(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.

(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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.)

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.

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.

(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.

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.

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.

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.

(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.

We toured the renovated space on Monday, from the brand-new, built-in-Naples wood-fired oven (nameplate above) – which faces the restaurant’s front window, for “transparency” inside and out – to the bar that will offer a full spirits menu and more.

Nawar was a restaurateur in the Washington, D.C. area – he points out that you can look up his history (here’s one story we found) – and came here to consult Abbondanza in Morgan Junction, then decided he would “settle” here. Don’t pre-judge Pizzeria Credo by his previous projects, though.

The space has been remodeled in a big way, including warmer colors “to brighten up the place” and lighting fixtures.

Instead of the TV-at-every-table you might remember from GJ’s, there is one screen in the back, visible from the bar, but not from most of the tables.

As for the food – the proprietor describes the planned menu as “smart” and “eclectic,” 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. 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.

And in response to another question that arose in November comments: Yes, there WILL be gluten-free pizza.

Desserts will be something special, he promises, and they’ll make and serve cappuccino as well as other espresso beverages; we note a small but gleaming machine at the bar:

Pizzeria Credo will be open for lunch and dinner. The hours are not finalized yet, but likely 11-2 or so for lunch, with dinner 5-11, and the bar staying open later, especially on Friday/Saturday nights. Not only will food be available for takeout, so will growlers of beer – Georgetown Brewing Company‘s famous Manny’s, Nawar notes. (No website yet, but “soon.”)

If all goes well in the final days of work, Pizzeria Credo will be open by the end of the month.