MEDIA COVERAGE

Seattle Magazine, May 2010

Seattle’s Great Escapes

What’s New:
The hottest new restaurant/bar in town is The Bluff, in the middle of Friday Harbor’s busy waterfront scene. The menu delights from stem to stern, but local favorites include the braised short ribs and the Kobe beef burger. Small-plate and signature-drink deals abound during happy hour (4–6 p.m. Tuesday–Friday). Save room for dessert.
Where To Stay:
Make a night of your visit to The Bluff by booking a room upstairs in the urbane Friday Harbor House ($215–$360 per night). With views of the bustling marina below, the well-appointed rooms seem more like those in a high-rise hotel on the Vancouver waterfront than in an island inn.

Northwest Palate, May-June 2010

The Greening of San Juan Island

In Friday Harbor, diners can find a plethora of island foodstuffs at The Bluff at Friday Harbor House.

About.com, April 30, 2010

Gourmet "Glamping" in Washington

The term "glamping" is almost as annoying to me as "staycation" -- actually, possibly more so -- but the concept is one I can really get behind: all the pleasures of the great outdoors without sacrificing comfort or style. Last week, The New York Times brought news of combo adventure travel-gourmet cooking excurisions (which you already knew about since I wrote about it last year), but here's one better: learn to cook gourmet campfire cuisine, while sleeping outdoors in style in Washington's San Juan Islands. Head to Lakedale Resort on May 14-15 or September 24-25, 2010, where you'll check into a 225 square foot canvas cabin, which will be outfitted with s a queen bed with pillow-top bedding, a full-size sleeper sofa or two lounge chairs, pillows and a flannel duvet, a table and four chairs, one cordless lantern and bath linens. (Try to overlook that it's called a "glampsite".) Then, you'll gather around the fire for a cooking seminar with Chef Joseph Foriska of The Bluff Restaurant·Bar·Terrace at Friday Harbor House to learn to prepare such dishes as apple cider marinated chicken breast, corn skewers finished with a poblano compound butter, campfire baked beans and more. It ends with a "s'mores symposium", which promises to take this kid-favorite treat to a whole new level.

City Confidant, March 29, 2010

Gourmet Glamping in San Juan Islands: Luxury Camping with a Culinary Twist

Seattleites enjoy the outdoors. That’s why we live in the Northwest. So if you love the open air, but camping isn’t your thing, why not try ‘glamping’ – aka glamorous camping? The Lakedale Resort in Three Lakes is offering a glamping weekend, May 14-15, that includes a two-night getaway in a canvas cabin and campfire cooking classes by Chef Joseph Foriska of The Bluff Restaurant·Bar·Terrace at Friday Harbor House. Take over a fort in one of Lakedale’s 13 ‘glampsites,’ a custom-built, 225-square-foot canvas cabin that contains a queen bed with pillow-top bedding, a full-size sleeper sofa or two lounge chairs, pillows and a flannel duvet, a table and four chairs, one cordless lantern, and bath linens. We say WOW! Every glampsite also includes two Adirondack chairs, a picnic table, and a fire ring. Chef Joseph will teach you how to prepare a campfire feast of Westcott Bay Oysters, Apple Cider Marinated Chicken Breast, Marinated New York Strip Steak, Corn skewers, Fingerling Potatoes, Rosemary Salad, Island Green Salad, and Campfire Baked Beans. And, of course, no campfire dinner is complete without a s’mores symposium, where you will learn how to create the perfect s’more. Escape to the San Juan Islands with your significant other or a group of friends, and experience a fantastic getaway.

Wine Press Northwest, March 12, 2010

10 Great Things to do in Northwest Wine Country

#8. Glamping in the San Juans. Two properties in Friday Harbor, Wash., are taking glamorous camping to the nth degree by offering "gourmet glamping" on May 14-15. Lakedale Resort at Three Lakes and The Bluff Restaurant at Friday Harbor House are collaborating on two-night stays for Lakedale's well-appointed canvas cabins. When guests arrive, they get a bottle of Domaine Ste. Michelle sparkling wine, a chef's hat and apron and the opportunity to prepare a multi-course dinner, enjoyed around the campfire. On Saturday evening, couples meet at the campfire, get assembled into small groups, then are taught how to prepare a course for the dinner by The Bluff culinary team. For dessert, everyone will receive s'more training. If you miss this weekend, a second "camp" is Sept. 24-25.

CityConfidant.com, March 3, 2010

Take a romantic getaway to Friday Harbor for a Couples Kitchen Mixer hosted by Chef Joseph Foriska from Friday Harbor House. Class themes include, “I Second that Emulsion,” the art of emulsifying—from homemade mayonnaise to hollandaise sauce, “Too Hot to Handle,” the intimate details of the chili pepper and decoding the Scoville or hotness scale, and “It’s a Wild World,” an exploration of cultured foods and the world cultures that have created them. Package includes one-night stay, cooking class with lunch, and wine for two at The Bluff Restaurant • Bar • Terrace.
March 6-7, 13-14 and 20-21

425 Magazine, March-April 2010

“Camping – Roughing It = Glamping, And More Unique Experiences on San Juan Island”
Friday Harbor House has been undergoing some renovations and they want to show off. They have been running a lot of specials, so if a hotel stay with a great view of the ferries floating into dock is what you had in mind, make sure to check them out. In addition, the Bluff Restaurant not only has a new look, their menu is fresh, too.

