MEDIA COVERAGE

Seattle Met, January 2011

52 Weekend Getaways
February - Hug It Out on Whidbey
Snag your sweetie the weekend before Valentine's Day and nest at the Inn at Langley (360-221-3033; innatlangley.com), pad along historic downtown Coupeville, and spoil yourselves silly with the island's famous Penn Cove mussels at The Edgecliff Restaurant and Lounge.

Pacific Northwest, November 28, 2010

A compact cottage is the Inn at Langley chef's personal space
Pacific Northwest writer Valerie Easton provides an up-close and personal view of cottage living with Inn at Langley chef and general manager, Matt Costello and his wife, Jodi Starcevich. The full article can be found here.

The Province, November 16, 2010

Magic alive in postcard pretty Washington town
In a story which was also picked up by The Edmonton Journal, The Vancouver Sun and the Journal Media Group, Michael McCarthy wrote, "Once upon a time, in a land far away, there was a little town in rural America called Langley in Washington state. This little town had a main street, with charming little shops operated by local artisans who sold products that were made locally. There was a little coffee shop where local folks went to chat, and a theatre, and up on the hill stood a wonderful inn where a famous chef did magical things to Penn Cove oysters and you could fall asleep in a gorgeous room to the sound of waves from the nearby ocean lapping against a beach underneath your window. Yes, it sounds like a lovely fantasy of days long gone by, doesn't it? Except that it's all true. The chef is Matt Costello, and his Inn at Langley on Whidbey Island has been selected by Condé Nast as one of the "top hotels in the world under $300," and the picture perfect little village is called Langley, one of the few remnants left of an old fashioned Norman Rockwell era in America where white picket fences surrounded generous green lawns fronting old Victorian houses and time stood still." Click here to read the full article.

HeraldNet.com, October 20, 2010

Whidbey honey highlights dinner
Whidbey Island bees will provide the key ingredients for a special dinner at The Inn at Langley on Oct. 29. Chef Matt Costello will use honey or bee byproducts for all six courses of a tasting menu. Co-host is Dr. Brad Weeks, a Whidbey resident and expert in apitherapy, the treatment of disease or illness through the use of honeybees or bee products. The dinner begins at 7 p.m., starting with a brief discussion on the availability of varieties of local honey, from savory to sweet. Cost is $95 per person, which includes honey meads from several local breweries. An optional wine pairing per course will be available for $85 per person. Tax and gratuity are not included.

Thrillist, August, 4 2010

Watch and Eat: Garden Cinema at The Inn at Langley
Every Wednesday this month Chef Matt Costello's providing picnic-style a la carte eats (blanket included) to snack on during sunset showings of classic flicks in the Whidbey Island hotel's herb garden; films start tonight with Amélie, and include To Catch a Thief, The Fall, and The Brothers Bloom, aka Orlando and the one with the ugly girlfriend. It's free to catch a flick but space is limited, so reservations are suggested -- plus they've got movie-night deals on rooms at the Inn's site.

Everett Herald, August, 1 2010

Gourmet snacks star at Langley film series
Leave it to a gourmet chef to sprinkle lemon tarragon on movie popcorn. The Inn at Langley's Matt Costello thought it would be fun to host outside summer movies and spice things up by serving sophisticated snacks. Costello, an award-winning chef, will draw from the movie's themes to develop his creations. Seasoned popcorn will be free and for about $8 to $15, you can sample the results of his imagination. They're keeping the menus a secret but said plates will feature fruit gelees and exotic ice cream bonbons with flavors including lychee or goat cheese and basil. "Matt loves the freedom to be creative, so whatever he ends up making will be fun and delicious," said Nathan Hambley, an Inn spokesman. Expect Parisian inventions for the first film, "Amelie," which tells the delightful story of a French girl. The fare likely will be first-class for Alfred Hitchcock's classic "To Catch a Thief." The tagline to "The Fall" is "a little blessing in disguise," which certainly makes those chocolate-covered ice cream treats tempting. Costello should have plenty of options for the season's final film, "The Brothers Bloom." The movie takes place around the world. The films will be shown in the inn's herb garden. Seating is free and the inn plans to provide chairs and blankets for viewers. Reservations are recommended and special room rates are available that include tickets to Langley's Clyde Theater for either Tuesday or Thursday evening.

