Meat & Bread Has An Opening Date; Asian-Inspired Beer Coming to Ballard

CAPITOL HILL — Adding to Seattle's ranks of top-notch sandwich spots like Paseo and Salumi — both with a cult-like following — is Meat & Bread, the first stateside outpost of the insanely popular Vancouver, B.C. shop. Joining John Sundstrom's trifecta of food joints in the Central Agency Building, the much-anticipated arrival of this self-described "man made sandwich shop" is officially opening on Monday, April 13.

DOWNTOWN — Twenty-four-year-old Katie Gallego has been named chef de cuisine of Vespolina following Jason Stratton's sudden departure from his head chef role at the downtown restaurant. Gallego takes the helm at a restaurant that has struggled to find its footing, having first opened as Spanish-themed Aragona before switching gears and shifting into Stratton's Italian wheelhouse. Gallego has honed her skills under Stratton's tutelage at Artusi and Spinasse, where she started as prep cook in 2011. She eventually worked her way up in Stratton's restaurants and was named sous chef at Vespolina late last year.

BALLARD — Lucky Envelope Brewery hopes to open in Ballard in April or May — and there's a slight Asian bent to what Brewmaster Barry Chan and director of operations Raymond Kwan have in the works. For starters, the brewery is named for the Chinese tradition of giving red envelopes with money to celebrate Chinese New Year and major holidays. Chan and Kwan hope to offer four to six beers and a homemade soda or two on tap to start. The regular rotation will include traditional German-style beers like Munich Helles and Schwarzbier lagers, along with Asia-inspired beers like a Belgian Style Tripel infused with Thai ingredients. This will mark Ballard's 10th brewery.