NORTH TACOMA CAFE TO HAVE NEW OWNER >>>

"The goal is to not make anyone nervous" is how Barry Watson began the conversation about the imminent sale of his North Tacoma business, The Rosewood Café.

"I wasn't in a hurry to make an announcement because it isn't that exciting," says Watson. "Rich Benzin, the new owner is a friend of mine; it's just a transfer of ownership. The menu, staff and my recipes - everything will stay the same." 

The café's manager and kitchen manager will take on more responsibility with the eventual departure of Watson's smiling face, but it won't be any time soon. 

"Even after the sale is final I'm staying on for an undetermined amount of time," Watson explains. "I want to be sure they (the Benzins) have it down before I go."

Watson is set to leave at the height of his current entrepreneurial career, a rarity in the small business world even during sunnier economic times.

"Business has never been better; we've beat past years' sales every year. I'm getting out of the (restaurant) business on a positive note," he says,

He also finds himself in the unique position to know the in-coming owners well, to have a mutual respect and liking of them.

The Northend will like him, too. Watson says the Benzins couldn't be any more "local." "If I wasn't completely comfortable and didn't believe this wasn't a great match, I wouldn't do it," says Watson.

Just outside of the Proctor Business District proper, the café sits among homes on North 26^th Street. Instead of feeling isolated, it has become a destination in the 8 and a half  years since opening. The Rosewood earned and maintains a well-deserved reputation for being a casual place to enjoy simple, good food at easily affordable prices. Staff is friendly and helpful.

Mostly made from scratch, Watson's menu of comfort foods with Northwest slant includes sandwiches, salads, soups, and larger plates of macaroni and cheese, and deep dish personal pot pie, and salmon fillet. 

Reflecting Watson's on-going commitment to keep prices affordable for the masses, college students are known to occupy tables next to Lexus drivers.

From his days before the cafe as a beer and wine representative, Watson's selection at the cafe is impressive. A large display case of vino hugs most of one wall; interesting beers are never in short supply and rotate seasonally.

Desserts made in-house have a cult following.

"I'm looking forward to joining the lives of the living," says Watson of the well-deserved break he has before him. "For the last nine years seven days a week, life has been planned out for me. And now I'll have no plans to do anything. That's the exciting part for me."

The café will continue to be open for lunch and dinner daily from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

[Rosewood Café, 3323 N. 26th St., Tacoma, 253.752.7999]

WHEN CUPS RUNNETH OVER >>>

Anyone who has traveled to Southeast Asia knows it is a great place to expand one's culinary horizons. Even in a less exotic locale like Singapore, or a more impoverished region like Indonesia, the sheer variety of curries and rice dishes offered at one of the myriad "food courts" and open markets gives these countries an exciting culinary tinge.

Singaporean native Tony Wien's Café Banana Asian Bistro, located inside the Great American Casino in Lakewood, is modeled after such admiration for Southeast Asian flavors, with its "roots" in Malaysian, Thai and Indian cuisine. "Within the walls of Café Banana lie all the ingredients for an eating Oasis," Wien recently told us.

Wien is a bit of a historian when it comes to curry. He'll bend your ear for an hour discussing ancient curry trade routes, preparations and varieties.

Throw one of his exotic mango or sake cocktails, and five of his curry dishes, and we'll listen.

That's exactly what the next Nosh league will do at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12. We'll meet for a night of curry history, dishes and exotic cocktails. Wien is also throwing in a salmon dish. That's cool with us.

As always, the price tag for the night will be $15 a person.

If you would like to join us, RSVP on the Nosh League Facebook.

Nosh League

Thursday, Jan. 12, 6 p.m., $15
Café Banana Asian Bistro
10115 S. Tacoma Way, Lakewood
253.589.4678

LINK: First bite at Café Banana

DO YOU KNOW YOUR TACOMA HISTORY ... AND LOVE FOOD? >>

Foodcaching is a new smart phone app alerting customers of awesome food deals at 15 restaurants in the greater Tacoma area. You may download the app for free on your iPhone and Android here.

