A pair of restaurant veterans who came to Seattle to be part of an Ethan Stowell project will take the space where his Anchovies and Olives shuttered last year forward into a new life as Plenty of Clouds, a project focused on flavors from South Central China set to open at 15th and Pine this summer.

“A little bit lighter, a little bit spicier,” Lisa Zack tells CHS. “A lot more fresh herbs and vegetables. This is not going to be the standard Chinese.”

This will be the first restaurant from Zack and husband Travis Post but the couple have made a career in the business, moving from New York to Seattle so Post could take the helm in the kitchen at Stowell’s Bramling Cross.



The Plenty of Clouds name, Zack says, refers to Sichuan Province, the “bread basket” of China known for its abundance, and neighboring Yunnan, a province known for its diversity and, like Seattle, its cloudy weather.

Post’s fascination with Chinese cuisine has been a lifelong pursuit. The Culinary Institute of America grad honed his skills in the kitchen at Buddakan NYC after leaving his Manhattan-located Yunnan Kitchen project. Zack says the couple has also traveled extensively in the region.

“Travis has been interested in cooking Chinese food since he was a little kid,” Zack said. “It’s something we want to eat all the time and something we are interested in and that we are passionate about.”

Bolstered by an $8,000 crowdfunding effort to purchase the expensive wok range that will be at the center of the Plenty of Clouds kitchen, Post and Zack describe the new venture as “bringing together fiery flavors from Sichuan, freshness from neighboring Yunnan” along with “fun” cocktails in “a comfortable and elegant neighborhood restaurant.”

Stowell’s eight-year-old Anchovies and Olives closed in the location last December. Zack says the plan is to overhaul the interior with a new look and feel filled with items they’ve been collecting over time on their travels. “We want it to be really fun and welcoming,” Zack said.

The restaurant veterans with experience both in front of house and in the kitchen are also considering how best to run their business. Zack said they will likely incorporate a service charge to be split between the kitchen and servers. “Both of us would like everyone to be paid more money and to be paid fairly,” Zack said.

Plenty of Clouds is planned to open this summer at 1550 15th Ave. You can learn more and follow their progress at @plentyofclouds.sea on Instagram.

UPDATE 7/3/2018: The new owners have announced that the restaurant will debut on Thursday, July 5th. Congratulations.

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