Despite the news in January of five restaurant closures, there are good news stories happening in the local food scene of special interest to weekend visitors. 

*T. Maccarone’s, owner (Tom) has given Chef Jake Crenshaw an equity stake in the restaurant. Way to go! That’s how successful businesses are built. 

*Whitehouse Crawford have expanded both their bar area and bar menu giving the upscale restaurant a more casual option. 

*Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen’s Chef Ainsworth has made the James Beard list for Best Chef: Northwest (story below)

*Creektown Cafe now offer tamales and their outstanding desserts for take away. In addition, they now offer a Mid-Day Menu from 2:30 to 6pm as well as a new kids menu.

*Whoopemup Hollow Cafe and jimgermanbar are always compelling reasons to visit Waitsburg. However, Mardi Gras is extra special!

*Merchants now stays open on Friday nights until 10PM.  

*Salumiere Cesario has expanded their menu options and offer in-store seating and as soon as the weather cooperates, they’ll open their patio. 

*Someone’s In the Kitchen, WW’s cooking school on Rose Street, has a great menu of weekday lunch offerings and weekend dinners and cooking classes. Also kids classes. 

*WW Taco wagons always offer great value for terrific food.

Chris Ainsworth, owner/chef of Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen has been listed as a semifinalist in the 2009 James Beard Foundation Awards, Restaurant & Chef Award for Best Chef: Northwest. Chef Ainsworth is in excellent company on a short list that includes Seattle chefs,  Jason Wilson of Crush,  Ethan Stowell of Union and Scott Staples of Restaurant Zoë.  Portland notables include Gabriel Rucker of Le Pigeon, Andy Ricker of Pok Pok and Whiskey Soda Lounge and Daniel Mondok of Sel Gris.

According to the rules on the JBF website, open submissions are taken for the 20 slots in each category.  In the next stage, 400 nationwide industry judges will select five nominees per category and announce the short list on March 23.  Winners will be honored at an Awards Ceremony in New York on May 4.

Deemed “the Oscars of the food world,” by Time magazine, The James Beard Foundation Awards are the country’s most coveted honor for chefs; food and beverage professionals; broadcast media, journalists, and authors working on food; and restaurant architects and designers.

Congratulations Chef Ainsworth!