Peter Dow

Seattle native Peter Dow had no Italian roots to speak of but he cultivated a passion for the country and its cuisine following a ski trip there in 1972. Upon his return, he spent several years in the restaurant trade before opening his own restaurant, Café Juanita, in 1977. Peter’s concept was simple and reflected his experience of Italian dining – simple recipes made with local ingredients accompanied by well-priced regional wines. To further that notion, Dow wanted to create a “house wine”- to be made and sold on the premises like those he often enjoyed in small Italian trattorias.