Ciudad

Today we say A hui hou to Lucinda, who’s trading Georgetown for the white sands of Hawaii. Ciudad since day one, nearly a decade of keeping us honest, laughing, and very well fed. The smile, the wit, the quiet chaos control, all hers. Roll through, grab a beet marg, and send off an OG bruja the right way.

Ciudad is doing a burger. Well—Chef Taylor Thornhill is, and it’s landing at , not Ciudad. One week from today and all week, catch his take on the all-beef classic: buttery brioche, smoky charcoal aioli, nutty Gruyère, tart cauliflowerkraut, and caramelized onions with juniper and pimentón.

Burger of the Week is Lil Woody’s annual tradition during Seattle Burger Month, where notable local chefs step in to remix the city staple. It’s been running for over a decade, and yes, it always goes fast.

Toffee pudding with a potato skin plot twist because we hate waste and love that malty flavor. Caramel, dates, & flaky salt to finish. Unexpected, but confident so.

Staff appreciation time tomorrow. See you Tuesday!

It’s Taylor Thornhill’s birthday, and we’re overdue for a proper shout out. Taylor has been quietly at the helm at Ciudad for the past few months, shaping the food, setting the tone, and letting the plates do the talking. From a small town in southwest Wyoming to some of Seattle’s most respected kitchens, his path has always been about craft, curiosity, and respect for ingredients. After time at Rover’s, Spinasse, and Bateau, we’re proud to have him leading Ciudad into its next chapter.

We may not be hosting the NFC Divisional Playoffs (no TVs, you know the drill), but grilled meats feel pretty football-adjacent. If a certain game happens to be streaming discreetly under the table, far be it from us to notice. Sudden cheers, groans, or victory fist pumps will be politely ignored.

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Eating more vegetables, but doing it correctly. Fried cauliflower with tahini, pomegranate molasses, dried apricot, and sesame. Proof that vegetables do not have to whisper to be heard.

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New Year’s resolutions come and go. This kofta does not. Grilled lamb and beef kofta with muhammara (a roasted red pepper and walnut spread with a little heat), cauliflower and fennel salad, and walnut crunch. It may change outfits now and then, but it always shows up.

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No dinner plans for NYE? Perfect. Ciudad is open for walk-ins tonight. For the seat-of-your-pants crowd, the last-minute legends, and anyone needing a proper pregame before the night inevitably goes off script.

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So here’s the thing. You asked. You insisted. You maybe yelled a little. And we respect that. The OG Patatas Bravas are back. Crispy Kennebec potatoes with spicy tomato sauce and aioli on the side, because you should decide the optimal dipping situation. Life’s funny like that. You try new things, you grow, you learn… and somehow you end up exactly where you were happiest in the first place.

New-ish menu drop: beets shaved thin with pistachio, black olive, and ajwain. If you have not met ajwain before, think thyme with an attitude and a little anise swagger. It has been a staple in Middle Eastern and South Asian cooking forever and now it is here to cause trouble in the tastiest way.