Hinterberger's Alley -- Helping To Feed The Hungry, Select Eateries Provide Enticing Buffet

The restaurant lineup for the 1996 Hinterberger's Alley is set, menus have been chosen, stockpots scoured and grills scrubbed down. We're ready to do it again.

The Alley will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 19, 20 and 21.

Every summer, as part of the Bite of Seattle, The Seattle Times and I invite a select group of restaurateurs to take part at the Seattle Center in a particularly worthy and appropriate event - an enticing charity buffet, with proceeds dedicated to feeding Seattle's homeless and hungry through the volunteer services of Northwest Harvest.

Last year Hinterberger's Alley raised $20,000 for Northwest Harvest, serving more than 5,300 people during the three days of the Bite. This year, the goal is $25,000. Admission to the Alley is $7.

Participating restaurants are chosen from the previous year's Top Ten choices (i.e., the best restaurants reviewed in The Times during 1995). Typically, not all can afford the time and effort the three-day Alley event requires. We usually have between seven and 10 food booths. This year there are eight and the menu selection appears to be even more appealing than in the past.

Joining us in Hinterberger's Alley (which will be just south of the Key Arena this year) are:

Assaggio Ristorante, 2010 Fourth Ave. (441-1399). Mauro Golmarvi and his crew will serve Rigatoni alla Peperonata, pasta sauteed with homemade sausage and roasted red peppers in a fresh tomato-cream sauce, with fresh basil and garlic.

Chutney's, 519 First Ave. N. (284-6799). Bill Khanna, who has hosted premium Indian restaurants on three continents, offers Chicken Tikka in Naan, morsels of chicken breast marinated in delicate spices and roasted in a clay oven, then wrapped in leavened bread baked in a tandoor.

Etta's Seafood, 2020 Western Ave. (443-6000). One of chef Tom Douglas' recent creations in the Pike Place Market plans a lively dish of Shrimp Remoulade on Black Toast, spicy shrimp in a piquant sauce over sweet molasses croutons.

Hong's Garden, 64 Rainier Ave. S. Renton. (228-6332). The Hong family, veteran local restaurateurs, is preparing traditional Chinese BBQ Pork, slices of pork tenderloin served with hot mustard and sesame seeds.

Leo Melina Ristorante, 96 Union St. (623-3783) Leo Varchetta comes out of the south Market with Zuppa di Granchio, a fresh Dungeness Crab Bisque.

Phoenecia, 2716 Alki Ave. S.W. (935-6550). Owner-chef Hussein Khazaal provides dessert: a classic (but not too sweet) Baklava, the flaky, multilayered Middle-Eastern pastry stuffed with cashews and honey.

Reiner's, 1106 Eighth Ave. (624-2222). The Aebersolds, new owners of Reiner's, plan to serve a Chilled Saffron Dill Mussel Salad, a julienne of carrots, celery, onions, bell peppers, mussels and dill.

Union Square Grill, 621 Union St. (224-4321). Chef John Broulette of Consolidated Restaurants has the Alley's most unusual offering: Roasted Ostrich Sandwiches, tender roasted ostrich, sliced thin and served on individual dollar buns. It's exotic and delicious.

For the second year, Hinterberger's Alley will be the setting for The Seattle Times Celebrity Apron Auction, with proceeds from the auction also going to support Northwest Harvest.

With apologies to the Bard: Once more into the Bite my friends, once more. See you all at the Center.