Volunteer Park Cafe Hosts Cuoco Chef's New Pop-Up

Erik Jackson, currently working under Stuart Lane in the kitchen at Tom Douglas's Cuoco, will be doing a Monday night pop-up restaurant at Volunteer Park Cafe. His dinners, dubbed A Square Meal, will run every other Monday night starting June 20. Jackson and cafe chef/owner Ericka Burke met through a mutual friend and hatched the idea a few weeks ago at a Mariners game.

While other major food cities are rife with pop-ups, Seattle's have been relatively infrequent. Chris Werner at Seattle Met lists some of the recent ones, and Canlis has been making coy Twitter promises of following up chef Jason Franey's Hearth & Home pop-up with more one-off dinner action. Meanwhile, more details and the full menu for the first Square Meal dinner are below.

Jackson has worked elsewhere in the Douglas realm, namely Serious Pie and Dahlia Lounge, as well as Dog Mountain Farm in Carnation and a stint at Spur, according to the Volunteer Park Cafe release. Square Meal menus will be local and seasonal and all those other good things Seattle diners all but expect at this point. The multi-course meals run $65 per person and are, huzzah, BYOB (beer and wine only). You'll probably be wanting reservations for these affairs, and you can make 'em right here or call Volunteer Park Cafe.

First Dinner Menu:

Tuna Tartar
Braised Tokyo Turnip, Honey Roasted Rhubarb, Indian Celery Vinaigrette

Beet Gazpacho
Lambrusco Vinegar, Goat Yogurt, Hazelnuts

Dandelion Greens
Lamb Quarters, Walnuts, Raisin & Marjoram Vinaigrette

Bread Course
Homemade Butter and Spreads

Lamb Shoulder
Mustard Greens, Cranberry Bean Puree, Crispy Lemons

Clafouti
Caramelized Fennel, Sweet Sicily, Buttermilk

· Volunteer Park Cafe Latest to Embrace Pop-Up Trend [Seattle Met]
[Photo: Volunteer Park Cafe]