West Seattle Blog…

Followup: Taste of West Seattle cooks up $30,000 for Helpline

550 people, almost 50 local food/beverage purveyors, and … drum roll … more than $30,000 raised for West Seattle Helpline at last Thursday’s Taste of West Seattle! So reports Helpline executive director Tara Luckie, now that the final count is in:

That’s 23% more than last year. We want to give a big thanks to the many establishments who participated and to the ticket purchasers who made this event a success. The West Seattle Helpline looks forward to helping many families get back on their feet after facing an emergency in West Seattle with these funds.

You of course don’t have to wait for the next special event to help the Helpline … you can donate online any time.

Update: Taste of West Seattle 2013 sells out, feeding the funding for West Seattle Helpline

(First 4 and final 5 photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
Big line along the sidewalk leading to The Hall at Fauntleroy when we arrived around 6:30 pm to check out the bigger-every-year event, which has almost 50 West Seattle/White Center food and drink establishments offering bites, sips, treats, and more, all to benefit West Seattle Helpline. They had a limited number of tickets at the door. Big crowd inside, once everybody got in:

One of the fun parts about The Taste is that you get to vote on the offerings – and later, we’ll find out who won. Besides the Helpline, of course, whose Brooks Riendl and executive director Tara Luckie stopped for a moment to pose:

Also in welcoming mode – Helpline board member Rev. Ron Marshall:

More photos to come later tonight!

11:43 PM: First, an update just in from Tara:

Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering Company won Best Savory Taste and Stuffed Cakes won Best Dessert. The event was a sellout with 550 tickets sold. … The proceeds are going to help many families in West Seattle. We can all be proud of such a great community effort. Big thanks to all of the restaurants and sponsors that made the event possible!

Helpline’s photo of the “Best Savory Taste” winners (who served a Savory Seafood Risotto):

And the “Best Dessert” victors:

It was a field crowded with tastiness, too, from venues old and new. On the latter side, Harry’s Chicken Joint made its debut, dishing up chicken strips:

The team from The Bridge reminded everyone they’ve got an excellent menu, with their famous bacon-wrapped dates:

Kevin and Holly Brown from Siren Song Wines and The Brown Lounge:

Jack Miller from Husky Deli was offering his famous ice cream in floats:

And a piece de resistance – Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) donating $7,500 to the Helpline!

The night’s total tally is expected to be made public early next week.

Followup: Phoenecia’s open again – but just for a few days

(WSB photo from Friday)
Following up on the water-heater problem that brought a fire crew to Alki restaurant Phoenecia early yesterday (WSB coverage here) – they ARE back open tonight, and for a few more days, but then a longer closure looms for repairs, Nadia Khazaal tells WSB:

We have got the place dried out, and for the most part put back together. We will be open today, Sunday, and Monday. Tuesday we will be closed for a private party.

We unfortunately will have to be closed for about two weeks, possibly longer, starting sometime next week. We don’t know exactly when yet but I’m thinking it will probably be Wednesday. There was more water damage then we initially thought and parts of the walls need to be cut out, dried out, and then repaired. So we are looking at being closed anywhere between 2-4 weeks.

So today, Sunday, and Monday will be everyone’s last chance to get their Phoenecia fix in before we close for a couple weeks.

For those who come into the restaurant these next couple days, we apologize in advance for the appearance of our walls. Our baseboards have been torn up already and so our walls are not as pretty as they used to be.

We’ll keep in touch for updates. You can also watch Phoenecia’s page on Facebook.

Firefly Café and Creperie adding juice bar, outdoor seating; still collecting WestSide Baby donations, too!

Two updates today from Firefly Café and Creperie (WSB sponsor) – first, proprietor Charell Estby announced today that an organic juice bar is in the works! She tells us she’s “hoping to have it operational by the end of May.” It’ll be incorporated into existing space – and, the reason for the photo above: Official outdoor seating is in the works, pending a city permit, too. (Charell also points out that she found a carpenter by posting a help-wanted ad in the WSB Forums‘ free-to-post “WS Jobs Offered” section.) Meantime, just yesterday, Charell drove a load of donations over to WestSide Baby …

She is continuing to accept car seats (in good shape) and diaper donations for WS Baby through the end of the month (Tuesday, April 30) – and she’s been matching each car-seat donation with a package of diapers herself! Haven’t been to Firefly yet? Northeast corner of California and Genesee on the north edge of The Junction.

