This week, a new cantina brings queso burgers, Mexican-influenced banh mis, and street tacos to Batch 206 Distillery, West Seattle gets brunch inside a beach house, and a wizard-themed pub (with magic wands!) hovers on the horizon in Ballard. Read on for more food news, plus events for your weekend, like the Fall Foraged Dinner with Langdon Cook. For more ideas, check out our list of restaurants and events where you can find mushrooms in Seattle, our list of places to eat and drink pumpkin in Seattle, our list of food and drink specials to try in October, and our full food and drink calendar.

OPENINGS
Aslan Brewing
Craft beer geeks, get ready: The highly anticipated Fremont taproom from the Bellingham-based craft brewery Aslan Brewing is in the final stages of preparations and set to open any day now. The new location—Aslan's first in Seattle—will enable wider access to seasonal offerings, barrel projects, and specialty can releases.
Fremont

Batch Bar Cantina
Well, that was fast—Addo 206, chef Eric Rivera's walk-up Puerto Rican food counter inside Batch 206 Distillery that closed earlier this month, has already been replaced with a new concept. The Latin-influenced spot is headed up by chef Lisa Esposito, who previously was in charge at a Belltown restaurant called Casa-U-Betcha (owned by Batch 206 founder Jeff Steichen). Visitors to the distillery can now order dishes like street tacos, wings, Mexican-inspired banh mis, and queso burgers, as well as cocktails made with Batch 206's spirits.
Interbay

Harry's Beach House
Julian Hagood's cozy Capitol Hill bistro Harry's Fine Foods has a new beach-shack sibling on Alki, dressed up in natty nautical-themed decor. The restaurant, which opened this Wednesday, October 16, features a menu of locally sourced, seasonally driven comfort food and brunch favorites, like biscuits and gravy, schnitzel, cornmeal pancakes, and poached eggs with delicata squash, along with some Harry's classics like a signature burger and house-made granola.
West Seattle

Mainstay Provisions
A new all-day cafe and specialty market called Mainstay Provisions, owned by couple Thom Koschwanez (an Ethan Stowell Restaurants alum) and Ashley Thompson, has opened in Ballard. The bright, airy space stocks specialty goods like imported olive oil and vinegar, chocolate, and salt, as well as bottles of wine and seasonal house-made items. Guests can order breakfast, lunch, dinner, and espresso in the cafe or to go, and beer and wine are available, too.
Ballard

Valentinetti's
Ballard's beloved brunch spot Hi-Life, which shut down on September 8, will re-open on Thursday, October 24, as Valentinetti's, an Italian restaurant serving Roman-style pizza. The change is inspired by owner Peter Levy's wife's godmother Aurora Valentinetti, a famous puppeteer who taught marionette classes at UW and has a puppetry museum in Bremerton named after her. (As a tribute, puppet shows will happen in the space next year.) Expect a menu of brick-oven pizza and pasta, with gluten-free options for both, and a bar serving wine, cocktails, and local beer.
Ballard

OTHER FOOD NEWS
Wizard-themed pub opening soon
Ready your robes: The wizard-themed pub The Splintered Wand is set to open in Ballard by the end of the year. The food menu will feature hearty British favorites that could have come straight off the Hogwarts Express food trolley, including shepherd's pie, pasties, and Yorkshire pudding. What's more, on the second floor, guests will be able to purchase a handcrafted wand from Piscataqua & Balch, with a wood specially chosen based on birthdate and infused with a "magic essence."

El Xolo chef opening new restaurant in Ballard
Chef Ricardo Valdes, who recently opened the Mexican walk-up counter El Xolo (which replaced Neon Taco) inside Nacho Borracho, isn't done yet: According to a post by his former employer Delancey on Facebook, he and his wife Amy are planning to open another restaurant called Raiz in Ballard. Raiz's Instagram describes it as a "cozy cafe in Seattle" and "PNW meets CDMX." If you can't wait for the opening, you can get a taste at a pop-up preview at Delancey this Sunday.

Temple Pastries opening a brick-and-mortar cafe
Baker Christina Wood's pop-up bakery Temple Pastries, which slings exquisite sourdough pastries (including croissants, croissant pretzels, and "cruffins") made with locally milled buckwheat, rye, and whole wheat, plans to open a permanent cafe in the Central District in collaboration with Broadcast Coffee Roasters, which has previously sold Wood's treats at its cafes. Temple Pastries will open in fall 2020 across the street from the current Broadcast Coffee location in the Central District, which will close when the launch occurs, and feature a full Broadcast coffee bar and Wood's signature baked goods, plus doughnuts, tarts, lunch and brunch items, and beer and wine.

Halal Guys bringing a location to South Lake Union
Anyone who's ever enjoyed street cart chicken drizzled with creamy white sauce in New York is probably familiar with the Halal Guys, a Middle Eastern street food favorite that was propelled into ubiquity after the owners pivoted their hot dog cart chain into an American halal cart chain in 1990. The chain, which opened its first Seattle location in Pioneer Square in 2017, is set to open a location in South Lake Union by the end of the year, in the same building as Facebook.

David Chang plans to open restaurant in Vancouver
Culinary juggernaut David Chang, known for his Momofuku empire and his Netflix series Ugly Delicious, will open a location of his famed Momofuku Noodle Bar in Vancouver, British Columbia in 2020. The restaurant will be Chang's first in the Pacific Northwest and will serve ramen, steamed buns, and soft-serve ice cream, like the other Noodle Bar locations in New York and Toronto.

