This herb-encrusted filet on Maslows salmon burger makes me want to open my wallet very wide indeed. As does this months $1 million matching promise made by Amazon.
This herb-encrusted filet on Maslow's salmon burger makes me want to open my wallet very wide indeed. As does this month's $1 million matching promise made by Amazon. FareStart

Maslow's Opens Today, Rounding Out FareStart's Amazon Adventure

The nonprofit's Amazon campus flagship is a full-service, all-day restaurant helmed by chef Skylar Gemar, who previously helmed the kitchen at Ada's Restaurant and Bar in Phinney Ridge, and it's open today from 11am to 9pm for lunch, happy hour, and dinner.

Maslow's is named, adorably, for Abraham Maslow—you might be familiar with his theory of the hierarchy of needs. It's a a nod to the restaurant's mission of providing for "the next level of needs to help move people toward a higher wage on their journey to security and self-sufficiency," and is also maybe the one old timey restaurant name I do not find at all obnoxious. Endearing, actually.

The restaurant is as gorgeously designed as any of Seattle's newest hotspots, in hopes, I think, of commanding similar prices. Thus the whole "next level of needs,"—I think this means they'll get to pay folks little more or employ more folks or generally put more money into programs, which is great because this city sure as shit ain't cheap these days. When rent is averaging out around $2000 per month, it takes a pretty hearty tug on the old bootstraps to complete that journey to self-sufficiency, basically, so hopefully you're all down to shell out at Maslow's. Given how goddamn lovely their food looks, I'm guessing you'll definitely be getting your money's worth. Not to mention that, if you go this month, you'll be getting in on that $1 million match from Amazon. Salmon burgers, anyone?

Agua Verde Burned But It's Okay Now

It happened Saturday morning, and KOMO 4 was on hand to bring us this sorry, sorry sight:


Given what a wonderful patio they have, and how this city is so in love with their midscale Mexican food and self-serve salsa bar, this was shaping up to be a major midsummer tragedy. I spent the weekend dreading having to write this particularly sad bit of news, but by the time I sat down to do the column, all was right with the world again:


“The fire department was able to get here really quick," owner Rey Lopez told KING 5. "Really, we owe those guys burritos."

Love that quote.

Hot Dog Hater Hates on Seattle's Flagship Hot Dog

Zak Burns, one half of the "white guys having thoughts about things" show that is Rantz and Burns on KIRO Radio, really doesn't like our city's signature hot dog. In an article entitled, "The Seattle Dog is the shame of this city," he lays into the local favorite:

It’s GROSS.

How anybody thinks the combination of hot dog and cream cheese is delicious is beyond my comprehension.

The Seattle Dog is a dish that I not only avoid eating, I get nauseous even seeing someone else do so. Especially on a hot summer day. Even imagining some Mariners or Sounders fan chowing down one of these abominations on a 90-degree day is making my stomach queasy.

He is, of course, wrong, which is one thing this paper can agree with Dave Meinert about.


Taste is, as Dave points out, something that varies wildly with your surroundings. One does not complain about greasy, salty hashbrowns at a cheap diner, as that's exactly what you expect from a cheap diner. If they aren't oozing butter and encrusted in cheap salt, in fact, you might even be disappointed. However, I would go so far as to say that, drunk or not, cream cheese is not unwelcome on a hot dog, and Burns' squeamishness just makes him seem like the type of philistine who hates oysters but has never tried one and orders burgers well done. Also, I know your job is literally to have thoughts about random things (many of them incredibly asinine), and regurgitate those thoughts in a way that makes them seem edgy and outside-the-box instead of obnoxious and obviously pandering to the worst traits of staid, white America, but who asked you?

Salted Sea Owner Launches Banh Mi Shop

The newest venture from Huy Tat, the owner of popular Columbia City seafood spot Salted Sea, has opened Lan Hue in the Pacific Rim Center on Jackson, Seattle Met reports. It's a partnership between Huy and his uncle, Mon, who is the mastermind behind the baguettes and pastry involved. Mon worked in the family's popular Saigon restaurant, but had no desire to be involved in the industry when he immigrated to Seattle. Huy, however, was more than happy to be the businessman in the room, so he convinced his uncle to get kneading again.

Lan Hue offers all the traditional banh mi's you love, as well as a pastry case with such meaty delights as flaky, sinfully good pate chaud, and banh bao with duck egg and pork filling. Everything is also made in house, from the pate right on down to the mayonnaise. Despite that, the sandwiches are still around $4 for an 11-inch, which is a mere $1 more than your average Seattle Deli or Saigon Deli offering. There's also a buy five get one free deal. That's great news, as they're conveniently located by the I-90 onramp for that inevitable last minute, "Oh shit you have to actually, like, bring food and stuff when you go hiking?" stop.

Opus Co. Opens

Opus Co., the eagerly anticipated Phinney Ridge venture from former Trove chef de cuisine Mark Schroder, is officially open, Seattle Met reports. It looks to be a meat-lover's mecca, as Schroder is bringing his farm upbringing to bear on an aggressive whole animal butchery program. He's also adding in plenty of Asian-inspired techniques, taken from his time under the tutelage of Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi. The menu looks awesome, and so does this:

Opus Co. family meal | the meats!

A post shared by Opus Co. (@opuscoseattle) on

People's Pub RIP

People's Pub, the Ballard German food favorite, is no more, reports MyBallard. The report comes from a Facebook post by a user associated with the pub, not ownership itself, but MyBallard says they've yet to receive a response from the owners as to the cause of their demise.

Ravenna Alehouse is Now Flying Boots

The march of progress continues with this rebranding. Ravenna Blog is a bit bummed:


However, the Ravenna Alehouse Facebook page is posting all sorts of celebratory stuff about the Flying Boots grand opening, so it would appear to be under the same ownership, just not the same marquee. Wait until they tear it down for condos to really cry, y'all! Or don't, because we all need to be YIMBYs if we want to survive this technopocalypse.