Those who’ve dined at Coho on holidays know we do it up in style. Reservations are already coming in, and tables are limited – particularly for New Year’s Eve – so don’t delay booking your table. There are also a couple of dates left for private holiday parties or special event catering. Here’s Chef Bill’s line-up for the holiday season: (more…)
Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Upcoming Events for December, 2011
Monday, December 5th, 2011Photographer Shares Coho Images
Monday, December 5th, 2011
Our lovely food photos are compliments of Jonathan Steinberg, the photographer for one of the weddings Coho had the privilege of catering this summer. Jonathan’s training in photojournalism helps him approach each event as a story:
Sea Shepherd Moves to the Neighborhood
Monday, December 5th, 2011The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) has opened a new gallery just kitty-corner from Coho. Established in 1977, the international non-profit marine wildlife conservation organization works to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans.
Sea Shepherd Vessel "Bob Barker"
Salish Sea Salt Debuts
Monday, December 5th, 2011As the Locavore Movement becomes more prominent, people who commit to eating only those foods grown within a limited geographical range usually run into the same dilemma: we are missing a very crucial ingredient – salt.
Of course, being on an island surrounded by sea water, you’d think this wouldn’t be an issue, but until recently, no one on the island was taking the time to produce salt.
Enter Steve Gutmann, (more…)
New Chef At Coho
Saturday, December 3rd, 2011If you take a peek through the kitchen doors, you’ll find a new face behind the range. We are thrilled to introduce our new head chef, Bill Messick.
Joining us from the finest restaurants in Colorado, Bill was anxious to escape the congestion, the smog, and the hustle & bustle of city life. He was looking for a small community with a good feel to it, and lots of outdoor activities; needless to say, San Juan Island fit the bill perfectly. (more…)
The Ladies Man Pre-Theater Dinner Special
Monday, September 26th, 2011 
The San Juan Community Theatre production of The Ladies Man is the hilarious French story of a physician who tells “one, tiny, little, hardly noticeable lie” to cover an innocent but embarrassing indiscretion. From that single untruth tumbles a cascade of increasingly convoluted deceptions, misunderstandings and mistaken identities.
Guest Director Chris Jorie calls The Ladies Man a brilliantly funny play with a classic comedic structure that is coupled with the traditions of farce (including lots of humor and numerous doors.) “I’m thinking we could all use some really good laughter in our lives.”
Just to add a little to the joy, on Thursdays through Saturdays, October 6-15, Coho will offer a pre-theatre dinner special: soup, salad, selection of entree from our special menu, glass of wine and dish of our house made ice cream for $25 plus tax and gratuity. We’ll even include a Ladies Man themed gift.
Curtain is at 7:30, so you’ll want to make your dinner reservation for 5:30 or so, allowing plenty of time to walk up to the theater. Call (360) 378-6330 to reserve your table. (Note: theater tickets are sold separately.)
Farmers Market Moves to Permanent Home
Wednesday, September 14th, 2011
Friday Harbor Farmer's Market Finally Finds Home; Photo Courtesy of Ian Buyington, San Juan Update
Check out the Farmers Market in their new home, The Brickworks, right next door to Coho Restaurant. It currently runs every Saturday, from 10 am to 1 pm, through the last Saturday in October.
You can park at near-by Mi Casita and Wells Fargo Bank, or hoof it to Key Bank and San Juan County Health Department. Plus, there’s always the eight-hour parking at the top of Spring Street. They’ve got a “Veggie Valet” too – you can check your purchases while you shop in town, and pick them up before the end of the market.
We’ve always found the farmers market to be a fun way to purchase the freshest locally grown fruits, vegetables and foods; there’s typically a festive atmosphere, and you never know who you’re going to run into. Chatting with the farmers and learning about their products is an educational plus.
How nice to see the market’s permanent home finally come to fruition! If you need more info, email SJI Farmers Market.
Brickworks Art Market Debuts
Wednesday, August 17th, 2011
One of the Many Artisans Booths at the New Brickworks Art Market. Photo Courtesy of Cynthia Brast
You’ve still got time to enjoy the Brickworks Art Market, right next door to Coho Restaurant. Local artisans and crafters will have their works on display every Thursday night, 5 – 8 pm through September 1st. We enjoyed the varied selection of art, and the jazz sax player. (more…)
Chef Alphonsine Cooks at Ag Guild Fund Raiser
Wednesday, July 20th, 2011Chef Alphonsine spent last weekend working like a fiend to create a bountiful dinner for an event to benefit renovation of the Brickworks Town Center and Farmers Market on Sunday.
The wonderful island-grown ingredients were donated by market vendors: Blue Moon Farms, Rob Waldron, Sweet Earth Farms, Westcott Bay Seafood, Bakery San Juan, Quail Croft Goat Cheese, and many more. San Juan Vineyards owner Yvonne Swanberg and winemaker Chris Primus were there with their donated wines, pairing one with each course.
Held at a private home off Roche Harbor Road, the nine-course dinner menu brought raves from all attendees, and at $100 a plate, brought in a healthy sum for the cause. Helping Chef Alphonse was her long-time friend, Willow Scrivner of Seattle, who made the trip to the island just to help with this dinner.
The Brickworks is a project spearheaded by the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild with the goal to create a bustling gathering place in downtown Friday Harbor. They have purchased an historic industrial building on Nichols Street, just next door to Coho Restaurant. Their vision is to restore this former cement block factory into a permanent farmers market with vendor stalls, a market plaza with green space, and a community center with both indoor and outdoor rental space for hosting culinary, artistic, and musical events year-round. “This is thinking outside of the box in ways that will serve the Town well now, and far into the future,” Mayor Carrie Lacher commented.
We are all looking forward to seeing the progress and improvements that will enhance Nichols Street, and are excited about the possibilities it will afford. Congratulations to the Ag Guild for pulling off a successful event; hearty thanks to Chef Alphonsine, Willow Scrivner and the many volunteers for their generous contribution of time and labor.
San Juan Island Distillery Features Two Gins
Tuesday, July 12th, 2011
Spyhop Gin
San Juan Island Distillery now makes two great gins. They were running out of their cider to distill, so had to develop one based on neutral grain spirits. It’s the same botanicals, and equally (if not more) delicious.
We still have their original Spy Hop Gin at the restaurant. Even though distillery owner Suzy Pingree has developed a growing list of great cocktail recipes for it, our favorite way to drink it is still simply neat, or with a dash of vermouth. Suzy’s classic martini mix is 1½ parts Spy Hop Gin, 1½ parts French vermouth, a dash of orange bitters, and a lemon twist. A Pacific Northwest martini on a summer evening in Friday Harbor – life is good, isn’t it?
By the way, our new wine menu will be out later this month, with separate pages for cocktails, both spirits- and wine- based. It’s summer, you’re on vacation, go ahead, indulge a little before dinner!