The Willows Inn Lummi Island There’s barely a trophy case big enough to hold all the awards Chef Blaine Wetzel and his crew have garnered for this out-of-the-way gem, but one drag of the house-made hearth rye bread through the mix of butter and chicken fat drippings,...

Blaine Wetzel, chef of The Willows Inn on Lummi Island, is cooking with the best of the Pacific Northwest. “There's a connection here I've never felt anywhere else,” Wetzel says. “When you're working at top restaurants you get quality ingredients delivered to you, but...

Blaine Wetzel, a native of Olympia, Washington, has come a long way. After spending a year and a half in the Noma kitchen, he decided it was time to go back home to Washington and open a restaurant of his own. He checked out a bunch of locations and decided that an...

What's the best restaurant in America? Is it The French Laundry in Yountville, California? Or Le Bernardin in New York? Maybe Joel Robuchon at the Mansion in Las Vegas? Not according to the elite corps of gourmets who vote on Opinionated About Dining's annual list of...

From the best burger to the most irresistible ice cream, we've rounded up the essential bites and sips that makes summer in Seattle complete. Lucky for you, most of these things can be savored on popular patios, porches, piers and decks around town. We'll see you...

Hats off to Blaine Wetzel, chef and part owner of the famed Willows Inn on Lummi Island, who took home the James Beard Foundation (JBF) award for Best Chef Northwest. The announcement was made Monday night as Chicago rolled out the red carpet for some of the biggest...

What makes a restaurant the hottest destination in town? Glowing Yelp reviews, Instagram-worthy presentation and high praise from critics and food bloggers go a long way. But among chefs and restaurateurs, nothing says you've made it like a James Beard Award. Since...

Blaine Wetzel’s brand-new James Beard Award for Best Chef: Northwest is more than well-deserved. The 29-year-old chef of the excellent Willows Inn on Lummi Island, Wetzel tied for the nationwide category Rising Star Chef just last year, so this second award would seem...

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--S.Pellegrino presents, THE GRAND GELINAZ! SHUFFLE, a 2015 exclusive Gelinaz! production, which will bring together 37 of the world’s foremost culinary leaders for an unprecedented dining experience; a one-night, worldwide restaurant...

I’d known for years that the Willows Inn, on a small island about two hours north of Seattle, is a destination for folks who love eating well, and then I learned that it allows pet dogs to join guests in two of its rooms. Sign me up, I thought — this’ll be an epic dog...

Every city has them — the always-packed restaurants that are nearly impossible to get into. Whether it's their tiny size, advanced booking policy or no-reservations approach, snagging a seat just isn't easy. Check out the 14 toughest restaurants to get into across the...

The lines usually snake out the door, a sure signal you're in for a wait before getting fed. But don't get hangry. Relax, we're here to help with suggestions on how to get a spot at these perennially packed restaurants. Willows Inn Why it’s hot: Another 2015 James...

There are restaurants at which you want to eat, there are restaurants situated in places you want to visit, and then there are restaurants at which you want to eat in places you never want to leave. The Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena (see #18) and Blackberry...