Posts by Duke Moscrip
Duke Lands On the Tacoma Waterfront
Tacoma bound; Duke’s Chowder House opens not near the water on Ruston way; rather ON the water. Built on pilings on the shores of Puget Sound, our Ruston Way location is a South Sound favorite winning awards and accolades since opening. We had a rocky start, however. “I did an ad in the Tacoma newspaper;…
Read MoreView of Seattle, Roof Top Dining at Alki
Duke’s hits the beach – Alki Beach that is – with another Duke’s Chowder House. Always in search of the perfect locations, Duke was thrilled when he landed at Alki Beach. This two-story restaurant is right across the beach where you can smell the salt air and hear the ocean while you dine. Duke designed…
Read MoreNothing Fancy; No, Not for Duke
Duke tried to go fancy with a white table cloth restaurant just down the lake from his lively and always-busy Duke’s Chowder House and, well, it was not a hit. “We called it Duke’s Yacht Club. Our customers showed us that they loved Duke’s Chowder House but when I tried a new concept that was…
Read MoreLakeside Chowder; Sunny Patio; Perfect!
Green Lake Duke’s Chowder House opened across the lake with a cozy umbrella laden patio looking at the beautiful lake and the hordes of walkers and bikers. It remains a strong neighborhood restaurant throughout the year and tourists’ hang out during the summer season. “Our original nautical design remains in this restaurant,” says Duke Moscrip.…
Read MoreChowder House Concept Launches Legacy
The restaurant concept evolved, and Duke’s Chowder House was born. South Lake Union with its views up the lake and docking for those wanting to boat up for a great meal. Famous for Duke’s creamy, delicious chowder, the restaurant thrived, and this was the start to Duke opening Chowder Houses around Puget Sound. In 2019,…
Read MoreLet’s Play Ball – Duke Get’s Idea to Buy the Mariners
I recall a time in 1987 when fans rallied behind my idea to buy the Mariners. Back then, team owner George Argyros was not a favorite of the fans. Since the team’s rocky beginnings in 1969 as the Seattle Pilots, the team never saw a profit and struggled to win games. We lost . .…
Read MoreDuke Fishes with the Fisher People
Searching for the world’s finest seafood means getting on the boats. Whether he’s traveling to Chesapeake Bay to visit clammers or braving a hard-working boat to catch Copper River Salmon, Duke goes to the source. To get the best fish and seafood, you have to know the source and how the fish was treated from…
Read MoreAlways Irreverent, the Kamikaze was Invented
“On Pearl Harbor Day in the late ‘70s, our manager, Mark Kobayashi, decorated the restaurant in bold Japanese war posters and decided to create a new drink, the Kamikaze cocktail,” says Duke Moscrip. “Now everyone makes a version of this fun cocktail, but I think our version is still the best; and the original.”
Read MoreEastside Duke’s Restaurant Becomes Instant Hit!
Duke opened his store in Bellevue that year with people clamoring for our clam chowder, already becoming famous. It was a long-time favorite of the Eastside crowd until they lost their lease and were forced to close in 1994. “I hated to close that store because we had such a loyal following, but the owners…
Read MoreDuke Introduces Mussels
Mussels are a delicacy on most good seafood restaurants today, but that was not always the case. “Nobody served mussels when I first met Peter Jeffords at Penn Cove Mussels. He brought me some to try one day. I was amazed at how tasty they were, and mussels have been on the menu ever since,”…
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