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]

Eating Portland: Lorna Yee on P-town

Head over to the Seattle Mag blog to read Lorna Yee's (of Cache fame) inside scoop on her upcoming Portland article.

We sent Lorna to Portland because we wanted to know if that city lives up to all the NYTimes hype its gotten of late. Lorna's a big-time foodie--the girl won a charcuterie competition the first time she made it, fer christsakes--so her insights are incomparable. Check it out.

And keep an eye out for the Best Restaurants issue, which will be on newsstands in about a week!! I worked my tail off on that thing--I think our first meeting was way back in mid-October--and I'm really happy with it. So don't miss it.

Oh, and one last thing: Stalkerish types should read my drive-by Corson Building update. It's getting a little ridiculous, I know, but it's fun (literally) watching the progress.

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]

Eating Seattle: Vote for local food blogs

Three Seattle-based food blogs are nominated this year for Well Fed Network's Food Blog Awards. Nope, not us, but you can't win 'em all.

Here's are your local nominees:

Hogwash, which is nominated for Best New Food Blog

Orangette, nominated for Best Post for this post about her wedding.

And Gluten-Free Girl, who's nominated for Best Post for this post on Celiac Disease, and for Best Writing, and for Food Blog of the Year!!

Congrats on the nominations, ladies.

Well Fed Networks annual food blog awards

How nice is it to wake up to the news that your blog has been nominated for a Well Fed Networks food blog award by a person whose blog deserves an award even more?

It's pretty damn nice. Thanks, Dana.

Many other local blogs have been nominated (including Hogwash, Orangette, Gluten-Free Girl and Roots & Grubs), so, if you're feeling inclined, support local independent food writers: voting starts today!

Bonus: Check out the Strangercrombie auction for Dana's Year of Desserts here.

Food News: Where's Viv?

When I moved back to Seattle and started re-engaging with the food scene here a year ago, the best part was discovering fresh, new, sometimes-offbeat food personalities, especially among the bloggers. There are so few "official" outlets for food writers in Seattle, so it's fun to see the range of talent among the "unofficial" food writing community. And Viv, aka Seattle Bon Vivant, was one of my favorites.

Viv's shoes, via her moblog
But I started noticing--sometime in August--that Viv's posts were thinning out. There were just two posts that month. September brought just one (which, compared to the 19 posts she made during Sept. 2006, is quite a change of pace).

And then in October? Nothing. November? Again, nada. Seattle Bon Vivant has been stagnant for three months now.

The good news is, she's still taking photos. And they're seriously good photos (take a look at these first pics of Txori Bar). She's blogging on her photos, which is fun and probably a lot less trouble than blogging on her blog and then adding photos to her posts.

But I still miss her posts, don't you?

[where: 98101]