A flurry of ice cream places have been cropping up, but this week, it's all about doughnuts: Pioneer Square is getting its own location of Renee Erickson's excellent General Porpoise Doughnuts, and the culty, covetable Raised Doughnuts pop-up is settling down in a brick-and-mortar location in the Central District (they're popping up at Eastern Cafe this Saturday if you want a preview). In the meantime, read on for more things you can add to your to-eat list right now, like $6 poke bowls during Friday's grand opening of Aloha Poke Co., new ice cream flavors at Molly Moon's, and whitefish at Westman's Bagel and Coffee. For more ideas, check out our complete food & drink calendar or our list of women-owned businesses to dine at for Women's History Month.
OPENINGS
Aloha Poke Co.
On the heels of the recent closure of Wanderfish Poke, this new poke joint (which flies its ahi tuna in from Honolulu each day!) is already racking up raves for its authentic Hawaiian poke and other Hawaiian comfort food. Today, they're offering $6 bowls for their grand opening.
Central District
Brass Knuckle Bistro
This family-owned sandwich shop from the former head chef and butcher of the Swinery has a cheeky, esoteric reference-laden menu of sandwiches like the Mustache Pete (a grilled spicy Italian sausage sandwich christened after the nickname for adult members of the Sicilian mafia) and the Anton LaVey (a seitan sandwich named after the founder of Satanism). Other offerings include soups and salads.
White Center
Evviva Woodfired Pizza
The crowd-pleasing Edmonds thin-crust pizzeria, named for an Italian word loosely translated as "cheers " or "hurray," has opened a new location in Queen Anne.
Queen Anne
Hub Coffee
A tipster alerted us to this newly opened modern, minimalist coffee shop which serves loose-leaf tea, locally roasted coffee, and artisan baked goods. It's received positive reviews so far on Yelp.
Magnolia
Little Chengdu
This new noodle house specializes in Chongqing noodles and other Szechuan-style small plates.
Rainier Valley
Maxwella Cafe and Bar
The name of this new coffee shop and bar from Taylor Hoang, the owner of Pho Cyclo Cafe, is a portmanteau of her kids' names (Maxwell and Ella). There's coffee, pastries, bread, baked goods, and locally sourced food like shrimp linguini, truffle fries, curried mussels, and tri-tip steak sandwiches.
Redmond
CLOSURES
Chaco Canyon Cafe
The organic, health-focused vegan and vegetarian favorite announced via its email newsletter that its University District location will be closing. The location was sold and operated as a franchise under a different ownership group earlier this year, and the University District owners have decided to end their relationship with Chaco Canyon in order to launch a new independent cafe in the space. Chaco Canyon will focus on their locations in West Seattle and Greenwood and plans to search for a home for a new third location.
University District
The Helm
Chef Travis Stewart and barman Kyle Takacs's cocktail bar and seafood restaurant has closed. The restaurant had previously posted on their website that they were closed for private events through the end of 2017, but failed to reopen.
Fremont
Honor Society Coffee
The local coffee roaster and cafe located in Melrose Market announced its closure this week with a heartfelt, regretful post on Instagram, saying, "We built a foundation that wasn’t sound enough to support us." Members of their coffee subscription service will continue to receive orders, but no new orders will be taken.
Capitol Hill
Jones Brother & Co.
Eater Seattle reports that the family-run New American restaurant appears to be vacant and that their phone line is disconnected.
Ballard
Sun Liquor Lounge
Sun Liquor has put their location on Summit Ave for sale on Craigslist. The company, which previously closed its distillery on East Pine last summer, will focus on its wholesale business.
SPECIALS
Chateau Ste. Michelle
The Woodinville winery has released their newest varietal, a new Columbia Valley Rosé, nationally—just in time for Washington Wine Month. Made from a blend of "98 percent Syrah and 2 percent Merlot," the dry, crisp pink wine has "bright aromas of watermelon and raspberry with flavors of wild strawberry, citrus zest and hints of melon."
