El Gaucho coming to Bellevue

El Gaucho (2505 First Ave. in Seattle, 206-728-1337) is opening its first Eastside location. The steakhouse is slated to open fall 2008 in the 26th story of the City Center Plaza under construction at 110th Avenue Northeast and Northeast Sixth Street.

This fourth Northwest location (Seattle, Portland and Tacoma are the others) will feature 26-foot ceilings, outdoor dining and room for 125 guests in the main dining room. Visit www.elgaucho.com for more details.

Chin joins Waterfront Seafood Grill

The new assistant general manager at Seattle's Waterfront Seafood Grill (2801 Alaskan Way, Pier 70, 206-956-9171) is Shing Chin, formerly of West Seattle's popular Ovio Bistro.

Chin's extensive restaurant career includes leadership posts at Salish Lodge, Wild Ginger, Roy's at the Westin Hotel, El Gaucho and Ballard's Market Street Urban Grill.

Chin and his wife Ellie closed Ovio at the end of June, wanting to spend more time with sons Dylan and Carson after five years of nurturing their business.

Mike's Chili Parlor gets national focus

Seattle has caught Food Network's eye a lot lately, first with last week's casting call for "The Next Food Network Star" reality show, next with a spotlight on Seattle institution Mike's Chili Parlor (1447 N.W. Ballard Way, 206-782-2808).

The eatery has cooked chili since 1922, and will have its close-up in Episode 204 of the series, "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives," slated to air Oct. 22.

More honors for The Herbfarm

Woodinville's The Herbfarm has added another honor to its cache of awards, tying with Chicago eatery Charlie Trotter's for 2007 "Wine Hospitality Restaurant of the Year" in Santé, a major restaurant industry magazine.

Fellow award winner (Wine Professional of the Year) and master sommelier Rob Bigelow, wine director at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, shares a Puget Sound connection — he worked as wine director at Seattle's Canlis restaurant, helping its wine list to gain national acclaim. A complete list of winners is available at isantemagazine.com.

Zucchinis will be rockin' and rollin'

Who says you can't play with your food? Head to West Seattle Farmers Market Sunday for its Zucchini 500 Races, where handcrafted squashmobiles will zip along a wooden track for prize ribbons.

All competitors receive a sturdy, race-worthy summer squash, four wooden wheels and plenty of décor (feathers, pipe cleaners, stickers, etc.) to customize each racer. The event is free and open to entrants of all ages. The market runs 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the corner of California Avenue Southwest and Southwest Alaska Street in the parking lot behind Key Bank.

A new look at South Lake Union

Stix Billiards & Brewhouse now is Stix Pizza & Brewing Co (1001 Fairview Ave. N., Ste. 2000, Seattle, 206-749-9088, stixbilliardsandbrew.com).

The South Lake Union restaurant shut its doors for several weeks this summer to remake itself from a swanky pool hall to a mellow pool hall. Crafting the house brews is Tom Munoz, who creates beer with names like Rack 'Em Red, Pool Shark Porter and One Ball Weiss. Pizza cooks Nick DiSantis and Carlos Esteves come from Georgetown's Stellar Pizza & Ale and Capitol Hill's Via Tribunali, respectively.

Veil adds to its kitchen staff

Lower Queen Anne restaurant and lounge Veil (555 Aloha St., Seattle, 206-216-0600) welcomes two new faces to its kitchen under chef Shannon Galusha: Johnny Zhu, new chef de cuisine, and Dana Cree, pastry chef.

Zhu returns to Seattle (he worked a year at Campagne under chef Daisley Gordon) after posts at New York's Spice Market and Jean-Georges and Alinea in Chicago. Cree served as pastry chef at Seattle's Rainier Club and Eva restaurant and sous chef/pastry cook with Scott Carsberg at Lampreia.

Another downtown dining option

Downtown Seattle has a new place to lunch: The Frontier Café (corner of Third Avenue and Cherry Street, 206-340-4401). Brought to you by the folks behind neighboring eateries Queen City Grill and Frontier Room, the cafe serves breakfast and lunch weekdays and features the Southern-inspired comfort food theme of its Belltown cousin, Frontier Room.

Karen Gaudette, Seattle Times staff reporter