Food & Drink

Lunchbox Lab’s Scott Simpson Remembered This Sunday

By Seattle Mag April 6, 2011

It’s been a week since the awful news hit that Scott Simpson had passed away at the age of 38.

The chef, whose cooking we’ve enjoyed for over a decade at Blue Onion Bistro, Fork, and more recently at the Lunchbox Laboratory (now relocated to South Lake Union), had publically spoken about his struggles with manic depression; sadly, his life came to a tragic end. (For more on his life and legacy, I’ll point you toward Nancy Leson’s lovely and eloquent rememberance).

In the days following Simpson’s sudden passing I spoke with John Schmidt, a manager of the Lunchbox Laboratory, who told me a memorial of sorts was in the works. Today I got the final details from Schmidt:

We have decided on a public memorial for Scott this upcoming Sunday (April10th) between the hours of 4 and 6 PM at the Lunchbox Laboratory (1253 Thomas Street). We will be closing the restaurant and providing small bites and libations and sharing personal stories in an effort to celebrate the eclectic life Scott Simpson lived.”

I, for one, will look back on Simpson’s Lunchbox Lab as a great place to go all out, to eat like a maniac. There was nothing dainty, or even reasonably portioned, at the Lab; even the “side” of mac-n-cheese was so jaw-droppingly rich it was almost too much to eat. Notice I said “almost.”

But after sampling a good portion of the menu, it’s the lamb burger that I kept coming back to–with a little goat cheese, some basil mayo and fresh sliced tomatoes all towering on a bun. It hit the sweet spot, and I know that’s what Simpson always wanted to do at the Lab. He was good at making people happy through food, by cooking for them from his heart. It’s his legacy; it’s what I’ll always remember.

 

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