Wednesday, January 5, 2011

FOOD NEWS: Maria Hines of Tilth to open 2nd restaurant - Golden Beetle


James Beard award winner and Iron Chef Champion, Maria Hines, will open her second restaurant, Golden Beetle, in late February. Maria is the chef and owner of Tilth restaurant in Wallingford. Tilth, which features New American cuisine prepared with certified-organic ingredients, was called one of the best new restaurants in the country in 2008 by the New York Times.

According to the official press release, Golden Beetle will be located at 1744 NW Market Street in Ballard. The new restaurant will focus on the flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean. Hines prides herself in serving locally organic and seasonal products. Her current restaurant, Tilth, is only one of two Oregon Tilth certified restaurants in the country. This certification ensures that 95% of what is purchased will be organic. Golden Beetle will seek this certification also. It is said that the menu will focus largely on small plates.

The press release states that the name, Golden Beetle, comes from a 27 ingredient spice mixture from Morocco, ras al-hanout, which includes dried golden beetle, a Spanish fly that is considered an aphrodisiac. Keep an eye out for more news on Maria's new restaurant in February.