This week, 25 restaurants and chefs were crowned with James Beard Awards – the Oscars of the food world. And for the fifth year in a row, Washington state came away with zero wins. 

Tan breaks down the three Seattle-area finalists with Seattle Times food writer Jackie Varriano, and asks: What are we doing wrong?

Read more about this year’s local James Beard Award finalists, including seven-time finalist Jay Blackington, in The Seattle Times.

Recommendations in this episode:
Atoma, Wallingford – Best New Restaurant finalist
Archipelago, Hillman City – Outstanding Hospitality finalist
Houlme, Orcas Island – chef Jay Blackington, Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific finalist

 

Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible. Please consider joining and subscribing at kuow.org/eats and seattletimes.com.

This week, 25 restaurants and chefs were crowned with James Beard Awards &ndash; the Oscars of the food world. And for the fifth year in a row, Washington state came away with zero wins.&nbsp;
Tan breaks down the three Seattle-area finalists with Seattle Times food writer Jackie Varriano, and asks: What are we doing wrong?
Read more about this year&rsquo;s local James Beard Award finalists, including seven-time finalist <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/up-for-james-beard-awards-a-7th-time-this-orcas-island-chef-stays-true/">Jay Blackington</a>, in <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/2025-james-beard-finalists-include-3-wa-chefs-and-restaurants/">The Seattle Times</a>.
Recommendations in this episode:
<ul>
<li>Atoma, Wallingford &ndash; Best New Restaurant finalist</li>
<li>Archipelago, Hillman City &ndash; Outstanding Hospitality finalist</li>
<li>Houlme, Orcas Island &ndash; chef Jay Blackington, Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific finalist</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible. Please consider joining and subscribing at <a href="http://kuow.org/eats">kuow.org/eats</a> and <a href="http://seattletimes.com">seattletimes.com</a>.

Seattle is a buffet of great food... if you know where to look. Seattle Times journalist Tan Vinh invites listeners to the area's hottest restaurants, road-side food stalls and everywhere in between to find the best meals in the city and to meet the people who make them sing.

New episodes every Thursday.

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattleeatsnotes 

Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network

 

Seattle is a buffet of great food... if you know where to look. Seattle Times journalist Tan Vinh invites listeners to the area's hottest restaurants, road-side food stalls and everywhere in between to find the best meals in the city and to meet the people who make them sing.
New episodes every Thursday.
<hr>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattleeatsnotes">https://www.kuow.org/donate/seattleeatsnotes</a>&nbsp;
Seattle Eats is a production of <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/">The Seattle Times</a> and <a href="https://www.kuow.org/">KUOW</a>, part of the NPR Network
&nbsp;

Seattle Eats with Tan Vinh

Food journalists Tan Vinh and Jackie Varriano discuss the Seattle-area finalists in the 2025 James Beard Awards, and why Seattle continues to come up empty at this Oscars of the food world. 

Why Seattle keeps losing at the Oscars of the food world

It’s that time of year! Seattle Times food critic Tan Vinh is back with the best Costco wines you will want to buy for holiday dinner parties… or last minute gifts. Plus, Tan has pairings to go with the top three wines! Seattle Times politics reporter (and former French sous chef) David Gutman, joins Tan for an early morning wine tasting and review.

 

Read more about the top rated Costco wines of 2025 in The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/costco-wine-best-cheapest-bottles-rated-by-our-holiday-sommeliers/ 

Recommendations in this episode:
NV Prosecco Rosé + Roy Thai, Phinney Ridge
2023 Gigondas + Meat Moot (take out!), SLU
2020 Brunello Di Montalcino + Stevie’s Famous Pizza

Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible. Support the show at kuow.org/eats and seattletimes.com.

It&rsquo;s that time of year! Seattle Times food critic Tan Vinh is back with the best Costco wines you will want to buy for holiday dinner parties&hellip; or last minute gifts. Plus, Tan has pairings to go with the top three wines! Seattle Times politics reporter (and former French sous chef) David Gutman, joins Tan for an early morning wine tasting and review.
&nbsp;
Read more about the top rated Costco wines of 2025 in The Seattle Times: <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/costco-wine-best-cheapest-bottles-rated-by-our-holiday-sommeliers/">https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/costco-wine-best-cheapest-bottles-rated-by-our-holiday-sommeliers/</a>&nbsp;
Recommendations in this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">NV Prosecco Ros&eacute; + Roy Thai, Phinney Ridge</li>
<li aria-level="1">2023 Gigondas + Meat Moot (take out!), SLU</li>
<li aria-level="1">2020 Brunello Di Montalcino + Stevie&rsquo;s Famous Pizza</li>
</ul>
Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible. Support the show at&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/eats">kuow.org/eats</a> and <a href="http://seattletimes.com">seattletimes.com</a>.

