Peter Kost "Partner | GM"
Born and raised in Seattle. My father’s side of the family is Greek and my mother’s, Italian. I apologize upfront, I don’t speak Italian or Greek. With the two different cultural backgrounds, neither spoke the language of their family’s origin, at home. However, I do love and feel fortunate of the food culture I grew up around. My mother’s parents were farmers, Dominic and Lucy. They brought their daily harvest to the Seattle Public Market and sold from a stand shared with a couple other cousins. Eventually opening a grocery store on their property as Seattle grew, and the area around their farm populated. Family functions on both the Greek side and Italian, were basically reasons to eat. The idea wasn’t to make enough food for who was attending. It was to make enough food so that everyone could bring some home as well. We never starved.
My first job – other than helping around the grocery store from about the age of 8 or 9 – was at an Italian restaurant in Seattle. The Italian Spaghetti House & Pizzeria, owned by Elio Andolfi. I started as a dishwasher at the age of 15 and quickly worked my way to prep/pantry and then a coveted bussing position. The average tenure at the restaurant was around 15 years, so the 3 years I spent were a mere second of time in comparison. I learned as much there about service, quality and the importance of the guest than at any other job I’ve held in the industry. Elio was famous for his on-shift tirades. He would basically yell at you throughout service about being better, faster, more caring about the product and the guest experience. At the end of each night, he would go around to the staff and tell them “thank you, great job!”. He instilled a work ethic that drives me to this day.
After working in the restaurant industry as a General Manager for 13 years, I dreamed of having my own place. I’m not a good employee. Somehow, I feel rules of a company don’t apply to me….that isn’t a good thing. So, I opened my first restaurant in 1998 on the corner of NW 21st and NW Irving, Lucy’s Table. The name was an homage to my Nonna, Lucy. the center piece; my grandparents dining room table. Our family enjoyed many amazing meals growing up, around that table. I sold the restaurant in 2005 and embarked on a short career in the wine industry. I found, though I love wine, I’m not a good salesman. I quickly went into the world of grocery. Working with Zupan’s Markets for 10 years. I love the food culture of Portland and I missed the restaurant industry. I never said I was smart…..so here I am, back in it. I love it.
I’m an oddity in the foodie world. I don’t like mayonnaise, anything pickled and chunks of onion or bell peppers……and cilantro. My biggest dislike that will sound oxymoronic when you read my favorite food, are fresh tomatoes. Yep…..I’m weird.
My favorite food: Red SAUCE, Meat Sauce or simple Marinara. Gravy. Call it what you will….but, I could eat it every day.
Favorite thing to do: Travel. Italy, France, Spain, Chile, Argentina, Tanzania, South Africa, Turks and Caicos, St. Thomas, St. John, Hawaii and much more……yep, been there. I will go back. many More places on the “list”.
Dream: 1973 Porsche Carerra RS. I know, keep dreaming.
Pet Peeves: Anyone that knows me, is irritated by the fact I have so many.
Almost forgot. Wine. I love wine. Maybe I said that already……cheers.
