Brian C.
Yelp
It's hard, when you're prone to nit-picking and snarky comments, as am I, to give glowing reviews. Don't look at me in that tone of face: I know I'm a jerk. A persnickety old former sous chef who has always been better at eating than cooking, but knows just enough about too many things to annoy everyone with his opinions. I know.
That said:
I'm hesitant to weigh in on Orchard Kitchen. First, I don't want everyone to go there and ruin it. Second, I've never experienced their store and product before the pandemic hit, so I haven't seen all they can do.
So I'm telling you this, dear reader, because they are important enough in concept to support, and what they offer is of such quality, however limited by current events, to be of note to anyone that values great food; honest, genuine, authentic, organic, local, quality food.
They are so good at what they do, we have changed our weekly shopping habits. We buy from them first. Their bread, warm and fresh, has rearranged our lives. The cultured butter is now a staple. We plot and scheme to acquire these things, every week. And you can find some of the best produce on the island at their farm stand, though I must warn you, it disappears quickly.
Their homemade pork rillettes are exemplary. The spicy cheese spread is zingy and pleasing. The local wines, ciders and imported olive oil, chocolate, and other goodies are truly special and offered at reasonable prices.
I cannot wait until they open their restaurant again. But until that day, their produce will find a place on my family's table, and I hope that when I break bread with friends on Whidbey Island, it will always be with the crusty, fragrant, toothsome sourdough fresh from their ovens. These folks do it right. Clean, honest food from friendly, hard-working people. This is The Stuff, peeps. Just-don't everyone go there at once, ok? Oder ahead online:
https://www.exploretock.com/orchardkitchen
Highest recommendation.