Chef's Kitchen: Union Square Grill, Seattle, Washington, Chef Eric Hellner, Consolidated Restaurants Inc., Elliott's Oyster House, Metropolitan Grill, Oyster New Year celebration, baked potato recipe, bacon grease, bacon flavor, smashed potatoes

Chef's Kitchen

Each month we bring a guest chef into our Chef's Kitchen column to give us a tip that elevates their cooking (and hopefully ours). They also provide a recipe that showcases their tip. Our guest chef this month is Chef Eric Hellner of Union Square Grill*, part of Consolidated Restaurants, Inc., a family of locally-owned restaurants.

Eric Hellner began his stint with Consolidated Restaurants in 1989. He worked as a cook in the kitchens of Metropolitan Grill and Union Square Grill. He spent the past five years as a chef at Elliott's Oyster House before returning to Union Square Grill in 2006. Hellner's credentials include eight years organizing Elliott's annual Oyster New Year celebration, a seafood extravaganza serving more than 700 guests. A Seattle institution for the past 17 years, Union Square Grill underwent a $1 million transformation in 2006 and, under Hellner's leadership, the restaurant continues to present innovative and creative cuisine to guests. Hellner brings a deep appreciation for fresh Northwest ingredients to Union Square Grill. He also strives to create new menu items that pair perfectly with Union Square Grill's comprehensive, award-winning wine list and more than 40 unique cocktail offerings.

Eric Hellner (looking more serious than he ever has), courtesy of Consolidated Restaurants, Inc.

Best baked potatoes ever, by Eric Hellner

When preparing baked potatoes, save some leftover bacon grease from breakfast and cover your "bakers" in it. When they are finished in the oven, they will be nice and crispy and have a wonderful full flavor. If you don't have or can't use bacon grease, some butter or oil will work, too. It just won't have that little extra special flavor the bacon adds.

Union Square Grill
621 Union Street
Seattle, WA 98101
206-224-4321

http://www.unionsquaregrill.com

Click here to see Eric's recipe

* Closed. Hellner is now at The Metropolitan Grill

October 2007

We've worked hard to upgrade this site. Click here to notify us of any problems we need to correct.

SUBSCRIBE FREE

Subscription has its privileges - Each month Seattle DINING! publishes new features on new restaurants, food and beverage news from around the Northwest and special events. Don't miss out on these informative stories.

Sign up today for your FREE subscription and you'll get a notification each month when the new issue comes on line. You'll also be the first to find out about special Seattle DINING! events. What are you waiting for? Sign up now!

Click here to sign up now!