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Chef Ethan Stowell's third well received Seattle venue, "How to Cook a Wolf," on Queen Anne Ave. N. near Boston St. is small and simply fronted by smoked glass windows and a door with small white lettering. The door is usually open when the restaurant is, so you might miss the sign and pass the restaurant. But don't. The reviews are all thumbs way up and the prices reasonable. I've seen lines outside "the Wolf" some days and they don't take reservations, so this is a place to go when you've got time. Here you get a glimpse of the place and some staff members. Click on any of the images for the full shot. I've tried to get some exterior shots on a couple occasions. That's not easy due to parked cars, phone poles, lots of traffic, etc. I had to laugh out loud and called it quits after just a few shots the first time because apparently the young host behind the window could see me snapping away across the street and poked his face into the doorway and briefly flashed me a cheesy grin before disappearing again. I know I'm gonna love this staff. Just steps away are other neighborhood fine dining faves I've shown you before, Opal and Portage, as well as lots of other popular restaurants, cafes, bars, meat, fish, pasta and veggie markets, coffee and tea shops. This former Berkeley-ite wonders if the top of QA is becoming Seattle's own Gourmet Ghetto?
10 comments:
Right now most of the restaurants on the top of QA are of the "overpriced bistro" variety, it seems. I'd nominate Madison Valley as the most likely heir to Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto - Rover's is the closest Seattle has to Chez Panisse.
I'm really not much of a foodie, compared to many of my friends, and I've only explored upper Madison Valley (last year when my husband was in hospice care there) and hope to get better acquainted with it all. I've really loved what I've discovered in the Madrona neighborhood and, of course, downtown, the Market and in Belltown. Opal, Portage, and Wolf are not bistro fare. You might be thinking of the popular cluster at the other/south end of QA N. which includes the 5 Spot and Betty.
-Kim
"How to Cook a Wolf" was the name of epicurean writer M.F.K. Fisher's WWII-era book about living and eating well in straits. Loved the book--can't wait to try the restaurant.
Arf! Bibi is happy now that she's seen it's not really wolf on the menu... Looks good. Downloaded the menu sample to have a cyber look.
I tried to leave a comment this morning and kept getting an error message.
My comment was something like this...
The name of the restaurant, "How to cook a wolf" is as bad as Clint Eastwood's restaurant, "Hog's Breath."
But, it wouldn't take the comment and I have no idea if it will take it now. If you see it then it took it.
I love this name! Hope they are as imaginative in their kitchen as on their shop window! I'm going to check if this book has been translated in French...
Thank you all for your kind comments. Anon, thank you for your mention of superb writer MFK Fisher's book title being the owner's inspiration for the restaurant's name (elaborated upon a bit in the linked article).
-Kim
Speaking of the Gourmet Ghetto - "Louis" had breakfast this morning at Alice Water's "Café Fanny", which isn't in the Gourmet Ghetto, but is (as you would expect from an Alice Waters venture) a very fine place for breakfast-French style.
I think Portage on Queen Anne is great. I've had some good meals there plus the 'bistro' atmosphere - a traditional set top bistro ala New York - is nice. Cool KOMO profile on them at
http://www.komonews.com/entertainment/dining/goeat/18800844.html
Can't wait to try how to cook a wolf..all the hype worth it?
LOVE the collage! And love your blog!
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