Frankie & Jo's
The vegan ice creamery has announced their flavor lineup for March: Big Sur, an earthy cashew-and-coconut-based flavor inspired by the California destination infused with chamomile and swirled with spirulina; Rhubarb Yuzu Yogurt, a tangy frozen yogurt flavor made in partnership with Imperfect Produce and featuring roasted rhubarb, yuzu citrus juice, and fermented coconut yogurt; and Spring Thyme, a returning favorite with lemon cashew-coconut ice cream with fresh thyme and a flax-oat crumble.
La Marzocco
Need a sweet caffeinated pick-me-up? Onyx Coffee, the current roaster-in-residence at KEXP's La Marzocco, is offering a vegan "Onyx Shake" with Molly Moon's vegan coconut sweet cream ice cream, coffee-infused chocolate from Kyya Chocolate, and three shots of Onyx espresso. As if that's not enough, it comes with a cookie pairing from San Francisco's DOUGHP.
Lady Yum
For March, the macaron maker is rolling out two new flavors: Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting and Sour Apple-O (according to Lady Yum's Instagram, the latter was intended to pay tribute to the gummy apple candy but tastes more like a caramel apple lollipop).
Molly Moon's Ice Cream
To kick off their "Now Hiring Optimists" campaign, the scoop shop introduced Optimism Fudge Porter, a "fudgy and malty beer ice cream" with swirls of hot fudge and Optimism Brewing's Shift porter reduced into a syrup. For those who aren't into beer, there's a vegan and dairy-free root beer sorbet, and the shop is also scooping Molasses Cream Cookie, a candied ginger-molasses ice cream with molasses buttercream cookie sandwich chunks folded in.
Trophy Cupcakes
In honor of Girl Scout cookie season, the cupcakery is baking Thin Mint cupcakes with an actual Thin Mint cookie baked into the bottom.
Westman's Bagel and Coffee
After the much-anticipated opening of Molly Westman and Monica Dimas's New York-style bagel shop, Stranger reporter Sydney Brownstone lamented their lack of whitefish. Fortunately for fans of the smoky, creamy salad, Westman's has now added it to their offerings, available as either a sandwich or melt.
OTHER FOOD NEWS
General Porpoise coming to Pioneer Square
In a press release, Renee Erickson's Sea Creatures Restaurant Group announced that they are bringing a new location of their filled-doughnut shop General Porpoise Doughnuts, which was just named one of the 31 best doughnut shops in America by Thrillist, to Pioneer Square. If all goes according to schedule, the new location will open by March 19. A press release says the new space will feature "white brick walls, enormous windows, large timbers, classic millwork and floor tile details," as well as a light installation of white paper elephant lanterns by contemporary artist Jeffry Mitchell.
Pizzeria 88 to become Boca Restobar
The Broadway pizza shop Pizzeria 88 is rebranding as "Boca Restobar and Grill," an informal restaurant-bar hybrid serving Argentinian cuisine, Capitol Hill Seattle reports. The restaurant, which will retain the same team, will reopen under the new name after remodeling their dining room and kitchen.
Raised Doughnuts finds a permanent brick-and-mortar location
The popular, line-inspiring Raised Doughnuts pop-up, known for its yeasted creations in unique flavors, has announced that it has secured a permanent location in the Central District, set to open by May. Pastry chef Mi Kim plans to offer a monthly rotation of seasonal specials as well as daily staples like gluten-free mochi doughnuts.
FOOD EVENTS
FRIDAY, MARCH 9
All Citrus Pop-Up Dinner
This locally minded dinner from Chef Aaron Tekulve of Surrell features citrus in every course from appetizers to dessert.
Cicatielli Pasta Class
Learn how to shape the Southern Italian pasta cicatielli and cook a traditional San Marzano and basil tomato sauce in an Italian terracotta pot from Cucina Casalinga's Michela Tartaglia, then savor the results of your efforts.
