You’ve probably never heard of chef Charles Walpole—that is, unless you’ve worked alongside him in a restaurant kitchen. Walpole headed other people’s kitchens for a decade (most recently, Ethan Stowell’s Anchovies & Olives) before striking out with partner Rene Gutierrez to open the Blind Pig in the now-iconic original Sitka & Spruce (and later, Nettletown)…

If you haven’t made a pilgrimage to eat on Bainbridge Island in the last two years, you might not recognize the place. Last year, Hitchcock opened in downtown Winslow, bringing with it a taste of youth and urbanity. Even more noteworthy was the late-spring opening of Restaurant Marché, where former Canlis chef Greg Atkinson expertly…

We’ve been to Crumble & Flake four times, but only managed to eat anything once. OK, twice. It’s a common story; chef and owner Neil Robertson’s bakery has been besieged by pastry fiends since it opened its doors in early summer. These fanatics are willing to wait a half hour in lines that can stretch…

The first to open was Mezcaleria Oaxaca atop Queen Anne Hill, where tastings of mezcal (like tequila, but smoky) accompany the fantastic Mexican food we’ve come to expect from the people behind Ballard’s La Carta de Oaxaca. An entirely new menu accompanies the mezcal, including a terrific goat meat platter ($13), freshly pressed tortillas ($1),…

You’ll be a born-again Thai food fan after tasting the bright, fire-cracker version cooked by husband-and-wife chefs Poncharee (aka “PK”) and Wiley Frank at their takeout window on Madison Street across from Healio. Inspired by a life-changing visit to Thailand, the duo (he previously cooked at Lark) spent two years ironing the kinks out of…

It’s hardly a surprise that the high-end dining market has struggled these past few years. Not only have diners’ budgets taken a hit, their tastes have shifted ever more toward casual, neighborhood restaurants with come-as-you-are appeal and a “no reservations necessary” policy. But when the time comes to dust off the heels and skirt—when the…

Holy sweet tooth heaven! That’s not Hot Cakes’ tagline, but we think it should be. When the urge hits to skip dinner and go directly to dessert, this Ballard cutie is our first stop. Autumn Martin has serious dessert-making chops—she was pastry chef at Canlis before leading the chocolatier team at Theo in Fremont—and her…

If you ever find yourself crying at work, take Ellen Forney’s advice: “Don’t wipe your tears. Don’t change your posture. Just keep working until you get to the point where your nose is running and you’re kind of a mess—then get up, go to the bathroom, blow your nose and wipe your face. Take a…

#Goosebumps