West Seattle Blog…

WS Helpline serves up biggest Taste of West Seattle ever

The main room at The Hall at Fauntleroy was just one of four spots around the grounds of the old schoolhouse filled by 51 food-and-beverage purveyors for tonight’s Taste of West Seattle. More attendees than ever, too, enthused Tara Byrne, executive director of the event’s beneficiary/organizer, West Seattle Helpline. And it wasn’t just the lineup – it was what they offered:

Jes and Sarah from Chaco Canyon Organic Café (WSB sponsor) offered sweet-potato samosas. And for the omnivore …

… the team from The Bridge had their famous bacon-wrapped dates. For West 5, of course it was their popular mac ‘n’ cheese:

Amber from Freshy’s is known far and wide for her soup:

“Chef Wade” – who’s just unveiled his newest menu at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) — had pulled-pork sliders:

The Hall’s resident Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering made asparagus quinoa salad and grilled citrus prawns:

Salad was also on the menu for Pizzeria 22 proprietor Cary – arugula salad with gorgonzola:

Your notetaker here wandered away while co-publisher Patrick was photographing Ere and Ani from Pan Africa Grill, so we didn’t catch what dish/es they were serving:

Of course, there was dessert. There must be dessert. Stuffed Cakes, for one:

Full Tilt Ice Cream‘s ice-cream bike was there – getting ready to turn around to an appearance at White Center’s Caffe Delia for Bike-to-Work Day Friday morning:

Speaking of coffee – Hotwire (WSB sponsor) was right by the front door – one of several coffee purveyors, including Heidi from Bird on a Wire Espresso:

And with 51 participants – Tara said they had to turn some aspiring participants away, in the process of locking in the lineup! – we didn’t get to photograph them all. Check the names out here. Oh, and cheese, courtesy of Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor), which brought something even bigger than food, a $7,500 donation:

That’s Metro Market Admiral store director Glen Hasstedt with Kim and Laura from the cheese department (where cheese is also made, not just sold!).

Helpline doesn’t expect to have the night’s take tallied up for a few days; we’re also awaiting word on who won the votes for best taste. P.S. If you want more proof of how this event has grown – we looked up a WSB mention from three years ago; the number of participating food/drink providers was only about a third of what it is now!

1:08 AM UPDATE: From the Taste of West Seattle Facebook page – Fresh Bistro/Herban Feast Catering won “best taste,” Prost! West Seattle came in 2nd, Ma’ono Fried Chicken and Whisky was third.

West Seattle weekend scene: Mother’s Day hot spot

Many a Sunday, you’ll find a line at Bakery Nouveau in The Junction. This morning, Edgar Riebe from Captive Eye Media caught this photo from the back of what he says was a 30-minute line to get in the door! And worth it, Edgar added. Here’s hoping this is a successful Mother’s Day for all local eateries – and if you’re just venturing out for late lunch/brunch, while we can’t guarantee they have room, La Romanza Bistro Italiano in The Junction (WSB sponsor) offers jazz brunch till 4 pm. The sponsor team also was joined this week by vegetarian Chaco Canyon Organic Café in The Triangle, brunch till 3 pm on Sundays. And while driving north of Morgan Junction the other day, we noticed a NOW SERVING BRUNCH banner outside Pan Africa Grill at Juneau/California.

West Seattle restaurants: Grand opening day for Athena’s

Story and photos by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Nick Parisi of Highland Park plans to open the doors to Athena’s restaurant today at 11 am.

We first told you three months ago about the plan for the newly designed Greek-themed spot (across from Fire Station 11 at 16th and Holden, in the original home of Zippy’s Giant Burgers, now in White Center) will also be the brick and mortar commissary for Athena’s food truck [reported here by WSB].

Click to read the rest of West Seattle restaurants: Grand opening day for Athena’s…

Chow down, lift up: ‘Dining Out for Life’ last night; ‘Dine Out for Hunger’ next Wednesday

Two notes about local restaurants joining in dine-out fundraisers:

‘DINING OUT FOR LIFE’ POSTSCRIPT: Last night we stopped by Skylark Café and Club, one of four West Seattle/White Center venues that joined in Lifelong AIDS Alliance‘s annual dine-out fundraiser, to say hi to the on-site DO4L ambassadors: Bill Wiesenbach and Lorraine Fournier.

