When Tutta Bella built out their new neighborhood restaurant at 2200 Westlake, owner Joe Fugare wanted a chef’s table that both complemented the space and their own local story. The 30 foot, live-edge, elm chef’s table is central in the restaurant, overlooking the traditional Neopolitan wood fired oven named for Joe’s grandmother who emigrated from Italy to Seattle in 1911. Joe describes the chef’s table as far more than a counter, but rather a true community table. It is a place where patrons interact with each other and with the “pizzaioli” (certified Napoli Pizza chef) who crafts Napoli Pizza with ingredients and care that reflect the Tutta Bella story of community, quality, mastery and authenticity. The partnership with Meyer Wells was recommended by their general contractor Schuchart Construction, who worked with Meyer Wells on the Hedges Family Estate, just around the corner from Tutta Bella.

Our story of local material sourcing, quality craft and community integration meshed with the Tutta Bella story from the first meeting. Joe describes bringing in their vision for the piece and loving the dogs in the office, down to earth attitude and creative enthusiasm. John began talking ideas that brought out possibilities such as the partial live-edge that gave the bar both structure and a sense of having come from a tree; seam and grain matching to take that vision farther; and before they knew it, they had this extraordinary “pocket of wow” for the restaurant. Joe appreciates that we were there to do whatever it took to bring out the full potential of the piece, for them and their customers. The wood for the bar came from a tree that was originally specified by the Olmstead Brothers for Ross Park Playground in Ballard, a tree under which many a young (and old) Ballardite have played and rested. The windstorm of 2006 split the tree in half, nearly crushing the brand new shelter house designed by Heliotrope Architects. Even for their servers, Joe hires storytellers, so for the tree itself to have this tremendous story coming from a local park after a windstorm was fitting. To capture the story we inlayed a stainless steel plaque in the bar top to further connect patrons with the tables, the community, and heart of Tutta Bella. Joe describes it as showing the circle of life that incorporates their green mission. We created two other tables in the restaurant, a Brower style bar table and our signature Steel Butterfly table in the wine loft. These tables extend the story and confirm that Tutta Bella is more than just a pizza joint, but a rich and unique local eating experience.