Update: Phoenecia on Alki closed tonight after water problem

ORIGINAL REPORT, 8:19 AM: No, it was NOT a fire that brought Seattle Fire Department‘s Ladder 11 to Alki’s Phoenecia restaurant early this morning. After questions via e-mail and in the WSB Forums, we went over to check it out. What was on the fire log as “water job/minor” turned out to be a broken water heater. That meant some mop-up was required, but luckily that wasn’t too difficult, since the restaurant has concrete floors. (We’ll check back later to make sure everything’s OK for tonight.)

10:11 AM UPDATE: A little more information from Phoenecia’s Nadia Khazaal: The problem was actually with a connecting pipe on the water heater; they are thankful to whomever it was who noticed the problem and called SFD. They’ve got crews there now working on getting the place dry and fixing the pipe; Nadia says, “We hope to get everything taken care of in time for service tonight.”

11:53 PM UPDATE: Unfortunately, Nadia now tells us, Phoenecia WILL “definitely be closed for business tonight.”

West Seattle/White Center restaurant notes: Proletariat expansion; Cassis update

Two restaurant notes today:

MORE ROOM AT PROLETARIAT PIZZA: In case you didn’t catch the story on our partner site White Center Now, published late last night – Proletariat Pizza in White Center is taking over space next door (formerly Dzul Tattoo) to make more room. Still a work in progress when we stopped by Wednesday afternoon; you’ll see even more progress if you stop by tonight, when PP is taking part in Dining Out For Life. Full story here.

CASSIS UPDATE: More than four months have elapsed since word that Jef Fike, the proprietor of Cassis, a French restaurant that gained fame during a run on Capitol Hill, planned to bring it back – on Alki. Fike called recently to say it’s still in the works. The still-not-officially-announced location will soon undergo renovation, he said, and he’s hoping to be open by July 4th.

Six West Seattle, White Center restaurants in Dining Out for Life

Six West Seattle and White Center restaurants are signed on for this year’s Dining Out for Life fundraiser for Lifelong AIDS Alliance. Participants in West Seattle are Buddha Ruksa, Eats Market Café, Skylark Café and Club, and Talarico’s; participating restaurants in White Center are Company and Proletariat Pizza. The event is this Thursday (April 25th), and all six of are participating at dinnertime, donating 30 percent of their proceeds (at Skylark, it’s 50 percent).

West Seattle restaurants: Pizzeria Credo’s first night

Asked if tonight was a “soft open,” Pizzeria Credo proprietor Jacques Nawar said yes, but then “not too soft” – they are open to the public tonight until approximately 10 pm. Below, Nawar (center) with chefs Franco and Matt beside the wood-fired pizza oven at the front of the space; you’ll be able to see the fresh pizzas being created through the front window:

As noted in an interview with WSB last month, the space has been remodeled in a big way, including warmer colors “to brighten up the place” and lighting fixtures:

Nawar has planned a “smart” and “eclectic” menu, offering far more than the wood-fired pizza. Pizzeria Credo will also serve appetizers, salads, other entrees such as duck – a specialty, he says – and chicken. And yes there will be gluten-free pizza. Ingredients will be “as organic and local as possible”; Nawar says they are working with West Seattle Produce and looking for other local growers/providers with whom to partner.

Customer Elise enjoys her side car cocktail at the bar.

Pizzeria Credo is located at 4520 California SW.

Activity at Pizzeria Credo

Spotted today in the West Seattle Junction, signs at the soon-to-open Pizzeria Credo (4520 California SW) and old signage from the previous tenant Garlic Jim’s being taken down:

Paper now covers the windows, and a liquor license application is posted near the front door. (See last month’s inside look and interview with Pizzeria Credo proprietor Jacques Nawar here.)

West Seattle restaurant news: 4 updates from 5 eateries

DINE OUT FOR ROXHILL ON TUESDAY: Tomorrow at Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor) in Fauntleroy, 8 am-10 pm, 25 percent of the proceeds go to Roxhill Elementary

BADA BISTRO ADDS LUNCH: Co-owner Sharon Bang sends word that the 61st/Alki restaurant/bar is adding lunch starting today, open at 11 am weekdays and 10 am weekends.

SEATTLE RESTAURANT WEEK: This is actually a two-week promotion, Sundays through Thursdays this week and next, with “3 courses for $28″ offerings at restaurants around the region, and two WSB sponsors are among the participants – La Romanza Bistro Italiano in The Junction (here’s its SRW page – note that LR is closed Mondays) and Salty’s on Alki (here’s its SRW page).

