This summer, Joule will be doing something really cool. Every Sunday, they'll be hosting an Urban BBQ with a different theme as the week starts anew. What's cool is that they are treating it like one big family picnic; live music, kids encouraged to come, affordable prices ($3-12), there is no reason not to visit this Wallingford gem.
Went to Joule for Valentine's Day and had a great time. We more or less stumbled upon the place and were greeted and immediately seated. Not bad for not setting up a reservation on one of the more prominent date nights in the calendar. The menu is very original and intuitive. Three categories, with distinct cooking styles to each. We had a number of great dishes. A couple really stood out. One was the branzino. Branzino is a tasty fish that is usually served whole; head, bones, tail, all of it. Delicious. The other was anchovy potatoes, amazingly delicious. Anchovies are an item that most people shy from; we on the other hand, love it. They add a unique flavor and brine to dishes and are excellent on a toasted baguette. The balance of the saltiness from the tasty little fish, with the fruitiness of the olive oil, and the sublime texture of perfectly cooked potatoes combine into a near-perfect dish.
In addition to the food, the service, ambiance, and feel of Joule were top notch. It is a restaurant that's creative and inventive enough to make you curious to see what comes next. The chef/owners of Joule are Seif Chirchi and Rachel Yang. They come to us after doing their thing at Coupage in Madrona. They opened Joule late last year to spread their wings and showcase their skill with Korean and French techniques. Unique pairing, but one that allows for the pair to shine with interpretation and ingenuity.
I think that is why I'm so excited to try a couple of the Sunday BBQ dinners, to see their takes on all sorts of themes and ingredients. From chicken to pork, streetfood to salmon, I'm looking forward to seeing what Seif and Rachel have in store for us.
Joule Restaurant
1913 N. 45th St
Seattle, WA 98103
206.632.1913
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1 comment:
Dear Frank,
My name is Dan and I'm a foodie from Seoul, South Korea. I love your blog. When I go to Seattle, I'll be sure to stop by Joule. But hopefully I have a chance to experience Rachel's cooking first hand. I just wanted to let you know that Rachel Yang will be visiting Seoul to be the special guest at a rice cake fair.
Thanks!
Dan
7th Seoul International 'Tteok' Fair
The 7th Seoul International 'Tteok' Fair, held on May 8th and 9th, will be a celebration of this time-honored Korean delicacy. Tteok or Korean rice has significant importance in Korean culture. The rice cake is eaten on the wintry, New Year’s Day to signify luck, purity, and another year of life. It is decorated with flowers to welcome spring. To battle the summer heat, rice cake pearls swim in honeyed water with pine nuts. In fall, red bean tteok is eaten to ward off bad luck.
This year's fair will have seminars, exhibitions, and activities for all ages. This year will truly be an international competition because it will have the first international rice cake competition. This competition will be open to non-Korean nationals and the first place contestant will win 2 million won (1,800 dollars). This competition will be on May 8th at 3pm. There will be competitions for Koreans as well on both days.
The special guest for the event is Chef Rachel Yang. Her Seattle restaurant Joule (www.joulerestaurant.com) was recently featured in the Wall Street Journal (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123639056889058949.html). Her dish, Dorade with Almond Piccata, was picked by Food and Wine as one of the best dishes of 2008. (http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/best-restaurant-dishes-of-2008)
Her restaurant Joule has won awards and accolades from many publications in Seattle including the Seattle Times, Seattle Post and the Seattle Magazine. Chef Rachel Yang was also a semi-finalist for the 2009 James Beard award.
This graduate of Brown University has worked at the prestigious Alain Ducasse restaurant in New York and she has also had the good fortune to work with Chefs Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller. This French-trained chef will be giving cooking demonstrations of her Korean inspired dishes on both days of the fair.
Doors open at 10am and the event will be held at the aT Center in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, South Korea. Please visit www.kfr.or.kr for more information.
Contact Soo Hyang Choi at soochoi@paran.com or call at 02.741.5477 / 010.4272.1900 to ask questions and to make reservations for the rice cake making classes.
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