Cafe Nordo, the imaginative, even zany pop-up restaurant and dinner theater, has extended its current run of "Cabinet of Curiosities" through June 23rd. It's a look at the history of food, with an emphasis on poisonous mushrooms, immortal vegetables, and mysterious soups. Under the aegis of Chef Nordo Lefesczki, patrons are served three appetizer courses in lavishly decorated rooms of Capitol Hill's venerable Washington Hall, (a French Salon, a cave of Invasive vegetables, a magician's parlor) before the main banquet is served. Lefesczki himself remains aloof, but is represented by his creative alter egos, the impresarios Erin Brindley and Terry Podgorski, along with an able staff of guides and actors (who double as waiters), The four-hour, five-course performance is filling and satisfying, both gastronomically (Painted Hills filet, Wilson Fish king salmon) and artistically, Details at www.cafenordo.com; reservations via Brown Paper Tickets
Podgorski and Brindley, both alums of the late, lamented Circus Contraption troupe, tell Cornichon that the next Cafe Nordo, this fall, will be at a venue in the International District. "We're not like Teatro Zinzanni, with a permanent location, because that would spoil the secret, the exclusivity. We do two shows a year with a capacity of maybe 1,200 people. You have to be in the know."
Not in the know, but suspicious, was Corino Bonjrada, owner of Mondello Ristorante in Magnolia. (And, by coincidence, mentioned in the previous post as well; that's his mother, Chef Enza Sorrentino, giving him a hug). Last year, Bonjrada stumbled upon a vast scheme to defraud credit-card holders. Bonjrada called the cops, who called the FBI, who did a forensic analysis of Mondello's computer records and eventually arrested two 21-year-old men and charged them with multiple counts of cyber-fraud. David Benjamin Schrooten was arrested in Romania in March and appeared in federal court Monday. A month earlier, an alleged co-conspirator, Christopher Schroebel, pleaded guilty to computer-related crimes.
The Seattle Times, NPR and local TV stations caught on as well after Bonjrada testified in federal court about the fraud.
The hacking was obviously a big threat to his restaurant because customers who'd been burned were afraid to return. But US Attorney Jenny Durkan says she's now convinced that Mondello's is one of the safest places in Seattle to use a credit card. "His customers should know he did the right thing, they've been protected and it's a good place to have dinner," Durkan said. A story with a happy ending.
Jake Kosseff, the award-winning wine steward who was named Best Young Sommelier in America in 2006, has left Wild Ginger and Triple Door. His last day was Monday.
He had worked at Wild Ginger since 2009, first as company wine director and then as director of operations. He turned over most of the wine responsibilities to Courtney Lease at the end of last year. Before that, he had worked for Cascadia and Campagne
No hard feelings, Kosseff says; "We accomplished a ton of the past two and a half years, working with great people, but it was time to move on."
Kosseff will continue to consult on wine lists and service for restaurants nationally, but plans to stay in the Seattle area. There's also a new, hush-hush project in the works.
Cornichon asked if the new project might be related to I-1183, which has resulted in more than a few high-profile beverage people getting offers from the spirits industry. "No, I won't be opening a liquor store, if that's what you're asking," Kosseff replied.
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