The Weekly Volcano has teamed up with Foodcaching for the True Tacoman game. Every Tuesday and Friday right here on Spew, we post a Tacoma history trivia provided by the Washington State History Museum. If you know the answer, run to one of the 15 participating restaurants, come clean with answer and you'll receive points on your Foodcaching app, which you downloaded free here. We'll be running the True Tacoman trivia game through the end of the year.

The person will the most points on Dec. 31 will be crowned the True Tacoman and be flooded with various food prizes.

Friday's True Tacoman trivia answer

Friday we asked the sport Tacoman Dick Hannula coach for years. You spent the last four days telling the restaurants listed below it was swimming – and, thereby, you scored points on the Foodcaching app. It was an easy task – a lot easier than trying to beat his Wilson High School swim team in the 80s.

Today is Tuesday, which means we post another trivia question as part of the True Tacoman contest.

Today's True Tacoman trivia question

True or False: Skiing above Paradise on Mount Rainier was a popular sport in the 1930s and 40s?

Answer the question correctly at one of the 15 participating restaurants below and score points - besides scoring awesome food deals from the restaurants. The correct answer will be revealed Friday, Dec. 23 on Spew. Also, keep an eye on this blog for bonus game points and a special invite to the True Tacoman Game Party in early 2012.

Oh, you can download the free app here.

Participating restaurants

• 1022 South, 1022 South J St., Tacoma, 253.627.8588, Facebook
• Capers Cafe & Take Home, 2602 N. Proctor St., Tacoma, 253.761.4444, Facebook
• Dirty Oscar's Annex, 2309 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.0588, Facebook
• Dorky's Arcade, 754 Pacfic Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.4156, Facebook
• Harmon Brewery & Eatery, 1938 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.383.2739, Facebook
• Harmon Tap Room, 204 Saint Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.212.2725, Facebook
• The Hub, 203 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.683.4606, Facebook
• Massimo Italian Bar & Grill, 4020 Bridgeport Way W., University Place, 253.503.1902, Facebook
• Marrow Kitchen & Bar, 2717 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.267.5299, Facebook
• Over The Moon Cafe, 709 Court C/Opera Alley, Tacoma, 253.284.3722, Facebook
• Pacific Grill, 1502 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.3535, Facebook
• The Social Bar & Grill, 1715 Dock St., Tacoma, 253.301.3835, Facebook
• STINK Cheese & Meat, 628 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.426.1347, Facebook
• Top of Tacoma Bar & Cafe, 3529 McKinley Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.1502, Facebook
• TWOKOI Japanese Restaurant, 1552 Commerce St., Tacoma, 253.274.8999, Facebook

SUNDAY, DEC. 18, 2011 >>>

1. You're either old or you play Pokémon. Deal with it. Or drive the point home today at The Game Matrix on South Tacoma Way when Lakewood's installment of the 2011 Pokémon City Championships goes down - starting at 11 a.m. According to promotional hype, this officially sanctioned event is free to play and intended for Pokémon players of all ages and skill levels (Note: Anyone born after 1996 *gulp* qualifies for the "Masters Division). "Players will compete in exciting one-on-one battles as they vie for the prestigious title of Pokémon City Champions," according to the release. "Players at this weekend's Play! Pokémon City Championships will also be playing for Championship Points, which are awarded to top finishers at al Pokémon Championship Series events. Championship Points are a new addition t the Play! Pokémon season, giving Pokémon TCG players more chances to reach their ultimate goal - earning an invitation to the Pokémon World Championship in Hawaii next August." Did you even realize there was a Pokémon World Championship, Oldie McOlderson? Of course not. Now you do.

2. What's better than celebrating the birthday of a good friend? What about celebrating the birthday of a good friend that consistently provides you with drinks and a place to play shuffleboard? OK, OK ... what if we throw in some aerialists from Tallhouse Arts Consortium, free pizza and "lots of love," according to an esteemed member of the BroHo's staff (who may or may not be Nikki Talotta)? If you astutely observed that absolutely nothing is better than the aforementioned scenario you're a lot smarter than your parents give you credit for. Help The Brotherhood celebrate its anniversary in style tonight.