PHOENECIA ‘WHIMSICAL’ WINE DINNER: Food, wine, and – fairy tales? Phoenecia on Alki is accepting reservations for a special 6-course, $75 wine dinner tomorrow night – read about it here and then call to check if there’s room.

West Seattle restaurants: Chopstix sets opening date; Bada Bistro happy hour; La Romanza joins Restaurant Week

Three West Seattle restaurant notes this afternoon:

CHOPSTIX SETS THE DATE: Though the “OPEN” sign was on this afternoon at the new Chinese restaurant Chopstix (in the former Ho-Win/Pan Africa Grill site at California/Juneau), it’s not open just yet, but owner Mark Lam just e-mailed us this news:

I am pleased to announce that Chopstix at 5905 California Ave SW will be taking orders on April 2nd at 11 am. First 20 dine-in customers will recieve a free appetizer of their choice. And first takeout or delivery order will be rewarded with one fried rice of their choice.

Our March 7th report on Chopstix is here.

BADA BISTRO ADDS HAPPY HOUR: One week after opening, the new Bada Bistro in the former Beachside Café/Alki Bakery space at 61st/Alki SW added happy hour as of today, 2-6 pm daily, per co-owner Sharon Bang. Lunch and brunch? Not yet, she says, but soon.

LA ROMANZA TO BE PART OF SEATTLE RESTAURANT WEEK: Proprietor Aimee Pellegrini of La Romanza Bistro Italiano (WSB sponsor) in The Junction sends word that La Romanza is participating in Seattle Restaurant Week, which actually will be happening over the course of two weeks, April 7-11 and 14-18. Speaking of courses, they’ll offer a three-course meal for $28 – see the menu here.

Want to be part of Dining Out For Life? West Seattle restaurant ambassadors sought

(Gina Baleto-Ferguson and Sage Marts at Talarico’s during past Dining Out For Life)
Want to help people have a good time for a good cause? Lifelong AIDS Alliance is recruiting restaurant ambassadors for the 20th year of Dining Out For Life on April 25th:

Dining Out For Life is an annual event in which more than 150 Seattle-area restaurants donate a portion of your bill to support Lifelong AIDS Alliance and the fight against illness and hunger in our community. Ambassadors welcome guests, answer questions about Dining Out For Life , and collect donations.

The top five reasons why you should volunteer are:

1. See your peeps. Packing the restaurant with friends, family, and co-workers is a great way to maximize your volunteer experience. Request that your shift is held at one of your favorite restaurants from the list of those participating (pending availability).

2. Be inspired. Often patrons will share touching stories as to why they chose to participate in Dining Out For Life. Learning about how HIV/AIDS has affected so many of us is powerful — and makes your volunteer experience that much more rewarding.

3. Giving back was never this easy (or fun). What other volunteer opportunity has you meeting new people, visiting with friends, and talking about a great cause all while hanging out in some of Seattle’s coolest restaurants and bars?

4. We could not do it without you. The ambassador’s role is vital to the success of this event. One-third of the total dollars raised at Dining Out For Life come from additional cash donations resulting from conversations between patrons and their ambassadors.

5. Be a part of something big. The funds raised on April 25th support Lifelong’s work empowering people living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic conditions to lead healthier lives. As an ambassador at Dining Out For Life, you are helping save lives!

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night shifts are available in restaurants all over Seattle/King County. An average shift takes anywhere from 3-6 hours. Visit DiningOutForLife.com/Seattle for the list of participating restaurants.

**Register online at wllaa.org/DOFLvolunteer to fill out the volunteer ambassador application**

Are you a restaurant interested in participating? We need you, too!
Participating in Dining Out is more than just good philanthropy; it’s good business. Lifelong is committed to hosting a successful event, helping fill your restaurant with loyal patrons, and creating a mutually beneficial partnership. Contact Eleazar Juarez-Diaz for more information or sign-up online here.

So far, according to the DOFL website, four West Seattle/White Center restaurants are participating – Buddha Ruksa, Skylark Café, Proletariat Pizza, and Talarico’s, all planning to participate during the dinner hour that night.

