Terry Jaymes and Providence Cicero look at the Seattle dining scene
 Let's Eat
Let's Eat on KIRO Radio
John Terry Jaymes and Providence Cicero every Saturday at 4pm on KIRO Radio for Let's Eat.
Picture1.jpg
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)

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

BY Jamie Skorheim  on September 14, 2012 @ 11:26 am (Updated: 10:51 am - 10/10/12 )

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.

Jamie Skorheim, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Whether it's floating on Green Lake, eating shrimp tacos at Agua Verde, or taking weekend drives out to the Cascades, she loves to enjoy the Pacific Northwest lifestyle as much as humanly possible.


MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (6)


  • Add A Comment

  • Stephen Andrew wrote...
    Don't give business to Bainbridge Island
    September 15, 2012 2:48 pm
    I got parking ticket $50 !!! I was parked in a 2 hour zone downtown. After 2 hours I moved my car 100 feet but chalk remined on my tire. I came out 30 minutes late and had a $50 ticket. TAKE YOUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    Don't forget to budget ferry fare
    September 15, 2012 6:45 pm
    $34 fare for one car and two adults (RT) !!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • calapete wrote...
    did you read the article?
    September 16, 2012 6:38 am
    walk on the boat. There is no reason to drive if you are going to Winslow.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @calapete
    September 16, 2012 10:25 pm
    Let's go with your idea, how did you get to the ferry terminal? Do you live on the waterfront and not even own a car?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • calapete wrote...
    Did you fight it?
    September 16, 2012 6:39 am
    Parking is an issue, and the penalty reflects that.

    But as the writer suggests, walk over.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • calapete wrote...
    For the budget minded
    September 16, 2012 6:40 am
    Go on Saturday to the farmers market. There are several good food vendors here and it is affordable.

    or try Fork and Spoon, Madison Diner and Docs Grill for a less Romney type dinner check.

    for those with no budget, you can't go wrong with the suggested sites.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }