We’ll have a full report later with highlights of memories shared tonight, “open-mike” style, before guests shared “something special” to celebrate the life of Phoenecia at Alki restaurateur Hussein Khazaal, who died suddenly last Saturday. But if you couldn’t be there, we wanted to show you the crowd first – we estimate around 250 people. Some sat, some stood, some were out of our camera’s view, up on the sidewalk. Some memories were tearful, but many brought laughter. More later.
Just got back from the memorial. A lot of great memories shared. His presence will be missed in West Seattle. My love to the family.
I also just got back from the memorial…what an empty feeling it was to drive back to Seattle via Beach Drive without having seen and talked to Hussein, our dear dear friend. My love to all his wonderful family. We love you so much. I realized that in all the tributes so far no one has mentioned what exquisite TASTE Hussein had, and what a highly refined sense of humor he had!
I will miss his keen wit, his keen aesthetic, and his brilliance as a chef and business owner. He taught by example—his family fluttered around him like butterflies to light—-who didn’t want to be near that dear dear man with his heart of gold and his sharp as a tack instincts about how life should be lived and how the world should be run? I feel like my compass has been lost, and to imagine I will not be seeing those warm welcoming brown eyes and that witty half smile of recognitions when he would see us arrive at the restaurant…what good stories and funny stories he had waiting for us along with the delicious antpasti and tuscan wines that were waiting just for us…….thank you Hussein for everything you did for us, all the great meals, and even tonight you tinted the sky pink and saved one last piece of cake for my daughter Daisy who wouldn’t leave until she had a sweet.
Paige Stockley
So very sorry to hear of Hussein’s passing. He was an Alki icon whose presence will be sorely missed. My husband & I were fairly regular at Phoenecia. We recall his welcoming greeting from the door “how are you, my friends?” which made us feel special, yet which he likely gave to all his many “friends”. He would, on occasion, prepare for us a small special plate of something that wasn’t even on the menu, but that he thought we’d like (and we always did). And everyone knows how skillful he was at pushing the wine – you could count on your tab doubling! Twelve years ago, he hosted our wedding rehearsal dinner. My friends and family still talk about it today. We moved from Alki to Arizona 6 years ago, but we still remember Hussein, his wonderful food, and his gracious contribution to our memories of our life at Alki. Peaceful journey to you, Hussein.
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