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Portland’s Thai Food King is Coming to Seattle

Plus, four other things you need to eat and drink this month.

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Keep on snacking on those tiny Snickers—we’re in full-on gluttony now that only ends with New Year’s resolutions. Not that you need to be lowbrow about it. Here are a mix of not-to-miss events and new restaurants that you should really check out in November:

Dine on gingko, ikura, negi and shiso.
If you’ve never heard of these prized Japanese ingredients, it’s even more imperative that you plan on attending Adana’s 12-course kaiseki dinner at 6 p.m. on November 15. The idea is a throwback to Adana’s previous incarnation; chef-owner Shota Nakajima ran the acclaimed fine-dining Naka before pivoting to the concept of paired down tasting menus you’ll find at Adana now. All guests must purchase tickets by emailing info@adanaseattle.com or calling 206.294.5230. 

Then drink with Andy Ricker.
The reigning king of the Portland’s Thai food scene, Pok Pok ace Andy Ricker, has a new book out that focuses on the Thai snacks that best go with booze. On November 28, he’ll be at Dino’s Tomato Pie‘s new events space talking Thai drinking adventures. A $75 ticket gets you apps, cocktails and a signed copy of his book, Pok Pok: The Drinking Food of Thailand. Jump on this now—it’ll surely sell out. 

Grab a bite at pretty little Joli.
Despite the fact that I used to live within, well, stumbling distance, I’d not been aware the strip of Northwest 65th Street in Ballard was known as Stumbletown until I started talking to friends about how much I really liked Joli, the lovely new neighborhood spot in a formerly rundown corner that’s blighted the micro ‘hood for years. The menu is Italian-French—I particularly enjoyed a beet salad heavy on the dill and the house-made ricotta cavatelli with braised rabbit. It’s quiet—for now—and a great place to pop into on a weeknight.

Learn about the new guard of hot chefs.
What a great idea: Ethan Stowell and Goldfinch Tavern chef Joe Ritchie are hosting an event designed to shed light on the incredibly talented chefs that aren’t quite household names. Eight chefs—Sony Bato (Marination Ma Kai), Jeremy Arnold (Hitchcock), Mitch Mayers (Lark Seattle), Jason Melton (Four Seasons Hotel Seattle), Tyson Wardwell (Salare), Sadie White (Tavolata), Alexus Williams (Navy Strength) and Christopher Coker (Adana Restaurant)—will each prepare a dish, and guests will vote on their favorite. The showdown goes down November 12 at the Four Seasons; tickets are $75 and available here.

Drink—and caffeinate—at Burgundian.
One of my favorite beer events of the year covers a small subsection of brews that happen to be my favorite: coffee beers. Tangletown brewery Burgundian, which you should visit anyway for the great comfort food and epic beer selection, hosts a dedicated weekend to coffee beers—not just stouts and porters, but rarer selections as well—and coffee-inspired menu items. The full tap list isn’t available yet, but trust me when I say that if you like coffee and beer, you’ll want to be there November 4 and 5. (Follow along on Facebook for further details.) 

Opening Night: Is Ethan Stowell’s Cut Club Happy Hour Going to Solve the Affordability Crisis?

Opening Night: Is Ethan Stowell’s Cut Club Happy Hour Going to Solve the Affordability Crisis?

At Cut Club, the longtime Seattle restaurateur is going old-school, with steaks made for sharing, no service charges, and a happy hour where $12 still buys dinner. 

Cut Club, the new steakhouse inside downtown’s Hotel Max, feels like a restaurant from the not-too-distant past. The menu leans comfortable rather than ambitious or world-spanning. It serves a typical lineup of steak cuts, some traditional sides like oysters, prawn cocktail, and wedge salad, and some cocktails that are between $15 and $20. There’s a…

Outside the Box: Gourmondo Founder Launches Olivina

Outside the Box: Gourmondo Founder Launches Olivina

Alissa Leinonen’s new venture brings her seasonal, Northwest approach to weddings, milestone celebrations, and elevated events.

After 30 years, Alissa Leinonen—founder of renowned catering and box-lunch company, Gourmondo—has launched a new venture. Called Olivina, the new luxury catering and events company focuses on highly personalized, elevated experiences ranging from weddings or other milestone celebrations to corporate gatherings. What started with $4,000 from a refinanced car (and a tiny café in Pike…

7 Washington Fall Festivals Worth the Drive

7 Washington Fall Festivals Worth the Drive

Autumn is back. Celebrate with fresh-hop beer, apple harvests, returning salmon, cranberries, and more. 

Explore 7 fun Washington fall festivals worth the drive, from Leavenworth's Autumn Leaf Festival and Issaquah Salmon Days to CrabFest and Fresh Hop Ale.

Restaurant Roundup: Brunch With a Side of History, Cardamom Lattes, and Chiew Chiew

Restaurant Roundup: Brunch With a Side of History, Cardamom Lattes, and Chiew Chiew

Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.

Hope you’re hungry for a history lesson. Oliver’s, the cocktail lounge inside downtown’s Mayflower Park Hotel, was a Bartell Drugs store during Prohibition before becoming the city’s first hotel bar in the late 1940s—the Carousel Room, named for the carousel horses hung from the ceiling. When Washington repealed the rule forbidding the service of hard…