Food News: Columbia City farmers market opens today, more

Been a bit quiet around here, huh? That's because I'm blogging over at Seattlemag.com most of the time now.

If you aren't reading the food blog over there, so far this month you've missed:
A 2009 Seattle farmers market calendar, with dates for all of the summer neighborhood markets. Check it out to find out when your local opens.

A spring restaurant opening update, including news on when we can expect Delancey, another Skillet Street trailor, and a second Agua Verde coming soon.

And lastly, you've missed out on getting the in-depth scoop on the return of William Belickis. Contributor Lorna Yee got the scoop just yesterday on the fall opening of Mistral Kitchen!

[where: 98118]

Food News: Sitka & Spruce Moving?

Say wha? You heard me: Word is, Matt Dillon's moving Sitka & Spruce to Capitol Hill. More details to come, but read about that and more food news over on my Seattle Mag blog.

[where: 98112]

Food News: Moshi Moshi opens Thursday

Despite what you might've read, um, elsewhere (I'm a huge fan of Voracious, but it's probably a better policy to update a blog post when you publish incorrect info rather than deleting it from the blog and making your readers think they're going crazy), Moshi Moshi actually opens this Thursday, Feb. 5th.

I've been anticipating the opening of this place for months; seems like there's a lack of really good sushi in the neighborhoods, and I figured the team behind Bricco might just do it right.

Head over to my Seattle Mag blog to get all the details.

[where: 98118]

Food News: Five new pizza places

Hi y'all
Been a fun couple of weeks. I've been eating my way through the city--Le Pichet last week (that place is just so right--terrific food, easy atmosphere), Matt's in the Market a couple weeks back (still great, although one of the chefs is finishing sauces with way too much lemon and it's distracting).
But even more news: Five new pizza places have opened (or are on the verge) all around the city, from my hood (Seward/Columbia City) to northern Ballard. Check it out on my Seattle Mag blog page.

OH, and take a minute to look our new website over! Way more links, and now (get this): EVERYTHING from our issue is available online, including my review of the Corson Building. Thanks, yes, it does feel good to join you all in the 21st century ;)



[where: 98101]

Food News: Veil's closing this week, more

I know this is only the beginning---the economy (even if it is relatively strong here vs elsewhere) is going to start taking names and some of Seattle's most unique restaurants are bound to fall. Today comes news of the impending closure of Veil. Read the sad news on the Seattle Mag food blog.

[where: 98101]

Food News: Poppy taking reservations, opens Sat.

Finally, Poppy is opening. I've heard from two friends that the food is really good and that the space is chic but approachable--sounds like a nice fit for the hill.

More here, here and here. Or just skip it all and make your reservations here.

[where: 98102]

Food News: Traunfeld's Poppy to open Sept. 13!

Yippee! Jerry Traunfeld's fanatically anticipated new restaurant, Poppy, which promises to breathe some life into the no-mans-land of north Broadway, is opening on September 13th (reservations will start being taken via email on Sept. 6th).

I am so excited. Check out Poppy's website for menu items--minted lentil goat cheese strudel, anyone?--and you probably will be too. More on Seattle Mag.


[where: 98102]

Bourdain, and the Corson Building's maiden dinner

I've been curious for months to know what Matt Dillon (Sitka & Spruce) and Wylie Bush (Joe Bar) would do with one of the most interesting buildings in industrial south Seattle, the Corson Building. So when I heard that the Corson's first "official" dinner would be a pre-show feast with guest-of-honor Tony Bourdain, I knew--though I'm not a big enough fan to dole out hundreds of bucks to join in--I knew I'd want to hear about it on the flip-side.

Did a quick search and found this short recap of dinner with Bourdain on a guy named Larry Jordan's livespace blog. The pictures he includes at the bottom of the page are definitely worth a look--check out that hot red meat slicer!

Did any of you go? I'd love to hear more about that dinner.

In the meantime, I just noticed that there's now an email address to reserve space for Corson Building's Sunday suppers on the Sitka & Spruce website. Game on!


[where: 98108]

Food News: Branzino opens in Belltown, plus a question

Head over to my blog on Seattle Mag to read about Branzino, a new seafood-focused place in Belltown. Thanks to Cornichon for the scoop on that one.

I'm curious...has anyone seen anything or heard anything about what will go into the old Mistral space? I don't live nearby so I don't get a chance to do drive-bys, so let me know if you've heard anything.

Other places to look forward to:

The old 1200 Bistro space looks like it's about ready to reopen as Pike Street Pub. They've even got outdoor tables set up.

Justin Neidermeyer's Pancia Piena on 14th (the old Globe space) is coming together. He's posted want-ads on Craigslist, so hopefully we'll see him opening the doors within the next couple months.

