Personal Collections of Dale Chihuly Provide Quirky Backdrop for Progressive American Menu at Collections Cafe

SEATTLE, May 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Chihuly Garden and Glass' Collections Cafe, the newest restaurant in Seattle's acclaimed dining scene,  takes its inspiration from artist Dale Chihuly. Housed within the Exhibition Hall at Chihuly Garden and Glass, the Cafe uses global cuisine as its muse and infuses it with a Northwest twist. Chihuly's various collections of vintage objects and material culture are artfully arranged throughout the cafe, bringing a playful dimension to this Northwest dining experience.

Drawing inspiration in part from Chihuly's iconic Boathouse on Seattle's Lake Union, the familiar combination of colors and materials used throughout Chihuly Garden and Glass inspired Chihuly to share some of the very collections that adorn the walls of his home and studio spaces.

"I love to find beauty in everyday objects," says Chihuly. "Building and adding to these collections over the years has been a personal passion."  

Chefs Jeff Maxfield and Ivan Szilak, in collaboration with Jason Wilson of CRUSH, have created a menu that celebrates what is fresh and local. A carefully selected group of dedicated ranchers, fisherman, foragers and farmers supply the restaurant with the best the Northwest has to offer. The lunch and dinner menus are highlighted by small bites like Polly Creek Razor Clams with "chermoula" spice and green tomato chutney and main courses like a Carlton Farms Pork Chop with apricot BBQ glaze, arugula salad, red pepper coulis, and zucchini cayenne bread. A hand-picked collection of craft beers and a 36 bottle wine list with Washington and Oregon premium wines is also available.

With spruce plank walls, bright green chairs and classic Marmoleum floors, the Cafe immerses guests in Dale Chihuly's world. Since his days as a boy searching for beach glass on the shores of Puget Sound, Chihuly has been collecting nearly all of his life. While the collections provide an experience all their own, the main feature of the Collections Cafe is the backlit Drawing Wall with 36 of Chihuly's drawings.

The Collections Cafe is open to the public (no exhibition admission needed). Reservations are encouraged.

Hours:
Sun – Thurs:  11am – 9pm
Fri & Sat:  11am – 10pm
Phone: 206.753.4935
http://chihulygardenandglass.com/collections-cafe

About Chihuly Garden and Glass
Chihuly Garden and Glass provides a look at the career of artist Dale Chihuly. Located at Seattle Center, the exhibition features an Exhibition Hall offering visitors a comprehensive look at Chihuly's significant series of work. Visitors will also enjoy the centerpiece Glasshouse - a dramatic structure housing a suspended 1,340-piece, 100-foot-long glass sculpture -- and the Garden, which is a backdrop for a number of monumental sculptures and other installations. Also housed in the Exhibition Hall is the Collections Cafe, featuring pieces from Chihuly's collections including carnival chalk ware, vintage accordions, vintage radios and cameras and The Bookstore, showcasing the works of local artisans and a variety of books and materials relating to Chihuly's artworks, including some Studio Editions and prints. For more information visit: www.chihulygardenandglass.com. 

For press inquiries, please contact:
Michi Suzuki, Orchard 3 Communications
206.412.8140 / [email protected]

April Matson, Chihuly Garden and Glass
206.753.4924 / [email protected]

SOURCE Chihuly Garden and Glass