This week, Cookie Counter brings vegan ice cream and treats to Capitol Hill just in time for Seattle Pride weekend, the piri-piri chicken chain Galos Flame-Grilled Chicken hits Ballard, and Seattle food scene favorites Brian Clevenger of Le Messe, Brendan McGill of Hitchcock, and Bryn Lumsden of Damn the Weather announce new projects in the works. Read on for details about that and events you can’t miss this weekend, like A Glitteris Pride Pre-Funk and Negroni Week. For more ideas, check out our list of Seattle pride-themed food and drink specials to try this week, our list of Seattle food and drink specials to try in June, and our full food and drink calendar.
OPENINGS
Capercaillie Pub
On Monday, July 1, the Central District’s Machine House Brewery taproom, which opened last summer, will re-open under the name Capercaillie Pub. Owner Alex Brenner, who previously co-owned the English pub with Bill Arnott, will continue to serve Machine House’s British-style cask-conditioned ales and will not change much about the business except for adding more events for the community, including pub trivia nights and an all-day happy hour.
Central District
Chicglet
This new Korean restaurant opened on the Ave in the University District on Memorial Day and serves fried dumplings, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, wings, and fried chicken and pork. To drink, there’s also fresh house-made fruit sodas (with or without milk), coffee, and lattes.
University District
Cookie Counter
Greenwood’s vegan ice cream parlor and bakery the Cookie Counter has opened a second location next to Gay City, in the former space of Kaladi Brothers Cafe (which moved back into its original space a few doors down last year) and will have its grand opening this weekend. The Capitol Hill location is larger than the Greenwood shop and serves the same signature treats, like sundaes, cookies, ice cream sandwiches, and “popsters” (a vegan take on Pop Tarts).
Capitol Hill
Galos Flame-Grilled Chicken
This Canadian chicken chain, which specializes in Portuguese-style flame-grilled piri piri chicken, opened its first U.S. outpost in Ballard last week. The company also plans to add locations in Kirkland, South Lake Union, Tacoma, and Bellingham—opening dates have not yet been announced.
Ballard
Logan’s Espresso
Adorned with an on-trend plant wall and sporting an eye-catching neon pink sign, this espresso stand has opened in the parking lot of the Shell station on 17th and Madison and serves espresso, other drinks, bagels, muffins, and snacks. Customers are welcome to drive through or stop by on foot.
Capitol Hill
Matcha Cafe Maiko
This Hawaiian chain, which uses high-quality matcha imported from Uji, Japan and makes all its products in-house without additives, opened a store in the Westlake Center mall on May 12. The beverages and treats on the menu include shaved ice, parfaits, tea, lattes, frappes, floats, and soft-serve ice cream, including a luxe-looking “golden shogun” matcha soft-serve cone coated in shimmering gold. The store is similar in concept to Nana’s Green Tea, a Japanese chain which also sells matcha desserts and drinks and opened last November.
Downtown
Tea Addict
This new bubble tea shop, which soft-opened in Capitol Hill and had its first Yelp review on June 6, features beverages with boba and finger foods like fried popcorn chicken that you can get in a container on top of your drink (!). The curious combination of a double-decker savory-snack-and-sweet-drink seems to be a growing trend—at Chicglet, you can also get wings, fried chicken or pork nuggets and fries perched atop your cup of fruit soda.
Capitol Hill
OTHER FOOD NEWS
Brendan McGill announces pizza restaurant
According to a press release, chef Brendan McGill of Hitchcock will open Bar Taglio, a new Roman-style bar pizzeria, inside downtown Seattle’s historic building The Exchange in late summer. In the release, McGill said, “This is my sharp version of a slice joint, but with a killer bar program. We’ll also offer antipasti, salumi and cheese boards, meatballs, salads…the inspiration is completely Roman.” Guests can purchase Roman-style pizza al taglio (“by the cut”) with toppings such as pomodoro; pecorino, potato, and rosemary; and cured meats and specialty cheeses. Drinks will include Italian wine and cocktails like Negronis Americanos, Bellinis, and Sgroppino, as well as other libations made with Italian liqueurs, aperitivi, and amari.
