Hungry for news? Welcome to our Friday Feed, where we run through all the local food and restaurant news this week—and maybe help you figure out where to eat this weekend.
Of Meat and Memories
Donald Kuzaro Jr. started working in his father’s Pike Place Market butcher shop, Don & Joe's Meats, in 1969, when he graduated from high school, and continued to do so until he sold the shop and retired last year. Kuzaro passed away last Friday from leukemia. He spent most of his adult life in the butcher shop, save for a stint in the US Navy, and even met his wife, Diana, in the market. His dry humor, deep knowledge of meat, and friendly smile were staples of the market experience for more than 50 years. He seemed to have kept that spirit right until the end, with one of his daughters reporting that, as they made comfort preparations last week, he told her, “Well, I’m sad to miss baseball season.”
In which I talk even more about the greatness of Gyro Heroes.
Listen Up, Fry Lovers
If you want to know more about what went into our guide to Seattle’s best french fries and also hear a few fry opinions that didn’t, I made my debut as a rotating guest on KUOW’s Seattle Eats podcast this week.
More Food News, Unanswered Questions Edition
- Sushi redux: Almost two years after Renton’s sushi speakeasy Fujiwara Omakase closed its original location, it opened the doors to its new Bellevue digs last weekend. Formerly, the six-seat spot served a $150 menu of fish straight from Toyosu Market in Japan, though chef Seiji Fujiwara has not published the current prices.
- Bagel boondoggle: One of the many questions flying around the food world this week was about what the heck is going on with Blazing Bagels, which has been run by founder Dennis Wallen’s daughters since he retired a year ago. The 25-year-old bagel biz abruptly closed all five of its retail locations last week after abruptly ending wholesale operations in December.
- Labor lawsuit update: The Seattle Times broke the news this week of a proposed class-action lawsuit against Seattle’s own Dick’s Drive-In for not adhering to legally mandated break schedules. The company, known for its generous employee benefits, didn’t comment on specifics, and the Office of Labor Standards, which is designed to investigate such issues, did not receive a complaint in the time period covered by the suit.
- Labor non-update: Renee Erickson’s Bateau and Boat Bar reopened recently as Jeffry’s, a very Renee version of a steakhouse. Capitol Hill Seattle attempts to get answers on what’s happening with the dispute between Sea Creatures, the company behind the restaurant, and its unionized workers. There aren’t really any, though, as talks are ongoing.
- Also uncertain: Earlier this year, the development that had doomed longtime local favorite the Wedgwood Broiler fell through. Owner Derek Cockbain had previously said he wouldn’t reopen in a new location, but now there’s a possibility of staying open in the same location. This week, The Seattle Times talked to Cockbain about the Broiler’s future and—spoiler alert—it remains a question mark.
Oh, BTW, here’s what you missed last time.