Your Daily Dose of Food News, Events and Must-Read Miscellany

1. Jumping on the specialty toast bandwagon (yep, artisanal toast is a thing) Toast Ballard added additional schmancy bread and waffle offerings to its menu. My Ballard reports that the cafe in the former Aster Coffee Lounge space also features a trio of espressos from local roasters, including Slate, Bluebeard and Velton’s.

2. Deathcake Royale returns in time for Valentine’s Day, and it’s now even more deathy: After spending the past 12 months revamping the recipe, Cupcake Royale released the decadent cakelet for the tenth year. It’s for sale as a baby cake, baby cake 3-pack or in limited quantities in its full-sized glory via pre-order.

3. McCormick and Schmick’s shuttered its 1st Ave. and Spring St. location. The seafood chain still operates dining rooms on 4th Ave. downtown, in South Lake Union and in downtown Bellevue.

4. At last check, a few spots were still available for tomorrow night’s Natural Wine Tasting at Vif in Upper Fremont. The 6:30 to 8:00 pm event includes sips, snacks and a chat on “why natural wine matters.” Cost is $20; call 206-557-7357 to RSVP.