Julie Malcolm's Here and There Grill Rolls On

Drawing inspiration from around the globe, Julie Malcolm’s Here and There Grill brings culinary diversity on wheels.

An Edmonds resident for nearly four decades, Malcolm serves up gourmet lunchtime fare at her mobile restaurant. The menu changes weekly. Dishes such as Argentinian empanadas, Mexican steak salad, Mediterranean hummus, and spicy hoisin pork sandwiches are just a few of the international plates that have passed through the Grill’s service window.

Though not formally trained as a chef, Malcolm credits 35 years of experience in the restaurant industry for her culinary know-how. Arguably genetics also play a role in her success: Malcom’s father was among the Campbell’s food scientists who invented SpaghettiOs in the 1960s. Originally from New Jersey, Malcolm and her family relocated to Edmonds in 1973. As a youngster, she worked for her parents’ restaurant, Harbor House.

Though she left Edmonds to attend college at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Malcolm anticipated returning to the area on a permanent basis. Her early years working in the restaurant business had made a lasting impression.

“I had it in the back of my mind,” said Malcolm when asked whether she pictured herself working in the industry.

Though Central Washington did not offer a culinary-specific program, Malcolm studied business administration with the goal of applying her degree to a career in the restaurant field.

After college, Malcolm managed the Edmonds restaurant Arnie’s and the Washington Athletic Club. She earned her serving stripes waitressing while pregnant.

Her first restaurant venture was The Cat’s Eye Café in West Seattle, a small coffee-and-sandwich shop that she purchased from the previous owners. After five years as owner, the early morning commute from Edmonds to West Seattle grew challenging, and Malcolm sold the restaurant.

While on hiatus from sit-down restaurant management, she remained in the food industry by organizing and catering community events and sport contests for her two children, now teenagers. This evolved into a full-fledged concession venture that's much more “restaurant” than “stand." 

In March 2009, Malcolm opened the Here and There Grill, bringing together local ingredients and far-flung favors in a mobile café. A collector of cookbooks, Malcolm draws inspiration from many sources and enjoys dining out at a broad spectrum of restaurants serving everything from gastropub fare to various ethnic cuisines. She prides herself on offering a creative, ever-changing menu.

Malcolm hopes to see the food-truck movement grow in the Puget Sound area. She and other food truck owners have met several times to discuss efforts to work with city government and the health department to facilitate mobile food operation.

Here and There Grill is currently open Wednesdays 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in downtown Edmonds at 4th and Dayton and Thursdays 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in Northgate at 9706 4th Ave. NE. However, as the days lengthen and temperatures rise, Malcolm assures that fans can “absolutely” look forward to longer open hours from this rolling restaurant.