News for Restaurants in Seattle
January 2012 Archive

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RESTAURANT NEWS

Openings

The Rock Wood Fired Pizza and Spirits in Seattle

The Rock Wood Fired Pizza and Spirits --- a gourmet pizza restaurant with a rock'n roll vibe --- recently opened in the Maxwell Hotel on lower Queen Anne. Part of a small group of restaurants that started in 1995 in Tacoma, Wash., this is The Rock's first urban location. (Other locations are in Washington, Oregon, Colorado and Canada.) Along with thin-crust pizzas, the casual menu includes pastas, burgers, and sandwiches. The Rock Wood Fired Pizza and Spirits, Maxwell Hotel, 300 Roy St., Seattle, WA 98109, 206-285-0476.

The fish 'n chips scene on Capitol Hill gets competitive as Five Fish Bistro joins Pike Street Fish Fry. The casual restaurant, owned by Garnet Pietre, offers five different kinds of fried fish including cod, salmon, catfish and prawns to partner with tasty 'chips.' Head over for a feast at lunch and dinnertime, Tuesday-Sunday. Sandwiches and salads are available for those who don't fancy fish. Five Fish Bistro, 410 Broadway E., Seattle, WA 98102, 206-325-7000.

The former Izilla Toys space on Capitol Hill has been transformed into Manhattan Drugs, a classy, slightly off-the-wall urban steakhouse by Laura Olson and Chris Pardo, the owners of Po Dog. The pricy menu features steaks and burgers, and the décor offers unexpected touches such as a fur-covered bar, antlers of various four-footed creatures, and confessionals. Open just a few weeks, it's already becoming a Seattle hot spot. Currently, the door is open for dinner and brunch, with plans to expand for lunch service. Manhattan Drugs, 1429 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122, 206-325-6574.

Northwest chef and cookbook author, Greg Atkinson, is opening his new restaurant later this month on Bainbridge Island. Not to be confused with Daisley Gordon's Marché, which replaces Campagne in Pike Place Market, Restaurant Marché's focus is a nod to Cuisine du Marché, a style of cooking that relies on fresh and local ingredients from the market to inspire the daily menu. Restaurant Marché, 150 Madrona Lane, Bainbridge, WA 98110, 206-842-1633.

News Bytes

John Howie Shares Culinary Secrets in His New Cookbook
Seattle chef John Howie recently published a new cookbook: Passion & Palate: Recipes for a Generous Table. The book features full-color photos and more than 100 favorite recipes from Howie's restaurants: Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar, which has locations in Bellevue and Seattle, and John Howie Steak in Bellevue. The book sells for $42, and can be purchased at the restaurants, or online at Amazon.com. Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar, Pan Pacific Seattle, 2121 Terry Ave., Seattle, WA 98121, 206-462-4364.

Green Leaf Blows a New Ethnic Breeze into Belltown
Green Leaf, one of the International District's most popular Vietnamese restaurants, is opening a second location at 2800 Second Ave, between Broad and Clay in the basement of Belltown's Labor Temple. The opening is set for February 2012.

Skillet Street Food Moving into Seattle Center's Revamped Center House
Skillet Street Food, with its gourmet mobile truck and brick and mortar establishment, the Skillet Dinner, is the first "name restaurant" to sign on for the revamped Center House at Seattle Center. Part of a major building remodel, Center House hopes to attract name chefs and eateries to revitalize the dowdy food court into a more appealing, upscale dining destination. Owned by Josh Henderson, Skillet Street offered Seattle's first upscale street food from its gleaming mobile food truck.

Bastille Cafe introduces oyster happy hour

Bastille Gives New Oyster Happy Hour a French Twist
Oyster lovers are heading to Bastille Café in Ballard to partake in its recently launched "Oyster Happy Hour." Served Monday through Thursday from 4:30 to 6 p.m., oysters harvested in Hood Canal will be available for $1 each and served with classic and/or exotic accompaniments created by chef Jason Stoneburner. As oyster partners, enjoy the tender mollusks with a Chuckanut Brewery Kolsch for $3, or a glass of Crémant for $5. Bastille Cafe, 5307 Ballard Ave. NW, Seattle, WA 98107, 206-453-5014.

