OPENINGS
85°C Bakery Café
Known as the "Starbucks of Taiwan," this wildly popular Taiwanese bakery and cafe chain offering affordable pastries and sweets, including fluffy brioche and cream puffs, will have its grand opening next Friday, May 17, with free giveaways throughout the day.
Edmonds
Agave Cocina and Tequila
A new location of this local contemporary Mexican chain, which also has locations in Issaquah and lower Queen Anne, opened in the former space of West Seattle's Fresh Bistro in early May. The restaurant uses local and sustainable seafood, hormone-free meats, and fresh handmade tortillas.
West Seattle
Conversation
On May 8, the Thompson Hotel unveiled Conversation, their new restaurant concept (replacing Scout, which closed in January). As the name suggests, the new restaurant aims to focus on human connection free of distraction from electronics, with features like cards with conversation starters at each table to encourage discussion. For the menu, executive chef Derek Simcik highlights international flavors, including influences from his upbringing in Germany, France, England, the Netherlands, China, and Japan, as well as French and modernist techniques. Dishes include stuffed quail and a pig's head on a platter with kimchi apples, ramps, and cherry ketchup. Pastry chef Kate Sigel provides fanciful desserts like a chocolate, honey, and black truffle fudgesicle, while beer, wine, and cocktails are overseen by bar manager Josh Haddock. Conversation will also serve their first brunch service for Mother's Day this weekend.
Downtown
Crisp Greens
This healthy fast-casual restaurant offering customizable salads, grain bowls, and soups, with choices for grains, greens, dips/spreads, proteins, and toppings, opened last week and will have its grand opening in Tacoma this Friday, May 10.
Tacoma
Das Wagon
Former Vendemmia head chef Erik Jackson and wife Alison Odowski, who also own Good Day Donuts in White Center, have opened this food truck near Future Primitive Brewing, with hearty German fare like bratwurst, currywurst, schnitzel, pickle dip, and grilled apple fritters.
White Center
Draft Punk
This cheekily named new beer bottle shop from the team behind The Last Drop Bottle Shop in Maple Leaf, which is now open in Greenwood, sells local craft beer on tap and in cans and growlers, with a vinyl soundtrack and sci-fi flicks on TV.
Greenwood
Katsu Burger
The sixth location of the local Japanese fusion burger joint known for its deep-fried tonkatsu-style patties and unique milkshakes is now open in Federal Way.
Federal Way
Lowrider Baking Company
This cookie company christened in honor of owner Emily Allport's dachshunds, which previously operated as a pop-up and opened a trailer shop in Georgetown, will open its brick-and-mortar restaurant in the Central District this Saturday, May 11 in the former home of Street Treats. (The trailer shop will remain open.)
Central District
Zylberschtein's Delicatessen and Bakery
This highly anticipated Jewish deli from Josh Grunig, the owner of Standard Bakery, opened in Pinehurst on Thursday, May 8, and offers house-made bread, bagels, lox, a pastrami sandwich on rye, matzo ball soup and more, made with locally sourced ingredients and inspired by Grunig's family recipes. Standard Bakery's pastries, such as pies, cakes, tarts, and cookies, will continue to be offered at Zylberschtein's and at farmers markets under the Standard Bakery name.
Pinehurst
OTHER FOOD NEWS
Canlis chef takes home James Beard award
On May 6, chef Brady Williams of iconic Seattle fine-dining institution Canlis received a James Beard Award for Best Chef: Northwest, marking the first time a chef at the restaurant has received the prestigious award in Canlis's 70 years of existence. Canlis also won a James Beard Design Icon award in March for its distinct architectural elements.
Biscuit Bitch coming to White Center
The expletive-peppered, Southern-inspired brunch spot Biscuit Bitch, which just won the Reader's Choice for breakfast and brunch in The Stranger's 2019 food and drink guide, plans to open a location in the former space of the recently closed Brass Knuckle Bistro in White Center by the end of July. The outpost will be the chain's fourth location and its biggest yet, and may bring back some older vegetarian favorites that are no longer available at the other locations, like collard greens and black-eyed pea hummus.
Sichuan chain opening first location in Seattle
The popular Sichuan chain Chengdu Taste, which started in Los Angeles and has locations in Hawaii, Houston, and Las Vegas, plans to open its first location in Seattle in the International District's Publix building, which currently houses Dough Zone and the recently opened Hood Famous Cafe and Bar. J. Kenji Lopez-Alt of Serious Eats once called it "the best Sichuan restaurant in America." Details about the opening timeline for the Seattle location are currently unknown.
Mr. West opening in U Village in July
Mr. West, the downtown bar and cafe from the owners of Bottlehouse in Madrona, will open a location on July 4 inside the former space of the University Village cooking store Mrs. Cook's, which closed in December after 42 years. The menu will include espresso, wine, beer, spirits, charcuterie, egg sandwiches, avocado toast, and more, while the space will feature a patio with a fireplace and a wine bar inside.