‘DINE OUT FOR HUNGER’ NEXT WEDNESDAY: We’re seeing lots of incoming e-mail reminders about Give Big, the one-day event next Wednesday (May 2nd) to encourage people to donate to participating nonprofits via the Seattle Foundation, which promises a “stretch pool” to provide some matching funds to those nonprofits. One local participant, White Center Food Bank, is going all-out, as noted on partner site White Center Now – including an event Wednesday night called “Dine Out for Hunger”: Proletariat Pizza and Zippy’s Giant Burgers are both donating a cut of dinner proceeds that night to WC Food Bank.

West Seattle restaurants: Meet La Romanza Bistro Italiano

This is a big night for what was the Tuscan Tea Room Bistro (WSB sponsor) in The Junction – a winemaker’s dinner with Siren Song Wines and music by Pearl Django. The event is technically sold out but proprietor Aimee Pellegrini says there’s “limited seating at the bar.” But that’s not the really big news – she’s just renamed her establishment, which is now La Romanza Bistro Italiano, and expanded dinner service to another night! Here’s the announcement:

Kicking off with our sold-out wine dinner (tonight), we have finally, at the urging of our patrons and our good judgement, changed our name from ‘The Tuscan Tea Room’ to ‘La Romanza Bistro Italiano’. We are also expanding our dinner hours to add Wednesday nights. So, we will serve dinner and happy hour Wednesday through Saturday starting next week.

We are very excited about this change but also assure that these are the only changes. We offer our same dinner, lunch, brunch, and afternoon tea menus. We offer our wine list, cocktails and our 70+ fine teas and will soon have them available for purchase through our website as well.

About nine months after we opened we added dinner service as well as expanded lunch, brunch and dinner menus to include live jazz and happy hour. Our new name is more indicative of what we truly offer: a bistro experience with fine Italian cuisine.

Thank you for your ongoing support!

Aimee Pellegrini and La Romanza staff

ADDED 2:34 PM: Just discovered Aimee is featured in a cooking video online via the West Seattleite-produced “Brown Lounge” site – it’s a roasted-chicken recipe:

The actual recipe and other info can be found here.

1 week till Dining Out for Life; 4 West Seattle/WC participants

Your next chance to make a difference with your fork/knife/spoon/chopsticks is just one week away: Dining Out for Life, to benefit the Lifelong AIDS Alliance, is next Thursday (April 26th). According to the Seattle DO4L website, three West Seattle restaurants are participating, and one in White Center: Buddha Ruska (info here), Company (info here), Skylark (info here), and Talarico’s (info here). All are listed as donating 30 percent of their dinnertime proceeds that night.

4 West Seattle restaurant notes: Food for Art; ATB #3; Pan Africa -1; Fiddlehead

TWO NIGHTS TILL ‘FOOD FOR ART’: Another reminder about Thursday night – more than half a dozen local restaurants are donating part of the night’s proceeds to Transitional Resources, a West Seattle-based organization that helps people living with mental illness. We featured the lineup in this preview; many are also hosting raffles in which you can participate, and some of the prizes are listed on the Facebook event page. This is timed to coincide with West Seattle Art Walk, so make plans to go out Thursday and enjoy great food AND great art.

TERRIBLE BEAUTY EXPANDING TO LOCATION #3: Some fans of A Terrible Beauty may already have heard this, as they’ve been quietly letting the news get out; we found it on the liquor-license-application list. Renton was their first, West Seattle their second, and now they’re expanding to location #3 on South Lake Union (1001 Fairview Avenue N). ATB co-proprietor Jenna Shannon Garvey O’Brien tells WSB, “We hope to open in July, but you know how that can go as well so we’ve just been saying Summer 2012. We will also have an outdoor walk up Chip shop at this location called Fish ‘n Tings.”

PAN AFRICA GRILL CLOSING PIKE MARKET LOCATION: Pan Africa Grill assures us that their West Seattle location (5905 California SW) is “alive and kicking” – but they have decided to close their original spot in the Pike Place Market area, and are promoting a “closing party” on Saturday.

