White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Taco Time Northwest has announced its 50th-anniversary celebration this month – and in case you somehow didn’t know this, this branch of the restaurant chain’s first location was right here in White Center, same site where it operates now. It’s still owned by the Tonkin family, and planning on new programs/initiatives in honor of the half-century milestone. From the news release:

In 2012 and moving forward, Taco Time NW will continue to increase the number of products sourced from northwest suppliers and will purchase local ingredients whenever possible, including tortillas baked fresh daily from La Mexicana, a local family-owned company that Taco Time has worked with for almost 40 years. Taco Time NW’s beef is sourced from local family-owned Petschl’s Quality Meats, which delivers fresh, northwest beef to the restaurants. Taco Time NW’s famous Mexi-Fries will be made in Washington from Washington state potatoes and northwest-based Darigold provides Taco Time NW’s 60-day aged Cheddar cheese.

…Additionally, Taco Time NW is introducing new green initiatives, including investing in many compostable packaging options. At over half of its restaurants where hauling compost to a commercial compost facility is possible, Taco Time has designed a program that allows all compostable items to be disposed of in one bin, eliminating the need for guests to separate out the compostables. When possible, the compostables will be transported to local composting company Cedar Grove.

Taco Time NW will also celebrate its 50th anniversary with the introduction of a traveling taco truck, which will visit 50 community events and block parties between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Besides White Center, Taco Time Northwest operates 72 other restaurants “from Lynden to Longview,” points out the announcement.

Five days till the big “Shop Fresh” event around White Center – here’s the official announcement:

The White Center Community Development Association is leading the effort to organize the first White Center Business District Summer Shop Fresh Event in the White Center Business District on Saturday, August 20th from 5-7pm.

The purpose of this event is to raise the awareness of fresh, healthy foods now available in six produce markets and three Halal stores in White Center’s business district. “Exploring Summer Shop Fresh by foot in White Center’s walkable, pedestrian-friendly business district, will allow visitors to purchase healthy fruits and vegetables while learning about unique culinary traditions of our community neighbors,” said Aileen Balahadia, Executive Director of the White Center Community Development Association. The White Center CDA is a catalyst for a healthy community and new prosperity in White Center – creating a better place to visit, shop, and live.

As White Center shoppers enter participating Summer Shop Fresh stores, they will check in at a “Healthy Foods Here” table where attendees will participate in an activity relating to healthy food and fitness. Afterward, they will be gifted a “Spend $6, Get $3 Off” coupon. For every $3 dollars of money spent on a purchase, White Center residents will be able to use this coupon to buy additional food. The coupon is only valid for purchase on August 20 and at participating stores. The more stores the residents visit, the more coupons they will be gifted.

Healthy food cooking demonstrations will also be provided at one of the markets. There are nine food stores participating in the event: Lee’s Produce, West Seattle Halal Market, White Center Market, White Center Mini Market Halal and Deli, White Center International Deli and Halal Store, Phnom Khiev, Samway Market, Hung Long Asian Market and New Golden Village Market.

The White Center CDA thanks co-sponsor Healthy Foods Here project which supports small, local businesses selling fresh fruits and vegetables become certified in the Federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. Stores that accept SNAP and WIC increase access to healthy foods for low-income residents. For more information about the Healthy Foods Here project, please visit the official website at www.healthyfoodshere.com.

Posted moments ago on their Facebook page – Uncle Mike’s BBQ in downtown White Center is open again, fire damage repaired, inspection passed, ready for lunch!

We went over to Uncle Mike’s Superlicious BBQ in White Center after finding out via the restaurant’s Facebook page that they are closed temporarily because of a small fire. Co-owner “Uncle Mike” Gordon explained a grease fire broke out in their smoker; he had it mostly put out even before the North Highline Fire Department crew arrived – but since it’s the weekend, they won’t really know before Monday what they need to do for repairs and replacement, so they don’t know how long they’ll be closed. Mike and his spouse/business partner Elizabeth Gordon want you to know nobody was hurt – they’re OK, and their dining room is undamaged:

The restaurant at 9640 16th SW has drawn rave reviews – not just for its barbecue, but for other menu items like fried chicken and vegetarian options – since its opening almost a year ago.

By Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

As you might have seen in the comments following our previous story about the former Thai Thai Restaurant‘s future plans – those plans have suddenly changed.