West Seattle restaurants: Redline WS to open at 3295 Avalon Way

Even before a flurry of inquiries wondering what we knew about that sign on the lower level of The Residences at 3295 – the finally-almost-done building on the southeast corner of 35th/Avalon – we’d been trying to reach the former proprietor of Redline Music and Sports, to ask if it meant his plan to “resurrect” Redline was itself revived. (It was in the works two years ago – till the building changed owners.) Today, we found a partner in the business who says, only in name. A restaurant is indeed opening there under the name Redline WS, Michael Bauer told WSB’s Katie Meyer. And former Redline proprietor Scott Goerig is involved – managing and marketing Redline WS, Bauer says. But otherwise, according to Bauer, it’ll be an all-ages family restaurant with TVs showing sports events all day long, and a menu featuring pizza and burgers, “typical Americana.” In the morning, he says, it will likely have more of a coffee-shop feel because of the major bus stops nearby. Redline WS is targeting a June opening – but things could change, so stay tuned.

Firefly Café and Crêperie: Welcome, new WSB sponsor

Today we welcome one of WSB’s newest sponsors, Firefly Café and Crêperie on the north end of The Junction:

What proprietor Charell Estby hears most often from Firefly customers is: “Finally! We really needed a new/good breakfast place!” The promise of a clean, cozy café where delighting our customers is our #1 goal, with mouth-watering crepes and amazing coffee, keeps them coming back! Additionally, at Firefly we recognize and can appreciate the diverse dietary needs of our community. We believe everyone who goes out to eat should be able to find something fabulous on the menu, no matter what their diet calls for. Options are good! We’ve got ‘em. For Paleo, Vegan, Gluten-Free, as well as your average Carnivore! We’re playing with recipes and delighting our customers with new treats all the time. Don’t be surprised if we ask you to test out our crepe-o-the-day, or our soups, or muffins … the list goes on … (Here’s the menu, by the way.)

Firefly has a monthly volunteer-event program which we are just kicking off this month. Each month Firefly will sponsor and our employees will participate in a volunteer event. For March we are volunteering at the Food Lifeline in SODO. We became involved with Food Lifeline from the day we opened our doors back in November. Since then, we have donated hundreds of pounds of food & coffee. Our donations have benefited programs within the White Center Salvation Army, providing food for various dietary needs (vegan, gluten-free, meat products), regular and decaffeinated coffees, hot cereal, and many dairy products as well. It seemed a natural next step to choose Food Lifeline for our very first Firefly Café-sponsored Volunteer Event.

Firefly Café and Crêperie – now open 7 days a week – is at 4160 California SW (corner of SW Genesee), online at fireflycafe-ws.com, and on Facebook here (where you’ll see updates on daily specials). And you can now TEXT your order – 206-455-6321 – here’s how it works.

**Check out the WSB coupon! Half off your second sweet or savory crepe**

We thank Firefly Café and Crêperie for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

West Seattle restaurants: Bada Bistro confirms it’s opening tomorrow

Following up on last week’s much-discussed preview of Bada Bistro, the new identity for the 61st/Alki SW corner restaurant that previously was Beachside Café and before that, Alki Bakery: Co-owner Sharon Bang confirms they will open tomorrow night, which was the target date when we last heard from her. She wants potential patrons to know that it’s a “locally owned and operated beachside restaurant on Alki Beach. We are dedicated to providing excellent food and beverages, and highest-quality service to our guests. Everything from our kitchen is scratch-made, as well as many of our bar items including bitters, spirit infusions, and our signature syrups. We offer many gluten-free options on our menu.” The menu is now online, including prices. They’re planning to start with dinner this week, add Happy Hour next week, then lunch and brunch when they’re ready; the hours for opening week are on their website at badabistro.com.

West Seattle restaurants: Pizzeria Credo to fire up soon

(Jacques Nawar with business partner Mike Look)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Jacques Nawar wants you to know that Pizzeria Credo, likely open by month’s end, is “not just another pizza place.”

He noted the “another pizza place?” concern was raised by a commenter after our first report last November about his new Junction restaurant – which you’ll find in the long-shuttered ex-Garlic Jim’s spot at 4520 California SW.

Not only will the pizza be out-of-the-ordinary, Nawar promises, so will the rest of the menu.

