Burning Beast Has Been Cancelled
• Burning Beast, the whole-animal feast on a farm at which a large wooden beast is set aflame, has officially been cancelled. “While so many communities are still threatened by fires, and with the burn ban still in effect, continuing our yearly celebration of fire and feasting does not align with the values espoused by the Rubicon Foundation and the Seattle food community,” wrote the event organizers in an e-mail issuing a refund to ticket holders.
Two Doors Down Is Open
• From the owners of the BottleNeck Lounge, a favorite among Central District and Madison Valley residents, comes Two Doors Down, a family-friendly, burger-and-beer joint featuring sixteen taps of rotating local and regional brews. The restaurant, located—wait for it—two doors down from BottleNeck, opened last week. The food menu includes a banh mi burger with daikon slaw and Sriracha-mayo, a “420” burger (two kinds of cheese, bacon, deep-fried avocado, AND a fried egg), and corn dogs. (And now, a moment of silence in honor of the space’s former longtime resident, Philadelphia Fevre.)
Jason Stratton Named Executive Chef of Mamnoon
• Jason Stratton, who in July was named general manager of Capitol Hill’s Mamnoon, is moving into the role of the restaurant’s executive chef. While Lebanese/Syrian food may seem like a departure from the Italian cuisine Stratton is known for, he’s always been curious about different cuisines. Stratton has already brought on his longtime partner from Spinasse and Aragona, Carrie Mashaney, as pastry chef. She’ll oversee Mamnoon’s substantial bread and baking program. More details from Seattle Met here.
Cafe Flora Manager Killed While Hiking in Alaska’s Denali National Park
• As I posted yesterday, the Seattle Times reports that KC Boehly, a manager at Madison Valley’s Cafe Flora, died last week while hiking in Alaska’s Denali National Park and Preserve. According to the Times, Boehly and a co-worker were returning from two days of backpacking in the park, but “bloated waterways from several days of rain in the area made crossings a treacherous affair.” They made three attempts to cross a creek, but “on the third try Boehly fell and was swept downstream.”
A picture of Boehly has been posted on Cafe Flora’s Facebook page, along with a tribute: “KC was a beloved member of the Flora family and her sudden passing is a shock to us all. There are not words for how deeply missed she will be by every one of us. She was a gentle soul, a true friend and an adventurer through and through.”
