Everyone eats barbecue. People in suits, people in jeans, people in dresses. So says Gary Kurashima, Tacoma native and owner of Fife’s Warthog Barbeque Pit. It’s what drew him to barbecue – the everyman appeal of smoked meat.

He celebrates his 10th year in business this week. I asked Kurashima what keeps his business plugging along when other restaurants come and go. In one word, his answer: consistency. His recipes are the same as when he opened 10 years ago; and so is much of his staff.

Read more »

The economy bites. Many of us are looking to cut back. Our dining dollars are in jeopardy. Or at least mine are. I still want to dine well, but I have to spend wisely. Now, more than ever, I’m looking for a good bargain at good places to eat.

So today I launch a new thread called "Steals, Deals and Discounts." Here, you’ll find continuing updates on dining bargains or discounts at all kinds of restaurants – from kid-friendly brewpubs to upscale restaurants. Click "read more" to see the running list.

You can contribute, too. Restaurant folks and diners: Post your comments about deals or discounts spotted about town, or e-mail them to me at tntdiner@thenewstribune.com

Read more »

The ginger martini at Indochine. It may look girly, but it doesn’t taste like it.

I was researching cocktails at Indochine for a GO story on cocktail lounges that publishes next Friday. I brought along a co-worker who likes flavorful drinks, but has great disdain for anything cloying (or, as he calls it “gross girl drinks”).

He likes flavor, though. We wondered if there were any flavor-punched savory cocktails on the menu (something besides a bloody mary). Indochine bartender Wesley McLain had an immediate suggestion: a ginger martini.

In case you missed it, TNT business columnist Dan Voelpel reported in today’s paper that Sonic Drive-In will open its South Hill Puyallup location in April. Read the story here.

Disclosure: I’ve never been to a Sonic and I don’t understand (yet) its burger-slash-soda lure. I do, however, get fast food burger enthusiasm as a general culinary obsession. Don’t get me started on Friesenburgers by the Tacoma Dome. I am an official “fan” of Burgerville on my Facebook page. I routinely trek to Seattle’s Crown Hill neighborhood for a Dick’s Deluxe (followed by a trip to the toy store Archie McPhee). I know why people line up at In-n-Out (and I have been among them). While I’ll have to wait until April to explore Sonic’s appeal, I do know a LOT of people love Sonic.

Case in point on cult fanaticism: TNT diner reader Eric Thompson, a self described foodist, sent me a detailed list of why the good people of South Sound should be culinarily curious about the coming of the burger chain. His list of Sonic favorites: pellet ice, four kinds of diet soda, crunchy onion rings, stellar snack items and, oh, about 20 other reasons. Click “read more” to see Thompson’s ode to Sonic (and, no, he does not work for Sonic, just a diehard fan).

Now your turn: Your thoughts on Sonic please. What’s the big deal about the food there? And if you have a dissenting Sonic opinion, I’d like to hear it.

Read more »

Michele Simone, left, and wife Azusa Hirasawa are co-owners of ll Lucano. They’re pictured here with a plate of scaloppine gorgonzola at their Gig Harbor restaurant. Lui Kit Wong/The News Tribune

EDITOR’S NOTE: Drop-In Dining is a restaurant dining report where reporters drop in unannounced and sample the food, on TNT’s dime, then report what the scene and the food were like. Have a suggestion for a Drop-In Dining feature? E-mail us at tntdiner@thenewstribune.com.

Il Lucano Italian Restaurant
Where: 3119 Judson Street, Gig Harbor; 253-514-8945; www.illucanoristorante.comcq
Hours: Lunch served 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Dinner served 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 4 p.m.-9 p.m. Sunday
Price range: $-$$ (Entrees under $30)

By Sue Kidd
sue.kidd@thenewstribune.com

Il Lucano in Gig Harbor is just a few months old, but the story of the restaurant started about five years ago when chef-owner Massimo Terracciano hired Michele Simone to help run the kitchen at Terracciano.

Flash forward five years: Terracciano was bustling and outgrowing its 50-seat space. At the same time, Simone was looking for his own restaurant to open.

Terracciano made Simone an offer: How about you open your restaurant here when I find my bigger place?
How could Simone refuse?

Read more »

The Pink Pussycat at Tempest Lounge. Where would you go for a romantic cocktail?

I stopped in at Tempest Lounge Tuesday night for a GO section story about romantic cocktailing.

Co-owner Denise Tempest said she expects the Pink Pussycat to be the popular cocktail choice leading up to Valentine’s Day next weekend. The Pussycat is a tart drink with gin, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and pineapple juice.

I’m also planning cocktail excursions to Indochine and El Gaucho this week for research.

A question: Where do you

Read more »

I passed along our list of recommended South Sound chefs to the ‘Top Chef’ producers. Click this link to see which South Sound chefs TNT Diner readers recommended for the show. Thanks readers for giving your suggestions. Let’s see if we can’t get a Tacoma chef on the show.

Donna Lee, the casting associate with “Top Chef” who called me Monday about the BRAVO show coming to town, told me that the open audition for chefs takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday Feb. 11 at Canlis in Seattle.

Chefs, get your resumes ready.

Read more »

Donna Lee, a casting associate for the television show “Top Chef,” just called to ask which Tacoma chefs should be solicited for an audition when the show’s producers are in Seattle next week (more info on the open casting call when I get details). She specifically wanted to know which “inventive Tacoma chefs should be on our list” (gotta love those words together).

I gave Lee a partial list of Tacoma toques who fit the show’s criteria: chef-owners or executive chefs with cooking credentials that lean to the impressive side.

These chefs immediately came to mind: Diana

Read more »