3. You have the tree picked out, every box of yard decorations categorized, and the yuletide music at full blast. Now all you need are some choice movies to fully embrace the reason for the season. At this time of year, more than any other (with Halloween as a possible exception), we use films as a way of connecting to that elusive holiday spirit. And The Grand Cinema in Tacoma continues this tradition this week with multiples screenings of the 1947 holiday classic, Miracle on 34^th Street, including today at 2:05 p.m. If this film doesn't get you in the holiday spirit we don't know what will.

4. Jazz guitarist Michael Powers headines the Christmas Jazz show tonight at Marine View Presbyterian Church in Tacoma. The show is all ages and starts at 5 p.m.

5. Join the Sunday Blues Jam Night at Uncle Sam's American Bar & Grill in Spanaway tonight, hosted by Shelly Ely. The good times run from 7 - 10 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight

HO HO YO! >>>

Itchin' for an excuse to pull that bicycle out of storage and get some extra wear out of your Santa hat? Saddle up and get ready to ride through the streets of Tacoma drunkoff your ass and full of candy canes, party elves, the 2011 Troll Crank is upon us.

The Tacoma Mob Rider invites revelers to jump on their pedal-driven sleighs and eat and drink their way through Tacoma tomorrow. The zaniness begins at 7 p.m. inside the Engine House No. 9. Santa will be pouring E-9's Triple P Pre-Prohibition Pilsner from the kegerator on the patio. From there, the Troll Crank moves on to other fine establishments revealed on E-9's patio.

It's free to participate, but you'll be shelling out cash for anything you eat or drinkalong the way.

Tacoma Mob Rules asks you to dress festival, with a nod toward Crosby sweaters.

[Engine House No. 9, Troll Crank bicycle booze cruz, Saturday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m., rain or shine, 21 and older, 611 N. Pine St., Tacoma, 253.272.3435]

FILLING YOUR DREAMS TO THE BRIM WITH FRIGHT >>>

Time to give them something fun
they'll talk about for years to come,
let's have a cheer from everyone.
It's time to party.
Making Christmas. Making Christmas.
Snakes and mice get wrapped up so nice with spider legs and pretty bows.
It's ours this time.
All together, that and this with all our tricks we're making Christmastime. - "Making Christmas" from Nightmare Before Christmas

When you think of holiday art shows, what usually comes to mind? Traditionally, if you wanted to gaze at art that contemplates anything deeper than a Norman Rockwell scene, or experience anything more visually challenging than a tinsel-hung tree, you were stuck with the artistic equivalent of a lump of coal.

Jooley Heaps, owner of Box Top Vintage in downtown Tacoma, will add a little Halloween to Christmas when she hosts "Frightmare Before Christmas" art and crafts bazaar in her store Sunday afternoon.

"It's been two years since I opened this store and I never had a grand opening party," says Heaps. "Well, Frightmare before Christmas will be my grand opening - a party with tons of vendors selling the darker side of Christmas."

Do you prefer to fill your stockings with severed feet? Picture Santa as a voyeuristic psychopath? If you prefer your eggnog with a splash of blood, then this holiday bazaar is for you.

The store will be re-arranged to house vendor tables loaded with goods from South Sound and Seattle artists and businesses. Creepy holiday decorations, Gothic art, spooky gifts, crafts, curios and hilarious stocking stuffers will fill Box Top Vintage, which sells true vintage clothing for men and women, as well as accessories and gifts.

A mini bar and Punk Rock Santa will add a little party to the bazaar. Proceeds from the bar will go toward fighting lymphoma in Pierce County.

Every Halloween, you shell out between $20 and $100 bucks on the perfect costume, only to wear it for one night. Well, why not drag that orange jumpsuit and Bernie Madoff mask out for Frightmare?

"I encourage everyone to dress up," says Heaps. "Why not drink cheesy holiday drinks and enjoy DJs Aaron Mack and Melodica dressed as a creepy elf?"

If Sunday's event doesn't send you screaming back into the arms of Santa, well, welcome to the dark side my friend. Or the weird side.

[Box Top Vintage, Sunday, Dec. 18, noon to 6 p.m., all ages, no admission fee, 907 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.304-1874]

LINK: Santa Says Blog

DO YOU KNOW YOUR TACOMA HISTORY ... AND LOVE FOOD? >>

Foodcaching is a new smart phone app alerting customers of awesome food deals at 15 restaurants in the greater Tacoma area. You may download the app for free on your iPhone and Android here.