And this week: Casuelita's is set to open right next door to Columbia City Bakery. The owner seems nice--I've run into him and his daughter at the bakery--and he's very excited to get the doors open and the food served.

Got any other food news I should know about?

Food News: Whym to open in Minnie's locale

Sometimes when I'm working on my Insider column for the magazine, I know I'm writing about stories others will break before the issue publishes. That's the way it goes when you're working 3 months ahead of publish. For instance, I'm working on our August issue right now. Talk about a mind melt: YOU try to write about tomatoes when it's 43 degrees out.

But I digress. The reason I'm bringing this up is because this exact thing happened this morning. Mark Fefer wrote a little blurb on Minnie's becoming Whym on Voracious today. He didn't have much info on the news, but I do!

That's because I talked with Bridget Scott (the new owner) a month ago, when I wrote about it for our July issue.

So, since Fefer broke the story, I figure I'll fill you in on what I know. Read all about Whym, the soon-to-open 24-hour diner on my Seattle Mag blog page.


[where: 98101]

Food News: The fall of Gypsy

If you're a chowhound, foodie or just love a good meal in a non-chain most of the time, you've probably already heard the news: Seattle's first well-known underground restaurant, Gypsy, has been closed down.

Read more about it on the Seattle Mag blog.

[where: 98101]

Food News: Hebberoy's new fish shack

Yep, you heard right: Hebberoy, of the forthcoming Kill the Restaurant tome, is opening a restaurant. And that's not all (there's a pretty exciting pasta place opening too).

Head over the Seattle Mag to read all about it.

RELATED: NY Times on how Hebberoy screwed Portland

[where: 98112]

Food News: Virginia Inn reopening in a week

Boy did I luck into this one. I got a nagging feeling, picked up the phone, called Virginia Inn and whattayaknow, somebody answered the phone (which, you know, they usually don't). Told me they're reopening April 5th (that'd be a week from tomorrow).

Read more about it on the Seattle Mag blog.


[where: 98101]

Food News: Mistral to close at end of month

Big news in restaurants today! First I read Nancy Leson's column on the new St. Clouds Cafe at the NW African American Museum--excellent news! And that the pair from Pair are opening another place. More good neighborhood restaurants...life is good.

But with the good news comes the sad news that Mistral, perhaps Seattle's most unique fine dining restaurant, is closing. Head over to SeattleMag.com for the scoop.

Also closed: The Wellington in Columbia City, which I never made it to. There's also papered-over windows one block south of the Wellington on Rainier. Anybody know what's moving into that space?

[where: 98118]

Food Event: Dine for Darfur tomorrow, March 4

Here's my plan: I'm going to wake up, get Ruby dressed, get me dressed, and head to the new Caffe Vita down by the PCC near Seward Park for my morning coffee.

We're meeting Ruby's friend Leo (a younger man! He's only 13 1/2 months; Ruby's 14 months) and his mom at the zoo, so I'm thinking lunch'll be at Irwin's, the hippity-dippity place on 40th with the Adirondack chairs out front. We used to live in Wallingford, and we'd trek down to Irwin's for bagels on weekends, so it'll be an old-times-sake thing for me.

We've got a family dinner planned at our house, so I won't make it out for dinner, but I think two DFD meals is pretty good, dontcha think?

But if I had my way, I'd go to Serafina for dinner (I've been hearing really good things the last several months), or order a pizza from Pagiacci, or--lordy me--have a beer and an oyster po'boy at the Jolly Roger.

Where are you going for DFD?

Food News: Seattle Mag blog is alive

I'm so annoyed with me right now.

I promised myself I wouldn't be one of those losers who stops writing on her own blog just because she gets a job. But look at me! Loserface extraordinaire.

The problem is, I'm blogging over on Seattlemag.com now, so it's been kinda tricky figuring out what goes here versus what goes there. I'll probably just stick to being really mean and sassy here, and being nice and responsible there. Or not.

Anyhow, take a look over there when you get a chance (today I wrote about 3 restaurants we ate at this past week).

But don't abandon me over here quite yet, ok? I've got some real doozies planned for you...


[where: 98118]

Food News: Boom Noodle open

...and packed! At least it was at lunch yesterday when I wandered in, without knowing it was opening day. The place was bustling. Looked like the owners (the Blue C sushi guys) invited lots of friends and family to come in; they were working the room and hugging everyone in sight.

I get the feeling the Pike/Pine corridor will be embracing this place.

UPDATE: *OR NOT! The "Capital Hill is the new Bellevue" bitching has already begun over at the Stranger. It's basically the same moaning and groaning that went on when the hideous Mexican place finally closed and reopened as Quinn's.

I find the above complaints semi-entertaining, and I can relate to the feeling of loss over the few great places that have been (or probably will be) shut down or forced to move.

