Renee Erickson on Where to Eat & Play in Seattle
Renee Erickson bought her first restaurant when she was just 25 years old. Seventeen years later, she owns four successful, beloved Seattle restaurants–Boat Street Café (closing at the end of May!), The Walrus and the Carpenter, The Whale Wins and Barnacle–as well as the oyster trucks Boat Street Pickles and Narwhal, and a couple new projects in the works. The James Beard-nominated chef published her first cookbook last fall. A menu-based love letter to Pacific Northwest cuisine, A Boat, a Whale & a Walrus practically landed on everyone’s “best of” list in 2014. She’s also at the forefront of changing the income disparities in the restaurant biz, by eliminating a tipping system at her restaurants, adding a service charge that’s distributed by all staff, and upping wages to a base of $15/hour. Her restaurants and thought leadership are changing the landscape of Seattle’s dining culture… for the better. Below, Erickson shares her top picks for Seattle, from her favorite pizza to the best way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
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Delancey
credit: Molly Wizenberg
Delancey has the best pizza for sure. Brandon does the perfect mix of classic pizzas with a modern take. The Jersey Salad is just like you remember, with the Italian vinaigrette and shaved carrot with croutons, but one million times better. If I don’t choose the off-menu trailer park pizza, I generally pick the Romano and add a seasonal vegetable to it like kale or spring garlic. Don’t forget to have one of Molly’s chocolate chip cookies… or the lemon budino for dessert.
Coyle’s Bakeshop
Credit: Charity Burggraaf
Coyle’s Bakeshop is a new bakery in Greenwood. Rachel Coyle, who has been baking at a pop-up at The Book Larder (my favorite bookstore in the city specializing in food books), is now baking five days a week in my neighborhood. Her pastries are really lovely and seasonal. Currently, I am enjoying her Cardamom Rhubarb Bundt Cake; it’s super moist and perfect with coffee.
Kurt Farm Shop
Credit: Kurt Farm Shop Facebook
Kurt Farm Shop is a fantastic new ice cream/farm shop on Capitol Hill in a beautifully new renovated building. Kurt is bringing all that is best and seasonal to the shop to sell, from vegetable starts to cheese to perfect Jersey cream ice cream. Don’t miss artist Jeffry Mitchell’s ice cream cone holder, made just for Kurt.
Hotel Ballard
Hotel Ballard on Ballard Avenue is a lovely spot with a delicious restaurant on the main floor called Stoneburner. The hotel is located on a historic street in Ballard, a quaint Seattle neighborhood. It’s the perfect music/bar crawl street and on Sundays there is a wonderful farmers market. It is also right down the street from my spots The Walrus and the Carpenter, and Barnacle.
The Best Way to Spend a Saturday Afternoon
Credit: Visit Seattle
I would hop on a Bainbridge bound ferry that takes you to Winslow. Walk into town for some coffee and lunch and then slowly make your way back to the city. You can walk from the terminal up to Pike Place Market for some shopping and checking out a truly wonderful market in our city.
Credit: Visit Seattle
Another 15 minute walk south, down First Ave, you will end up in the Pioneer Square neighborhood, where you’ll find more unique shops and great food in a beautiful old part of our city.
The One Attraction You Shouldn’t Miss
Credit: Visit Seattle
Our parks. From Seward Park on Lake Washington to Discovery Park overlooking the Puget Sound, they provide beautiful hikes and picnic spots right in the city.
About Renee Erickson
Renee Erickson owned her first restaurant at age twenty-five. Today, with a fabulous staff, she runs four Seattle restaurants (Boat Street Café, The Walrus and the Carpenter, The Whale Wins, and Barnacle) as well as Boat Street Pickles and Narwhal, an oyster truck. Her recipes have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Bon Appétit, and Food & Wine. In 2014, she was a James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef: Northwest. A Boat, A Whale, and A Walrus is her first cookbook.