X

Where to Go This Weekend: Vashon Island, WA

The spirit of the back-to-the-land movement—particularly strong on this Washington island once upon a time—is echoed today in a cornu...

sunsunset31

Look for locally grown flowers and more at Herban Bloom.
(Photo by Travis Miller.)

The spirit of the back-to-the-land movement—particularly strong on this Washington island once upon a time—is echoed today in a cornucopia of new island-grown products.

Whether it’s an extension of the DIY culture that’s thriving up and down the West Coast or a reflection of the organic ethos that’s taken root here, this renaissance is providing islanders with more inventive, locally made things to eat than ever before. And now the wider public can get a taste for themselves, via pop-up dinners, boutiques—even at the grocery store.

Here, local writer Kathryn True leads us to the best of Vashon Island’s bounty.

The Sugar Shack.
(Photo by Michael Hanson.)

1. Sweet treatsHedy Anderson, founder of the island’s popular King Caramel line of candies, recently opened The Sugar Shack in the heart of Vashon town (17636 100th Ave. S.W.; (206) 463-3782). The Shack, a community kitchen and gathering space centered on food, showcases local culinary talents during tasting events held on First Friday (Vashon’s traditional monthly gallery-cruising night) and at an open-house market that takes place one Saturday a month. Besides offering a chance to load up on boxes of caramels, which come in pecan, licorice, ginger, and salted variations (that last flavor is the top seller), The Shack satisfies both sweet tooth and conscience with vegan organic chocolate truffles from the Mighty Truffle Confectionary, and Evy’s Heavenly Cocoa Nib Cookies. Plus, Wild Roots Chef Services packs prepared meals to go, including Senegalese sweet-potato peanut soup and focaccia with caramelized onions.

A confection from The Sugar Shack.
(Photo by Michael Hanson.)

2. Baking classesOn Saturdays, Shauna James Ahern (aka Gluten-Free Girl) and her husband and cooking partner, Daniel, swing wide the doors to their recipe-developing and writing nest, the Gluten-Free Girl Kitchen Studio. The blogger and 2014 James Beard award–winning cookbook author recently began offering baking classes and hosting a monthly Cookbook Club pop-up with guest chefs and authors. (In April, Seattle restaurateur Renee Erickson may prepare dishes from her new book, A Boat, a Whale & a Walrus.) The Aherns also just unloaded their first truckload of flour: Gluten-Free Girl Flour Blend is available for purchase at the studio during events and through her website. This all-purpose mix of millet, sweet rice flour, and potato starch—designed for pies, biscuits, and pancakes—dares gluten die-hards to taste the difference.

3. Fresh bloomsLooking positively Parisian, Herban Bloom‘s aromatic bouquets spill invitingly onto the sidewalk near the town’s main intersection (17600 Vashon Hwy. S.W.; (206) 607-8885). Last year, Seattle event planner BJ Duft opened this shop, where you can pick up one-of-a-kind arrangements starting at $15—many using locally sourced elements (look for coral pink quince right about now). During First Friday, the staff often lures in shoppers with inspired hors d’oeuvres straight from the trays of Duft’s catering company, Herban Feast, for which he grows edible flowers and herbs on a nearby “farmette.” The store offers classes in floral design, terrarium composition, lei making, and herb and bulb growing.

4. The best sandwiches for milesWalk by Vashon Thriftway (9740 S.W. Bank Rd.), and you may spot author and cheesemaker Kurt Timmer-meister heading out of the supermarket with a loaf of Bill’s Bread ($6.29) in hand—it’s his go-to multigrain, baked in a wood-fired oven in his neighbor Bill Freese’s backyard. Timmermeister likes to serve slices of the bread alongside vinegary-sweet, wok-fried Dungeness crab and a French rosé.