Just a few days after WCN spoke with grieving family members of the late Thai Thai owner Sam about their plans to reopen as Ped Nin Thai, they told us they now have to find a new location.

In what Choothai Chaiboonruang said was as an unanticipated misunderstanding with the property’s owners, lease talks fell apart over terms that the family said were not what they had thought they’d be. So they are instead looking for a new site, after more than a quarter-century at 16th/112th.

Since they don’t have one in mind yet, they would welcome information regarding potential sites at pedninthai@gmail.com. They hope to find a space with more updated equipment and lease terms that serve the long-term vision the family has for the successful business. Chaiboonruang says the family has already removed the appliances and equipment they wish to keep as they prepare to look for a new location in the White Center or Burien area. He will keep us abreast of the family’s journey to bring the new Ped Nin Thai to its new home.

Story and photos by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

The former Thai Thai restaurant at 11205 16th SW in White Center will be reopening its doors under the new name of “Ped Nin Restaurant,” as requested by the late owner Sawang “Sam” Sudthaya, who died last month after a year-and-half battle with cancer.

Sam’s widow,Orawan and daughter Samantha will continue to run the beloved Thai restaurant with the continued help of Orawan’s sister Nujaree in the kitchen and Choothai Chaiboonruang, who spoke with WCN on behalf of the family (Nujaree and Choothai are in our photo at right).

For nearly 30 years at this location, Sam hosted patrons with open arms, as Orawan and Nujaree prepared the dishes that brought back repeat customers for not just years, but decades. It was the quality of the home-cooked meals and the graciousness of the family that brought many diners into the lavender-colored cement building, located just before what is now the northern boundary of Burien.

This bittersweet re-opening has been anticipated by many of their loyal and regular customers who for the past year and a half have wondered how Sam’s battle with cancer was coming along. Sam and his wife had returned to Bangkok for surgery and then had come back to White Center optimistic about his recovery and hoping to reopen the Thai Thai. But soon after their return and before they had a chance to reopen, the cancer surfaced quickly again, with no medical solutions. Sam chose to be at home with his family and died there on June 24. He had asked them to continue his life’s work but under the new name “Ped Nin,” which translated to English is “Black Diamond.”

The family is busy doing maintenance on the equipment and building and cleaning the space that sat empty for so long. They hope, depending upon public health inspection schedules, to be open by the end of July. They also are planning to have a website in the future as they begin a new era of the restaurant they are each devoted to. They thank all of their friends who are also their customers for their support as they return to work to fulfill Sam’s request at the Ped Nin Restaurant, (206) 246-2246. WCN will let you know when the opening date is finalized.

Just in from King County Public Health:

The Game Lounge located at 9803 16th Ave SW, Seattle, 98106 was closed by a Public Health food inspector on July 6, 2011 at 1:50 pm for operating without a valid food business permit. The establishment will be reopened once it’s confirmed that the person in charge of the establishment has completed the steps to get a valid permit per the instructions online at
www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/ehs/foodsafety/FoodBusiness

Story and photo by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

“Sarap” is Tagalog (the national language of the Philippines) for delicious! Formerly located at Pratt Fine Arts in the Central District of Seattle, Sarap Café partners Vic Arao and Vilma Vere are now serving a few Filipino favorites including sotanghon – a chicken noodle soup – and lumpia.

“But we are in America, so we want to serve other things too,” says Vilma. They offer milk shakes, hot dogs, and a variety of cold-cut-meats sandwiches and nachos. A sandwich platter is available for catering.

The truck opened this week and is permanently stationed in the Chevron gas station at 16th SW and 100th SW. It’s open 11 am-6 pm Mondays-Saturdays, (253) 709-2429.

A fun clip shared on Facebook by Full Tilt Ice Cream – they say their friend Chris Looney “made it as part of a school project. He is the front man for the amazing band Ape City R and B.” (Music credit is on the YouTube clip page, if you click through the YT logo toward the lower right of the video window.)

(Crossposted from partner site West Seattle Blog) Thanks to a text, we’ve found out Zippy’s Giant Burgers is closed today. According to the recording that answers the Zippy’s phone, it’s because they’re out of food after selling a “crazy, crazy amount of burgers” their first five days in the new 14th Avenue SW location, but they expect to reopen tomorrow.

ADDED 2:22 PM: Just had it pointed out to us (by Krista on Facebook) that Proletariat Pizza, on the other hand, is now open Sundays, as of today.

WCN contributor Deanie Schwarz sends in the proof – customers are in the house and burgers are being served at Zippy’s Giant Burgers (9614 14th SW), which moved from West Seattle after three years of ever-increasing popularity. They had hoped to open the new location a month sooner, but permit/inspection challenges were cited for the delays – all behind them now.

ADDED MONDAY EVENING: The dinner rush is out the door:

Earlier, Deanie caught Jon Talmadge tackling a King Lou Lou – the truly “giant” burger now on the Zippy’s menu:

The King Lou Lou is a dine-in-only option, which’ll cost you $14 and change. Four patties, eight pieces of bacon, grilled onions, quadruple cheese, chipotle mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato. Topped with a crown (Lil Zip w/cheese). The King Lou Lou is named for Luis Jimenez, one of the creative stars of Zippy’s kitchen.

When popular Zippy’s Giant Burgers closed in Highland Park almost a full month ago, they expected to need about a week and a half to finish getting their White Center location ready to open. Instead, Blaine and Rahel Cook have encountered a number of speed bumps and roadblocks – and if you went to the WC location at 9614 14th SW, you would have seen the sign shown in our photograph. This morning, Blaine had told WCN contributor Deanie Schwarz about passing most inspections but still having a couple hurdles to clear (including one that is dependent on their landlord) – this afternoon, we were passing by and spotted this sign on the door, which says it all. We’ll let you know just as soon as they finally get the go-ahead to open!

Looking for lunch? White Center’s all-day Cambodian New Year celebration is one place to find it. WCN contributor Deanie Schwarz sent that photo and explained that it’s “Kim of Samway Market serving up a spectacular array of food for a spectacularly great price today in the open-air vendor booth on 98th. Grills are smoking and already drawing in a crowd enticed by the fragrant grilling meats. $5.00 will get a sampling of all of the following somehow loaded onto one impossibly heaping plate: grilled fresh corn on the cob, fish patties, beef skewers, chicken wings, egg rolls, fried squid, pickled fresh veggie salad, papaya salad, fried rice with fresh vegetables and stir fry noodles with, of course, fresh vegetables.”

And if you’re thirsty? Here are Sophanny and cousins at the Thai iced-tea stand (and pineapple on a stick):

The festival continues till 5.

ADDED 2:16 PM: That’s the “Blessing Dance” by the Rainier Vista Dancers, as the festival continues. Description: “A traditional classical Khmer dance … the lyrics and fine hand gestures of the Roban Choun Por describe wishes of happiness, good health, prosperity and success to guests.” Some of what’s ahead before the festival wraps up:

2:30 Traditional Games Demonstration

3:30 Live Music (Chaiya Band) with Audience Dancing encouraged

4:50 Closing Remarks

If you were ready to be the first in line for the White Center opening of Zippy’s Giant Burgers – which spent its first three years in West Seattle’s Highland Park neighborhood, till the building where they’d rented space got foreclosed on – sorry, it won’t be today, after all. Zippy’s proprietor Blaine Cook tells us they’re still waiting for a key permit – details here.

(Photos by Deanie Schwarz for WCN/WSB)
Almost since its opening day three years ago, Zippy’s Giant Burgers has been one of West Seattle’s most buzzed-out restaurants, so its impending White Center move is fodder for close-up coverage. White Center Now/West Seattle Blog contributor Deanie Schwarz checked back inside the new location (9614 14th SW) now that we’re less than two weeks away from its scheduled opening. Above, that’s the expanded counter, where for the first time, Zippy’s will be processing credit-card transactions. Next – the kitchen, with features much more expansive than Zippy’s current, cozy quarters in the Highland Park neighborhood:

Still a lot of setup to be done, but there will be five booths, as well as tables and counters, with 40 able to be seated comfortably:

The gold wall, Deanie says, will be the “bun wall,” with a sesame-seed look – behind it, the pinball/game alcove. And check the floor – freshly polished concrete, “a labor of love” as Zippy’s proprietor Blaine Cook describes it. Last but not least, note the windows … should be lots of light, with the southern and western exposure (Highland Park faces north-northwest):

But don’t worry that it’ll be too hot in summertime – a high-efficiency, quiet fan will keep things cool. Zippy’s plans to close in Highland Park once it’s out of food this Saturday, April 16, and then hopes to swing open the doors in White Center on April 25th.

