MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Let’s Eat: Bainbridge Island food worth a ferry ride

Sep 14, 2012, 11:26 AM | Updated: Oct 10, 2012, 10:51 am

The Four Swallows menu shows you what local purveyors supply which ingredients on their menu. Providence Cicero says these Bainbridge Island restaurants do a great job using Northwest ingredients. (Image: The Four Swallows)

(Image: The Four Swallows)

Bainbridge Island is only 30 minutes from Seattle by ferry, and Seattle Times restaurant critic and Let’s Eat Host Providence Cicero says there are a number of island eateries that make the trip worth your time.

Providence recommends walking on the boat at the Seattle ferry terminal. Arriving across the water in Winslow, she says there’s a number of nice shops and eating spots within walking distance.

Here are a few of her favorites:

Restaurant Marche

Providence says this restaurant named for Cuisine du Marche, a style of cooking based on fresh daily local market ingredients, is the first restaurant for owner and chef Greg Atkinson, formerly of Canlis.

Greg and his wife Betsy run the operation, and when you visit, Providence says it feels like you’re stepping into their home.

“Betsy is the hostess,” says Providence. “She’s usually at the door in the evenings and she’s very gracious.”

Providence says the food is a mix of classic French styles with Northwest ingredients.

“His technique is just so perfect,” says Providence. “He’s such a skilled chef.”

Hitchcock

Hitchcock also focuses on locally grown ingredients, and offers a unique way for you to determine just how much you taste.

“The tasting menu at Hitchcock,” says Providence. “It’s a ‘set your price’ tasting menu. He decides what you’re going to eat and you tell him the amount you want to spend.”

Chef Brendan McGill will prepare tasting menus for $30, $50, or more, Providence says.

“If you want to pull out all the stops and say $125, impress me, he will create a series of dishes for that price,” says Providence. “When I ate that way there, it was a different experience.”

The Four Swallows

The Four Swallows is a Mediteranean restaurant in a beautiful landmark building, Providence says.

“It’s like an old farmhouse that has been beautifully restored,” she says. “It’s rustic and elegant and the food is excellent.”

The menu lists the local purveyors from which they source their ingredients.

“All of these places take full advantage of the enormous amount of farmers and growers and foragers that Bainbridge that has to offer,” says Providence.

Mora Iced Creamery
(Recommended by co-host Terry Jaymes)

The local ice cream shop, named on Food and Wine’s list of Best Ice Cream in the U.S., is definitely worth the trip, says Terry.

Providence seconds, saying it’s a great treat to grab for the ferry ride back.

Let’s Eat can be heard on 97.3 KIRO FM on Saturdays at 4 p.m., Sundays at noon and anytime ON DEMAND at MyNorthwest.com.

MyNorthwest News

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

10 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

11 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

12 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

13 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

14 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

17 hours ago

Let’s Eat: Bainbridge Island food worth a ferry ride