Chef Jason Stratton previews Aragona, his new downtown restaurant at 1st and Union, describing a family-style preview dinner with signature fried dishes and large pans of rice. His favorite spices are allspice, coriander, and long pepper. He hates bananas but loves the smell of fresh cut grass and rain on pavement.
Hey, it's August 6th. We're in front of the Vood, and with us today, Jason Stratton. Hey Jason, how are you?
I'm doing great, how are you?
Fantastic, super excited you're here. Well, we've been talking and we're gonna do an event together.
It's true.
It's true. What are we— why are we doing it?
So we are essentially throwing a dinner to celebrate, kind of have a preview of Aragona, my new restaurant that's opening downtown 1st and Union this coming Fantastic,
super excited. So it'll be one of the very first opportunities for people to taste and feel and experience the new concept. Yeah,
absolutely. It's going to be a really spectacular menu, several courses, kind of family style, showcasing a lot of the dishes that are going to be on the opening menu of Aragona. So it'll be really fun. There'll be some delicious fried food, some nice big pans of rice, so it'll be really fun.
And so should we, should we save the fat or save the day?
You always have to save the fat.
Okay, so really quickly, we'll get through this. As you know, you are inside the Vood Studio. A few quick questions. What's your favorite spice?
Oh, favorite spice. That's a hard one. I, you know, I love allspice is I love different spices for different reasons. I love coriander just because it has a really wonderful kind of citrusy quality. I'm really into long pepper lately. It just has a really intriguing kind of fruitiness. We've been using it in cocktails up at Artusi, so that's really also delicious.
What's your least favorite spice?
I don't know that I have one. I like flavor, so there aren't very many foods that I don't like.
What turns you on?
Turns me on? Intriguing people. People who like to step out of the box.
What turns you off?
What turns me off? People who are inconsiderate, I guess.
What smells or smell do you love?
I love the smell of freshly cut grass. I also love— I think this is a Seattleite thing— when it starts raining. The first time it hasn't rained in a long time and the smell of the sidewalk.
Absolutely. And what smell do you hate?
Bananas. Banana is one of the only foods that I don't like, and I don't know, there's something in it that just— a ripe banana just makes me want to gag.
What is your favorite curse word?
Fuck is pretty effective.
What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?
You know, I, before I became a chef, I was considering being a poet, which is perhaps much less realistic. And, but, you know, I still write time to time.
We might have some poetry at the dinner right here.
It's true. It's true.
What profession would you not like to do?
Oh, there's a lot. Anywhere where I'd have to sit in an office. I like being on my feet. I like working with a group.
And finally, if heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?
There is karaoke in the back. Thanks, man.
We're super excited you're coming.
Thank you.
From the Hand of God, from the Vood, Jason Stratton. We'll see y'all soon.
Ciao.
