{"id":28288,"date":"2018-05-30T06:00:27","date_gmt":"2018-05-30T13:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/?p=28288"},"modified":"2018-05-31T05:51:12","modified_gmt":"2018-05-31T12:51:12","slug":"much-to-savor-in-the-san-juan-islands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/much-to-savor-in-the-san-juan-islands\/","title":{"rendered":"Much to Savor in the San Juan Islands"},"content":{"rendered":"
When a vacation is more than a tick mark on your bucket list or the excitement of exploring a new destination, but a sensory awakening that lingers with you long after your return to life as usual \u2014 that’s what I experienced in Washington’s San Juan Islands<\/strong>. This “gourmet archipelago” delights the senses, captivates your heart, and enlightens visitors to the rewards of stewardship of the environment and preservation of the natural world we are fortunate to inhabit.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The San Juan Islands<\/strong> include Lopez Island, Orcas Island and San Juan Island and comprise the San Juan Islands National Monument<\/a> situated in the middle of an inland sea:\u00a0 the Salish Sea, named for the Strait Coast Salish peoples and the Central Coast Salish languages. Transportation to the islands is via ferry from Anacortes or seaplane. Shuttles to Anacortes are available outside the SEA-TAC terminal for the four-hour trip (reservations required<\/a>).\u00a0 Depending on how long it takes you to travel to Seattle, you may want to spend a few days exploring this exciting seaside city, or rest up at an airport hotel before making your way to Anacortes. To Friday Harbor on San Juan Island the ferry ride takes about 1-1\/2 hours and, at least for visitors, is entertainment in itself: feel the fresh sea breeze, revel in the serenity of the Salish Sea, marvel at the ocean view framed by the Olympic Mountains, check out maritime objects, and take silly selfies.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Disembark and let the peaceful, island life wash your worries away. Squealing like school girls when we caught sight of our cozy harborside home for two nights, we were delighted with the comfortable, modern rooms at the new Cannery Inn<\/a>, replete with a panoramic view of Friday Harbor and a soothing color palette evoking sea and sun.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The main event for our small group of 3 hungry writers and one benevolent host was dinner at Duck Soup<\/strong>, a restaurant that has been on my radar since reading about it in Sunset magazine years ago. With two hours to spare, Jacqui and I\u00a0 dashed down to the marina where we meandered the streets of this idyllic burgh dotted with maritime-themed seafood restaurants, art galleries, local bars, and cute cafes, all the while seeking a craft brewery. Eureka! Google maps led us wrong, but a local with his son pointed us in the right direction to San Juan Island Brewery\u00a0<\/strong>\u2014 which, FYI, is just a walk up the hill from the ferry landing where a vintage-finished beer silo welcomes you. We bellied up to the bar to quaff from their locally crafted, traditional ales and lagers. I did the Brewers Choice sampler ($13 for 5 – 5 oz. tastes) which included Vienna, Helles, Golden, ESB, and IPA) and my Kiwi friend opted for a custom selection ($15) with a Hefe and a Porter. The seasonal beer list<\/a> includes humorous anecdotes and tasting notes\u00a0to guide you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A scenic 5-mile drive on Roche Harbor Road brought us to Duck Soup<\/strong>, nestled in the woods alongside a pristine Waldenesque pond, half-way between Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor. The rustic cedar-shingled exterior draped in flowering vines opens to a warm, woodsy front room with windows framing views out to the pond. Inside, island-inspired paintings and a flagstone fireplace are the backdrop for creative meals served at comfortable, pillow-lined booths. Since its opening in 1975, Duck Soup has been touted as one of the best restaurants on the island and a romantic spot for dinner. Their legit farm-to-table cuisine has garnered accolades long before farm-to-table became a clich\u00e9. Everything is made from scratch daily \u2014 a reflection of the island’s commitment to the environment, local growers and shellfish farms, and foraged edibles.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For the record, our evening at Duck Soup was truly memorable and set the tone for my stay in the San Juans. Everything from the real handcrafted cocktails (created by Kari Koski) featuring spirits from local island distilleries infused and garnished with foraged edibles and the sublime regionally-inspired dishes made even more interesting with global flavors, to the kitchen maestros who took the time to describe in detail all that graced our table. Dinner at Duck Soup was indeed the epitome of fresh, seasonal, regional Northwest cuisine and a tough act to follow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n