FOOD NEWS: Dino's Tomato Pie Opens on Capitol Hill

Photo Credit to Alex Garland

Brandon Pettit, owner of Delancey and Essex, opened Dino's Tomato Pie on Capitol Hill! The new bar and pizzeria is on the corner of Denny and East Olive Way. Brandon is bringing his delicious pizza to Capitol Hill after having much success at his popular Delancey in Ballard.

The pizza is not the same as those served at Delancey. It is served square and with a thick crust. The name of the new pizzeria is an homage to a New Jersey pizzeria called Joe's Tomato Pie. I can't wait to try the pizza at Dino's!

Dino's Tomato Pie
1524 East Olive Way
Seattle, WA  98122

FOOD NEWS: James Beard Award Semifinalists

On February 17th The James Beard Foundation announced its list of Restaurant and Chef Award Semifinalists. Below is a list of all the Seattle area Semifinalists.

Best New Restaurant
Girin Steakhouse & Ssam Bar - Seattle

Outstanding Baker
Evan Andres, Columbia City Bakery - Seattle

Outstanding Bar Program
Canon - Seattle

Outstanding Chef
Matt Dillon, Bar Sajor - Seattle
Jerry Traunfeld, Poppy - Seattle

Outstanding Pastry Chef
Junko Mine, Café Juanita - Kirkland, WA

Outstanding Restaurant
Lark - Seattle

Outstanding Restaurateur
Ethan Stowell, Ethan Stowell Restaurants - Seattle (Anchovies and Olives, Ballard Pizza Co., Bar Cotto, Bramling Cross, Goldfinch Tavern, How to Cook a Wolf, MKT., Red Cow, Rione XIII, Staple and Fancy, Tavolàta)

Outstanding Service
Café Juanita - Kirkland, WA

Outstanding Wine Program
Canlis - Seattle
Wild Ginger - Seattle

Outstanding Wine, Spirits or Beer Professional
Wayne Carpenter, Skagit Valley Malting - Burlington, WA

Rising Star Chef of the Year
Jay Blackinton, Hogstone Wood Oven - Orcas Island, WA
Maximillian Petty, Eden Hill - Seattle

Best Chefs: Northwest
Eric Donnelly, RockCreek - Seattle
Mike Easton, Il Corvo Pasta - Seattle
Renee Erickson, The Whale Wins - Seattle
Edouardo Jordan, Salare - Seattle
Nathan Lockwood, Altura - Seattle
Dustin Ronspies, Art of the Table - Seattle
Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi, Joule - Seattle

Congratulations to all of the Seattle area Semifinalists!! Best of luck in the Finals!!

FOOD NEWS: Seattle Food News from the Past Week

In case you missed any of the Seattle food news from the past week, I figured I would give you a little recap.

The Whale Wins and Joule tie for 9th Best New Restaurant of 2013
Bon Appetit announced its list of the top 10 best new restaurants in America for 2013. Seattle's own The Whale Wins and Joule both tied for the 9th spot on the list!!

Carrie Mashaney of Seattle will compete on the next season of Top Chef
Bravo has announced the cheftestants who will compete on the next season of Top Chef. Chef Carrie Mashaney, the chef de cuisine at the soon-to-open Aragona, was chosen to be on the show! Aragona, a Jason Stratton restaurant, will open late summer/early fall.

London Plane is now open in Pioneer Square
Matthew Dillon who owns Sitka and Spruce, The Corson Building, Bar Sajor, Bar Ferd'nand, and Old Chaser Farm, has recently opened his next venue called The London Plane. The new restaurant is on Occidental Avenue South in Pioneer Square. It's just a few address numbers down from Bar Sajor.

Josh Henderson to open Hollywood Tavern in Woodinville
I'm pretty sure you've heard of the food truck Skillet by now? After opening its first Skillet diner on Capitol Hill, and then more recently a second Skillet diner in Ballard, Josh is moving North! He plans to open Hollywood Tavern in Woodinville, which was previously Mabel's, a tavern that dates back to the 1930's. The new tavern is set to open in October. Henderson is also opening Westward and Little Gull Grocery on North Lake Union sometime this month.

