Hot off the presses! Seattle Magazine’s readers love Bastille Café & Bar and voted them Best New Restaurant in 2009. Check out the December issue, on news stands soon, for the full story.

Photo by Bob Peterson

Tan Vinh reports on Monsoon East’s fabulous happy-hour offerings in the November 18 edition of the Seattle Times, raving, “Chef and owner Eric Banh, who made his name with Monsoon in Capitol Hill, decided to introduce Bellevue to his spin on Vietnamese fare by rolling out quite the $5 happy-hour food menu, with lots of pork and beef from Oregon’s Painted Hills Farm and Carlton Farms. It’s one of the best spots for happy-hour food in the 425 area code.”

To read the whole article, click here. For a complete happy-hour menu, visit Monsoon’s Web site.

Bastille Executive Chef Shannon Galusha

Spinasse Sous Chef Carrie Mashaney

Shannon Galusha , Executive Chef at Bastille Café & Bar and Carrie Mashaney, Sous Chef at Spinasse were both included in Mother Nature Network’s 40 Chef’s Under 40 feature that includes Next Iron Chef contestant Jose Garces, Top Chef contestant Kevin Gillespie and Sam Kass, Assistant chef/food initiatives coordinator for the White House.

Chefs were chosen by the journalists who contribute to the Mother Nature Network based on how well, “they link farms to forks and promote better health for people and the planet.”

The Mother Nature Network was founded in January 2009 by Chuck Leavell, the celebrated eco-activist who played keyboard for the Rolling Stones for 27 years.  The site examines everything from the environment to local food, raising a family to appreciating clean air, good food and a sustainable lifestyle.

Click here to read more about Shannon and here to read more about Carrie.

Bob Peterson

In the November 15th edition of Pacific Magazine, local freelancer and garden expert Valerie Easton, wrote a great piece on Bastille owners James Weimann and Demming Maclise’s pioneering idea to put a rooftop garden on top of the historic Ballard building that houses their popular French restaurant.

Colin McCrate of Seattle Urban Farm Company created special beds so Chef Shannon Galusha can harvest tender greens and flavorful herbs all year round for Bastille’s delicious salads.

Read on to learn about Colin’s innovative systems for year-round gardening despite Seattle’s gray, soggy weather.