Pop-up Garzón Readies New Food Cart Ekeko for the Summer – Eater Seattle

Pop-up Garzón Readies New Food Cart Ekeko for the Summer – Eater Seattle

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Latinx Street Food Pop-up Garzón Readies New Food Cart for the Summer

After two years slinging excellent Latinx street food with a party vibe, pop-up operation Garzón is branching out a bit as it readies a roving food cart called Ekéko. The concept is focused on what chef-owner Jose Garzón calls “drinking snacks” from all over Latin America, including Colombian dogs, Argentinian milanesa sandos, pineapple paletas, pinchos, and maizito (street corn topped with crispy pork belly). Though the idea is similar to Garzón’s Mercado pop-up, the general atmosphere is more pared back — no tablecloths, music, or candles around. Mercado will have its last night July 1, and then Ekéko will be at Fair Isle Brewing Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the rest of the year, in addition to other local residencies. “We are just focusing on breweries and distilleries for now with it mostly because Snohomish and King County are a P.I.T.A. [Pain in the Ass] when it comes to zoning and permitting,” says chef Garzón, who bought the cart with help from a crowdfunding campaign. “We’re hoping at some point to be parked somewhere full time.”

U District Touts Street Plaza for Local Restaurants

Even with COVID-related indoor capacity restrictions due to lift by June 30, expanded outdoor dining continues apace in Seattle. The latest neighborhood to tout more space for al fresco seating for its restaurants and bars is the U District, which has created a new plaza at NE 43rd Street and University NE in partnership with eight local businesses, including Sweet Alchemy, Samir’s Mediterranean Grill, and Mark Thai Food Box. This follows similar efforts that have popped up around the city, including Ballard, Pike Place Market, and Columbia City, taking advantage of expedited and free city permits. Those free permits were recently extended to May 31, 2022, while the city council explores more permanent solutions for the future of outdoor seating in Seattle.

Spice Waala Introduces Soft Serve to Its Capitol Hill Location

Among the kathi rolls at popular Indian restaurant Spice Waala, some cooler options will soon be on the menu this summer. The Capitol Hill outpost on 15th Avenue East plans to introduce new soft serve this July, starting with a rose and cardamom option. Flavors will rotate every month, including other combinations such as watermelon and fennel, and pistachio and cardamom. Thus far, the business — which has a newer location in Ballard — has mainly focused on savory snacks, such as the much-coveted lamb kebab and chicken tikka kathi rolls, as well as papdi chaat and bhel puri. But it also currently has mango lassi on offer, which will be another planned soft serve flavor.

Published at Mon, 28 Jun 2021 20:30:00 +0000