Take the Top Chef Tour

With the buzz going around that Top Chef will host it's 10th season here in Seattle, (that is of course if the city puts up the estimated 300k for production costs), I thought it would be nice to walk down memory lane and check out the restaurants former Seattle Top Chef contestants call/called home. 


Seattle was well represented in the first couple episodes of Season 9. Unfortunately none of our hometown chefs made it passed the qualifying round. 

                                                                               












Colin Patterson: (owner/chef) Sutra

"In the Sutra kitchen our focus is amazing vegetarian food that appeases all the senses and is served in an atmosphere where sustainable agriculture, community dining, and responsible business practices are of utmost importance.

All of Sutra's food is prepared fresh each day. The practice is artistic, intuitive cooking with a menu that respects the changes of season, availability of local organic ingredients, and the experience of connecting to our communities in a holistic urban environment.

Our unique seasonal menus and dining style reflects our commitment to the environment, our gratitude for the opportunity to serve our community, while enjoying the benefits of urban living." ~Sutra Website

Sutra

1605 North 45th Street Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 547-1348

Simon Pantet: (sous chef) Tavolata

Tavolata, a member of the Ethan Stowell family of restaurants. "Tavolàta is all about pasta—from Rigatoni to Casarecce, Conchiglie to Linguini—freshly extruded every day. A restaurant whose name means “to gather around a table” Tavolàta is a great place for large parties & private events." ~Tavolata website

Tavolata

2323 2nd Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 838-8008

Nina Vicente: (executive sous chef)  The Coterie Room

From chefs Brian McCracken and Dana Tough, The Coterie is part of a family of notable Seattle culinary destinations. McCracken and Tough's modern and thoughtful approach to American cuisine has been catching the attention of national foodies for quite some time, including Food and Wine Magazine's Go List "the most outstanding, must-visit restaurants in the world.", shortly after opening Spur in 2008.

The Coterie

2137 2nd Avenue

Seattle, WA 98121

(206)956-8000

From Season 6 Seattle had two chefs in the competition, Ashley Merriman who made it to episode 7 and Chef Robin Leventhal, former owner of the now closed Crave in Capitol Hill (voted out episode 11).

Ashley Merriman: (chef) Branzino

"Branzino is a Seattle neighborhood restaurant with Italian influences. Pasta, pizza, cheeses, breads, cured meats, and desserts are made by hand in-house each day." ~Branzino website

Branzino

2429 2nd Avenue

Seattle WA 98121

(206) 728-5181

Top Chef Masters had three distinguished Seattle chefs. As a fan of Top Chef, I have to say although  his time on the show was brief, Theirry Rautureau (the chef in the hat) was totally entertaining!

Thierry Rautreau: Rover's and Luc

Rover's: "Our menu is best described as the cuisine of the Pacific Northwest refined by a French accent. The Chef in the Hat provides the French accent while the bounty of the Pacific Northwest provides the raw ingredients. We do not serve classical French food. Instead, we use traditional French techniques to tease out the many flavors of the region’s best ingredients. Chef Thierry Rautureau is passionate about sourcing ingredients that are local, sustainable, organic, and seasonal." ~Rover's website

Luc: "Luc is a French-American café and bar named after the The Chef in the Hat’s father, Luc Rautureau. Located at the intersection of Madison Street and 28th Avenue in the heart of Seattle’s Madison Valley, Luc is a neighborhood spot with heartwarming food, fresh cocktails and a well-selected wine list including our own blend, Luc."

~Luc website

Rover's

2808 East Madison Street
Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 325-7442

Luc

2808 East Madison Street
Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 328-6645

Jerry Traunfeld: Poppy

"Jerry traunfeld’s capitol hill restaurant brings a new style of dining to the northwest. jerry’s inspiration comes from the “thali,” a platter served to each guest holding a variety of small dishes. poppy’s menu borrows the idea of the thali to present jerry’s own style of northwest cooking, highlighting seasonal ingredients, fresh herbs, and spices. it’s a modern northwest tasting menu served all at once." ~Poppy website

Poppy

622 Broadway E
Seattle, WA 98102
(206) 324-1108

Maria Hines: Tilth and Gold Beetle

Tilth: "We feature New American cuisine prepared with certified-organic or wild ingredients sourced from as many local farmers we are able to support. Our executive chef and owner, Maria Hines, is a James Beard Award winner for Best Chef of the Northwest, as well as one of Food & Wine Magazine’s 10 Best New Chefs of 2005. In 2008, the New York Times deemed Tilth one of the best new restaurants in the country. Tilth received its organic certification from Oregon Tilth, an unaffiliated organization that promotes sustainability." ~Tilth website

Golden Beetle: "Golden Beetle is rooted in the cultures and culinary styles of the Mediterranean. Our James Beard Award-winning executive chef and owner, Maria Hines, utilizes Mediterranean spices and flavors to present the Northwest’s best organic and seasonal ingredients from local farmers and foragers. The attention to detail in the dishes is also reflected in our seasonal craft cocktails. We use housemade bitters, tinctures, sodas, garnishes and infusions to create our unique cocktails unrivaled in flavor.

Golden Beetle is the third restaurant in the country to receive Oregon Tilth’s esteemed organic certification. We invite you to enjoy exceptional craft cocktails and exquisite, Mediterranean inspired food prepared with a sustainable conscience." ~ Golden Beetle website

Tilth

1411 North 45th Street

 Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 633-0801

Golden Beetle

1744 Northwest Market Street

Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 706-2977