FIDDLEHEAD FINE FOODS ADDED TO WSB WEST SEATTLE RESTAURANT GUIDE: Just added a page for one of West Seattle’s newest restaurants, Fiddlehead Fine Foods and Café. The guide index is here; Fiddlehead’s page is here.

‘Food for Art’ update: 7 places to dine out on April 12th

West Seattle-based Transitional Resources recently put out the call for restaurants to join in its first Food for Art benefit: You dine, a portion of the proceeds goes to TR. Today, we have word that seven local restaurants have answered the call, and on Thursday, April 12th – in conjunction with that night’s West Seattle Art Walk night – they’ll partner with you, to help Transitional Resources, which shares this announcement:

Seven West Seattle restaurants will donate a generous percentage of proceeds to Transitional Resources’ art-therapy program on the evening of Thursday, April 12 as part of the first annual Food for Art event. Representatives from Transitional Resources will be at each restaurant, selling $5 raffle tickets for prizes donated by local artists and businesses, including event sponsor Ola Salon. All raffle proceeds will benefit the art therapy program at Transitional Resources, a West Seattle-based non-profit mental-health center serving people living with severe and persistent mental illness.

Food for Art diners are encouraged to let their servers know they support Food for Art. Details about each restaurant’s Food for Art promotion follows:

CIRCA will offer two Food For Art specials, donating 50% of the proceeds from those sales. Promotion runs 5-10 p.m. (2605 California SW)

FRESH BISTRO will donate 10% of proceeds from sales off their regular menu (not their Restaurant Week promotional menu) and strongly encourages reservations. Promotion runs 5-10 p.m. (4725 42nd SW)

HIGHSTRIKE GRILL will donate 25% of proceeds from all restaurant sales. Promotion runs 7-10 p.m. (4505 39th SW)

LOCOL BARLEY & VINE will donate 25% of proceeds from all restaurant sales. Promotion runs 6-10 p.m. (7902 35th SW)

LUNA PARK CAFE will donate 25% of proceeds from all restaurant sales. Promotion runs 6-10 p.m. (2918 SW Avalon Way)

WEST 5 will donate 25% of proceeds from all restaurant sales. Promotion runs 6-10 p.m. (4539 California SW)

ZATZ A BETTER BAGEL will donate 15% of proceeds from all restaurant sales. Promotion runs 6-9 p.m. (2348 California SW)

Transitional Resources’ commends these local restaurants for their philanthropic engagement. By contributing to Transitional Resources’ art therapy program, these businesses are helping men and women have access to a creative catalyst for healing. The process involved in expressing one’s self artistically can help people resolve issues, as well as develop and manage their behaviors and feelings, reduce stress, and improve awareness. Art therapy is one of many programs offered at Transitional Resources, which provides respectful, optimistic, and highly personalized care to those most in need.

West Seattle restaurants: Grill fires up at Seattle Fish Company

Story and photos by Katie Meyer
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

The banners along the front windows spread the news: “Fish and Chips – Oysters & To Go Steamers & Crabs.” With the official “grand opening” of their grilled seafood service still two weeks away, Seattle Fish Company has quietly begun serving sit-down seafood while awaiting their license to pour beer and wine, and fine-tuning the offerings from the kitchen.

When we reported on the Junction business’s plan last October, they had hoped to have the added service up and running by January, but as so often happens with such plans, it took a bit longer.

On Saturday, proprietor Jon Daniels spoke with us about the new layout, planned menu offerings, and extended hours.

Click to read the rest of West Seattle restaurants: Grill fires up at Seattle Fish Company…

Marination delay at Seacrest: ‘Issue … between 2 government agencies’

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

“Understanding the situation, we’ll do our best to review the application as quickly as possible.”

So says city Department of Planning and Development spokesperson Bryan Stevens, regarding the extra review that suddenly pushed back the plan for Marination to take over and remodel Seacrest Boathouse.

“The situation at Seacrest is still moving forward,” Marination co-owner Roz Edison told us by phone. “It’s not quite moving at the pace at which we’d like.”

We reported the snag eight days ago, when the city Parks Department, which owns the boathouse, announced it, saying DPD had unexpectedly insisted a “conditional-use permit” would be needed too. The day after that announcement, we spoke to Roz from Marination, then sought DPD comment (which took 2 1/2 business days) before putting together this followup.

