OPENINGS
Mountaintops Cafe
On December 7, SoDo's Fulcrum Coffee Roasters opened this new coffee shop downtown in the Insignia Tower building, featuring espresso, specialty drinks, egg sandwiches, open-faced toasts, vegetarian and vegan menu items, and sweet and savory pastries from Fuji Bakery.
Downtown
Dave Lichterman's ever-popular Chicago-style pizzeria Windy City Pie, which previously operated out of Interbay's Batch 206 Distillery, has moved into its new home in the former space of Phinney Market Pub and Eatery and will open for business later this month. (Oaky's Tex Mex has moved into its previous space in Batch 206.) Currently, the restaurant, which will be all-ages and allow more space than Windy City's previous location, is accepting orders for pick-up on its website and for delivery via Caviar, starting at 4 pm daily until ingredients run out.
Phinney
Zeek's Pizza
This local pizzeria chain, which also serves craft beer from Pacific Northwest breweries, opened its first location on Capitol Hill on Monday, inside the Shea Apartments building.
Capitol Hill
OTHER FOOD NEWS
New chef joins Addo
Chef Eric Rivera, who runs the experimental pop-up venue and culinary incubator Addo, has hired chef Amy Beaumier as a team member. Previously, Beaumier worked as the executive chef at her seasonal French- and Italian-inspired restaurant Joli, but left after six months.
Jack's BBQ opening a location in South Lake Union
The SoDo-based Texas-style barbecue joint Jack's BBQ, which recently added a location inside the Columbia Tower food court, is planning to open a location in South Lake Union sometime during the week of January 28, serving the same menu of brisket, pulled pork, pork ribs, sausage, chicken, sides, and more, with breakfast tacos available in the morning. On January 22, guest Wayne Mueller of the legendary Austin-based Louis Mueller Barbecue will serve his signature beef ribs at the new location and give a talk about the history of Texas barbecue in the evening.
Samara coming to Sunset Hill
A new "wood-fueled neighborhood bistro" called Samara, serving seasonal wood-fired fare like charred onigiri and Dungeness crab from chef Eric Anderson, will open in Sunset Hill in February, in the former space of Rain City Video.
Tamara Murphy opening new restaurant in Columbia City
James Beard Award-winning chef Tamara Murphy, owner of Terra Plata, is planning to open a new restaurant called Limena, serving her interpretation of Peruvian cuisine alongside a bar program centered around pisco, in Columbia City, in the former space of Salted Sea.
Sizzle & Crunch coming to South Lake Union
The Vietnamese counter-service spot Sizzle & Crunch in the University District is opening a fast-casual restaurant serving customizable rice bowls in South Lake Union, between Revel's temporary location and Ballard Pizza Company. According to the Seattle Times, the eatery will debut in a few months.
Brendan McGill sells Hitchcock Deli in Georgetown
Chef Brendan McGill is selling the Georgetown location of Hitchcock Deli to new owner John Richards, who will re-open it as Georgetown Market and Deli, on February 1. The new market is set to open around March 1 and will include a deli section as well as basic grocery staples and a local produce stand.
EVENTS
FRIDAY, JAN. 18
85°C Bakery Café Grand Opening
To celebrate the grand opening of their International District location, Taiwanese bakery chain 85°C Bakery Café will be offering giveaways like iced sea salt coffees for 10 cents each and free mugs and tote bags with purchase.
Friday Field Trip - London Plane Taste of Local Grain Terroir
In honor of the annual Cascadia Grains Conference, this collaborative "seed to plate" dinner hosted by the London Plane and the Culinary Breeding Network will open with a "variety exploration" to showcase the "nuances of flavors of the same grains grown in different climates throughout our ecologically diverse state," with courses paired with small-batch, locally malted brews.
JAN. 18-20
Little Fish Takeover
Little Fish, the highly anticipated forthcoming Pike Place restaurant and seafood craft microcannery from chef Zoi Antonitsas and Bryan Jarr, will take over Vashon Island restaurant Gravy each weekend this January while owners Dre Neeley and Pepa Brower vacation in Italy. Diners will get the chance to preview brunch and dinner dishes from the Little Fish menu, including oysters with grapefruit mignonette, Dinah's Cheese from Kurt Timmermeister's Vashon-based Kurtwood Farms with grilled persimmon and chicories, Neah Bay sea urchin risotto, salt cod brandade croquettes, and tinned seafood, which will be available for purchase from Little Fish's microcannery when it opens.