Edible Seattle, July/August 2010

Don't Choke: making friends with the edible thistle
Edible Seattle's article "Don't Choke: making friends with the edible thistle", features Inn At Langley's Chef Matt Costello as he gives tips on how to work with artichokes. "Give them a squeeze: Both Tinsley and Costello recommend checking the freshness of an artichoke by pressing it ever so slightly. The artichoke should spring back easily. 'You don't want to squeeze them and feel air,' says Costello."

Travel & Leisure, July 2010

Most Romantic Summer Destinations
On the Waterfront: Whidbey Island, Washington
Though it's only a 20-minute ferry ride from Seattle suburb Mukilteo, this island oasis feels like the Pacific Northwest's last frontier - a lost-in-time place of towering redwoods and sparkling coves overlooking Puget Sound. Take refuge at the 28-room Inn at Langley (doubles from $290), in Langley, a pint-size town on the island. Each suite has a Jacuzzi with views of the evergreen-lined Saratoga Passage waterway. In the historic center, the Clyde Theatre, a 1937 movie house, screens the classics and contemporary films. Drive 30 miles north to Ebey's Landing to walk the coastal bluffs, or make your way to Coupeville, known for its Penn Cove mussels, which no-frills Toby's Tavern (lunch for two $22) serves right.

Costal Living Magazine, April 2010

The Best Seaside Cottage Rentals
The Inn at Langley, Whidbey Island, Washington
The Inn at Langley rents two cottages that sit with their back doors overlooking Puget Sound and Mt. Baker on the mainland. The front doors lead to downtown Langley and Moonraker Books, Useless Bay Coffee Company, and Whidbey Island Soap Company.
Field trip: Grab lunch to go at the Coupeville County Deli and hike down Ebey's Landing to reach an empty sweep of Puget Sound beach.
Night out: At Café Langley, the Garibyan brothers serve a mix of Northwest and Mediterranean cuisine like Penn Cove mussels and Dungeness crab cakes.

Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, April 2010

Langley Seafood Feast
When you go: Stay at Inn at Langley
Full Article

Travel + Leisure, January 2010

Top 500 - The World's Best Hotels
Inn at Langley (86.7) Intimate Retreat on a Puget Sound Island: the weekends-only contemporary restaurant is justly famous.

Seattle Metropolitan, August 2009

Some chefs, like Matt Costello at Whidbey Island’s Inn at Langley, treat [gooseberries] like cranberries in the kitchen. He freezes them for year-round jams and chutneys. “True gooseberry people, old English biddies, pick the blossom ends off and stick a toothpick in to get the seeds out, “says Costello. “I say if you don’t like the seeds, that’s what the strainer’s for.”

The Vancouver Courier, June 2009

The Inn at Langley is hidden away behind a lush hedge and garden, overlooking Saratoga Passage, where on a good day gigantic grey whales drift by and where on weekends you can be served the feast of a lifetime by resident gastronomic genius Matt Costello, who rules over his kitchen like a maestro presides over his orchestra, producing signature perfect meals. Here, in Costello's open kitchen where he effortlessly produces eight-course meals for the edification of customers who often reserve months in advance, you'll find the 100-mile diet reduced to the 10-mile dinner, for every morsel on the daily sheet is handpicked within close radius of the inn by Costello and his small crew of gastronomic elves.

Seattle Times | Pacific Northwest, June 14, 2009

How does a seasonal Northwest chef say winter without prompting the darkest kind of thoughts? If the chef is as savvy as Matt Costello, he says it with Penn Cove mussels and a "clove-dusted duck breast with pumpkin and Brussels sprouts." But one of the most intriguing courses on the menu when my wife and I were at The Inn at Langley in January was a plate of Alaskan black cod that included something called Rockwell beans. The beans, it turns out, have a rich history on Whidbey Island. They're named for one Elisha G. Rockwell, who apparently grew them in some quantity around the turn of the last century. Costello discovered them when a third-generation island resident, Georgie Smith, brought the beans to a potluck at The Inn. Smith, who runs Willowood Farm of Ebey's Prairie in Coupeville, grows produce for local farmers markets and for the inn; her family has been growing the bean for generations.