San Juan Journal, February 23, 2010

The Bluff Restaurant·Bar·Terrace at Friday Harbor House has appointed Joseph Foriska as chef. “As a resident of the San Juan Islands for more than 15 years, Chef Foriska brings to the table a familiarity of the San Juan Island culinary community and strong relationships with local purveyors,” Friday Harbor House GM Michael O’Dell said in a press release. “After working at some of the area’s most renowned dining establishments, we feel honored to have him on board at The Bluff.” From 2006-09, Foriska served as food and beverage purchasing manager at Roche Harbor Resort. During his tenure, the wine program at McMillin’s Dining Room was consecutively awarded Wine Spectator’s “Award of Excellence.” Foriska previously owned and served as executive chef at Fleur de Lys, a French-inspired fine dining restaurant on San Juan Island. He has served as sous chef at Vinny’s Restaurant and Duck Soup Inn.

TheProvince.com, February 21, 2010

“Work up an appetite for Cooking Class Getaways choices”
Have you a yearning to learn how to make hollandaise sauce or how much chili in a dish is yummy and how much is just nasty? These one night Cooking Class Getaways to the waterfront Friday Harbor House in the San Juan Islands may be your solution. Friday Harbor House's new chef, Joseph Foriska, has introduced the cooking series, Couples Kitchen Mixers. There are three mixers in March each with a different theme.

Seattle Magazine, January 2010

Olympics Guide: Enjoy the 2010 Winter Olympics without leaving Seattle
This nearby getaway would be sure to qualify for a medal if it were a competition. The “Go for the Gold” package includes a bottle of wine upon arrival, $20 to spend at The Bluff Restaurant • Bar •Terrace and a $100 gift certificate to Bison Galleries.

Smart Meetings, December 2009

Other popular venues include Friday Harbor House on San Juan Island, with 1,000 square feet of meeting space.

Northwest Meetings + Events, Fall 2009

The Bluff Restaurant ▪ Bar ▪ Terrace has opened at Friday Harbor House, located on San Juan Island, Wash., and features fresh fare from local waters and farms.

ShowCase Magazine, Winter 2009

Two blocks from the ferry we arrive at Friday Harbor House. The architecture is contemporary yet distinctly Northwest, the luxurious little boutique hotel brings urban sophistication to the island. The Bluff Restaurant is located on the property, this sleek dining room has captivating views. Freshness and flavor define dining at the Friday Harbor House.

Travel Age West, October 19, 2009

The Bluff faces the postcard-perfect bay, and its refurbishment capitalizes on that magical setting. The designers wisely removed any obstacles between diners and the great outdoors, essentially creating a wall of windows between the indoors and out.

Seattle Times | Pacific Northwest Magazine, October 4, 2009

When it opened, the façade of Friday Harbor House seemed almost too avante garde for this sleepy former fishing village. But if Friday Harbor House was ahead of its time, the town seems to have caught up with it. This century, Friday Harbor has gained a number of new buildings; one of them, a swank new multiuse facility, bookends the small park adjacent to the inn. Friday Harbor House has changed, too, but only for the better. The sleek island getaway now includes a conference center and several new guest rooms, and a recent makeover has expanded its dining room.

Bridal Guide, September/October, 2009

The Friday Harbor House, an intimate inn with a much-lauded restaurant, sits on a bluff overlooking San Juan Island’s marina. Each of the 23 guestrooms has a sitting area with a gas fireplace and a whirlpool tub; some have balconies.

The Wall Street Journal, July 31, 2009

Where to Stay - In Friday Harbor, try the Friday Harbor House (packages with breakfast from $299; fridayharborhouse.com).

The Daily Journal of Commerce, June 5, 2009

The Bluff Restaurant ▪ Bar ▪ Terrace opened in Friday Harbor. The restaurant overlooks the ferry landing with views of the San Juan Channel and marina.

American Express Blue Sky Traveler, August 2008

Mornings are crisp and cool, the trees are exploding with color – it’s time to get in the car and take a long weekend to the San Juan Islands. Pick just one of these Pacific Northwest Isles, or do one a day. On San Juan, stay at the Friday Harbor House.

Seattle P-I, July 2008

Friday Harbor on San Juan Island is thriving with activity during vacation season. Arrive to the island using the Victoria Clipper, which operates daily service from downtown Seattle to Friday Harbor during the summer months. While on the island, enjoy the best view in town from the lawn at Friday Harbor House from its gorgeous hillside perch.

TravelandLeisure.com, Summer 2008

Friday Harbor House was voted as one of the top 20 summer getaways in the United States. Only 100 miles north of Seattle, you can walk two blocks from the ferry to the resort itself, where 23 modern guestrooms and suites have unique artwork, furniture, fireplaces, and oversize jetted tubs, and most have views of the harbor and pine-covered islands. Since the islands are one of the best whale-watching spots in the world, don’t miss boating out to Harp Strait and marvel at breaching orcas and humpbacks frolicking with their calves.

PNW Local News, June 2008

The Lummi Arts Festival has several events that will take place to help San Juan residents connect with the original cultures of the islands and Friday Harbor House donated an exhibit of works by artists from the Lummi Nation and from Turtle Mountain Chippewa for the event on West and First streets. Some of the artwork includes intricate beadwork, carvings in wood and bone, leatherwork, and silverwork.