Orcas Culinary Retreat is located on five acres in Olga Washington on a gentle southwest facing slope that overlooks Buck Bay and the Lopez Island ferry landing. We are a family owned operation growing and changing every year. At Orcas Culinary Retreat there are two established gardens where fresh produce is harvested as Mother Nature allows. The primary plantings are strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, supplemented by a host of garden greens and seasonal vegetables. We are devoted to renewing the agriculture that was once quite dominant in the San Juan’s. Strawberries were commercially grown on Orcas Island in the early 1900′s. Our soil is ideal for berry growth and who doesn’t enjoy a sweet juicy berry plucked fresh from the vine?
While the harvest in the garden is weather dependent, the kitchen is in full-swing all year. At Orcas Culinary Retreat it is our desire that each individual has a relaxed, satisfying experience. We invite you to attend a regularly scheduled workshop, book a private group session or call on us for individual assistance in the kitchen. We are here to accommodate your pursuit of the perfect culinary vision.
About Juliana Capdeville:
My family moved to Orcas Island, Washington in 1970. The family business was a small bakery and cafe (Doty’s A-1 Cafe and Bakery), located in the heart of downtown Eastsound. A place where everything was made from scratch; the bun that held your hamburger, the pancake batter and syrup, and a raised donut that put all others to shame. Daily soups and an extensive menu were always on tap there.
My Father is a Master baker, who at 79, still works on perfecting his craft through creative experimentation. He has taught me the finer nuances of baking and the importance of attention to detail. My Mother worked the cafe side of the business. That is where I gained an understanding about efficiency and the bottom line. Some of my best dishes are born from putting together odds and ends.
The Orcas Island community is full of kind and supportive people who have nurtured me most of my life. I would like to give some of that small town hospitality to you. I will plant the seeds, water the garden, shop for those special ingredients, then work with you to turn all of it in to the best dish possible for your special event, vacation dinner or as part one of our culinary workshops.