Click to read the rest of West Seattle restaurants: Pizzeria Credo to fire up soon…

BIrd on a Wire: New WSB sponsor, with coffee and much more

Today we officially welcome Bird on a Wire as one of the newest WSB sponsors. Haven’t been there lately? It’s become much more than a coffee shop, as proprietor Heidi Herr explains:

“I opened Bird on a Wire (BoaW) in 2002 after many years in the espresso business. I literally got to the point that I knew more than someone who was about to hire me for their coffee shop … this got me thinking I should give it a whirl myself! We have been open now for almost 11 years in a amazing/small/supportive neighborhood at the south end of West Seattle – an often forgotten area of WS. With a good product and a loyal following, we celebrated our tenth year in June 2012!

“There wasn’t much down here in 2002. The ‘hood was hungry (thirsty) for something and we provided a consistent, quality product, a friendly environment, and a hub for neighbors to meet. Our quality and coffee are #1; our staff is always friendly and we keep things new and fresh. You meet people and make friends here – it’s always been that way. Their trust in me and my staff’s coffee skills has given room for us to introduce more food options – soups, sandwiches, small plates – all made IN HOUSE, as well as beer and wine!

“I support local vendors and believe in a sustainable/no-waste approach to business/life. I willingly (for free) provide coffee grounds to the local P-Patches. I believe that we need to support brick and mortars in order for our economy to be strengthened. I have lived in West Seattle since 1998 and grew up in North Seattle (Roosevelt High School).

 I am a retired founding member of the Rat City Rollergirls and currently coach for Tilted Thunder Rail Birds, Seattle’s only banked-track roller derby league. I am on the advisory board for Theatre Off Jackson – an indie theater in the International District.”

Did we mention outdoor seating as well as indoor?

Bird on a Wire is at 3509 SW Henderson (map), online at birdonawireespresso.com, and on Facebook here, where you’ll find frequent updates on food and drink highlights and also The Bird’s hours – till 9 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays, till 4 pm Mondays and Sundays.

We thank Bird on a Wire for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
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West Seattle restaurants: Alki’s Bada Bistro to open next week

(Photo courtesy Sharon Bang)
Almost four months after announcing new plans for the former Beachside Café/ex-Alki Bakery at 61st/Alki, its owners say they’re hoping to open next week – Wednesday, March 20th. They’ve changed the new name a bit; now it’s Bada Bistro. “We will open for dinner the first week, add happy hour the following week, lunch will follow, and brunch to be added for weekends in April,” co-owner Sharon Bang tells WSB. Dinner will start at 5 pm; happy hour at 3 pm. She adds, “I realize that many were wondering what is going on in the space with no updated news for a long period of time. We really wanted to bring something special to the location, and it took more time getting things ready.” Here’s a notice Sharon says they’ve posted on the door, announcing their chef, and more about their menu and beverage plans:

John and Sharon Bang, local family restaurateurs, knew they wanted to open a Pacific Rim inspired American bistro with Chef John David Crow in mind. John David, a graduate of the California Culinary Academy, is a native Seattleite with an impressive and eclectic background. He spent years as the Executive Chef of the Space Needle as well as the Executive Chef of the Union Square Grill. He also opened The Brooklyn with Alvin Binuya, chef and partner of Ponti Seafood Grill, a mentor from whom Chef John gained much of his early knowledge of Pacific- Asian cuisine.

Most recently, John has served as Corporate Executive Chef at The Moorings Resort in the Florida Keys in addition to opening a popular Nashville restaurant, 360 Bistro, before returning to Seattle to start Bada Bistro here on Alki Beach. We describe our food as a beachside bistro, Seattle in flavor, with a definite Pacific Rim influence.

Bada is also a craft bar; we are the only scratch bar on Alki. We infuse our own spirits, use only fresh juices, and make our own syrups and bitters. Our wine list is well balanced and eclectic. We don’t chase labels, and we don’t serve merlot. We support our local brewers, while promoting global peace with a diverse line-up of tap handles.

At our Bistro we want to provide you with the opportunity to try new things, travel outside your comfort zone and enjoy a new seasoning, hop or grape. We want to make varietals the spice of life; we want to mix and match ingredients that have crossed all seven seas as well as those born and raised right here in the Northwest. The world is our oyster, and we have the best oysters on the beach.

It’s been two years since Sharon and husband John Bang, who also own Alki Café across the street, took over the ex-Alki Bakery space, whose former ownership closed it abruptly in November 2010.

