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Ethan Stowell is ditching his Chippy's Fish and Drink on Ballard Avenue after dinner service on February 14. In its place, Stowell will open Marine Hardware, named for an old sign on its Kolstrand building. The changeover is slated to be unveiled March 2, according to a press release.
Chippy's, which opened in May 2014, revolves largely around fish and chips, as well as other seafood dishes like shrimp ceviche, king crab salad, and albacore tuna poke.
Marine Hardware's menu, on the other hand, will add more turf to the surf, including rabbit loin with frisée and lardon salad and red wine dressing; smoked foie gras terrine with dried cherries, watercress, and brioche; seared Hamachi with steamed rice, ponzu, and seaweed; Daurade with artichoke purée, baby artichokes, and arugula; and beef tartare with crispy pumpernickel. These will be offered on an a la carte menu of around 10 items, and there will also be a tasting menu of four courses available for $50 per person or six courses for $80 per person.
In another twist, expect to see Stowell in the new kitchen at times, cooking alongside Michael Gifford of Stowell's How to Cook a Wolf.
"Gifford and I had a great time cooking together back at Union," Stowell said of his former downtown restaurant. "I'm looking forward to working with him, and I'm really excited to get back in the kitchen — hopefully every week. One of the best things about being in the restaurants is interacting with the guest. And Marine Hardware is such an intimate space that I'll get to cook and chat with guests."
On the beverage side, expect Old World table wines from France, brown liquors, rotating house cocktails, four local beers on tap, and bottles of European and domestic suds.
The quick turnaround is made possible by limited decor changes, with only "a few design detail updates, like new plates and glassware to subtle decor enhancements." There will still be seating for just 26 people. When it opens, Marine Hardware's hours will be Wednesday through Sunday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