EVENTS
FRIDAY, MAY 10
Elysian Brewing Capitol Hill Grand Opening
The Capitol Hill location of Elysian has churned out some updates, including a fancy new brew system. Cheers with them on their 23rd anniversary by partying like it's 1996 (with $2.75 beer prices to match) with Ayron Jones.
MAY 10-11, 17-18
Mayfest 2019 at Queen Anne Beerhall!
In celebration of Mayfest, the spring counterpart to Oktoberfest, participate in a stein-holding competition and try a traditional HofbrÀu Maibock. Lederhosen and dirndls are encouraged.
MAY 10-19
Seattle Beer Week 2019
Seattleâs craft-beer scene is always alive and bubbling with activity, but during Beer Week that geeky enthusiasm gets kicked into high gear, with a stacked lineup of beer dinners, festivals, socials, pub crawls, and releases galore. This year, the festivities will include Cask-O-Rama (12 casks from Seattle breweries on the bar top) at Beveridge Place Pub, Women in Beer (an annual celebration of female brewers that benefits Planned Parenthood), a cheddar sandwich competition at Hellbent Brewing, a beer-can derby at the Pine Box, beer and doughnut pairings, and way more.
SATURDAY, MAY 11
8th Annual Pine Box Beer Can Derby
Participate in an old-fashioned Cub Scout-style derby race with cars fashioned from beer cans. Build your car on the spot and try your luck.
Cheese Wars
Witness a clash of galactic proportions between food trucks Peach & the Pig and Wicked Good Grinders, who will duke it out to see who can turn out the best cheddar sandwich. The 501st Legion and Rebel Legion will come outfitted in full Star Wars regalia to aid fundraising efforts for Seattle Children's Hospital, and if you're looking to lob some hatchets, PNW Axe Company will bring their axe-throwing cage for an open axe-throwing session and "axe saber" throwing competition.
Spring Garden Party
Bottlehouse will unveil its garden for spring with a tasting of seasonally appropriate wines and live music from the Jazz Hands Trio.
Through the Years: A Time Travel Tasting Menu
Travel through the ages with this 20-course tasting menu, which will impart "important food stories and history" through food.
Wink Doughnuts Pop-Up Shop
Start off your Saturday with gluten-free, organic, and plant-based doughnuts from Wink and hot coffee from Sound & Fog.
SUNDAY, MAY 12
Comadre: A Chicanx Bakery Pop-Up
Scarf delicious pan dulce treats like conchas and puerquitos from Mariela Camacho's Chicanx bakery pop-up. This DĂa de las Madres edition will honor moms by donating select proceeds to Open Arms, an organization that works with low-income women of color by setting them up with a doula and offering support through the early stages of childcare.
MONDAY, MAY 13
Atlas Obscura Society Seattle: Drinking Your Chocolate
Get familiar with the world's oldest form of prepared chocolateâdrinking cacaoâand learn about its history as a drink for the likes of emperors and explorers before sipping some yourself from Intrigue Chocolate.
Western Standard Beer Launch Party with Noah Gundersen
The Washington State Bartender's Guild will host the launch of Western Standard Beer, with a live performance by local indie folk singer-songwriter Noah Gundersen.
Women in Beer 2019
At this benefit for Planned Parenthood celebrating women in the beer industry, sip the event's official beer, the Pike Morning After Ale, and try other craft beverages and local foods from women-owned and -run producers.
TUESDAY, MAY 14
Author Talk: The Peached Tortilla by Eric Silverstein
Litigator-turned-chef Eric Silverstein was born in Tokyo, then moved to Atlanta at the age of 10, where he became immersed in Southern and Southwestern cuisine. Heâs combined the regional cuisines of his upbringing in his unique Japanese-Southern fusion at the Peached Tortilla, his popular Austin-based food truck, catering business, and brick-and-mortar restaurant. This translates to craveable comfort dishes like umami fried chicken, Korean short-rib pappardelle with smoked crĂšme fraĂźche, and cult-favorite bacon-jam fries. The New York Times named it one of âFive Places to Go in Austin,â but you donât need to shell out for airfare to try it: His new cookbook explains how to re-create the Peached Tortilla experience at home. At the Book Larder, heâll explain the inspiration behind his food and sign copies of his book, and guests will get to sample a bite.
Musang Pop-up Fundraising Dinner
Bar del Corso sous chef Melissa Miranda will host a fundraiser edition of her popular Pacific Northwest-influenced Filipinx pop-up Musang, which will open as a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Beacon Hill this fall. Proceeds will benefit Coyote Central's training program for budding young chefs.
