FareStart

Motivational eats

Hopefully, even if you're new to town, you know something about FareStart. It's a non-profit that provides a solution to homelessness, poverty and hunger by providing people with the tools, training and support to find work in food service. That could be barista training, chef training, front-of-the-house training and more. There is a catering arm, event venues, Catalyst Kitchens that takes this global, and restaurants and cafes. And that brings us to new relatively new spots in the South Lake Union neighborhood you should know about.

In 2017, Amazon donated 25,000 square feet of space in South Lake Union for more food service outlets (more on-the-job training).

Maslow's by FareStart

A full service, casual restaurant and bar, Maslow's is a long, bright room with the dining room at one end and the bar at the other. There are wood and brick walls, banquettes and, in the bar, high tables and chairs plus seats at the bar. Like other FareStart programs, talented chefs lead the charge (Executive Chef at Maslow's is Sarah Lorenzen, formerly of Andaluca) and work alongside FareStart apprentices. As you may know from the FareStart concept, they help people get the tools to work in the food industry. Maslow's takes it a step further, taking program graduates and getting them closer to a living wage and self-sufficiency. Every dollar of profit from Maslow's is reinvested in programs to recruit, train and support students and apprentices.

Lunch, happy hour and dinner are offered at Maslow's. Considered a new American restaurant, you'll find items like roasted beet and goat cheese salad, crab cakes, Reuben sandwich, black tea brined fried chicken, vegetable ratatouille, crispy skin wild salmon, mushroom risotto and much more. Desserts ("sharable or not") are made onsite and include a PB&J semifreddo and a blackberry crisp. Happy Hour offers deals on draft beer and wine and well drinks as well as number of food items.

Each month, a local chef creates a special meal with FareStart apprentices that is offered all month long. For July 2-August 4, 2018, it's Sabrina Tinsley from Osteria la Spiga with goncchetti all boscaiola (ricotta gnocchi with sausage, mushroom peas and cream). Clearly, it's necessary to go several times so you can have the Maslow's Meal and then go back for regular menu items.

Another special is Burgers + Brews, a partnership between Maslow's and Northwest craft breweries. All day every Monday they serve a specialty burger not on the regular menu and pair it with one top brew from that month's beer partner. For August, it's Lowercase Brewing. Each pairing is $20. Some breweries will showcase one of their latest brews, so it's a good time to check out new releases.

And just so you know, a 20% service fee is added to each check. 50% goes to restaurant employees and 50% goes to FareStart training programs and to fund competitive wages and employee benefits. You won't mind a bit.

380 Boren Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109
206-588-4020
www.farestart.org/maslows

Community Table

Located in Amazon's Houdini North (above Maslow's), this was originally meant to be a cafeteria for Amazon employees. Like all good things, it needed to expand its reach and now is open to the public. With many office workers in the area, this provides a non-food-truck option with good food, free WiFi, and even a patio area outside. Large windows make it a light space with views of all the SLU buildings going up.

They offer three areas:

Santa Fe Kitchen where you choose your ingredients and they create your perfect lunch. Base (tortilla, corn taco, or burrito bowl; grains and beans; meats and salsa; toppings; and extras like chips & salsa, guacamole, and red or green chili sauce).

Bowls. Choose a small or large version of one of six bowls that start with either hot couscous, brown rice, quinoa and go from there. Options can be found on the website.

Salad. Go small or large here as well and choose from one of six pre-set options or build your own, choosing from one of seven dressings. You can also find soup and bread in this area.

Community Table is a lunch-only option, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The space is used for meetings and events at other times.

It's the perfect spot when you don't want to over-spend on lunch, need to be quick, but don't want fast food.

399 Fairview Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109
www.farestart.org/community-table

Connie Adams/July 2018