Journey Magazine, March/April 2009

Whidbey Island is so remote and secluded that you really do forget where you are. And helping to propel this slight lapse in memory is The Inn at Langley. Dexter and I were pleasantly surprised upon check-in at the Inn's extras and amenities for guests (both human and canine), and, best of all, at its calm, rejuvenating atmosphere. From the cozy fireplace and whirlpool-jetted tub, to the private beach with lapping waves you can hear from any room, the Inn's owners left nothing out - including a plush doggie bed in extra-large size, just for Dexter.

Sunset Magazine, February 2009

The six-course meal served by Seattle-bred celebrity chef Matt Costello is reason enough to stay at The Inn at Langley. Spend the day kayaking or hiking or simply gaze out at the water as you lie by the wood-burning fireplace

Travel + Leisure, February 2009

Though it’s only a 20-minute ferry ride from Seattle, Whidbey Island feels like the Pacific Northwest’s last frontier—a lost-in-time place of towering redwoods and sparkling coves overlooking Puget Sound. Take refuge at the 28-room Inn at Langley, in Langley, a pint-size town on the island. Each suite has a Jacuzzi with views of the evergreen-lined Saratoga Passage waterway (and the gray whales that swim through in spring). Click here for the full story.

Pilot Getaway, October 2008

The Inn at Langley is the perfect place to stay for a weekend pilot getaway on Whidbey Island. After spending a day at the beach, kayaking, scuba diving, or taking a whale watching cruise, settle in to the Inn at Langley, an elegant, luxurious lodge overlooking the Saratoga Passage. For dinner, enjoy a six-course meal, crafted by the Inn’s notorious Chef and General Manager Matt Costello. Finally, at the end of the day pamper yourself with a massage at the Inn at Langley’s Spa Essencia.

The Seattle Times, October 16, 2008

Recommend as one of the best places to stay for a relaxing beach vacation this fall, The Inn at Langley is where guests can find peace and comfort while walking in the sand or reading in the view of the of the captivating San Juan Islands.

Daily Candy Seattle, September 16, 2008

“It Whidbey Nice” - Rest your head in a serene room with views of the Saratoga Passage at the gorgeous Inn at Langley. Chef Matt Costello whips up an inspired six-course meal at The Inn’s restaurant, often citing neighbors as sources for the night’s fare.

Sound Magazine, August 2008

The Inn at Langley is the winner of August’s “Escape from Seattle” Dish-Off for offering an idyllic island experience where course after course has imagination. Chef Matt Costello manages to put a thoughtful and sometimes unexpected touch of nature into each dish.

425 Magazine, July 2008

Heaven for foodies and “groodies,” the Inn at Langley’s Restaurant offers a true chef’s dinner experience, made all the better by Costello’s credentials and use of locally-grown ingredients. Expect to be fed dishes with a conscience.

The Oregonian, July 2008

All of the exquisite guestrooms at The Inn at Langley have stunning panoramic views of Saratoga Passage with elegant Zen-like interiors that will revive and rejuvenate any lagging spirit. “Perhaps you’d better do your exploring first… because once in your serene room, you may never want to leave.”

Seattle Magazine, June 2008

The Inn at Langley’s new master suites each have 1,200 square feet of magnificent Northwest-luxury touches, such as bamboo flooring, river rock showers, oversized jetted tubs and floor-to-ceiling windows facing the glistening Saratoga Passage. Eat a delicious, multicourse dinner at the Inn’s restaurant that is hand-selected and locally grown on Whidbey Island.

Parent Map, June 2008

With a 180-degree water view from every room, The Inn at Langley offers a picturesque babymoon setting. In addition to its great location, The Inn is renowned for its gourmet, open-kitchen culinary dining experience, full-service spa overlooking the beach, and luxury rooms that offer fireplaces and jetted tubs.

Seattle Magazine, June 2008

On March 28, 2008, the second annual charity event to help raise funds for Food Lifeline – the largest hunger relief organization in Washington State – was proudly hosted at the Salish Lodge & Spa. The evening featured an exclusive auction and a multi-course, wine-paired menu prepared by Seattle's most celebrated chefs, including the Inn at Langley's Chef Matt Costello.

Seattle Times, February 2008

Following a romantic getaway to Whidbey Island’s Inn at Langley, guests rave about the ideal combination of food, romance, and nature. “While languishing in the Jacuzzi tub you can enjoy views of Saratoga Passage and a fire burning in the bedroom fireplace…the Inn at Langley is a relaxing and romantic place.”