The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

When a chef named

Gabe Knapp opened a small café in the front of the Wein­hard Hotel about 20 years ago, Dayton had already gained a reputation as a fine dining destination. Patit Creek Restaurant was con­sidered one of the best places to eat in eastern Washington (it still is). Knapp aimed to join that club, which he did.

I moved to Dayton in 1996 and got to know Gabe, and fully enjoyed not only his great food (particularly his Panini sandwiches), but his eccentricity (not quite the "Soup Nazi" but almost). Gabe moved on before long, and the Weinhard Café changed hands a few times, and...