Revel Hosts Series of Hands-on Cooking Classes
Chefs Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi are offering a series of hands-on cooking classes at Revel. The schedule is as follows: January 8: "Holiday Detox," February 5: Valentine's Day menu for two, March 4: "Family Affair" class for one parent and one child aged 8+, April 1: "Cool Cocktails for Home Entertaining," May 6: "Noodle Workshop," June 3: "Butchering 101," July 1: "Not So All-American BBQ," August 5: "Pickling Summer's Bounty," September 2: "Kimchi: the Funky Business," October 7: "Dumpling Delights," November 4: "Seasonal Entertaining," and December 2: "Creative Cookies." Classes are from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. and are limited to 14 people. Participants will enjoy a glass of wine during these classes, and will take home snacks and recipes from the class to recreate at home. The cost is $60 per individual class. Packages of 3 classes ($165) and 6 classes ($300) are also available. Participants are asked to bring their own knife. Pre-registration is required, call 206-547-2040 to reserve. Revel, 403 N. 36th St., Seattle, WA 98103, 206-547-2040.

Chef Shuffle

Danielle Custer, executive chef at TASTE for the past seven years, is leaving to open Monte Cristo: Seattle's Gourmet Grilled Cheese and Mobile Melts. Expected to roll out in the Spring, Custer's food truck will offer grilled cheese sandwiches made with hand-crafted, artisan cheeses and breads, as well as soups and a selection of cheese-laden gourmet foods. No news about who will take over at TASTE, which is located adjacent to the Seattle Art Museum. TASTE, Seattle Art Museum, 1300 First Ave., Seattle, WA 98101, 206-903-5291.

Two executives at Wild Ginger have been promoted: Cortney Lease, wine director for Wild Ginger and the Triple Door in downtown Seattle, is now the company's wine director; Mat Hayward has been promoted from assistant general manager at Wild Ginger Bellevue to general manager. Wild Ginger, 1401 Third Ave., Seattle, WA 98101, 206-623-4450.

After a decade at the beloved nieghborhood Italian bistro Serafina, chef Dylan Giordan has moved across the lake to bin on the lake at Kirkland's Woodmark Hotel, Yacht Club & Spa, where he plans to create a new menu. Serafina, 2043 Eastlake Ave. E., Seattle, WA 98102, 206-323-0807.

The changing face of Waterfront Seafood Grill, recently renamed as Aqua by El Gaucho, is also changing its kithen personnel. Steve Cain, chef de cuisine at El Gaucho Bellevue, has been named executive chef of Aqua by El Gaucho. However, it's more of a homecoming because Cain left the Waterfront in 2008, and all restaurants are part of the locally owned Mackay Group. Aqua by El Gaucho, 2801 Alaskan Way, Pier 70, Seattle, WA 98121, 206-956-9171.

Chef Jeff Martin from Portland is replacing Matt Fortner at Ethan Stowell's small plate-focused, Queen Anne restaurant, How to Cook a Wolf. Fortner is now currently cooking at Blind Pig, recently opened by Charles Walpoile, who left Stowell's Anchovies & Olives to open his own restaurant. How to Cook a Wolf, 2208 Queen Anne Ave N., Seattle, WA 98109, 206-838-8090.

Closings

CLOSED FOR GOOD
Take your taste buds on a walk down memory lane! Check out our exclusive closed restaurant database for Seattle to virtually visit your favorite dining spots from the past. Lampreia, R.I.P.

As part of a major remodel at W Seattle, the temporarily closed Earth & Ocean restaurant will be replaced in March by TRACE. The new restaurant and bar will be lead by chef Steven Ariel, who left Luc to take this post. Ariel's credentials include stints at Canlis and Café Juanita. Earth & Ocean, W Seattle, 1112 Fourth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101, no phone.

CULINARY EVENTS
Want to learn to cook? Try new dishes? Meet a foodie friend for fun? Check out our compilation of culinary events in your area.

View our calendar of Wine Dinners & Tastings in Seattle

Discover the top restaurants for various cuisines and categories like steakhouses, pizza, happy hours, and romantic dining. Find the best restaurants in Seattle here!

Find the best restaurants in Seattle in categories like outdoor dining and brunch

BEYONCE INSPIRED LIBATIONS

Try these whiskey cocktails inspired by Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album.

Check the recipes.

BOURBON IN YOUR AIOLI

This cashew aioli recipe gets a kick with bourbon.

Get the recipe.

GAYOT'S RESTAURANT AWARDS

Over the years, we have been electing restaurants to be on GAYOT's Yearly Restaurant Awards.

Check the list.

News for Restaurants in Seattle January 2012 Archive

News for Restaurants in Seattle
January 2012 Archive