Story and photos by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for White Center Now

The restaurant formerly known as Be’s Restaurant at 9826 16th Ave SW has undergone a major expansion over the past few months, if you’ve noticed the new signs outside, and is now Be’s Crawfish Grill.

Inside, the spruced-up restaurant, after working out all of the first-month kinks with a new partner and an added dinner menu, continues offering the same breakfast menu as always (and also as the 4509 California Avenue location where Be Nguyen and her kids have been serving the West Seattle community for 22 years).

But only White Center’s new Mardi Gras-themed location is offering a full dinner menu (3:00 pm till closing) of traditional Cajun-influenced, Louisiana-style seafood dishes developed by Brandon Vo, a family friend who grew up in New Orleans and also owns the popular Crawfish Grill near the Renton IKEA store.

The sharing of Be’s large White Center space with Vo has expanded the offerings to include seafood boils and happy hour beer specials (Monday through Friday 3-6 pm), featuring a pound of fresh crawfish which the Vo brothers pick up daily at Sea-Tac Airport (flown in from approved Louisiana farms) . The market price for fresh crawfish varies by season, and though the season began late this year due to poor weather in Louisiana, March into April is usually considered mid-season and the per pound price is currently $7.99. Other boils feature more local seafood also set at market price and include Dungeness and king crab, as well as shrimp.

Large, casual family-style crawfish feeds are frequent in the restaurant where patrons gather round the paper-wrapped tables for a juicy, messy meal of the fresh crustaceans, sausage and corn-on-the-cob informally dumped on the tables, where bottles of Tabasco stand by along with ample rolls of paper towels.

The entrée list features a number of baskets, including fried shrimp, oyster, catfish and softshell crab. New Orleans barbecue shrimp and smothered catfish (with house-made etoufee sauce) are the most expensive entrée items at $16.99 and $12.99. The appetizers and lagniappes (French Cajun for sides, or little extras) range from $3.99 for french fries to $7.99 for fried calamari. Additional sides include fried mushrooms, fried gizzards, yam fries, onion rings and Cajun wings. Be and Brandon also have their own take on Po Boys: fresh french bread sandwiches which include fried shrimp, oyster, catfish or softshell crab.

Be’s Crawfish currently has a beer and wine license, but is awaiting approval of a liquor license, which they think will come through soon. A stage and dance floor in the large bar area are separated from the all-ages, TV-free dining area by a wall of heavy dark curtains, behind which beers (Blue Moon, Abita Amber and Abita Purple Haze, Corona, Bud, Bud Light and Heineken) and seafood can be enjoyed while watching karaoke or television. They are discussing the possibility of adding Vietnamese-type appetizers down the road.

Be’s Crawfish Grill, 9826 16th Ave SW, 206-588-1613, online here; on Facebook at Crawfish Grill (for current market price postings and specials)

That young patron at 3.14 Bakery is just one of the customers who helped it set records Monday – on unofficial “Pi(e) Day” — the photo is from an anonymous reader; news about the recordsetting day comes from WCN contributor Deanie Schwarz, who had reported earlier in the day that 3.14 was selling “pie pops” for $1 a … pop.

(Crossposted from partner site WSB)
It’s “the pizza that made White Center famous,” and Proletariat Pizza confirms it’s about to venture into delivery (as hinted Tuesday on their Facebook page). WCN/West Seattle Blog contributor Deanie Schwarz talked to Proletariat’s Stefanie Albaeck, who says they’re starting simple – a customized bicycle now being built in Georgetown will enable home delivery in the 9622 16th SW pizzeria’s immediate area. After that, Proletariat expects to expand to delivery by car, to a much wider area (no boundaries set yet, though eventually they would hope to cover much of White Center, West Seattle, and Burien). Right now, they’re strategizing the logistics of this expansion. It’s already been a half-year since Proletariat celebrated its one-year anniversary – here’s the story Deanie wrote last fall.

Lots of movement in the restaurant ranks lately; thought we would note the listing discovered for Pho My Loi, south end of the main business district.

Check out what WCN contributor Deanie Schwarz spotted at the future location of Zippy’s Giant Burgers on 14th SW (a story she broke for West Seattle Blog and White Center Now exactly two weeks ago). “SoRo” and all! (Yes, we know there is a “SoRox” faction.) Deanie also reports that the interior sprucing-up is under way. And we can tell you that Zippy’s has applied for its liquor license (beer/wine).