SATURDAY, JAN. 19
Beep Boop Bagel Pop-Up
Scoop up hand-rolled bagels in flavors like black pepper Manchego and buckwheat blueberry by the single, half-dozen, or dozen.
Breaks n' Eggs: A Funky Brunch + Erynne Byrd Book Release Celebration
Pile your plate with crispy chicken and fresh waffles served by Nates Wings & Waffles and sip mimosas while Lace Cadence spins old and new hiphop in celebration of Erynne Byrd's new book of poetry and prose, A Compilation of Female Thoughts.Â
Chuck's CD 5th Anniversary Party
In celebration of their birthday, Chuck's Hop Shop has pulled together the "dankest draft list" they can muster, including barrel-aged stouts, sours, barrel-aged barleywines, and more. Plus, try a draft exclusive hazy IPA called Unanticipated Peninsula brewed by Modern Times PDX, a "soft, hazy IPA heavily hopped with Strata and supported by Southern Cross and Nelson."
How to Unlock the Benefits of a Plant Based Diet in 2019
Looking to go vegan or vegetarian or otherwise cut down on your meat consumption in 2019? Ballard's only "plant-based baked potato restaurant" will host a class with health and wellness coach Edith Agoston on the benefits of a plant-based diet.
Lowercase Five Year Anniversary and Steinbier Release
Georgetown's Lowercase Brewing will commemorate five years of business with the release of a unique German Steinbier ("stone beer"), which head brewer John Marti made by placing heated rocks in the beer's wort to induce evaporation and bring out flavors not usually found through other brewing methods. TÎste will serve up sweet and savory French toast sandwiches.
Roe on the Rocks
This month marks the 46th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that granted US women access to safe abortions. This milestone seems worthier of celebration than ever before, with an administration that has besieged reproductive rights and health-care access at every turn. Fittingly, the badasses behind Shout Your Abortion have joined forces with Planned Parenthood to fete the occasion, with libations provided by Fremont Brewing and forthcoming feminist-themed watering hole Ladybar, and noshes from the Sunny Up food truck, which specializes in punny breakfast sandwiches that pay tribute to famous women (sample menu items: the âRuth Bacon Ginsburg,â the âMia Ham,â and the âPatstrami Clineâ). KEXP DJs will provide the soundtrack.
Tahoma Fuji Sake Release Tasting
Seattle-based brewer Andy Neyens of Tahoma Fuji Sake Brewing Company (the "first combination retail shop and tasting bar in the United States to focus exclusively on premium Japanese sake") will unveil his Nama Genshu sake, available by the glass, flight, and bottle.
JAN. 19-20
Seattle Croissant Taiyaki Pop-Up
You already know the cronut, the cruffin, and other such portmanteau pastries. Now meet the latest hybrid baked good: the croissant taiyaki, a mash-up of the flaky French pastry and taiyaki, a fish-shaped cake thatâs a popular street-food in Japan. This winning combo will then be stuffed with sweet or savory fillings like red bean, matcha custard, Nutella, and ham and cheese. Donât miss your chance to try this unique franken-creation.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 20
6th Annual Robert Burns Supper
Raise a glass of Scotch to Scotland's national poet Robert Burns, toast the haggis, and join fellow guests in traditional drinking songs at this dinner presented by vocal group whateverandeveramen. James Beard award-winning chef John Sundstrom will prepare an exclusive menu with haggis, and a special Scotch ale brewed by Naked City Brewing will be provided.
Themed Sunday Brunch: Vegas Buffet
If what happens at this Vegas-style brunch stays at this Vegas-style brunch, we guess you'll have to refrain from telling your friends how much you enjoyed Chef Eric Rivera's late-morning buffet spread.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 21
Matia Dinner Series at Barjot
This dinner showcasing the bounty of the San Juan Island archipelago will feature dishes like lardo with quince and dandelion root crisp and lamb doughnuts with celeriac and rosehips, as well as optional wine pairings and wine by the glass.
Plant-Based Dessert Tasting with Chef Makini of Plum Vegan Restaurants
At this six-course tasting menu, sip sparkling wine and taste a variety of plant-based delights from chef Makini Howell and the Plum Pastry team, including ice cream, soft serve, and other seasonal treats in such seasonal flavors as kale winterberry and black currant rose.