Taste of West Seattle, May 16: Tickets on sale; restaurants sought

(Photo courtesy West Seattle Helpline)
The tastiest fundraiser of the year has opened ticket sales – and has room on its roster of restaurants. From West Seattle Helpline executive director Tara Luckie, here’s first word of this year’s Taste of West Seattle:

It’s time to start preparing your appetite for the Taste of West Seattle on Thursday, May 16th. The only event where you get to taste the local food West Seattle have to offer all in one place, one night. Last year we had 50 establishments comprised of restaurants, breweries, bakeries, and wineries to taste from! The best part is that all of the funds raised go to help West Seattle families facing emergencies through the West Seattle Helpline.

Last year we sold out, so buy your ticket early (go here).

Are you a West Seattle restaurant that wants to be a part of the Taste? Go to tasteofwestseattle.org and click on the “For Restaurants” tab to fill out the application. Spots are limited; sign up while there is still space available.

Never been? Here’s our report on last year’s Taste of WS – biggest yet!

West Seattle restaurants: Pan Africa Grill closes, Chopstix coming

If you try going to Pan Africa Grill at 5905 California SW tonight – that’s what you’ll find. We’d heard rumors they were closing, but no confirmation until the sign went up. It had only been open a year and a half, taking over the space that was home to Ho-Win Chinese Restaurant for 12 years. At the time Pan Africa opened here, it had an original location at Pike Place Market, but the owners closed that last April.

So what will happen to the West Seattle space, you ask? We do have the answer. It will be a Chinese restaurant again – called Chopstix. No, the former owners aren’t coming back; this is a brand-new venture, says proprietor Mark Lam, whose family has been in the restaurant business for more than 20 years in South King County. “West Seattle has a little bit more population density, it’s more diversified, a great place for any kind of business,” he told WSB’s Katie Meyer in a phone conversation this afternoon. He says Chopstix won’t be exclusively Chinese – it’ll veer toward Pan-Asian with “a little bit of Vietnamese, some teriyaki as well, some Japanese tempura.” No grand-opening date just yet – he just got the keys to the restaurant this week and expects to know more next week, after some cleanup, changes, and menu development. We’ll follow up, of course.

West Seattle restaurants: Harry’s Chicken Joint to semi-debut

Story and photos by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

It’s time for…Harry’s Chicken Joint!

Well, it’s almost time. Harry’s Chicken Joint (first mentioned here a month ago) will be running delivery-only orders down and across the street to Beveridge Place Pub Thursdays through Saturdays, starting tomorrow. (Patrons there have gotten some samples in recent weeks.) The BPP-delivery-only model will run for approximately a month while the former Meander’s/Jade West space north of Morgan Junction gets a re-do for its new tenant, so there’s no opening date set yet for their sit=down operations.

Harry’s has three items on the BPP-delivery menu for its semi-debut:

Click to read the rest of West Seattle restaurants: Harry’s Chicken Joint to semi-debut…

Marination ma kai: Welcoming a new West Seattle Blog sponsor

The weather’s warming, the days are lengthening, and one of our newest WSB sponsors is waiting for you at Seacrest on the West Seattle waterfront. Here’s what Marination ma kai proprietors Kamala Saxton and Roz Edison (L-R in the photo) want you to know about their restaurant/bar as they head toward their first spring and summer here:

“There are two things we hear about every single day: our service, and our food. People are a little surprised that a $2.50 taco can be so tasty, and that the gal who served it to them remembers their names from last time. I don’t know how we’re changing lives, but I do know that the world can be a tough place to navigate, and everyone can have a bad day, but when you come to Marination you can count on a friendly face saying nice things and genuinely caring about this one moment in time. It’s the one part of the day where people know they are going to have an overall good experience, even if it’s just for a few minutes. We hear about it a lot. It never gets old. It’s pretty humbling, actually.

“For us and our employees, we choose to keep coming back because no matter how gray and rainy Seattle gets it’s always warm and fuzzy at any one of our locations. And that’s including the truck! We’re a really happy crew, we love being around each other. That love and happiness is definitely reflected in our grub. We’re lucky because we’ve cultivated a really strong clientele of folks who are extremely comfortable telling us directly when our rice is undercooked, or something’s amiss with the pork, and we are all over it immediately. The two things we care about the most in our company are propping up our community through various involvements and donations, and keeping our menu fresh, tasty, and affordable. So I guess if someone asked ‘why you?’ we’d ask if they are down with building a strong community and with eating great food for cheap, and if so, then that’s why. West Seattle is such a strong and awesome neighborhood community. We can’t get enough.”