The Weekly Volcano has teamed up with Foodcaching for the True Tacoman game. Every Tuesday and Friday right here on Spew, we post a Tacoma history trivia provided by the Washington State History Museum. If you know the answer, run to one of the 15 participating restaurants, come clean with answer and you'll receive points on your Foodcaching app, which you downloaded free here. We'll be running the True Tacoman trivia game through the end of the year.

The person will the most points on Dec. 31 will be crowned the True Tacoman and be flooded with various food prizes.

Tuesday's True Tacoman trivia answer

Tuesday we asked what Olympics did Tacoman Kaye Hall win the Gold medal. You spent the last three days telling the restaurants listed below it was the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City – and, thereby, you scored points on the Foodcaching app. It was an easy task – a lot easier than swimming the backstroke.

Today is Friday, which means we post another trivia question as part of the True Tacoman contest.

Today's True Tacoman trivia question

Dick Hannula of Tacoma is famous for coaching what sport?

• A) Slow-pitch baseball
• B) Football
• C) Table-tennis
• D) Swimming

Answer the question correctly at one of the 15 participating restaurants below and score points - besides scoring awesome food deals from the restaurants. The correct answer will be revealed Tuesday, Dec. 20 on Spew. Also, keep an eye on this blog for bonus game points and a special invite to the True Tacoman Game Party in early 2012.

Oh, you can download the free app here.

Participating restaurants

• 1022 South, 1022 South J St., Tacoma, 253.627.8588, Facebook
• Capers Cafe & Take Home, 2602 N. Proctor St., Tacoma, 253.761.4444, Facebook
• Dirty Oscar's Annex, 2309 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.572.0588, Facebook
• Dorky's Arcade, 754 Pacfic Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.4156, Facebook
• Harmon Brewery & Eatery, 1938 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.383.2739, Facebook
• Harmon Tap Room, 204 Saint Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.212.2725, Facebook
• The Hub, 203 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma, 253.683.4606, Facebook
• Massimo Italian Bar & Grill, 4020 Bridgeport Way W., University Place, 253.503.1902, Facebook
• Marrow Kitchen & Bar, 2717 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.267.5299, Facebook
• Over The Moon Cafe, 709 Court C/Opera Alley, Tacoma, 253.284.3722, Facebook
• Pacific Grill, 1502 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.3535, Facebook
• The Social Bar & Grill, 1715 Dock St., Tacoma, 253.301.3835, Facebook
• STINK Cheese & Meat, 628 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.426.1347, Facebook
• Top of Tacoma Bar & Cafe, 3529 McKinley Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.1502, Facebook
• TWOKOI Japanese Restaurant, 1552 Commerce St., Tacoma, 253.274.8999, Facebook

THURSDAY NIGHT RELEASE PARTY >>>

It may be winter, but the cherry kriek will be flowing at Engine House No. 9 where it will be celebrated tomorrow night. That's right, it's going to get fruity inside Tacoma's beloved E-9.

But not too fruity.

Fruit beer doesn't get much respect because most of it is awful: sweet, syrupy, artificially flavored, and tasting more like cherry soda than beer. E-9 brewmaster Shane Johns assures us his new kriek lambic, Love Child, doesn't taste like cherry soda, but rather it finishes clean.

"The Love Child is ruby in color with a pink head. Aromas of cherry and oak. And it has a cherry and slight sour flavor," says Johns.

The Love Child was brewed two years ago, then aged in a French Oak Cabernet barrel and an American Oak Shiraz barrel. After several months John and crew added 80 pounds of Bing and sour cherries from Diamondback Organics in Lake Chelan. It aged another 12 months on the cherries, and then blended the barrels together for further aging.

The Love Child is the first beer in a series of barrel-aged wild beers E-9 will be releasing under its new ownership.

"John and Jeff have allowed us to grow our barrel series by acquiring six French Oak barrels," says Johns.

John and Jeff being John Xitco and Jeff Paradise of X Group Restaurants, who with partner Luke Xitco bought Engine House No. 9 this summer. The group also owns neighboring Masa and Asado at Pine and Sixth Avenue in Tacoma.

"The new ownership pays incredible attention to detail, and has a great desire to be the best at what they do," says Johns.

