Food, Wine, Travel and Dining Out: January 2012

It has been a year since we spent a few days on Orcas Island. We wanted to share again our experience of Orcas Island in the off season…

Cascade Bay Orcas Island, Washington

Orcas Island

Ferry Terminal Anacortes, Washington

Ferry from Anacortes to Orcas Island with a stop at Shaw Island, then on to Rosario’s.

Moran Mansion at Rosario

Rosario Resort and Spa***+ 1400 Rosario Road
Eastsound, WA 98245
(360) 376-2222
http://www.rosarioresort.com

Music Room at Moran Mansion

Moran Mansion

Moran Mansion at Rosario is like stepping back in time. Built between 1906-1909 by Seattle Shipbuilder and Mayor Robert Moran, the mansion features original photographs from the late 1800's and early 1900's, original furnishings and fixtures, and an extensive display of the ships built by the Moran Brothers Company in Seattle.

Moran Mansion

Rosario Resort's guest rooms are surrounded by beauty of the San Juan Islands with views of East Sound and Cascade Bay on Orcas Island. We stayed in the Bayside Rooms located in the Skagit Building, a short walk from the Moran Mansion and Rosario Marina. Our room featured one king bed with sliding-glass doors that open onto a balcony with island views. The room has a television, small refrigerator, wireless internet (free) coffeemakers and private bathrooms, but no microwave. We enjoyed the room very much. The room was serviced daily even though we did not leave at the crack of dawn.

View from our room

Visitor

After checking in and getting settled it was off to Eastsound, Washington for lunch.
Eastsound is the population center for Orcas Island, the second-most populated and physically largest of the San Juan Islands. Eastsound consists of a few hotels and several restaurants, numerous gift stores, a large downtown grocery store, natural food store, hardware store, pharmacy, airport, and several churches. There is a public park that hosts events including the farmers market.

Lower Tavern Eastsound Orcas Island

We choose to have lunch at Lower Tavern, were they say they has “The Best Hamburger on the Island” you know what? It may be! It was the best we have had in a long time. Those fries were dynamite…

Lower Tavern**+
46 Prune Alley
Eastsound, WA 98245
360.376.4848

Cheeseburger and Fries at Lower Tavern Eastsound

The Madrona Bar & Grill***+ 310 Main Street, Ste. 105
PO Box 127
Eastsound, WA 98245
360.376.7171

The Madrona Bar and Gril

Madrona Bar and Grill Eastsound, Washington

View from Madrona Bar and Grill

The Bar at Madrona Bar and Grill

The Restaurant at Madrona Bar and Grill

Dinner was at The Madrona Bar and Grill where we started of with Bruschetta**+, Flat Iron steak****, with Blue Cheese, Potatoes Confit and Sliced Tomatoes and Coho Grilled Salmon****, with Roasted Yams, Broccolini.

Bruschetta - The Madrona Bar and Grill

Iron steak, with Blue Cheese, Potatoes Confit and Sliced Tomatoes - The Madrona Bar and Grill

Salmon, with Roasted Yams, Broccolini - The Madrona Bar and Grill

The Madrona Bar and Grill

Then off to fine some place for an after dinner drink. We found a place next door called Vern’s Bayside Restaurant, we choose the Lounge…

Vern's Bayside Lounge **+
246 Main Street
Eastsound, WA 98245
360.376.2231

Bayside Restaurant Eastsound Orcas Island

Vern’s Bayside Restaurant Eastsound Orcas Island

Day Two – Orcas Island

Mia’s Eastsound, Washington

Mia's***+
Eastsound Square
109 North Beach Road #A2
Eastsound, WA 98245
360.376.6427

Hot Cabana Sandwich - Mia’s Eastsound, Washington

Lunch time, we found a place called Mia’s. It’s a small breakfast and lunch only cafe. What a great place! The serves was right on and the sandwiches, very delicious. We both had the Hot Cabana Sandwich***+ on a baguette, with Ham, Salami, Jarlsberg, Kocher dill, mustard and coleslaw. Great use of coarse ground mustard, on the sandwich and in the coleslaw.

After lunch we visited Kathryn Taylor Chocolates to fine some Artisan chocolate to with our wine. Kathryn Taylor Chocolates is an intimate space with quiet corners enjoy an elegant desserts os baked goods, coffee, espresso, chocolates or teas.

Kathryn Taylor Chocolates - Eastsound Washington

Kathryn Taylor Chocolates***
109 N Beach Rd, Suite D101
Eastsound Village Square
Eastsound, WA 98245
360.376.1030
http://www.ktchocolates.com/

Chimayo Restaurant, Eastsound Washington

Chimayo Restaurant****
Our House Mall
North Beach Road
Eastsound, WA 98245
360.376.6394

Chimayo Restaurant, Eastsound Washington

Diner time found us at Chimayo. Chimayo’s is an interesting place, Mexican restaurant by day and Italian restaurant by night. We started our meal with a wonderful appetizer of mussels. Cozze Siciliano***+ the mussels were prepared in a tomato base broth with onions, celery with a touch of red pepper flacks. Carrot Ginger Soup*** was next. For the main course we had Lamb Ragu**** Risotto with roasted fresh vegetables and Flank Steak**** Marsala demi glace with risotto and roasted fresh vegetables

Cozze Siciliano - Chimayo Restaurant

Carrot Ginger Soup - Chimayo Restaurant

Lamb Ragu - Chimayo Restaurant

Flank Steak - Chimayo Restaurant

Day Three – Orcas Island

Vern's Bayside Restaurant and Lounge

Restaurant and Lounge**+
246 Main Street
Eastsound, WA 98245
360.376.2231

View From Vern's Bayside Restaurant and Lounge

Vern's Bayside Restaurant

Bacon and Eggs - Bayside Restaurant

Fried Clam Strips - Bayside Restaurant

Lunch time on Orcas Island. Today we went to Vern’s Bayside Restaurant, nice decor and what a view. I love breakfast for lunch and since they were still serving breakfast I had their Bacon and Eggs*** with hash browns, they eggs were fresh and cooked perfectly. We also tried their Fried Clam Strips**, they had great portions.

Bilbo's Festivo - Eastsound Washington

Bilbo's Festivo****
310 A Street

Eastsound, WA 98245

Phone: 360-376-4728

Bilbo's Festivo - Eastsound Washington

For dinner we tried Bildo’s Festivo. What great decor both outside and in. Bildo’s reminded me of great TexMex restaurant’s in Austin, Texas. They food was the best I have had in the state in some time. We had Chili Relleno****+ stuff with jack cheese, zucchini, chopped Spanish onion, and toasted pine nuts, with Spanish rice and refried beans, the chili was coated in a wonderful tasting coating and Crab Enchiladas*** with seafood sauce, rice and beans. Great place, great food, service was a bit to efficient for a evening meal.

Bilbo's Festivo - Chili Relleno

Bilbo's Festivo - Crab Enchiladas

Day Four – Orcas Island

Orcas Island to Anacortes Ferry

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Luca’s Ristorante & Pizzeria Lake Stevens listening to singer, songwriter and pianist Nikki Schilling

We spent a relaxing evening (after our week long snow) at Luca’s Ristorante & Pizzeria Lake Stevens listening to singer, songwriter and pianist Nikki Schilling.

Nikki has a vast repertoire of songs that features soulful jazz classics, new age, classical and pop music. Her arrangements across all genre’s are unique and her voice is reminiscent of jazz greats Ella Fitzgerald and Anita O’Day and contemporary singer Norah Jones.