Brian Clevenger plans to open West Seattle restaurant
Chef and restaurateur Brian Clevenger, who owns East Anchor Seafood and Vendemmia in Madrona, Le Messe in Eastlake, GH Pasta Co. in Denny Triangle, and Raccolto in West Seattle, will open his next restaurant, Haymaker, in the former space of Vine & Spoon in West Seattle in late July. Like Clevenger’s other restaurants, Haymaker will feature a mix of handmade pasta and local seafood and vegetables, but it will also add some more typical American dishes like burgers and grilled prime New York steaks. The restaurant will seat 50 and serve cocktails and local beer and wine.
Local 360 opening a vegan restaurant
According to their website, Belltown locavore destination Local 360, which prides itself on sourcing the majority of its ingredients from within a 360-mile radius, is planning to open a new vegan spinoff restaurant called Local Vegan on July 10. Further details about the new venture have not yet been announced.
JuneBaby and Holy Mountain Brewing launch new collaboration beer
This week, the buzzed-about Interbay brewery Holy Mountain released Inosculation, a new barrel-aged imperial stout made in collaboration with award-winning chef Edouardo Jordan of the much-lauded Ravenna restaurant JuneBaby. In keeping with JuneBaby‘s respect for Southern history and practice of using heritage grains that were key to the region’s cooking traditions, the beer is made with ancient grains like einkorn, millet, black rice, and smoked red corn and aged in barrels used for Kentucky Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey.
Damn the Weather owner opening Champagne Diner in Interbay
Damn the Weather owner Bryn Lumsden is planning to open Champagne Diner, named playfully in tribute to the Champagne Video VHS rental store frequented by the characters in Seinfeld, in the former space of Citizen Six (which recently relocated to Queen Anne under the name “Lazy Susan“) in Interbay in mid-August. The diner’s aesthetic will be based on an irreverent juxtaposition of highbrow and lowbrow, with natural wine, craft cocktails, and upgraded versions of diner classics like French toast, turkey club sandwiches, burgers, and meatloaf. Interbay appears to be in a period of change, with this week’s announcement that Expedia’s new headquarters will be based there and bring 4,500 employees.
Huong Binh sold to new owners
The much-loved diner-style Vietnamese restaurant Huong Binh, which has been in business for over 30 years, has been sold. Owner Lien Dang’s son Scott Hoang announced the sale in a post on Facebook, writing, “I want to take the time to thank all of our friends and family that have supported us over the years. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve ran into random people, as I was older, and have them tell me they’ve eaten there since they were kids. Some of those kids are my best friends today.” He also noted that his mother will be going to work at District One Saigon in Redmond, owned by her daughter Taylor Hien Hoang. Currently, it’s not clear whether the restaurant will continue to operate under new ownership or whether it has been sold to developers. The news also follows the recent closure of beloved Vietnamese institution Seattle Deli, which shuttered on June 1 after 27 years of business due to an upcoming property development.
Ludi’s continues to search for new location
The beloved Filipino downtown diner Ludi’s, which has been in business in various locations since the 1930s and announced in April that it would close at its current home at the end of August after its 17-year lease expires, is still working with a broker in an attempt to find another downtown location with affordable rent, but has been unsuccessful thus far. If unable to relocate, the restaurant will close permanently. Owner Gregorio Rosas told International Examiner, “In a way I’m sad, because this is my life, but at the same token, I don’t have any bad feeling. Whether good or bad there’s always an end to everything.”
Slate Coffee employees resign over alleged “toxic work environment”
A group of several employees at the popular local independent coffee chain Slate Coffee Roasters have resigned in protest, citing a “toxic work environment.” The employees issued a statement on a sign posted on the Ballard location’s door and on an Instagram account, explaining, “We have decided to withdraw our labor (effective immediately) because we do not feel our employers treat us with the same professionalism that they ask of us. We have experienced a toxic work environment: this includes but is not limited to dishonesty; discrimination of many kinds; bullying and intimidation; late and unreceived pay; disingenuous promises and so much more. Our expressed concerns have been met with silence at best, and more often condescension.”
Sushi chef Hajime Sato leaves Mashiko
Sushi chef Hajime Sato, who pioneered Seattle’s sustainable sushi movement with his restaurant Mashiko and has been running the restaurant since September 1994, will leave the restaurant in August to care for his wife’s health in her home state of Michigan. Three longtime employees, chefs Brandon Wicks and Mariah Kmitta and server Allison Hill, have purchased the restaurant and will take over after Sato departs.