Seattle Cider Company to open August 24th
Two Beers Brewing is opening Seattle's first post-prohibition cidery, Seattle Cider Company. They will be hosting a launch party Saturday, August 24th from 2:00 to 7:00pm at The Woods tasting room.

FOOD NEWS: James Beard Foundation Announces 2013 Semifinalists

The James Beard Foundation announced today the semifinalists in the 2013 Restaurant and Chef Awards. The state of Washington was well represented in many categories. Below is a listing of the semifinalists from Washington State. The finalists will be announced March 18, 2013. You'll have to wait until May 6, 2013 for the winners of each category.

BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Shanik - Seattle
The Whale Wins - Seattle

OUTSTANDING BAR PROGRAM
Canon - Seattle

OUTSTANDING CHEF
Maria Hines - Tilth, Golden Beetle, Argodolce - Seattle

OUTSTANDING PASTRY CHEF
William Leaman - Bakery Nouveau - Seattle

OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT
Canlis - Seattle

OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR
John Howie - John Howie Restaurant Group - John Howie Steak, Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar - Bellevue

OUTSTANDING SERVICE
Café Juanita - Kirkland

RISING STAR CHEF OF THE YEAR
Mark Bodinet - Copperleaf Restaurant at Cedarbrook Lodge - Seattle
Chris Weber - The Herbfarm - Woodinville
Blaine Wetzel - The Willows Inn on Lummi Island - Lummi Island

BEST CHEF: NORTHWEST
Chris Ainsworth - Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen - Walla Walla
Renee Erickson - The Whale Wins, The Walrus and the Carpenter - Seattle
Jason Franey - Canlis - Seattle
Nathan Lockwood - Altura - Seattle
Ethan Stowell - Ethan Stowell Restaurants - Seattle
Jason Stratton - Cascina Spinasse - Seattle
Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi - Joule, Revel - Seattle

Congratulations to all of the semifinalists! What a fine group representing the great state of Washington. I wish you all the best of luck!

You can view the entire list of semifinalists from around the country at the James Beard Foundation website.

FOOD NEWS: Happy National Ice Cream Day!

[PHOTO: Olde Liberty Trading]

Today is National Ice Cream Day! Head on out and get yourself a tasty ice cream treat today! Here is a list of some of the best places to get ice cream in Seattle.

Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream - Wallingford, Capitol Hill, Madrona, Queen Anne
Husky Deli - West Seattle
Full Tilt Ice Cream - Ballard, White Center, Columbia City, University District
Bluebird Homemade Ice Cream - Capitol Hill, Fremont, Greenwood
Scoop Du Jour Ice Creamery - Madison Park
Cupcake Royale - Capitol Hill, Ballard, Madrona, West Seattle, Downtown, Bellevue
Baskin Robbins - Queen Anne, Rainier Valley, University District, West Seattle

Let's all SCREAM for ICE CREAM!!!

FOOD NEWS: Vive la France! Happy Bastille Day!

[PHOTO: Chow Down Seattle]

France celebrates Bastille Day every year on July 14th. It symbolizes the overthrow of the monarchy and the beginning of a new French Republic. Earlier this year I traveled to Paris for the first time. It's a beautiful city. The people were friendly, the architecture was amazing, and the food was delicious! What better way to celebrate Bastille Day than sampling some great French food. Here is a list of some great French eateries in Seattle. Vive la France!

Toulouse Petit Kitchen & Lounge - Queen Anne
Café Presse - Capitol Hill
Le Pichet - Downtown Seattle
Café Campagne - Downtown Seattle
Cafe Besalu - Ballard
Restaurant Zoe - Capitol Hill
Boat Street Cafe - Queen Anne
Bastille Café & Bar - Ballard
Luc - Madison Park
Rover's - Madison Park
La Côte Cafe and Wine Bar - Madison Park
611 Supreme - Capitol Hill
Voilà! Bistrot - Madison Park
Le Fournil French Bakery - Eastlake
Maximilien - Downtown
35th Street Bistro - Fremont
La Crêperie Voilà - Downtown
Portage - Queen Anne
RN74 - Downtown
Gainsbourg - Greenwood
The Georgian - Downtown

FOOD NEWS: Tom Douglas to Open New Falafel Restaurant

Tom Douglas

Eater Seattle reports that Tom Douglas is set to open a new Falafel restaurant next to the Paramount Theater in downtown Seattle. The opening is set for sometime this Fall. The new eatery will also serve beer and wine. Tom Douglas is a James Beard Award winning chef with over a dozen restaurants in Seattle.