Find out more about Marination ma kai – including hours (which will change with the seasons) and menu – on the Web, here. Marination is on Facebook, too, and on Twitter. And/or just go to 1660 Harbor Avenue SW (map) and investigate the food, drink, view, and general aloha, firsthand.

We thank Marination ma kai for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

Congratulations to Bakery Nouveau’s William Leaman: James Beard Award semi-finalist!

11:58 AM TUESDAY: It’s the most prestigious award in the food world, and Bakery Nouveau‘s chef/proprietor William Leaman is a semi-finalist in the James Beard Foundation Restaurant/Chef Awards, category – of course – Pastry Chef. The winners will be announced in New York City in May, after the finalists are announced in March.

ADDED WEDNESDAY: We stopped by Bakery Nouveau this morning for a photo of the proud nominee. He says he got the word from his wife, and is most appreciative of the congratulations (and continued patronage) of their loyal customers. He says work’s going well on their expansion location in Capitol Hill and he’s particularly proud of the “Slayer” coffee machine they’re getting – a rare and amazing thing – you can even see how the deal brewed.

Westwood Village food notes: Panda Express; Giannoni’s Pizza

Two food notes from West Seattle’s lone shopping mall:

PANDA EXPRESS? Checking the city building/remodeling permit files, we discovered that an application was filed today citing Panda Express as the company that’s remodeling the south side of what had been Hollywood Video, immediately south of Desert Sun Tanning. As you may know, it’s a nationwide Chinese food chain – nearest outlet is in Burien. We have a message out to Panda Express corporate HQ; we also checked with Westwood Village management, which tells us they’re waiting for a news release to be drafted before commenting on forthcoming tenants.

NATIONAL NOD FOR GIANNONI’S PIZZA: As noted in the WSB Forums – whose members declared it an informal taste-test winner almost five years ago – Westwood Village’s homegrown Giannoni’s Pizzeria has just gotten a prestigious message, on New York Magazine‘s food website. They listed 101 top pizza restaurants coast to coast, and included Giannoni’s!

West Seattle restaurants: Harry’s Chicken Joint on the way

We’ve been keeping an eye on – and getting questions about – the former Meander’s/Jade West space north of Morgan Junction at 6032 California SW. For a while now, a piece of paper in the window has read simply “Harry’s,” but we’ve had no luck reaching anyone there. Finally – a little more information has turned up in the window: The piece of paper has changed to the one you see above, reading “Harry’s Chicken Joint, opening soon.” That dovetails – or chicken-tails – with what Rick “The Psychic Barber” Cook (whose new location is nearby) told us recently, reporting that he had spoken to the owner, who told him “it will be a sort of homestyle eatery with the main focus on fried chicken and plans to be open late February.” (Just found a Facebook page too, though it has little beyond the address and phone number, where we’ve left a message.) More info soon as we get it!

4:51 PM UPDATE: Just talked, briefly, to Bruce from Harry’s – he says they’re not likely to have the sit-down restaurant open till next month because they’re doing some interior renovations, but right now they’re planning on something interim for February: Takeout chicken for patrons of nearby Beveridge Place Pub (which doesn’t make its own food but allows food to be brought in), starting within a week or so if all goes well.

West Seattle restaurants: Pizzeria 22 certified as the real deal

Only 429 other restaurants in the entire world have what Pizzeria 22 in The Admiral District now has – certification from L’Association Verace Pizza Napoletana that it makes and serves “true Neapolitan Pizza.” Proprietor Cary Kemp explains, “We are the first and only West Seattle pizzeria to be accredited with such an honor and rare distinction. This is a goal and dream come true for me and my staff at Pizzeria 22 and we are so proud to share this certification with the West Seattle community.” Here’s his new listing on the official website (which lists fewer than 100 certified pizzerias in the entire USA); the requirements for certification include ingredients as well as prep/cooking methods. Pizzeria 22 has been open for a year and a half at 4213 SW College.

West Seattle restaurants: Reborn Cassis reportedly Alki-bound

The citywide food community is abuzz today about the Seattle Times (WSB partner) report that a long-gone, much-missed French restaurant is making a comeback – not on Capitol Hill, where it was before, but here in West Seattle. In The Times’ “All You Can Eat” section, Rebekah Denn broke the news last night that the owner of Cassis, which closed in 2004, plans to bring it back at an unspecified Alki spot. Read her story here. We’ve tried to reach the restaurant-to-be’s proprietor for more information – so far, no response.