Seattle Times food critic, Tan Vinh is back with the best rated Costco wines of 2025 and he's got perfect pairings like smokehouse lamb and Stevie's Famous Pizza!

The best Costco wines of 2025

Another round of closures hits the Seattle food scene. But when one door closes, the employees buy it to save it?? Seattle Times restaurant critic Tan Vinh shares his latest closing and three new spots that have the restaurant industry buzzing.

Read more about the latest restaurant openings and closings in The Seattle Times:
https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/22-new-seattle-restaurant-openings-for-november-2025/ 
https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/22-recent-seattle-restaurant-closures-including-a-few-big-names/ 

Recommendations in this episode:
Carmine’s on Fifth, Downtown
Meat Moot, South Lake Union
Kingfisher, Bainbridge Island

 

Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible. Please consider joining and subscribing at kuow.org/eats and seattletimes.com.

Another round of closures hits the Seattle food scene. But when one door closes, the employees buy it to save it?? Seattle Times restaurant critic Tan Vinh shares his latest closing and three new spots that have the restaurant industry buzzing.
Read more about the latest restaurant openings and closings in The Seattle Times:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/22-new-seattle-restaurant-openings-for-november-2025/">https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/22-new-seattle-restaurant-openings-for-november-2025/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/22-recent-seattle-restaurant-closures-including-a-few-big-names/">https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/22-recent-seattle-restaurant-closures-including-a-few-big-names/</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Recommendations in this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Carmine&rsquo;s on Fifth, Downtown</li>
<li aria-level="1">Meat Moot, South Lake Union</li>
<li aria-level="1">Kingfisher, Bainbridge Island</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible. Please consider joining and subscribing at <a href="http://kuow.org/eats">kuow.org/eats</a> and <a href="http://seattletimes.com">seattletimes.com</a>.

Another round of closures hits the Seattle food scene. But when one door closes, the employees buy it to save it?? Seattle Times restaurant critic Tan Vinh shares his latest closing and three new spots that have the restaurant industry buzzing.

Goodbye bacon jam, hello Meat Moot Mondays!

For decades Seattle fine dining has been synonymous with Canlis. But things have changed since 1950 when Canlis first hit the scene creating dishes that highlighted Pacific Northwest cuisine. Seattle Times food critics weigh in on their controversial review of a beloved special occasion spot as Canlis rings in its 75th anniversary on December 11th this year. Plus, they tell you where they’re seeing Seattle better celebrated on the plate.

Read the Canlis review in The Seattle Times:https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/review-why-our-critic-no-longer-recommends-seattles-famous-canlis/ 

Recommendations in this episode:
Tomo, White Center
Houlme, Orcas Island
La Marea, Ballard
Ramie, Capitol Hill


Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible. Please consider joining and subscribing at kuow.org/eats and seattletimes.com.

For decades Seattle fine dining has been synonymous with Canlis. But things have changed since 1950 when Canlis first hit the scene creating dishes that highlighted Pacific Northwest cuisine. Seattle Times food critics weigh in on their controversial review of a beloved special occasion spot as Canlis rings in its 75th anniversary on December 11th this year.&nbsp;Plus, they tell you where they&rsquo;re seeing Seattle better celebrated on the plate.
Read the Canlis review in The Seattle Times: <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/review-why-our-critic-no-longer-recommends-seattles-famous-canlis/">https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/review-why-our-critic-no-longer-recommends-seattles-famous-canlis/</a>&nbsp;
Recommendations in this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Tomo, White Center</li>
<li aria-level="1">Houlme, Orcas Island</li>
<li aria-level="1">La Marea, Ballard</li>
<li aria-level="1">Ramie, Capitol Hill</li>
</ul>
 Seattle Eats is a production of The Seattle Times and KUOW, part of the NPR Network. You can support Seattle Eats by investing in the local newsrooms and the specialized beats that make this sort of storytelling possible. Please consider joining and subscribing at <a href="http://kuow.org/eats">kuow.org/eats</a> and <a href="http://seattletimes.com">seattletimes.com</a>.

Seattle Times food critics weigh in on their controversial review of Canlis, a beloved special occasion spot. Plus, they tell you where they’re seeing Seattle better celebrated on the plate.

Why Seattle keeps losing at the Oscars of the food world

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