When Love Child began receiving Johns' love, E-9 only owned one barrel. Currently, the restaurant and brewery houses four barrels with another six arriving by the end of the year.

"We are working with our good friend Trevor on a wild strain for one of those barrels that comes from the ambient air here in Tacoma," adds Johns.

Besides celebrating Love Child tomorrow night at E-9, John will also pour two Belgian lambics - Leifmans Cuvee Brut and Mort Subite kriek lambic - and an American-style sour ale - Boneyard Femme Fatal. Johns says a 5-liter firkin from Germany will also be in the house.

[Engine House No. 9, Thursday, Dec. 15, 7-10 p.m. or until the beer runs out, 611 N. Pine S., Tacoma, 253.272.3435]

CARVING A DELICIOUS BREAKFAST >>>

If you go rushing through life you're going to miss out on a lot of good things. Of course, the smell of roses is the classic example, but if you're always in a hurry you're also going to miss letting a piece of maple sugar candy dissolve slowly on your tongue, or the sight of the sun when it melts all the way into the ocean at sunset, or the great out-takes at the end of a Jackie Chan movie.

No, I haven't gone all maudlin and reflective like a movie on Lifetime. I just want to point out that if you're rushing around town, speeding up and down the main thoroughfares, you're missing out on some great little spots that deserve your attention.

One such spot is Babblin' Babs Bistro, wedged into a corner of an L-shaped building in Tacoma's Proctor District. It's a little place, with just eight to 10 tables, but serves the biggest, most complex flavors in town. I know, the Weekly Volcano has written about this treasure around 20 times or so, but I'm still shocked when I can walk in and grab a table without a wait.  Owners/chefs William and Shannon Mueller concoct gourmet delectable delights - the likes not found anywhere else in the area.

Saturday morning I discovered more Mueller magic - their "Pumpkin, Pumpkin Your Every Where" dish ($12.95). It's a freakin' pumpkin pie disguised as French toast. They baked French bread stuffed with mascarpone cheese with pumpkin purée and studded with rum soaked raisins. Then bathed it in a spiced egg custard with more pumpkin purée and grilled to a golden orange brown. Last, they drizzle with a dual syrup of pumpkin spice and hand spun apple jack brandy caramel and then top it with a big old heap of real whipped cream.

It's fabulous.

[Babblin' Babs Bistro, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, 2724 N. Proctor St., Tacoma, 253.761.9099]

TUESDAY, DEC. 13, 2011 >>>

1. This year's Classical Tuesdays Wine & Song Benefit in Old Town Tacoma will feature "American Arias and songs from operas, musicals and movies," according to the press release. It will also - more importantly - feature soprano Christina Kowalski and tenor Gino Lucchetti accompanied by pianist Denes Van Parys - doling out tunes by Gian Carlo Menotti, Bernard Herman, Samuel Barber, Oscar Hammerstein and others. This annual event benefits the free Classical Tuesdays in Old Town chamber music series. Starts at 7 p.m. at Connelly Law Offices in Old Town.

2. It's not every day that you get a chance to cook with Linda Evans. Are we right, or are we right? But by the grace of God himself, today just happens to be one of those days when you DO have the chance to cook with Linda Evans - today from 6 - 8:30 p.m. at the Bayview School of Cooking. Pimping her book, Recipes for Life: My Memories (and signing it from 5-6 p.m.), Evans promises "food and conversation," as well as her "Famed Artichoke Dip, Ham Dani, Warm Butternut Squash Salad and Buche de Noel." Pre registration is required, and seating is limited. The cost is $75 per person, or $95 with a copy of Evans' book. Call 360.754.1448.

3. The Royal Lounge in Olympia offers a Comedy Lounge night every Tuesday, featuring an open-mic from 9-9:30 p.m. and headlining comics from 9:30 - 11 p.m.

4. Tribes, Sloths and Trey The Ruler will play an all-ages show tonight at the Red Room in Tacoma. It starts at 7 p.m. and will cost you $5 to get into.

5. Get your groove on tonight in Parkland. DJ Adam Ant spins during "Twisted Tuesday" at Lady Luck Cowgirl Up, offering Top 40 action and karaoke. The good times start at 9 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight