On a recent trip to Anacortes on Fidalgo Island in Washington state, we had the great pleasure of having dinner at Cameron's Living Room Dining.
It truly is like dining in someone's well-loved living room - the kind where love, laughter and life abound! It is definitely not one of those "shrouded in plastic" living rooms, nor dining rooms, for that matter.
It is the type of place that exudes warmth; from the moment you're greeted at the door, until you cross the threshold to go out into the cool Pacific Ocean-kissed air.
The decor is a mix of old and new and includes many fine objets d'art to keep the conversation flowing, should you find yourself suspended in a conversational dead-zone, which, I think is unlikely to occur, mainly because Cameron and his business partner Chef David Burdette have created a fine dining experience that pulses with good energy.
How do I know this? Simple. It's in the way I feel. Also, by watching and listening to the other patrons. You can tell that they feel it, too.
Lively conversation and banter seem to be an invisible menu items here, not only at each individual table, but also between tables.
If you're in for a quieter meal, that can also be accommodated in one of the more private nooks that are available.
It was a treat to be jointly-waited on by Cameron, the proprietor who loves what he does - it shows - and the lovely and attentive, Erica. Anyone who doesn't need to be asked to refill my water glass receives high-points from me!
Ah, the food! This is food, that is locally-sourced and prepared with respect and love, which you can taste. If you have any doubt about this, notice that when you are in a negative mood, the food you prepare often reflects that.
I enjoyed halibut, which was that evening's Chef's Special - so fresh, I'm sure that it swam into the kitchen!
Cameron insisted that we try the White Chocolate Banana Rum Tart, which my husband and I shared. This recipe was featured in Bon Appetit magazine, so I'll leave it to you to draw your own conclusions!
The portions are hefty and will leave you well-satiated. I recommend an after-dinner stroll to aid digestion and to enjoy the murals in Anacortes.
If you do go, please be sure to tell them that Auntie Stress sent you. Why not go on a spontaneous road-trip? It'll do you good to seize the moment and do something out-of-the-ordinary - forge new neural pathways! It's only a short drive from the Peace Arch border crossing.
Watch for the launch of Cameron's To Go: Creperie and Catering, located at 704 Commercial Ave., Anacortes, Fidalgo Island, Washington.
Boohoo! Not likely that I will get there in the foreseeable future. I have been to some very similar places like that in Scotland. I can relate to your experience.
Ramana>,
Well, if you ever take make that voyage across the briny sea, we’ll do a road trip!
Have you blogged about any of those Scottish locales?