Authorities reject Culinary Communion's Gabriel Claycamp, again

February 6, 10:12 AMSeattle Food ExaminerTraca Savadogo

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3/19/09 Update: Culinary Communion is Closed.

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Culinary Communion owner Gabriel Claycamp is a man accustomed to flying by the seat of his pants.  And he loves his spotlight in the media. 

While he is charming and engaging, what lies behind the sweet smile is cunning and deception. 

For years rumors have been swirling about unpaid bills, questionable health code practices...and then there was his illegal underground restaurant, Gypsy. "Shh....don't tell anyone," unless you can get me a spot on national television or magazine coverage.  The authorities finally caught up with him and shut Gypsy down.

Then, ironically, it was Claycamp who cried foul.  "There's a traitor among us."

Yeah, right.

The latest saga in Claycamp's woes deal with a little operation called the Swinery.  But the health department's not buying it. Here's one space where being above the law isn't going to cut it.

And I'm rooting for the health department here. 

Having worked with Claycamp in the past, I can attest to some seriously questionable health code violations. I'll never forget running downstairs to grab supplies from the second refrigerator. 

What I discovered was more like a murder scene.  

Blood (for boudin sausage) splashed & spilled down the front of the refrigerator, splattering on the floor. Away from student eyes, by the time I saw it, the blood was a caked & flaking mess. 

Crying foul fell on deaf ears...and I severed my relationship with Claycamp as fast as possible.

The Seattle PI's piece on Claycamp has stirred the pot, and the comments are downright hysterical.  One day, this rogue will get his due. And it looks like it's coming sooner than later.  Read on.