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Chef Lisa Nakamura is known for her Zagat-rated dishes, and she recently lent her kitchen talents to Edmonds Community College as guest chef for a charity dinner. Now, Nakamura is crowd-sourcing funds to open a Seattle-area gnocchi restaurant. We caught up with Nakamura to find out more about her campaign and dreams for a future location in Edmonds. She provided this update.
“The Gnocchi Bar will be the first gnocchi-centric restaurant in Seattle, at least that I know of! The emphasis is on casual, comfortable, quick and delicious! As much as I like fine dining, I really want folks to feel right at home, like Nonna is in the kitchen cooking for them.
“For the Edmonds Community College fund raising gala dinner, I donated a gnocchi dinner in someone’s house. It was great fun, cooking that dinner! The kitchen at the house was a dream come true, and the guests dining were just so excited and kind. I also love being able to help a future culinarian (an EdCC student) make their way in this cooking world. I had help when I first started – I still get help, look at this Indiegogo campaign – and I’d like to return the good karma.
“I would LOVE to have a secondary or tertiary gnocchi shop in Edmonds! The Edmonds citizens are so supportive of their small neighborhood businesses, and the town itself really does have a neighborly atmosphere. I’ve always loved Edmonds, and it’s definitely a location we’re looking at.
“I hope people will be contributors because the project really is a homegrown effort. It started with an idea put into a few words, and look at how far it’s come so far! I truly believe that my neighbors start with my employees, purveyors, farmers and suppliers. It’s not just a job that I provide, or a business to sell to. I think it’s important to build a relationship based on trust and respect. That radiates out to my traditional guests, the ones who come in the front door. I love connecting with them, making their day a little better by providing something delicious to eat or just being a familiar face in their daily routine.
“Vibrant businesses make the neighborhoods they’re in a desirable place to live and work. Gnocchi Bar, with its high energy, friendly service and good ole comforting food fits that bill.
“Opening Gnocchi Bar is for me like coming full circle. As I move further along my culinary road, I find my feet more and more drawn to comfortable food, food that is easy to approach. I find cooking is becoming less an expression of myself and more of a way to connect with others. I like that. I like that a lot.”
To find out more about Nakamura’s bid to open Gnocchi Bar, and to donate to receive a free dinner, see IndieGoGo. To view dishes that will be available at the restaurant, see the chef’s website.
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