Kirkland and Lynnwood’s Popular Isarn Thai Soul Kitchen Plans First Seattle Restaurant

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Popular Isarn Thai Soul Kitchen Plans First Seattle Restaurant

Isarn Thai Soul Kitchen, which has locations in Kirkland and Lynnwood, is about to open a new Ravenna restaurant at 2316 NE 65th Street (down the block from JuneBaby), with an eye on a mid-January debut. The franchise is the brainchild of a Thai couple who partnered with friends at local chain Bai Tong, and has received critical praise in the past for its well-crafted plates, including fermented sausage, pla meuk pad kai kem (sliced squid with salted egg yolk), and a pureed white cod drenched in yellow curry and topped with steamed crab meat. Isarn’s other outposts are still open for takeout, delivery and limited dine-in, and the expectation is that the same will hold for the new spot when it opens, although possible new COVID-related measures could put a crimp in those plans.

Georgetown Brewing Raises More Than $400,000 for Bar and Restaurant Workers

Back in May, local beermaker Georgetown Brewing Company sold its famed draft beer Manny’s in 12-ounce aluminum cans for retail for the first time ever, with proceeds intended to help nonprofits that support workers in the food and beverage industry. This week, the brewery announced that the effort raised $412,000, with recipients including Big Table, a support network for hospitality workers in Seattle, San Diego, and Spokane. Georgetown also announced it is partnering with United Way to help distribute funds to nonprofits in various communities across the state.

Snohomish County Launches Effort to Give Small Businesses Free PPE

On Thursday, Snohomish County — which includes the cities of Everett, Bothell, and Edmonds — announced it would be launching a new program to help deliver personal protection equipment for small businesses over the holidays. As part of the “Safe Start Kits” rollout, 2,500 boxes of PPE (such as masks, infrared thermometers, and disposable gloves) and 300 hand sanitizer stands will be distributed to businesses employing roughly 20 or fewer employees. Snohomish County, like many other regions in Washington, has seen an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases recently, and the program coincides with warnings from Gov. Jay Inslee that new restrictions on activities could be on the way.