Radici's Journey from "Pantry" to "Roots"

A tinello, in Italian, is a larder, a pantry. A closet for food. It's a word like any other kitchen term, like padella (saucepan) or coltello (knife). But in Noo Yawk there's an actual restaurant called Tinello, whose owners have a warped view of their own importance.

When a dude named Rudy LaValle opened a spot in Pioneer Square last year and called it Tinello, the Noo Yawk guys freaked out and had their lawyers send LaValle a "cease & desist" letter claiming they owned the Tinello name. And like a total doofus, LaValle caved in.

Now, my original impression of the Pioneer Square Tinello was less than four-star. It lacked focus, its food was uninteresting, its wine list dull. But LaValle launched a quick Kickstarter campaign to "finish" the place and relaunch with a new name,

Radici are not radishes but roots. Rah-DEE-chee. Went back there for lunch the other day, before they changed the sign, and it was yummy, Especially the caprese plate. A fine addition to Seattle's Sandwich District.