Passport to Pleasure: Onshore at Orcas (Part 1)

Tickled by the notion of overnights after last week’s Passport to Pleasure at Hotel 1000, it’s time to embark on a series of more distant trips.

Let’s start with Orcas Island, the largest and most rugged of the San Juan Islands. So close, and yet such a far away feeling. Once you get on the ferry, your troubles start to fade. And while island life is certainly a bit slower, it doesn’t mean there isn’t excitement for couples to find—even if just sitting and staring at the stunning views of the water. So we sail away to Orcas for a two-part Passport to Pleasure—a hedonistic quest for good food and good times.

EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSES

If you’ve taken a morning ferry, you’ve probably arrived hungry. Bypass the shops at Orcas Landing (though stop if you want to arrange a whale-watching tour) and take a short drive to Eastsound (the “city” on the island, with 1,200 people), your base of operation for this two-night trip.

It’s here that you’ll find Roses Bakery Cafe. The store sells a wide variety of products, including cheeses, meat, wine, and chocolates (everything you’d want and need for a romantic picnic at Waterfront Park), as well as all of its baked goods.

But I recommend sitting in the dining room, perhaps even at the counter of the open kitchen, so that you can order a fresh pizza right out of the oven.

This is the thin crust variety, and they come with several seasonal combinations of ingredients. Pictured is springtime’s soppresetta, kale, tomato, and provolone pie. The sandwiches are also good (Roses uses local meats and produce), and you just might get tempted by the sweet treats in the dessert case.

LOPEZ ISLAND AT LILY

If you leave Roses with sweet tooth unscathed (or even if you don’t), take a stroll through the shopping area and make your way to Lily, which serves ice cream from Lopez Island Creamery. This is in the same location as Allium, where you’ll be having dinner later in the day.

At Lily, you can order bento boxes to go, as well as a variety of sandwiches and other snacks. On weekend mornings, this is the place for fresh, warm cinnamon rolls. For now, post-lunch, it’s time for ice cream. Sample away. Flavors are on the subtle side, which will let you really focus on the quality of the cream. There’s really no place to eat in the store, so you can take your ice cream for a little lakeside stroll. Or, walk to the island in the inlet—just be sure to know the tide schedule so you don’t get stranded!

MORAN MISSION

Capitalize on nice weather by checking out Moran State Park. This 5,252-acre park was donated by shipbuilder and Seattle mayor Robert Moran, who started giving land in 1921.

If you’re feeling hardy, there are almost 40 miles of hiking trails to explore, including access to Cascade Falls; its 100-foot drop is the largest in the San Juans. Whether by foot, bike, or car, be sure to go to the top of Mount Constitution (elevation 2,409 feet) to climb the four-story observation tower. On a clear day, you’ll get 360-degree panoramic views of the Olympics, Cascades, Mount Baker, Mount Rainier, and Vancouver Island. (It’s also fun in the clouds, as pictured here.) Find a cozy place to sit in the area, and the top of you will feel like you’re on top of the world.

When you come back to Earth, how about a stop at Rosario Resort & Spa? This is the site of the Moran Mansion, built in 1906. There’s a lot of history in this building. Tour and take in the Arts and Crafts furnishings, learn about the shipbuilding business in Seattle, and see images of the city before, during, and after the great fire. Check the calendar to see if Christopher Peacock is playing the mansion’s 1,972-pipe Aeolian organ, accompanied by an interesting and informative photographic slideshow.

DINNER COMES ALIVE AT ALLIUM

Allium is Lisa Nakamura’s new baby. Previously at Qube, bin vivant, and The Herbfarm in the Seattle area, she made quite the move in opening Allium in the old Christina’s location in Eastsound.

And what a location it is! There’s a deck overlooking the inlet, and from that vantage point, you’ll find it hard to take your eyes off the view. Enjoy happy hour outside if you’d like, and stay if the night is warm. Otherwise, take a table in the cozy dining room. Peruse the menu, or ask to partake in a tasting menu (inquire about the price so you’re not surprised), which lets you both share small bites of multiple items.

Lisa’s daily gnocchi (pictured) are currently all the rage, with complementary ingredients that suit the season. These are pillowy and potatoey and delicious. You might also consider the duck breast (also pictured, here with wild rice, shiitake mushrooms, pickled grapes, and orange demi-glace) and the large, caramelized scallops.

An earnest chef churning out quality food with seasonal flair—those are the makings of a nice dinner out.

PONDER YOUR DAY AT OTTERS POND

At the end of a delicious day, you’ll be glad to know your home-away from-home is Otters Pond Bed and Breakfast, where owners Carl and Sue Silvernail will greet you with a warm welcome. This is a contemporary cedar home that’s incredibly clean (there’s a shoes-off policy) and “comfortably elegant.”  (“No frou frou,” the owners point out.)

A beverage will be available in the kitchen, and you’ll certainly want to take up the offer to really warm up in the hot tub. Out on the back deck, the tub has sliding shoji screens to offer privacy. Settle in and it’s just the two off you—along with a squadron of frogs performing a symphony on the pond. Still, it’s relaxing and romantic.

In the morning, you’ll probably hear the call of many birds outside. When you first look out your window, you’ll see why the owners describe the setting as a Monet painting. The property is a protected wetland, and the site of all kinds of birding activities. Ask Carl and Sue if you’d like to know more, perhaps taking a peek through the telescope in the living room or binoculars in your room. Coffee is available from the earliest of hours, and you’ll see your names atop the breakfast menu du jour.

Speaking of which, expect a five-course gourmet breakfast to get you motivated in the morning. Carl and Sue tag team breakfast responsibilities to perfection. Look for unique items like breakfast polenta with jam, pictured.

And note that Sue is an avid ice cream maker, so you might just get a frozen treat that gives Lopez Island Creamery a run for the money. A delicious way to start a second day on Orcas Island, which you’ll discover in the next report.