Cafe Lolo: Heirloom Grains, Rooted in Community
Please join us in welcoming Cafe Lolo to our 2026 Snail of Approval cohort! From their restaurant roots, Cafe Lolo’s start at the farmers market, to their new café and larder in Seattle, Leah Engel, Alex Halmi, and Brett Bankson celebrate Pacific Northwest food culture—guided by seasonality, curiosity, and a deep respect for the land.
Nearly all of Cafe Lolo’s ingredients are sourced from local farmers, and the team mills regional heirloom grains into freshly ground flour, making all of their pasta by hand. They see local grain as a living and multifaceted ingredient: a foundation for culinary exploration and education, and a meaningful bridge between us and the surrounding land.
They incorporate root-to-fruit cooking techniques in their nearly zero-waste kitchen, and demonstrate that delicious, nourishing food can also be accessible and responsible.
Whether it’s building strong relationships with farmers, creating a supportive workplace for their team, or sharing knowledge (and even recipes!) with their guests, they are actively strengthening our local food system.
Please join us in congratulating Brett, Leah, Alex, and the entire team at Cafe Lolo on this well-deserved recognition!
Contact Information:
• Cafe Lolo
• 806 E Roy Street, Seattle, WA 98102
• Leah Engel, Alex Halmi, and Brett Bankson
• Website: eatcafelolo.com
