Nothing will be too fussy or precious. No style of food is off limits. My direction to her was that when you ate, you had to know that there was something in your mouth (nothing too subtle), when you finished you had to feel it in your belly, and when you shared you had to do so with ease. Everything had to be of good value and the food was allowed to be pretty as long as it wasn’t precious.”

Boudreau says he met Bradley years ago through a friend and that the two reconnected again at another friend’s wedding. “She’s young,” he says, “but has had some great experience at some great NY restaurants.” Those restaurants include, according to Canon press materials, Bar Boulud and Marcus Samuelsson’s Aquavit.

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Tags: Capitol Hill, Jamie Boudreau, Bar Openings, Menu Descriptions, Seattle Chefs, New Cocktail Menus, Canon Seattle

Details on Canon Seattle Emerge

And here they are.

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

Canon opens later this summer at 928 12th Avenue E.

Photo: Canon Seattle via Facebook

So it was only last week I was pestering Nathan Weber for confirmation on his move to Mistralkitchen. And now it seems the intrepid barman is moving on to Canon, Jamie Boudreau’s new cocktail emporium that’s set to open later this summer in the former Licorous space on 12th Avenue East. No word from Weber yet on whether or not he plans to stay on at Mistral and Rob Roy, though working behind three bars seems like a rather challenging proposition.

Canon broke the news in a press release on Monday night, announcing also that one Melinda Bradley would be the chef at the new cocktail bar. Bradley’s LinkedIn page says she last worked as a cook and baker at Lisa Dupar Catering, and before that was in the employ of Daniel Boulud’s Dinex Group in New York City. According to Canon press materials, she also worked at Marcus Samuelsson’s Aquavit, also in New York. None of this has yet been independently confirmed. (What? Some of us are still a little shell-shocked following the Daniel Jeffers fiasco. Also, update: I received confirmation from Aquavit, she definitely worked there. ) The press release says that the menu will be made up of shareable plates focused on local ingredients. Boudreau envisions guests combining the dishes to create “multi-course meals.”

Other things we’ve learned about Canon: Its “Angostura bitters-stained mahogany and birch bar,” built and designed by Boudreau, will seat 12, with 36 more seats scattered around the space. The drinks menu is huge, boasting “more than 100 cocktails.” Canon will be open every day from 5pm to 2am and will serve food until 1:30am.

I’ve got queries and confirmation requests in. I’ll update as soon as I know more things.

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Tags: Capitol Hill, Seattle Bartenders, Jamie Boudreau, Bar Openings, Seattle Bar News, Canon Seattle

Jamie Boudreau Says New Bar, Canon, Should be Open by Late Summer

Here’s what we know about it.

Posted by: Jessica Voelker on Jun 21, 2011 at 07:46AM 9 Comments

Jamie Boudreau hopes to open Canon by late summer.

Photo Courtesy: canonseattle.wordpress.com

Update 2: Boudreau confirms that Canon will move into the current home of Licorous at 928 12th Avenue.

Update: A liquor license app indicates that Canon is taking over the Licorous space on Capitol Hill. I will now try to confirm.

Bartender Jamie Boudreau’s goal of opening a bar in Seattle, years in the planning, may be reached by late summer. Boudreau first came to Seattle from Vancouver to open Vessel; he left the now-shuttered cocktail lounge and spent time behind the stick at local bars Tini Bigs and the Knee High Stocking Club Co. Currently he bartends at Rob Roy in Belltown and travels as a brand ambassador.

But Boudreau has been working to raise funds for his own place for some time now, and he sent word Monday evening that he is very close to finalizing a lease on a space, though he did not reveal the location.

He confirmed only that the bar would be called Canon, but “whiskey and bitters emporium,” indicates a focus on brown, bitter, and stirred. Clearly, more questions than answers at this point, but you can follow Boudreau’s progress on Twitter and Canon Seattle’s website. And check back here too—I’ll be digging for details, you can believe that.

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Tags: Seattle Bartenders, Jamie Boudreau, Bar Openings, Canon Seattle