Slog - Comments on Cafe Juanita and Maneki Win James Beard Awards http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard Yesterday brought the annual James Beard Foundation Awards, and two Northwest institutions received top honors. Winning Best Northwest Chef: Holly Smith, the woman behind Kirkland's beloved Cafe Juanita. And winning an "America's Classic" award: the International District's even-more-beloved, 103-year-old sushi restaurant Maneki. Here's a nice Maneki-related tidbit from last night's NYC award ceremony, courtesy of the Seattle Times: [A]fter a charming video presentation in which Seattle's 103-year-old Japanese restaurant Maneki was honored as one of "America's Classics," owner Jean Nakayama went onstage and gave props to her staff. They included longtime employee and septuagenarian "Mom" Fusae Yokoyama, who smiled from... Copyright 2008 Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:32:42 -0800 Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:42:01 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Jubilation T. Cornball Congrats to the winners!

]]> Jubilation T. Cornball http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043247 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043247 Chow Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:34:33 -0800 Comment by kid icarus Wow I totally thought Maria Hines had it in the bag, not that I'm complaining. I'm so happy for Maneki -- what an honor.

]]> kid icarus http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043283 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043283 Chow Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:48:30 -0800 Comment by Greg You know, Cafe Juanita is a weird place. It's tucked back in the bushes next to a retirement home. It's just a tiny little painted-brick building and seems less memorable than the sewage pumping station a few blocks away. But it's always busy. I've heard that the food is really good, but I've never bothered to go there because I keep forgetting that it exists.

]]> Greg http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043288 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043288 Chow Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:50:02 -0800 Comment by Fnarf Yay Maneki! I dunno, if you ask me the honor goes the other way -- Maneki brings honor and respect to the James Beard Award, not the other way around.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043289 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043289 Chow Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:50:53 -0800 Comment by D. A. S. I tried to eat at Maneki once, and received the worst service ever. I keep hearing that their food is amazing, and I would love to go there, but I can't keep from remembering how awful they were to my friends and me. It's unfortunate.

]]> D. A. S. http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043294 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043294 Chow Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:55:07 -0800 Comment by bearseatbeats @5

Maneki is usually pretty awesome. If they're not awesome the first time, they'll be awesome the next time. It usually works out.

]]> bearseatbeats http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043333 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043333 Chow Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:13:40 -0800 Comment by Abe that fermented squid guts thing at Maneki is one of the stranger(heh) items I've ever eaten.

]]> Abe http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043334 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043334 Chow Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:13:59 -0800 Comment by Queen_of_Sleaze GO MANEKI!!! I love that place so very much. Its one of Seattle's hidden gems. The steamed clams in sake broth are simply prefection!!!

]]> Queen_of_Sleaze http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043344 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043344 Chow Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:17:15 -0800 Comment by thaumaturgistguy I just had my birthday dinner at Maneki on Friday in one of the tatami rooms. Sooooo much fun and the food was so tasty.

Hurray for takoyaki!!!

]]> thaumaturgistguy http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043362 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043362 Chow Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:29:33 -0800 Comment by Emily @3, Cafe Juanita is fucking phenomenal. Make a point of going.

]]> Emily http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043390 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043390 Chow Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:53:27 -0800 Comment by D. Okay, I'm cross-commenting on the other post. But personally I think Cafe Juanita puts too much salt on their food. Wondering if anyone agrees.

]]> D. http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043419 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043419 Chow Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:13:12 -0800 Comment by Greg @11: What, you don't like salt?

]]> Greg http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043502 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043502 Chow Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:15:01 -0800 Comment by D. Oh, I like salt. But I swear Cafe Juanita is higher than average. This is an experience that is unique to Cafe Juanita and no other fancy places in Seattle.

]]> D. http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043670 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043670 Chow Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:27:10 -0800 Comment by kid icarus No way D. It's totally not unique -- Tilth is way oversalted.

]]> kid icarus http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043710 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/06/cafe_juanita_and_maneki_win_james_beard#c1043710 Chow Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:42:01 -0800