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[Photo: Courtesy of Tarsan i Jane.]
Spanish chef Perfecto Rocher has leapt from the City of Angels to the Emerald City. Throughout his career, Rocher worked in a series of Michelin-starred restaurants, apprenticed at Spain's famous elBulli, and most recently helped open Los Angeles' well-reviewed smoke.oil.salt. LA Times critic Jonathan Gold raved in a 2014 review, "An alarming percentage of the best paellas I have eaten have come from the well-seasoned steel pans of Perfecto Rocher."
Rocher and fiancé/business partner Alia Zaine — an accomplished butcher and regular judge on FYI Network's Man vs. Child: Chef Showdown — told Eater they recently moved to Seattle for a serious change of scenery.
"What they're doing in LA is amazing, but it was time to change and to focus on something more natural, no? I wish that Seattle had the sun of LA, but I love Seattle for the natural, the local, the sustainable. Ten minutes from Seattle, you can find farmers," Rocher said. "Also, in Europe we are more socialized, we care about the workers, the environment, and I think Seattle has a lot of that. It looks like the Norway of the United States."
In no time at all, Rocher and Zaine have made plans for a series of pop-ups throughout the city starting next month. Look for the duo as Tarsan i Jane, a nod to Tarsan, the Valencia paella restaurant run by his grandfather where Rocher spent much of his youth.
Every Friday and Saturday in April from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tarsan i Jane will be at Elm Coffee Roasters in Pioneer Square, serving up a toast concept called "Montadets," previewed in the photo above.
On April 11, head to "Paella Night" at Sitka & Spruce for one of two dinner seatings, which can be reserved for $55 (excluding gratuity, tax, and beverages) by emailing info@sitkaandspruce.com.
The couple are also in talks with another location to unveil a "fine dining/minimalistic menu," something they're particularly excited about. Rather than a stuffy atmosphere with white linens, the concept should allow them to push themselves creatively while showcasing their passion for the highest quality ingredients. Stay tuned for more on that one, and follow the two on Instagram and Twitter for more enticing photos.
