Welcome to Cascadia Wire, a look at restaurant news from up-and-down the Pacific Northwest corridor.
Tom's Cat Cafe in Seoul [Photo: href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/feline_dacat/9266158372/sizes/l/">feline_dacat/Flickr]
PORTLAND— Has Portland surged ahead in the ongoing race to open the Pacific Northwest's first cat cafe? Maybe: The upcoming Purringtons Cat Lounge has announced it'll open in NE Portland, splitting itself into two spaces: One where guests can purchase food and drink ("the human lounge"), the other where they can enter and socialize with resident cats. Owner Kristen Castillo is currently soliciting "cat-themed food product suggestions." Projected opening: December
2014. [EPDX]
SEATTLE— Eater Seattle checks in with Josh Henderson one year after launching his perpetually packed Westward on North Lake Union. The chef and restauranteur also hints at future projects, including a more intimate space that will let him get back in the kitchen and a possible new restaurant in Bellevue. [ESEA]
PORTLAND— Another month, another heatmap update. After a flurry of openings in June added five new spots to Portland's list of the hottest and newest dining options, July slowed things down, with two notable debuts from familiar names on the local scene: John Gorham's Mediterranean Exploration Company and Daniel Mondok's restaurant duo Swank & Swine. [EPDX]
SEATTLE— Want to know where to find the best Mexican in (and around) Seattle? Here's a reader-sourced map of the city's best spots serving more queso, carnitas, and mole than you can handle. Also, Eater's August Heatmap rolled out this week, and two new members have joined the club: Restaurant Marron in Capitol Hill and Pomerol in Fremont. [ESEA]