Restaurant Roundup: Supporting the Hospitality Community After Tragedy

You shouldn’t have to fear for your life when you go to a food festival. It’s something that shouldn’t even have to be said, but I’m writing it now with a pit in my stomach. Following the shooting at last weekend’s Bite of Seattle, where three people were killed and four more were injured, it’s hard to find the appetite for this week’s column. 

At a silent vigil at Seattle Center on Wednesday night, community members gathered to mourn and support those affected. Each person deals with trauma differently and it’s important to recognize there’s no single path forward. Still, I believe there is power in proving tragedies like this won’t break us. In times of darkness, the simple act of having dinner at your favorite restaurant can be a form of resistance and a show of support for your neighbors and an industry so vital to our city. 

How to help others and yourself

Gunshot victims require roughly 10 times more blood units than other trauma patients. On top of the immediate need stemming from the shooting, Bloodworks Northwest has issued a call for emergency blood donations. Here is an extensive list of resources, including mental health counseling and victim support services, that are available to anyone affected by gun violence.

Seattle stands together

Accounts of the bravery shown by staff members of restaurants surrounding Seattle Center continue to inspire. People crowded into the kitchen of The Bar at Chihuly Garden and Glass, where chefs turned off their grills to squeeze as many people safely inside as possible. Mehmet Gultekin delayed closing his cafe, The Seattle Grind, instead welcoming people to take cover as they ran from the sounds of gunshots. Those are just a couple of examples of how quick-thinking staff members and business owners helped keep people safe during a terrifying moment.

Dining Out For Life

Mark your calendars for Thursday, Aug. 13—restaurants and bars across Washington will participate in Dining Out For Life, donating a portion of the day’s sales to support Lifelong’s food, housing, and health services. In Seattle, businesses like Betty Restaurant & Bar, Pagliacci Pizza, Noodle/Bar, Cafe Lolo, and more are participating.

The top Japanese restaurant in the country

You’ll find it right here in Capitol Hill. Yelp Elite reviewers gave the title to Taneda, the pocket-sized sushi spot specializing in multi-course kaiseki and seasonal omakase menus. The restaurant averages 4.9 out of five stars on the platform, and you’ll pay for such quality—the experience runs at $255 and up. 

Viral chef to debut new cookbook and restaurant

Matt Broussard bounced back from losing his job at Tom Douglas Restaurants during the pandemic by finding internet fame. Across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, millions of followers couldn’t get enough of his culinary content—especially the tutorial on how to chop onions like a pro. Now, 12 years after moving to Seattle, the Texas native will soon release a cookbook called Now We’re Cooking: All-Purpose, Laid-Back Recipes, and you can join the author event on Thursday, Aug. 13 at The Elliott Bay Book Company. He’ll follow that up with Char the Chicken, a new restaurant coming to the former Mt. Joy space, which will serve up slow-roasted birds made in the Mexican-rotisserie style.