But what I don't understand is this: Where have all of these whiners been for the last decade? And why is this all so surprising to them? Because there were plenty of warning signs that Capital Hill was jumping the shark, or at least growing up and becoming less of a sh*thole. Like, um, Julia's opening on Broadway six years ago. Yeah, you know, Julia's, the brunch spinoff from Wallingford! Not exactly punk rock.

Mourn Capital Hill, and maybe think about moving someplace less glossy (and less expensive!). But quit the shock routine. It's getting a bit silly.

Boom Noodle (warning: website semi-broken)



[where: 98122]

Food News: Yours Truly lands a choice gig

I've been letting it sink in.

When you're applying for a job that's pretty close to your dream job it's easy to get caught up in the trying-to-get-it part, so much so that when you finally get the news, the really great news, you're a bit stunned. That part isn't as well-thought-out. It takes time to sink in.

So it's been a couple weeks and I still don't have a clever way to tell you, so here goes: I'm the new Seattle Magazine Dining Editor!

image via Kitchencon.com
I'm taking over for Sara Dickerman, an inestimably smart food writer who I suspect we'll be seeing lots of national pieces from in the near future (and by that I mean, even more than she already does). I'm honored, invigorated and, frankly, a little intimidated. It's all a great bundle of nerves and happy fear right now.

But at the core of the feeling is a thrill, and a sense of anticipation. I love writing about restaurants. I think it's what I do best. I was blessed to do it for 6+ years, here in Seattle and then in NYC (if you care, you can read more about my work experience here), and it feels really damn good to be back home and back in the game. I love food, I love cooking and I love restaurants. And I'm guessing I'm going to love this new job.

I'll be writing four restaurant pieces a month for Seattle Mag: The "feature" review, plus two short reviews and a "cheap eats" place. There are also a couple more foodie things including the a Letter From the Editor-ish piece. The bummer is that I won't be reviewing restaurants on this blog anymore. But I hope you'll follow me over there, and let me know what you think.

The first piece you'll see from me is an oyster feature in the February Issue, followed by a feature restaurant review in our March issue. Pick 'em up.



[where: 98101]

Food News: How to Cook a Wolf open

image via NOAA

Seats:
30
Hours:
5pm-12am Thu-Mon
What Looks Good:
ahi crudo with chilies and lime
spaghetti with garlic, chilies and shaved tuna loin
hard boild eggs with anchovy mayo
Phone:
206-838-8090
Website:
http://howtocookawolf.com/
How to Cook a Wolf
2208 Queen Anne Ave N (directly across the street from Ladro)

RELATED: Restaurants Opening All Over Town

[where: 98109]

Food News: Restaurants opening all over town

Seattle's going through a growth spurt. There are restaurants opening every week (almost every day) right now, and not just the forgettable sort. These are really exciting restaurant openings.

I just drove by Lola's South City Bakery which opened in early November just south of Columbia City in Hillman City, on Rainier. It's a darling space and, so far, is getting raves on Yelp.

Then there's Txori, the much anticipated offspring of Madison Valley fave Harvest Vine.
image via Txori

The exciting part is that this is a true Tapas bar (not "small plates," a concept that is really starting to drive me nuts). And that means prices that aren't impossible to afford, like $2.50 bites of chorizo with chocolate (not exactly an original idea, but delicious nonetheless). I can't wait to go.

Of course that leaves Ethan Stowell's How to Cook A Wolf, the "is it or isn't it open?" restaurant of the group. Turns out it isn't, quite yet. I stopped by yesterday and the windows are still papered. I'll keep you posted. Early word is a menu that concentrates on seafood and (yep, you guessed it) small plates.

Also open (actually reopened) is Villa Victoria in Columbia City. Yep, the Madrona tamale lady is back! Watch for more on that soon.

Then there's the crop that've opened in the last few weeks: Quinn's, which is earning raves from everyone I've talked to; Joule, ditto; and Artemis, again, raves all around.

Then there's Kappo Chiso, the omakase-only experience above Chiso in Fremont.


A "kappo," as its known in Japan, is meant to be a personal experience for the diner, an intimate opportunity to talk to the chef while you are enjoying your meal.

I had the unimaginable opportunity to dine at Masa , the ultimate omakase experience, in NYC. I dined there alone (a girl's expense account can only afford one $450/per person sushi meal. No, really, it costs that much) and had the best time imagineable, talking and joking with Chef Masa Takayama. It was magic. And that's why it's so disappointing to hear that Kappo Chiso isn't all that special. This city is sorely in need of a remarkable omakase experience.

Did I miss anything? Have you been to these new places?

PS--You've got til Thursday to enjoy 30 for $30.


[where: 98101]