May 2010

Wabi-Sabi Sushi Restaurant Review

Wabi-Sabi Sushi Restaurant Review

Fresh food in a comfortable, neighborhood dining place.

Southenders (myself included) have had “sushi restaurant” on our wish lists for years. So when I heard Wabi-Sabi was the latest project from Thoa Nguyen (formerly of Columbia City, now living in the Central District) who serves tasty pan-Asian dishes at Chinoise Café and Thoa’s Restaurant & Lounge, I was heartened. Could it be that…

Toulouse Petit Restaurant Review

Toulouse Petit Restaurant Review

Brian Hutmacher get's serious with Toulouse Petit and a New Orleans inspired menu.

Brian Hutmacher could have cut corners when he opened Toulouse Petit in November. As the owner of Mexican restaurant (and singles meat market) Peso’s, right next door, no one would’ve blamed him if he had taken the easy road and opened a New Orleans themed doppelganger aimed at the flirty, heavy-drinking party crowd. Instead, it’s…

Mistral Kitchen's Winds of Change

Mistral Kitchen’s Winds of Change

With a wide range of dining options, a new, all-embracing Mistral sweeps into Seattle.

The smell of duck fat beckons, but the air is cool—and so is William Belickis’ demeanor as he sears foie gras on the large griddle, or plancha, of his customized Jade range. Tall, pale, with ebony hair, Belickis is dressed in a short-sleeved, dishwasher-style shirt. He is an unflustered master, with time, despite a mini-rush,…

Great Escapes 2010: Friday Harbor

Friday Harbor, the only incorporated town in San Juan County, is a bustling metropolis compared to a

Category: seattlepi.com teaser headlines   To Seattleites, perhaps nothing symbolizes getting away from it all as aptly as the ferry ride from Anacortes to San Juan Island, where time, for the most part, has been standing still for decades. Driftwood-festooned beaches, winding country roads, seaside ice cream stands and spirited whale-scouting tours are tonic to…

Food We Love: 35th St. Bistro’s Roasted Beet Salad

Spring for the bright beet salad at 35th Street Bistro

Category: seattlepi.com teaser headlines   Spring On A PlatterWhen springtime doesn’t show up soon enough (at least on the plate), I seek out the bright jewel tones and earthy sweetness of the roasted beet salad at 35th Street Bistro (Fremont, 709 N 35th St. 206.547.9850 35bistro.com). Young arugula makes a soft bed for the roasted…

Great Escapes 2010: Lake Chelan

Sapphire skies and long sunny days, the buzz of Jet Skis, the scent of sunblock, the sizzle of burge

Category: seattlepi.com teaser headlines   Sapphire skies and long sunny days, the buzz of Jet Skis, the scent of sunblock, the sizzle of burgers at a roadside drive-in: This is what Chelan has meant to generations of Seattle families who have made visiting it an annual summer rite. Now home to a burgeoning wine industry,…

Urban Safari: 2nd Ave in Belltown

Long known for its nightlife, Belltown

Category: seattlepi.com teaser headlines   Long known for its nightlife, Belltown’s Second Avenue has always had something for everyone—whether you’re up for burritos at Mama’s Mexican Kitchen and pinball at Shorty’s, tapas at Txori and jazz at Tula’s, or an evening of fancier fare at Tavolàta or Restaurant Zoë. Of late, a new crop of…

Seattle’s Great Escapes 2010

Places tried and true lure us back to discover what's new

Category: Seattlepi.com featured stories   Places tried and true lure us back to discover what’s new Seattle’s Great EscapesThere’s nothing like returning to a place that holds special memories—and stands ready to inspire new ones. Like a favorite pair of jeans, a cherished vacation spot is comfortable, versatile. And even though everyone you know has…

Shopping Around: May’s Shopping Finds

Luxurious and environmentally friendly handbags at The Bravern, a hip and affordable Queen Anne bout

Category: Shopping + Fashion Articles   Bag lady Julie Berard’s luxe, veggie-tanned leather totesLuxury Pursuit It takes nerve to go up against handbag giants Ferragamo and Gucci, but Magnolia designer Julie Berard’s petite frame packs a ton of gumption. Her new leather handbag line ambitiously combines two often contradictory categories: luxurious and environmentally friendly. The…

Restaurant Insider: May 2010

News, gossip and general musings on openings, closings and fanfare in Seattle

Category: seattlepi.com teaser headlines   News, gossip and general musings on openings, closings and fanfare in Seattle’s kitchens Passage to New DeliThere are quite a few things to love about Delicatus,  the new gourmet sandwich shop in Pioneer Square. Its sandwiches are made with mostly local ingredients (many fresh from the Pike Place Market) and…

Scoop: Seattle Soul

A new documentary shedding light on Seattle

Category: seattlepi.com teaser headlines   A new documentary shedding light on Seattle’s once thriving funk and soul scene makes its local debut at SIFF Once upon a time, the city’s music scene pulsed with Seattle bands—groups that played original songs at packed venues nightly, groups whose records were in regular rotation at the local independent…

Craving: Popcorn

Popcorn is having its cupcake moment, with Seattle vendors offering just about any flavor, color or

Category: seattlepi.com teaser headlines   Popcorn is having its cupcake moment, with Seattle vendors offering just about any flavor, color or type imaginable. Put aside the Orville Redenbacher and treat yourself to the wildly miscellaneous goodness of these local gourmet versions.Pop StarsPopcorn PavilionStep into the family-run store and embrace the aroma of 16 flavors popped…