FOOD NEWS: James Beard Foundation Announces 2012 Restaurant and Chef Semifinalists

The James Beard Foundation announced the semifinalists in the 2012 Restaurant and Chef Awards. The finalists will be announced on March 19th in Las Vegas. Here is a list of the semifinalists from Washington state. Congratulations to all the semifinalists, and best of luck on March 19th!

Best New Restaurant
Altura - Seattle

Outstanding Bar Program
The Zig Zag Cafe - Seattle

Outstanding Chef
Holly Smith - Cafe Juanita - Kirkland, WA

Outstanding Restaurant
Canlis - Seattle

Outstanding Restauranteur
Tom Douglas - Tom Douglas Restaurants - Seattle

Outstanding Wine Program
Canlis - Seattle

Outstanding Wine & Spirits Professional
Alex Golitzin - Quilceda Creek Vintners - Snohomish, WA

Rising Star Chef of the Year
Blaine Wetzel - The Willows Inn - Lummi Island, WA

Best Chef: Northwest
Chris Ainsworth - Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen - Walla Walla, WA
Matt Costello - The Inn at Langley - Langley, WA
Matt Dillon - Sitka & Spruce - Seattle
Renee Erickson - Boat Street Cafe - Seattle
Jason Franey - Canlis - Seattle
Ethan Stowell - Staple & Fancy Mercantile - Seattle
Jason Stratton - Spinasse - Seattle
Rachel Yang & Seif Chirchi - Joule - Seattle

FOOD NEWS: Food Day

Food Day seeks to bring together Americans from all walks of life—parents, teachers, and students; health professionals, community organizers, and local officials; chefs, school lunch providers, and eaters of all stripes—to push for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way.

Find out more about Food Day on their Website.

FOOD NEWS: Five Seattle Restaurants Make OpenTable's National Top 50

Five Seattle restaurants have made it on OpenTable's Diners' Choice Awards for the top 50 restaurants that are "fit for foodies." The list of winners is derived from more than 10 million reviews submitted by OpenTable diners for more than 12,000 restaurants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Cascina Spinasse, MistralKitchen, Spur, Staple and Fancy, and Tilth made the list. Seattle tied with Boston and New York with five restaurants. San Francisco (with ten) and Chicago (with six) were the only cities to have more restaurants on the list.

FOOD NEWS: Seattle's Best Coffee new Pumpkin Crème Latte

Seattle's Best Coffee introduces their new Pumpkin Crème Latte! It is the perfect accompaniment for any fall activity. The Latte is an irresistible combination of pumpkin spice flavors, white chocolate, espresso, and velvety steamed milk topped with a sprinkle of pumpkin spice.

Seattle’s Best Coffee is offering $1 off a medium Pumpkin Crème Latte at cafes in the Seattle area through November 6.  For additional savings, check in to your local Seattle’s Best Coffee in Seattle on Foursquare to save an extra 50 cents off a medium Pumpkin Crème Latte.

Find a Seattle's Best Coffee café near you at their website.

FOOD NEWS: Happy National Coffee Day!

Today is National Coffee Day! Two national chains are offering free coffee today. You can get a free medium coffee from 7 to 11 am at participating 7-Eleven stores. You can stop by the closest Krispy Kreme store or drive-thru anytime on Sept 29, 2011 for a free 12 oz cup of their new House Blend coffee.

FOOD NEWS: Happy National Cream-Filled Donut Day!

Today is National Cream-Filled Donut Day. Get out and get some!

FOOD NEWS: Happy International Chocolate Day!

Eat some chocolate! Celebrate!

FOOD NEWS: Congrats to The Walrus and the Carpenter in Ballard!

Congratulations to Ballard's The Walrus and the Carpenter for being chosen by Bon Appetit Magazine as one of the Best New Restaurants of 2011!