The sea-loving part of him first pursued a career in marine science. He tagged great white sharks in California, researched ways to improve the sustainability of oyster farms in Scotland, and explored the inner workings of a large shrimp farm in Central America. He soon discovered that his advocacy for the ocean could only go so far in his chosen field, though he never thought he’d launch a seafood snack company.

It’s common this time of year for year-end roundups touting the newest, “best, most exciting” restaurants, but looking ahead to 2024, I want to hone in on a different set of restaurants redefining what it means to eat local in Seattle. 

Though not a wine critic by any means, I’ve had my fair share of wine from all over the world, even geeking out over Vinho Verde for a time, but I had no clue what a pet-nat was. When a glass of sparkling white wine was placed before me, I liked that its bubbles were only mildly flirtatious, keeping me entertained by its delicate effervescence. My first sip reminded me of an apple just before it begins to ripen. 

So often around this time of year, our attention turns to the holiday feast — the giant bird, abundant sides, and numerous pies — such that we forget how everyday meals can be regular opportunities to treat ourselves. Family-owned restaurants are returning to classic recipes and bringing a sense of comfort and ease to our…

The parking garage is under a vitamin shop, across the street from an apartment complex. It’s trash pickup day so the garbage cans are stinky and overflowing. A few crows bounce through puddles in the alley, waiting for me to pass so they can get back to doing whatever it is crows do when no…

The notable chill in the air compels us all to take better care of ourselves, to tuck into the comfortable and warm spots of our home, to indulge in the richness that our body craves this time of year. This month, we’ll have two new bakeries added to a growing list of incredible bakeries in…

A lot of good things come from saying, “Why not do both?” When both options are coveted, marrying the two hardly feels like a compromise at all. The food scene is working hard to make our tough choices easier, particularly as we head into autumnal months when cravings turn to comfort foods, but stomach space…

Food has the wonderful effect of capturing a time and place. Many dishes in this city bring memories into the present, celebrate history, and preserve the abundance of our current season. What is old can be made anew. And in this bustling city where creativity, change, and traditions intersect, we can return to many familiar…

Whether it’s a hot puff of steam pushing through a tightly packed mound of grounds, or beans whirring in a grinder perfuming the air with their bitter oils, in almost every coffee shop on the planet there’s only one scent that dominates: coffee. So, it can be a little surprising to walk inside Phin Vietnamese…

Seattle has always been a coffee town. The region’s gray and drizzly weather has made coffee a cherished commodity going all the way back to the pioneer days, with some of the city’s earliest merchants establishing their success by roasting and selling their own brands of the stuff. In fact, long before Starbucks, an early…

July may have us asking, what makes up American food these days? Though the American flag cake studded with strawberries and blueberries remains a patriotic standby, we in Seattle are lucky to have a food scene bursting at the seams with creative and unique offerings from people who dare to dream. Life is Like a…