EVENTS
FRIDAY, JUNE 28
1990s Beer Day
If you wanted to drink beer with more than 2.25% alcohol content in Iceland from 1915 to 1989, you had to get your hands on a bootlegged bottle. Celebrate the anniversary of strong beers’ legalization in the Nordic country by dressing in your best ’90s outfit for a night of brews and raffles.
BCP: Bale Breaker Fuzzy Logic Hazy IPA Release
Chuck’s Hop Shop will release the latest in their Bottle Collaboration Project series, a hazy beer “packed with citrus and tropical hop character” made in partnership with Bale Breaker Brewing.
Fika Friday
Take some time to observe the Swedish custom of Fika (a moment in the afternoon to enjoy treats and snacks) at this free event.
A Glitteris Pride Pre-Funk
As the official beer sponsors of Pride, Elysian brewers concocted a special fruit-forward ale by adding blackberry and raspberry purees to the fermenter—and naturally, it’s glittery, too. Try it for yourself at this funk-themed release party and groove to tunes from excellent local DJ Stas THEE Boss. During the main event on Saturday, hang out in the beer garden all day to partake in temporary tattoos, a photo booth, and even more music from DJ Riz, DJ LGSP, DJ Trinitron and DJ Ramiro. A drag show headlined by RuPaul’s Drag Race season five winner Jinx Monsoon will cap things off.
Spirit Pairing Dinner Cruise with Fremont Mischief
Savor a three-course dinner paired with spirits from local award-winning indie distillery Fremont Mischief.
JUNE 28-30
Negroni Week
The refreshingly bitter, glowing-crimson aperitif—made with equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth and garnished with an orange peel—is so beloved, it now has its own week. Bars all over Seattle will be shaking up their own variations of the cocktail to benefit charitable organizations. If the concept of gulping Negronis to combat the world’s ills sounds too good to be true, you’re probably right: As former Stranger food writer Angela Garbes wrote in 2016, “Started in 2013 by Campari and Imbibe magazine, Negroni Week is most definitely a marketing ploy benefitting a global corporation. Feel free to plot the overthrow of our corporate power regime as you throw back another Negroni.”
SATURDAY, JUNE 29
2019 Seattle Summer Whiskey Tasting Festival
Sample spirits and mingle with other whiskey enthusiasts at this festival.
Burger Brawl Pop-Up
Eight food trucks will jockey to produce the juiciest burger creation.
Elysian’s Pride Beer Garden
Elysian will throw their annual Pride party in their outdoor beer garden, where DJs RIz, LGSP, Trinitron and Ramiro will be spinning all day, a photo booth and temporary tattoo station will be up and running, and RuPaul’s Drag Race season five winner Jinkx Monsoon will be performing (sorry for burying the lead) along with DonnaTella Howe, Dutchess Drew Nightshade, Gaysha Starr, and Amora Dior Black.
Kick Out the Jams!
Learn how to preserve local berries by making your own jam, then enjoy the fruits of your labor on an ice cream sundae with Frankie and Jo’s brown sugar vanilla ice cream and chocolate chips.
Trans Pride Tea Social
Sip tea and make new friends at this quieter alternative to more rambunctious pride festivities.
SUNDAY, JUNE 30
The Great Machine House Bake Off
Can’t get enough Great British Bake-Off? At Machine House’s “mildly competitive” monthly potluck, watch contestants vie to turn out the best cakes, pies, breads, and loaves, judged by votes from other participants and patrons (one drink buys you one voting token). Competitors can win bonus points for including Machine House brews in their bakes, and the baker with the most tokens at the end of the six months will be crowned the victor and win a $100 gift card, trophy, and custom bake-off champion apron.
Guest Chef Dinner Series #5
The latest dinner in Good Day Donuts’ guest chef dinner series will feature Vietnamese-American chef Kevin Bui of the new pop-up Sin Reglas, who cut his teeth apprenticing at the French Laundry.
Negroni Inspired Dinner | Central Bar + Restaurant & Big Gin
Sit down to a four-course meal built around the classic Italian cocktail.
Raised Doughnuts Is One!
Celebrate the doughnut shop’s first year of business with complimentary cake and doughnut holes, plus free stickers of owner Mi Kim’s dog, Noodle.
