Driftwood: A Love Letter to Washington Farmers

"I don't think I’ve ever been to a restaurant before that is as local as Driftwood," said Washington Grown TV host Kristi Gorenson, when the show visited the acclaimed Alki Beach restaurant in Season 12. "I mean, you guys really don’t go outside of Washington for any ingredients."

"Yeah, we’re known for being hyperseasonal and hyperlocal," agreed owner Dan Mallahan. "Often, things that we’re getting have been pulled from the ground that morning. It’s limiting, but it kind of forces us to be more intentional with how we’re preparing things."

Driftwood, the brainchild of acclaimed Seattle chef Mallahan and his wife, Jackie, truly captures what it means to be "Washington Grown." The menu changes all the time, based on the season and what’s available or based on Dan’s whims, so even regular customers get a new experience every time they visit. The produce is grown nearby, the fish is caught in the Puget Sound, and the dairy products come from the next county over – even the alcohol behind the bar is from Washington. Local producers like Little Big Farm, Cascadia Creamery, and Piece by Piece Farm are all featured on the menu, and their offerings help to fuel Dan’s creative process.

"It’s so abundant here, and there are so many ingredients available," he said. "Most of what we’re bringing in is coming directly from our farm partnerships and farmers markets. I trust them to tell me whatever ingredient is abundant and awesome, and they trust me not to mess it up too much."

Those farmers who supply Driftwood will be pleased to learn that Dan and his team are, in fact, holding up their end of the bargain. Not only are they "not messing up" those precious ingredients, the team at Driftwood has a habit of positively transforming those ingredients into show-stopping, mouth-watering meals.

"Everything is just delicious," said one happy customer. "I think it took me maybe 20 minutes to make a decision (of what to order), because everything they make is just so good."

If the promise of unique, delicious local foods isn’t enough, Driftwood would be worth a trip just to experience those coastal Washington vibes. Just steps away from the sands of Alki Beach, which is famous for it’s views of downtown Seattle’s skyline across the Puget Sound, the setting couldn’t get much better.

"It’s absolutely beautiful seeing the Puget Sound out the front window," said one customer. "It really feels like it brings the outdoors in. Those feelings and vibes transmit in through the restaurant."

Jackie, who runs the front of house, first met Dan while working together at the acclaimed Boulevard in San Francisco. She is the mastermind behind the restaurant’s aesthetic and decor. The space used to be a dive bar, but Jackie and her team have transformed it into a warm and colorful space that draws people in.

"We get the sounds of the people on the beach," she said, craning her head to hear. "Even on crazy wintery rainy days, you can hear the water splashing up against the bulkhead out there. This whole place is just a lot of fun."