Click to read the rest of Marination delay at Seacrest: ‘Issue … between 2 government agencies’…

Almost-West Seattle scene: Inside Elliott Bay’s Lake City pub

When Kerry from Elliott Bay Brewing Company sent a reminder that EBB was opening its new Public House in Lake City today, we asked for a photo, since we’re not expecting to be up that way any time soon. And here it is! “Our first lunch!” notes Kerry. Find info about the new location here.

Seacrest switch: City says Marination will be ‘delayed’

Now we know why the city postponed the open house that had been scheduled next week for community members to meet the proprietors of Marination, which won the concession contract for Seacrest Boathouse. The city Department of Planning and Development says the plan needs an additional type of permit. The Parks announcement, headlined “Marination opening at Seacrest Boathouse delayed,” explains:

Since early March, Marination has been working with Parks to prepare and submit architectural and design plans for remodeling and tenant improvements of the boathouse. Most of these proposed improvements are for the interior of the building. As Marination was preparing to submit its building permit application to the City’s Department of Planning and Development (DPD) on March 8, DPD staff informed Marination that additional review would be necessary for a conditional use permit needed for the restaurant use.

The space in question is the kitchen area that was formerly a boat repair space. The need for a restaurant permit was not anticipated, since the boathouse has been used primarily as a restaurant/food service facility since the late 1990s. A conditional use permit typically takes two to four months for review and approval. This timeline will likely delay Marination’s anticipated opening of June 2012.

Seattle Parks and DPD are working closely with Marination to complete this process and continue to work toward an early summer 2012 Opening. There will still be an Open House at the Boathouse in late spring to introduce Marination to the public and to provide the public with an update.

Marination co-owner Kamala Saxton had actually told WSB last month that they hoped to be open by July, fearing a June estimate might be too optimistic – but that was before this twist in the process.

8:14 PM UPDATE: We just talked with Greg Whittaker of Alki Kayak Tours. Last month, he and Marination’s Kamala both told WSB that they had agreed (though it wasn’t 100 percent finalized) that AKT would stay on as subconcessionaire for watercraft, skate/bike rentals, and all the things AKT had been doing. Tonight, Greg says his business is the official “interim concessionaire,” to cover the longer-than-expected gap till Marination can take over. We asked if that means anything different from what AKT has been doing and he mentioned one thing – they’ve agreed to sell beverages! Exactly how that’s going to work, they haven’t figured it out yet, since his interim deal with the city is brand-new. Meantime, we also have asked Marination for comment; stay tuned.

Fauntleroy Community Association: A night of voting and tasting

Meet the Fauntleroy Community Association‘s board, listed here, and photographed after the election at last night’s Food Fest and membership meeting at The Hall at Fauntleroy: From left, Gordon Wiehler, Bruce Butterfield, Kathleen Dellplain, Phil Sweetland, Marty Westerman, Vlad Oustimovitch, Vicki Schmitz Block, Mike Dey, Susan Lantz-Dey, David Haggerty, Gary Dawson. Ahead, photos of the Food Fest part of the evening – and a view of the labyrinth walk happening elsewhere in The Hall: Click to read the rest of Fauntleroy Community Association: A night of voting and tasting…

Seacrest change: Admiral Pub event; Marination open house on hold

Two notes this morning relating to the transition at Seacrest Pier, with the city concession contract changing from Alki Crab and Fish – which closed two weeks ago – to Marination, which hopes to be open by summer. First, an event this Saturday (March 24, 7-10 pm) at Admiral Pub – owned by ACF’s proprietors – to which you’re invited. Organizer Kari sent the announcement (which you can see in full here), including this:

Join us for a West Seattle Happy Hour at Admiral Pub! Come support a local family-owned business and Rick and Eric Galanti at their pub on California Avenue. … We wanted to say thanks to the business owners and employees for 10 years of serving great fish and chips, fun summer days on the patio, and warm food and cold beers for the scuba diving and West Seattle community.

While we’re bummed that we’ll no longer be able to visit their Alki location, we wanted to gather our friends and hopefully bring out some new neighbors and West Seattle residents and have a great happy hour at their Admiral Pub location.

