About Us
Driftwood is a new restaurant project by husband and wife team Dan and Jackie Mallahan.
Driftwood, located along the shores of the Puget Sound, takes its inspiration from the region surrounding it. Executive Chef Dan Mallahan aims to showcase Washington’s bountiful connection from mountain to sound, and all the wonderful ingredients that can be celebrated. Focused on regional community partnerships, Dan has brought eating local to new heights, and partners with farmers in the Deschutes, Green and Snohomish River valleys, as well as Vashon and the San Juan islands to grow fresh seasonal ingredients exclusively for Driftwood. Working closely with tribal members of the Quinault, and Makah tribes allows Dan to source some of the best fish in the world, and links Washington’s rich tribal fishing heritage to his kitchen. Driftwood is pleased to present an exceptional oyster and shellfish program, supplied by the intercoastal waters of the Puget Sound, and the farmers who work tirelessly to protect this important resource. In the mountains of the Cascades Dan brings wild foods to the menu. By working alongside local foragers, Dan showcases ingredients which may be unknown to many, but have been celebrated by native peoples for generations.
Driftwood -- Community Driven from Mountain to Sound
Chef Dan Mallahan Bio: Chef Dan was born and raised in Everett, Washington at the headwaters of Wood Creek, a small tributary surrounded by mature forest, meandering into the valley below and flowing into the Snohomish River. Growing up, he spent countless hours with his brothers exploring the forest and stream corridor, picking wild mushrooms and berries, learning about native plants and animals, and discovering a passion for nature and its important relationship to food. In 2008, after studying Business Management at Western Washington University, Daniel moved to San Francisco to pursue cooking professionally. After graduating from the California Culinary Academy, he began working at the new FIVE Restaurant, a local market driven concept in Berkeley, California. In 2011, Daniel began working for James Beard Award winning chef, Nancy Oakes, at the Michelin-starred Boulevard restaurant in San Francisco. Daniel quickly rose through the ranks and earned a spot in management in this highly successful and competitive restaurant. During the summer of 2016, Daniel got the opportunity to work with world renowned chef, Cristina Bowerman, in Rome, Italy. He was able to spend time with the teams from both of Cristina’s restaurants, Michelin-starred Glass Hostaria and her modern Italian space, Romeo Chef and Baker. In 2017, Daniel moved back to Seattle to open RIDER, a seafood focused woodfired restaurant in the heart of downtown. Chef Daniel has prided himself in working with the very best products and people of the PNW. Always with a focus on what's nearby, what's in season and what's growing in the wild.
Jackie Mallahan Bio: Jacqueline grew up on the beach in Melbourne, Florida. She spent her days baking with her grandmother, tinkering on classic cars in her father’s garage and rearranging their home's furniture with her mother. After studying interior design at Florida State University, Jackie jumped into the culinary world attending the prestigious CIA in New York. After graduating culinary school, Jackie moved to Laguna Beach to work under Michael Mina and Adam Keough at the highly regarded Stonehill Tavern. Jackie moved back to Manhattan in 2007 to work at the critically acclaimed Beacon with Chef Waldy Malouf where she took on all aspects of the front of house and cemented her love and appreciation of wine. In 2009, the California coast beckoned her back, and she joined the team at Boulevard. After many successful years at Boulevard, Jackie left to pursue her other passion and opened Delightful Designs Decor specializing in furniture refurbishment, home decor curating and spatial planning. With a keen eye and specializing in mid-century and antiques, Jackie's curated pieces and decor have been featured in homes and in print across the globe, as well as on set for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel TV series.