Travis Post and Lisa Zack at Plenty of CloudsFlavors of South Central China by way of New York City have settled in at 15th and Pine.
Plenty of Clouds debuted over the post-4th of July holiday weekend as two Ethan Stowell alumni have started a new restaurant generation in the space formerly home to his longtime Capitol Hill favorite Anchovies and Olives.
For first time restaurant owner and veteran chef Travis Post, Plenty of Clouds is all about the flavors of China’s abundant — and cloudy — south. “There’s the spice,” the chef-owner says. “But there’s a lot more to it than that. A lot of the freshness, fresh veggies, herbs, lighter flavors.”
Husband and wife team Post and Lisa Zack moved to Seattle three years ago from New York so Post could take the helm in the kitchen at Stowell’s Bramling Cross. When the prolific restaurateur was ready to move on from 15th and Pine, the couple decided it was time to make their move.
The Plenty of Clouds name, Zack says, refers to Sichuan Province, the “bread basket” of China known for its abundance, and neighboring Yunnan, a province known for its diversity and, like Seattle, its cloudy weather. The couple has traveled extensively in the area, collecting culinary knowledge and a love for the food.
Post says owning his own place has been part of the plan. “It’s always been a dream. This is a great opportunity.”
Post’s menu ranges from small plates including “strange-flavor eggplant & cauliflower” and lamb meatballs with fermented tomatillo and pepper salt, to entrees like salt and pepper shrimp and squid, “not your ma-po’s tofu, pork, jasmine rice,” and ma-la chicken legs. Cocktails, wines, and beers have been selected to complement the spices and flavors.
CHS first reported on the project featuring the Culinary Institute of America grad in June as the couple began the work to put the 15th and Pine restaurant space back into motion. The bones were good, Zack says, and opening a new restaurant in Seattle in a space ready to go was a relative breeze. Anchovies and Olives made the space work for eight years. With a sunny Seattle debut, Plenty of Clouds can now settle in for the longterm.
Plenty of Clouds is located at 1550 15th Ave and open Sunday through Thursday 5 to 10 PM, Friday and Saturday 5 to 11 PM, closed Tuesdays. You can learn more at plentyofclouds.com.
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