Fire at La Boucherie; Central District Nate's Wings and Waffles Is Coming In August

Welcome to CascadiaWire, a weekly collection of restaurant news from up-and-down the Pacific Northwest corridor.

CAPITOL HILL — Nearly three months back, David Meinert, Jason LaJeunesse, and Joey Burgess of Guild Seattle (also behind Comet Tavern, Lost Lake, and Big Mario's) announced they'd be taking over the legendary Kingfish Cafe space at 19th and Mercer. Now comes a name and more details for the new Italian restaurant moving in: Ernest Loves Agnes. The restaurant's name is a tribute to Ernest Hemingway and his experience falling in love with an American nurse, Agnes, in a Red Cross hospital in 1918.

VASHON ISLAND — Beloved farmers market vendor Sea Breeze Farm suffered an enormous loss when a fire broke out Wenesday at their Vashon Island restaurant, La Boucherie. Chef Michael McQuaid was able to contain the fire at La Boucherie restaurant, but not before a loss of over 50 thousand dollars occurred. The restaurant is raising money to fund the repairs.

CENTRAL DISTRICT — Nate's Wings and Waffles is on a roll. Owner Darren McGill (formerly of the Happy Grillmore food truck) first announced that his Rainier Beach restaurant would be expanding to the Central District sometime this fall, but now says it's aiming to open at 1224 E Jefferson (in the former Ambassel Ethiopian Restaurant space) the first week in August. The new 1,600-square-foot Nate's is much bigger than the Rainier Beach branch, with nearly double the seats: 50, including bar seats. McGill also hopes to add outdoor seating next spring.