Washington’s Lummi Island is best known for its main attraction: The Willows Inn, where chef Blaine Wetzel famously transforms an array of local ingredients, from salmon to salmonberries, into a multi-course tasting menu that has earned the island international recognition.
Just up the hill from the restaurant, a small farm and bed-and-breakfast called Nettles Farm is run by the inn’s former owner, Riley Starks. He has worked the land since 1992, raising heritage chickens and produce. He also hired Wetzel from Copenhagen’s famous Noma restaurant, recently clocking in at number 5 on the list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Together, they transformed a small island inn and restaurant into the celebrated landmark it is today.
Starks sold the Willows in 2012 and now spends his time running Nettles Farm but maintains a close relationship with his original inn. In fact, guests at Nettles have the first chance to book open tables at the Willows Inn 15 days prior to their requested reservation date—it’s a huge plus considering the limited seats in the restaurant are notoriously coveted.
Nettles Farm offers guests its lovely farmhouse suite, complete with a queen bed, separate living room and dining area, and one of the most impressive kitchens surely to grace any B&B. It’s outfitted with state-of-the-art Woodstone Fire Oven made in Bellingham, Washington, and commercial-grade appliances Starks once used to craft handmade pasta he sold to Whole Foods. There’s also a large porch surrounded by lush gardens and a private soaking tub. Guests of the suite can reserve three full bedrooms and a bath upstairs, with prior arrangement.
Starks also rents out a farmhouse room outfitted with a queen bed, private deck and a walk-in double shower. Naturally, there’s also a gourmet kitchen and a covered outdoor deck with a barbecue. All guests will find their refrigerators stocked with farm-fresh eggs, homemade jam, steel-cut oats, honey from the farm’s apiary, yogurt, bread, thick-cut bacon and coffee roasted by Stark himself. Farmhouse suite guests can purchase pizza dough for the oven, and all guests can harvest berries and herbs from the garden near the chicken coop.
There’s not a whole lot to do on Lummi, but that’s part of the charm. Starks can direct you to public beaches and local trails, but you’ll also want to spend time relaxing on the property. His dog Stella is also an excellent hostess.