And for anyone interested in learning more about scuba diving in Puget Sound, or if you’ve ever thought about trying it, there will be plenty of dive enthusiasts including myself to talk to you more about taking a PADI Discover Scuba class at Seacrest Cove or even a Scuba Refresher class if it’s been awhile since you’ve been in the water. …

Second, the city has announced that the plan for an open house at Seacrest, to meet Marination’s proprietors, has been delayed – explained here by Seattle Parks – so you can delete March 27th from your calendar and await a new date (yet to be announced). For a preview – if you missed our interview 3 weeks ago with Marination co-owner Kamala Saxton, talking about their plans, here’s the story.

West Seattle restaurants: Happy 23rd, Luna Park Café!

Staci at Luna Park Café shared the photo of their sign – which is up in advance of the restaurant’s 23rd anniversary this Sunday (March 18th). She says they’re celebrating by offering kids free face-painting from 3-6 pm that day (Sunday). The café’s history – including a photo of what the building held, long ago – is on this page of the LPC website. Staci also mentioned they’re also celebrating St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow (Saturday) with a corned-beef-and-cabbage special and green beers. (We’ve received word of a few other St. P’s day specials we’ll be offering, and they’ll be in the Saturday daily preview – e-mail us yours if you haven’t already!)

1st-ever ‘Food for Art’: West Seattle restaurants invited to help

Next month’s West Seattle Art Walk will be held in conjunction with a new fundraiser – “Food for Art,” benefiting Transitional Resources, a WS-based organization that helps people living with mental illness. They’re looking for participants, writes TR’s Yemaya St. Clair:

Calling all West Seattle Restaurants: Join the first annual Food for Art event on Thursday, April 12!

In partnership with the West Seattle Art Walk, join Transitional Resources’ first annual Food for Art event, which will raise funds to benefit the art therapy program at Transitional Resources while providing restaurants with free publicity. Transitional Resources is a nonprofit organization in West Seattle serving men and women living with severe and persistent mental illness. We help over 200 individuals in our community stay off the streets, out of institutions, and on the road to recovery.

The dual goals of Food for Art are to raise money for our art therapy program and to make this your best charitable investment of the year.

The concept is simple: Your restaurant, along with others from West Seattle, commits to contributing a portion of your proceeds on one night – Thursday, April 12 (in conjunction with the West Seattle Art Walk) – to help support our art therapy program. Transitional Resources commits to promoting your restaurant through an extensive promotional campaign and to filling seats and increasing revenue at your restaurant on April 12. Also, you will be assigned an ambassador, whose primary function will be to make sure your restaurant is as full as possible on Thursday, April 12.

If you are a West Seattle restaurant and would like to be a part of the action, please e-mail Yemaya St.Clair for more details at yemayas@transitionalresources.org.

And Yemaya adds a message for readers: “Transitional Resources needs to hear directly from restaurateur(s), so if you have a suggestion, please make sure your favorite restaurant sees this!”

West Seattle restaurants: New pizza place; 2 menu changes

Three restaurant notes today, all from The Junction:

EX-GARLIC JIM’S TO BECOME ROUND TABLE PIZZA? That’s the way it looks, from a liquor-license application that just turned up online. A Round Table Pizza franchisee has applied for a beer/wine license at 4520 California SW, which is where Garlic Jim’s Pizza shut down six months ago after multiple ownership changes. Last time we looked at the restaurant’s for-sale listing (which is no longer active), the verbiage had changed to “Does not have to be a Garlic Jim’s.” The prospective licensee owns other Round Table franchises, including the nearest one – in Burien – where we have left a message seeking more info on the West Seattle plan.

NEW MENU FOR BANG BAR: This note is from Kay Fuengarom, proprietor of Bang Bar Thai Restaurant and Lounge in The Junction:

After being in the great West Seattle neighborhood for a little more than 8 months, we decided that it is time to do what we are best at which is the “authentic Thai cuisine.” We listened to every comment that we got from all of our customers and have been thinking about them thoughtfully, that they all love us, love the food, love the ambience, but they wish that they can come to Bang Bar more often. The facts being that our prices might be higher than most Thai restaurants but we really do use great quality ingredients and big and fresh seafood. We want to give the customers different choices and options to choose from. We now know that we should go back to our original authentic Thai menu that we planned before we opened the restaurant back in June of 2011. This menu offers over 100 items to choose from – lunch is at $7.95, lunch combinations at $9.95, dinner menu entrees start at $9.95, seasonal Bang Bar Signatures menu that will have all the Chef’s special dishes, we still have our happy hours menu at $5 and $6; happy hours martinis at $5. Now we’ve applied the restaurant concept that we use for our other two restaurants to Bang Bar: “Great Food, Good Service, Reasonable Price, Nice Atmosphere.”