Spring Into Sours
As a prelude to warmer weather ahead, the crew at Cuoco will team up with the innovative small-batch craft brewer Urban Family Brewing to showcase four of their sour beers alongside food pairings from Cuoco's chefs.
SATURDAY, MARCH 10
Ballard Beach Blanket Bingo
For their fifth anniversary party, Populuxe will host all-ages bingo with drag queen Sylvia O'Stayformore and live surf and lounge music from Johnny Astro. Plus, there'll be giveaways and prizes throughout the day (like beach balls for the first 100 customers) and unique kegs and pins on tap in the "Beach Shack" (Populuxe's original location).
Comadre Panaderia Pop Up Shop
Mariela Camacho's pop-up panaderĂa will bring delicious Latin American-inspired treats like conchas, alfajores, and canela rolls to Resistencia Coffee.
Hops History & Brewology 101
Listen to a lecture on hops history and taste Northwest home brews, then learn how to brew your own beer at home from Jon Sleight of Jon's Home Brew and Wine Supply in Puyallup.
Irish Soda Bread Contest
Give your Irish grandmother's soda bread recipe the attention it deserves at this baking contest. Enjoy Irish music and dancing while the judges do their thing, and enjoy free samples after the winners have been announced.
Matchless Fog Bank IPA Release
Matchless Brewing will be in-store to release their new IPA, Fog Bank. Since the beer shares its name with a Magic: The Gathering card, they'll also celebrate by hosting a night to play various formats of MTG.
Peddler Brewing 5th Anniversary
On their fifth anniversary, taste Peddler's new Le Mont Ventoux Aged Belgian Sour and take home a free commemorative glass.
Raised Doughnuts X Eastern Cafe
The impeccable doughnut pop-up shop returns to its place of origin at Eastern Cafe (possibly their last pop-up before they open a brick-and-mortar store!), with flavors like Caramel Crunch Bar, Irish Coffee (coffee and Jameson glaze with gold flakes), and Matcha Mochi.
Scotch: Barley, Water, Wood & Thyme
Learn all about "the personalities and characteristics of scotch styles and how to best enjoy them straight or utilize them in a cocktail" while sipping cocktails alongside lunch.
SUNDAY, MARCH 11
2nd Annual Dumpling Fest
My number-one craving in these cold winter months is dumplings in any and all of their forms, whether they’re xiao long bao or potato pierogi slathered in sour cream. So it’s with particular delight that I recommend this cross-cultural celebration of pillowy pockets of goodness. Tom Douglas will assemble peddlers of doughy delicacies of every persuasion, from potstickers to pelmeni, in one room, so that you can drift from station to station stuffing their wares into your face. Participating businesses include Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi’s Revel, Dumpling Tzar, Rocky’s Empanadas, and more. JULIANNE BELL
2nd Annual Pi Day Bake-Off
Bring an empty stomach and your best Mary Berry impression for this Pi Day bake-off. $15 gets you a ticket for the enviable task of judging all of the pie entries based on appearance, crust, creativity and flavor. A first, second, and third place prize will be awarded for the pies with the most tallied votes, but all participants will receive a consolation prize, so everyone goes home a winner.
Burgundian Chefs' Dinner with Fremont Brewing
At this multi-course dinner, chefs from six different restaurants (including Jeffrey Vance of No Anchor and Navy Strength, Aaron Wilcenski of the Burgundian, Chris Barton of Stateside, Erik Jackson of Vendemmia, Joel Panlilio of Tilth, and Matt Woolen of Bean Boss) will offer their take on each course with a beer pairing with Fremont Brewing.
Modern Moroccan Dinner
Food blogger Ashley Rodriguez of Not Without Salt will host a vibrant dinner bursting with bright Moroccan flavors like harissa and preserved lemon.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14
Check out our Pi Day calendar for tasty π-themed happenings near you.