EVENTS
FRIDAY, OCT. 18
Brewology
What if your sixth-grade museum field trip grew up to be the boozy evening of your dreams? Such is the premise behind this geeked-out craft beer fest, where you're invited to imbibe as many four-ounce samples as you can handle from breweries and cideries and learn the science behind your favorite beverages. Talk to the brewmasters to get the scoop on their processes, take a toasty trip through the Science Center, and participate in hoppy hands-on activities and demonstrations that would make Bill Nye proud.

OCT 18-20, 24-27
Seattle Chocolate Haunted Factory Tour
If you're too squeamish for a traditional blood-and-guts haunted house, check out this interactive, family-friendly option with a sweet twist. You'll traipse through the Seattle Chocolate factory in the dark, encountering a series of costumed characters, hunting for clues, and solving puzzles, all with the goal of determining why the factory is haunted in order to oust the unwanted resident. There will be plenty of candy to be eaten along the way, of course.

OCT. 18-29
Li'l Woody's Fast Food Month
For the month of October, local burger joint Li'l Woody's is cleverly recreating fast food favorites for its weekly specials. This week, it's the McDonald's dupe Li'l Big Mac (October 15-21), with fry sauce, dill pickles, diced onion, shredded lettuce, two slices of American cheese, Painted Hills grass-fed beef, and a center-cut sesame seed bun. It's followed by the Taco Bell tribute Li'l Crunch Wrap (October 22-29).

OCT. 18-NOV. 2
Nightmare on Wall Street
Continuing a spooky-season tradition started last year, Belltown’s award-winning tiki bar Navy Strength will temporarily transform into a “fully immersive haunting experience,” with libations inspired by horror films like Friday the 13th, The Babadook, Midsommar, The Ring, Pet Sematary, and more. They’ll switch out their usual kitschy drinkware for vessels like pumpkins and Jason Voorhees–masked tiki mugs, and employ ingredients like “candy corn orgeat.” Frightening horror-film soundtracks will contribute to the spine-chilling milieu.

SATURDAY, OCT. 19
2019 Cascadia Cheese Festival
At this fromage-filled festival, Northwest cheesemakers like Beecher's Cascadia Farmstead, and Mt. Townsend Creamery will showcase their wealth of handmade goods in the form of free samples.

Bothell Underground Beer Festival 2019
Huddle in a cozy garage to taste local brews and ciders from spots like Pear Up Cider, Postdoc Brewing, Schilling Cider, and Sumerian Brewing. There will also be plenty of food offerings, as well as live music from the Vet Chef, ChicagoWest, and Athenas. 

Fall Feast with Pike Place Fish Market
Taho Kakutani and Ryan Yokoyama of the beloved Pike Place Fish Market will prepare a five-course, seafood-centric meal matched with seasonal produce. Tickets include wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverage pairings. 

Revelry Pop Up Night at Trove!
Get a taste of James Beard-nominated chef Rachel Yang's Portland restaurant Revelry minus the road trip at this pop-up, which will feature Korean fried chicken, fortune cookie soju Jell-O shots, and tunes from a DJ.

Rye Fest
Over 20 rye beers from Reuben Brew's will dominate the taps at this event. Plus, Reuben's will unveil their new 16 ounce can releases of their Rye Crush and Roasted Rye IPA.

Taste of the Region Event at Sea-Tac Airport
Experience the Sea-Tac Airport in a new, stress- and luggage-free light at this tasting event featuring samples from over 16 Northwest restaurants, live cooking demos, wine tastings, and more. All proceeds will benefit the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters Burn Foundation. 

Witches High Tea
Witches and warlocks of all ages are welcome to the Sorrento for witch's brew and assorted autumnal treats.

SUNDAY, OCT. 20
Chicken & Waffles V2: A Sisters & Brothers Collaboration Brunch
Enjoy the Guy Fieri-approved Nashville-style hot chicken tenders of Sisters and Brothers along with Lowercase Brewing's waffles made from repurposed spent grain and maple syrup made from their ESB ("extra special bitter"). 

A Fall Foraged Dinner at Lark with Langdon Cook
Aspiring mycologists and other lovers of mushrooms would do well to check out this edifying dinner with Langdon Cook, a food writer and noted foraging expert. He’ll demystify the region’s “most prolific” wild fungi of the season, all while you tuck into a four-course feast prepared by James Beard Award–winning chef John Sundstrom of Lark and accompanied by wine pairings. You’ll leave feeling full, blissful, and inspired to scrounge seasonal delicacies from the land yourself.

Taste of Iceland in Seattle: Bar Takeover
Seize your chance to try special Brennivín cocktails concocted by acclaimed Icelandic mixologist Tóta.

Wild Ginger's 30th Anniversary Dinner Series
To celebrate 30 years of business, Seattle's Southeast Asian mainstay Wild Ginger will throw a multi-course meal with favorite dishes from over the years, vintage wine pairings, and tales from their past.

Wild Mushroom Show
Glimpse over 150 species of fungi on display for your viewing pleasure. Plus, enjoy cooking demos, mushroom tastings, kids' activities, presentations and tours, hands-on mushroom kit making, and more.

MONDAY, OCT. 21
Ghosts of October: A Vegan Dinner with Josh Ploeg
The roving vegan chef and "prolific recipe wizard" Josh Ploeg will make a stop in Seattle for a spooky plant-based supper that includes evocatively named dishes such as the "Broomstick, Moonstick, Wrapped in Moon Thick" (yellow squash and savory almond paste wrapped in pastry with mushroom gravy and mashed garlic-ginger pumpkin) and "Little Devils in the Fire, Objects of Your Desire" (dark berry-filled red doughnuts with blackberry "kreem," sweet chile glaze, spiced mango, and toasted coconut chips).

TUESDAY, OCT. 22
Campari Cocktail Dinner
If you're fond of the refreshingly bitter apéritif known as Campari, head to this dinner with four courses each paired with a Campari-based cocktail.