NEW MENUS AT FRESH BISTRO: Also announcing new menus, Fresh Bistro at 4725 42nd SW: They now have a gluten-free menu (see it here) and a “vegetarian-friendly” menu (see it here).

The Tuscan Tea Room Bistro: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor

We’re welcoming The Tuscan Tea Room Bistro (4521 California SW in The Junction) as a new WSB sponsor. Here’s what proprietor Aimee Pellegrini would like you to know:

The Tuscan Tea Room Bistro is a completely unique dining experience right in West Seattle. There is really nothing like it in the city. Our staff is totally passionate about what we offer and strives to make every visit a special experience for our guests. We just love working together, have a real team mentality, are all local, care about each other and our community, and really enjoy sharing the experience. As a restaurateur, I couldn’t ask for a more dedicated and caring staff, and I believe that makes the difference. At heart, we are just a neighborhood bistro serving honest, clean, and unique cuisine.

The most common comments we hear are,”But I don’t want to leave yet!” and,”We didn’t realize you had such an amazing menu!” and, “The name threw us off! Have you thought about changing it?” (Yes, all the time! LOL!) and “We will be back soon and will tell all of our friends!”

Our guests are really incredible. The Tuscan Tea Room Bistro usually has a strong effect on people. We have guests who come for 30-year intimate lunch reunions, dinner birthday parties, romantic evening dates, bridal showers, family dinners, and no reason at all. The common thread I see that really makes it so rewarding is that they are all really connecting. There is something about the whole experience that helps people slow down, relax, and enjoy each other. It’s a beautiful thing. I think this is what people come for and why they return with their friends. A lot of our clientele is from West Seattle but also from beyond. In some ways it seems that West Seattle is still discovering us. I always smile when a local asks,”How long have you been HERE?! I’ve never seen you before! Wow!” And it’s true; we have been quietly building our service by word of mouth. People try us and they come back; that’s all you can ask for!

Also – I’d like to introduce our Sunday Jazz Brunch, with Loren Temkin on piano and Dune Butler on standup bass every Sunday. Our Eggs Benedict al Rustico with Dungeness crab, saffron-hollandaise and pesto over our toasted parmesan country bread is a standout that is causing a stir!

The Tuscan Tea Room Bistro is also involved in community charity work, most recently as a proud sponsor of the wildly successful WestSide Baby Tea. You’ll find them online at thetuscantearoom.com (find the menus here), on Facebook here, and by phone at 206-906-9914.

We thank The Tuscan Tea Room Bistro for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

Marination at Seacrest: City announces March 27 open house

The Seacrest transition is under way, with Alki Crab and Fish now closed, and Marination taking over next week, with months of renovation work ahead before they officially open this summer (as we reported last week). Now, there’s word of an open house later this month. Just e-mailed by Seattle Parks:

Seattle Parks and Marination, the new Concessionaire for the Seacrest Boathouse Facility, are hosting an open house on March 27, 2012, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the boathouse, 1660 Harbor Avenue SW.

The public is invited to the open house for a question and answer session and to learn about Marination’s vision and plan for providing quality food services at Seacrest. Come and learn about:

· What types of food they will have on their menu
· What types of boating recreation, and amenities, new and old, will be provided
· What types of remodeling and enhancements to the facility that are being proposed

We look forward to seeing you. For more information, please call Charles Ng, Operations Manager, Magnuson Park and Business Resources, at 206-684-8001, or email him at charles.ng@seattle.gov.

