Orcas Island
A new gourmet restaurants helmed by famous foodies
By Grace Geiger December 31, 1969
This article originally appeared in the September 2010 issue of Seattle magazine.
WHY: To dine at two new gourmet restaurants helmed by famous foodies. Lisa Nakamura, former chef at The Herbfarm, is taking a seasonal approach at Allium (shown above, 310 Main St.; 360.376.4904; alliumonorcas.com) in the Eastsound space formerly known as Christina’s (the magnificent waterfront view remains). Chef Madden Surbaugh, late of the acclaimed Steps Wine Bar in Friday Harbor, is heading up The Quilted Pig (1400 Rosario Road; 360.376.2152; quiltedpigrestaurant.com), the new restaurant at Rosario Resort, featuring local and organic seafood and meat dishes.
Side Trip: Don’t miss the Orcas Island Farmers’ Market in Eastsound, open every Saturday through the end of September, for local produce and products to ferry back home (10 a.m.–3 p.m. Eastsound Village Green; orcasislandfarmersmarket.org). Extra Credit: Wannabe writers should time their trip to coincide with the third annual Orcas Island Writing Festival (September 17–19. Workshop prices vary. 360.317.4383; orcasislandwritersfestival.com).
Getting There: The ferry ride from Anacortes is half the fun. Visit wsdot.wa.gov/ferries for times and schedules.
Follow Us
A Lighthouse Stay on Bellingham Bay
Hotel Bellwether’s refreshed waterfront stay, dapper lobby dog, and scenic route north turn the short drive from Seattle into a real getaway.
The first sign that Bellingham was going to feel farther away than it is came in Edison, over a rich, flaky pastry. Earlier this spring, I was invited to stay at Hotel Bellwether, and my friend and I headed north from Seattle, a roughly 90-mile drive that usually takes about an hour and a half…
Five Lesser-Known Washington State Parks for Spring and Summer
From Hood Canal beaches to Blue Mountain wildflowers, these quieter parks give warmer weekends some breathing room.
As the outdoor season gets going, many of us, myself included, tend to gravitate toward Washington’s national parks and a handful of the state’s most popular trails. There’s no arguing that they’re pretty spectacular. However, we also know that summer crowds are an issue and detract from the very reason we went in the first…
The Warmest Welcome: Why You Should Visit the Tri-Cities This Year
Just a few hours away from Seattle, this robust community offers great wine, a budding food scene, and more than 300 days of sun.
There is a point, when I’m traveling along Interstate 82 (I-82), somewhere around Exit 26, when I usually notice a shift in the light—especially in the wintertime. Coming out from the pass and heading south to leave the flat, cloud-shrouded gray of Western Washington behind, I feel a burst of happiness at the blue skies…
Paint Check: Select Alaska Airlines Planes Get a Fresh Look
The local aviation company debuts a bold Aurora Borealis-inspired livery as it expands internationally.
At the beginning of the year, Alaska Airlines unveiled its new global livery: a bold design inspired by the Aurora Borealis. Painted in a palette of deep blues and shimmering emerald greens, the sleek look is a nod to Alaska Airlines’ continued addition of international destinations, which will expand to London, Rome, and Reykjavik by…