Iron Chef, Iron Chef, Iron Chef — I have never in my 25-year cooking career done a TV show that more people were interested in than the Food Network's Iron Chef. We had a blast, but you guessed it — we can’t tell who won!! What an odd feeling — walking through the fog on stage, cameras up my nose, spot lights swirling, the Chairman 'Allez Cuisine,' and a stare down with the winningest Iron Chef of all time, Masaharu Morimoto. It all seemed a bit surreal, but in the end after six hours of taping (only one exact hour of cooking) we were out onto the streets of Manhattan heading to BLT Fish for dinner. We have heard from Food Network that our episode will air in early 2006. We plan on having a party to celebrate at the Palace Ballroom, so stay tuned! We’ll keep you posted!

We are proud to be hosting the Long Live the Kings benefit at the Palace Ballroom. When I think of the synergy between what people think of when visiting Seattle and salmon, we are inseparable.

Since I last wrote a newsletter there have been a few very notable restaurant openings. Crush on Madison Street, for one. Jackie said it was the best new restaurant she has been to since Lark opened. Via Tribunali, on Pine Street, has delicious pizza. If you ask for ‘well done’, the charred crust from the fragrant wood fire comes out just right.

Tom Douglas & Jackie Cross