Literally and figuratively, Ray’s Boathouse is one of Seattle’s most iconic dining spots. The 50-foot RAY’S sign is a glowing red reminder that the restaurant has been one of the city’s top restaurants for more than 50 years.
Tonight Ray’s will host another of its beloved beer dinners. As usual, the dinner sold out immediately upon being announced several months ago. (Who knows, might still be worth calling to see if there has been a last minute cancellation.) Tonight’s event is more than a meal, it is a milestone.
Chef Peter Birk is the man behind the beer dinners at Ray’s. This is the last beer dinner that Peter organized for the restaurant. For the past 11 years he manned the helm as the Executive Chef at Ray’s but recently moved on to new challenges. In the coming months I will share more information about where this beer-loving chef is now plying his trade, but for now I just want to bid him bon voyage as he sails away from Ray’s.
Peter Birk told me that he expects Ray’s to continue producing the beer dinners. “My people know what to do and the beer dinners have been very popular,” he told me recently. I certainly hope he is right. The beer dinners at Ray’s are spectacular. Peter’s ability to pair beer and food is uncanny. I can only hope that he passed-on his passion as well as his craft.
On behalf of the Washington Beer Blog and the larger beer community, I would like to thank Chef Peter Birk for taking beer seriously. His support of the local craft beer industry is very much appreciated. And we like the food, too.
Cheers, Peter. We intend to see you soon!