Monday Food News Roundup

Pirates aka Canlis Staff ride the duck. Photo Credit: Canlis FB Page/Brian Canlis

What're Seattle's restaurants and writers dishing up this week? Plenty of new spots, a couple of shuttered doors, plenty of gossip and, of course, a visit from one of New York's most exceptional eaters. Eat it up!

Openings/Closings:

• Let's start with the obvious: the much-anticipated opening of RN74, which is happening today (lunch only)! The newest outpost from restaurant mogul Michael Mina generated quite a bit of buzz this week over the confirmed employment of esteemed Seattle bartender Murray Stenson. But, it turns out, he's on hiatus while he recovers from a shoulder injury. The opening is still exciting, though--Saturday, the team hosted a VIP pre-opening party, during which guests, including Brian Canlis, donned their party attire. Follow them on Twitter at @RN74Seattle and, if you decide to brave opening week, let us know what you think.
• Lucky 8, a new Chinese restaurant, will be opening in the vacant space adjacent to Oola Distillery, reports Jess Voelker from the Seattle Met. We heard through the grapevine that this won't be the only restaurant to set up shop in the building across from Skillet Diner; however several of the interested parties have yet to sign on the dotted line.
• Beacon Hill's Bar del Corso is on its way to opening; with the arrival of their massive pizza oven direct from Italy, they're in the final stretch. Seattle Mag captured a few shots of the arduous process. According to the restaurant's blog, they are anticipating opening late June.
• Hundreds braved the line at Potbelly Tuesday included Seattle Weekly's Hanna Raskin. Despite all the trademarks of a chain sandwich shop, Raskin doesn't harp too harshly on the sandwich. We also realize that the Fourth and Pike location doesn't rely on discerning taste and haute palates--their target demographic is more along the lines of the average person looking for a quick lunch.
• Samurai Noodle opened a third outpost in Capitol Hill on Broadway in the former beloved Bailey Coy Bookstore space.
• The Rabbit Hole, in Belltown, opened Wednesday to a pretty full house. But when you go, don't expect the same craft cocktails on the menu as Bathtub Gin & Co., which is owned by the same folks. Coined a "beer and bourban bar", we prefer the term "watering hole." An interesting bar menu does capture our interest, though--especially the frickles, wings and fried chicken. Oh, and the two lanes of skee ball. No doubt many people will fall down The Rabbit Hole.
• Jason Stratton's Artusi also opened quietly Wednesday night. Described as a modern aperitivo bar; we expect Italian inspired cocktails and small plates. Eater Seattle has a great gallery of the modern, lovely space.
• Dope Burger in Belltown is closed for a few months, according to their website. The reason, the owners noted, is due to an electrical fire. We spotted the sparse space enroute to The Rabbit Hole Wednesday night, and wish all employees and involved parties well.
• Kelly O'Brien's in Ballard is also opening this week. The casual pub will serve inexpensive food such as mac and cheese, corned beef sandwiches, wings, etc. They'll also be offering a nightly drink happy hour from 4-6 p.m. My Ballard has the full details on the pub.

Reviews & Write-ups:

• The mother of all reviews doesn't come from one of the usual suspects this week. No, it's from the fingertips of the man who Tweeted a few clues towards the end of April: Mr. Frank Bruni. What does this review teach us about his feelings towards Seattle? Basically, that he's that he's super-stoked over what our dear Puget Sound has to offer. Bruni's synopsis of eating here: "It is to experience something that even many larger, more gastronomically celebrated cities and regions can’t offer, not to this degree: a profound and exhilarating sense of place." Really we urge you to read his synopsis of dining in its entirety. And last but not least, we'd like to shamelessly point to the Tweet from Mr. Bruni in response to your dear Food Editor when he was on the eating escapade. Blush!
• And in the fish camp, the staffers of The Stranger have been weighing in on their favorite renditions of the cafeteria classic, the tuna melt. No surprise that the ones at Elliot Bay Cafe and Lecosho fit the bill.
• Finally, Hanna Raskin tells us what we already know about Sky City: you don't go for a "great meal" rather to "savor the other elements of eating out." Don't worry, the food is edible--akin to the kind you find on a cruise ship or a $100 seat fundraising event/wedding. Shockingly, it is the dessert that Raskin praises the Lunar Orbiter, a ice-cream sundae served "enveloped in a cloud of dry-ice smoke." Corny yes, but "fabulous."

Ripped from the headlines (and the Twitters):

• Food & Wine Magazine has a nice feature written by local writer Bethany Jean Clement on Ethan Stowell's Fourth of July celebration at his family's Whidbey Island vacation home. The article is online and appears in the print issue as well.
• Gilt Taste's fun little comic about an oyster shucker features Washington Hama Hama oysters.
• Wonder what a $5K bowl of pho looks like? Bon Appetit found one, at House of An in SoCal. Feeling rich enough to splurge? You'll find some foie gras, wagu beef and Alba truffles. For now, Seattlest will stick to the $7 bowl at one of the various joints around the city.
• Don't judge a book by its cover, the age old saying goes, but what about its label? "Grub Street", a New York Times' food blog, asks whether or not the adage applies to wine. This week, they've found seven major wine-label groups and subclasses. No surprise, you'll see a few Washington wine makers.
• As expected, the Best New Chefs Food & Wine issue hit stands, with Chef Jason Franey amongst the group. Sadly, he wasn't donning his pirate chef costume that he wore while riding the Duck this weekend, alongside other Canlis staffers for a going away party. Reason 995 we think Canlis rocks.
• Oh and Twitter sensation, Ruth Bourdain played along with the Andrew Scrivani workshop last week. Hashtag and all. My my, he enjoyed the geoduck.