West Seattle restaurants: Alki Crab and Fish has closed

Found that sign on the door of Alki Crab and Fish at Seacrest this afternoon. We had actually gone there to check on a closing date, since the new concessionaires chosen by Seattle Parks, the owners of Marination Mobile, had told us the changeover was scheduled to happen by March 15th. As reported here last week, Marination plans to extensively remodel both the restaurant space and the watercraft-rental area run by Alki Kayak Tours will be next door; they hope to open Marination Marina (“working title”) by July.

More room for more restaurants to join Taste of West Seattle 2012

(Beverages from 2011 Taste of West Seattle – photobymike.com image provided by WS Helpline)
Good news for both participants and attendees at this year’s Taste of West Seattle, set for May 17th, benefiting West Seattle Helpline – executive director Tara Byrne says they’ll “have a tented area outside this year, and room for more restaurants.” So, while they’ve already invited past participants, they’re trying to get the word out to any and all area restaurants, if you want to participate, now’s the time to say so!

Calling all West Seattle restaurants: The 7th annual Taste of West Seattle is coming up Thursday, May 17th. Last year we had 40 West Seattle restaurants and more than 400 participants. If you are a West Seattle restaurant and would like to be a part of the action this year please e-mail Tara for more details at wshelpline@gmail.com.

Remember – Helpline needs to hear directly from the restaurateur(s), so if you have a suggestion, please make sure your favorite restaurant sees this! (If you need their contact info, consider checking our West Seattle Restaurant Guide.)

West Seattle restaurants: Fiddlehead Fine Foods & Café now open

Story and photos by Katie Meyer
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

The paper is off the windows, flowers are on each table, and Fiddlehead Fine Foods and Café is open for business at 4310 SW Oregon in The Junction.

Proprietors Carrie Duncan and Dana Moreland welcomed us to the newly opened space; Dana explained that they’re now open for lunch from 11:30 am to 4 pm, Tuesday through Sunday. They plan to add breakfast service starting next Tuesday (March 6th), 8 am through 11:30 am (and on weekends, breakfast will be served until 1:30 pm.)

The light, airy space features some unique re-purposed furniture: glass-covered vintage doors as for the smaller tables, and a beautiful solid wood work bench as one of the longer tables.

Menu choices include such staples as grilled cheese, meat loaf or roasted turkey sandwiches, along with tantalizing creations such as an ancho-braised pork sandwich (with carmelized onions); lemon rosemary chicken salad with roasted tomatoes and smokey bleu cheese; and daily selections of house-made fine foods at the counter.

Beverages range from fruit juices, sodas, tea, and sparkling water to select wines, hard ciders, and beer. Baked goods and desserts graced the front counter case – including these chocolate caramel pudding cups:

Fiddlehead also offers a soup of the day.

(We’d reported one week ago that Fiddlehead’s sign was up outside the former Blue Willow Luncheonette space, with a photo and tip courtesy of BJ from Brunette Mix [WSB sponsor] next door; today, a tip from Sam at Fleurt [also a WSB sponsor] a couple doors down revealed the doors were open and lunch was being served)

Followup: Marination’s Seacrest transition starts in 2 weeks; Alki Kayak Tours staying

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Usually, word of a new restaurant operator coming to town is met with excitement.

When we learned in December that food-truck stars Marination would be taking over Seacrest as their second bricks-and-mortar … what ensued was something of a mini-uproar.

Granted, this is not your usual restaurant transition. Instead of a seamless sale – or a shutdown, followed by a period of vacancy, followed by someone new moving in – this was a Seattle Parks concessionaire contract, with longtime operator Alki Crab and Fish seeking to keep it, but Marination getting it instead.

With the transition just a few weeks away, we asked Marination’s owners for a chance to sit down and talk about their plans. Co-owner Kamala Saxton came to West Seattle – where she used to live – to talk with us over coffee last Friday.

Of the uproar, she says, after being a little startled at first, she and co-owner Roz Edison (who was out on deliveries Friday and couldn’t join our chat) realized it was ultimately a good thing. “I was thrilled that people cared. It meant that people were interested, vocal about what’s happening in their community. It’s now our job to work at building those relationships with people who were upset at the decision that was made – this is what they were accustomed to for ten years, and we can spend the next ten years winning them over.”

One big thing won’t change: Click to read the rest of Followup: Marination’s Seacrest transition starts in 2 weeks; Alki Kayak Tours staying…