Rumor Mill - Oren and Peggy Combs

There is only one place in Friday Harbor where you can take the whole family, most any time all year long, and enjoy different varieties of live music, have some dinner, some drinks, and do some dancing to live music. With the Rumor Mill, Oren and Peggy have created a great atmosphere for local music lovers and a great venue for local musicians. The dining area was designed specifically with a stage for performers, and a dance floor which is separate from the 21-years-and-older bar area, so your kids can enjoy some local culture too. Roll-up windows let the fresh air in from the sidewalk, and passers-by often stop to watch a band play before continuing on their way.
They have just recently hired a new chef and revamped their menu offerings (I hear the fish n chips are great!) They wanted to create a menu with foods reflecting their ethnic heritage, as well as taking advantage of locally sourced goods. Some of their local suppliers are: Lopez Creamery, Jones Family Farms, San Juan Coffee, San Juan Pasta Co., various vendors at the Farmer's Market, Guard Sundstrom and San Juan Vinyards, just to name a few.
Opened in the Summer of 2010, July 3 will be the Rumor Mill's 3 year anniversary. And Oren and Peggy are still happy after working together for more than 25 years!

KO's Subs

Owner Ken Oberreit serves up the goods at KO's Subs sandwich shop down by the ferry lanes.

Ken, his wife Kathy and their kids moved here from Jackson Hole, Wyoming in the spring of 2010. They had family here and always liked the area. It seemed the timing was right to downsize his business life a little... In Jackson Hole, he owned and operated a 6,000 sq. ft. store & deli from 1992 to 2005 and then started two other deli operations in Pinedale which he ran from 2005 to 2010 - each with around fifteen to twenty employees. Here in Friday Harbor, he can run things with only two or three people in the Summer. Or, he can do it all alone in the Winter but he hopes this will change with the new larger dining area, free Wi-Fi, DirecTV on the wall, and some new menu items he's recently added.

He's been working in the food industry since his younger days, beginning with his family's restaurant and then choosing to go to culinary school in 1991. Maybe he realized that working as a ski instructor by day and cooking at nite, might not be enough!

Cynthia, of course

Cynthia Burke is the owner of Cynthia's Of Course, a catering and personal chef service here in Friday Harbor. She has been in the food and hospitality business for over 35 years, including owning two restaurants as well as catering companies. Born and raised in West Seattle, she moved to Maui with her husband Christopher Burke in 1984. They moved back to the northwest in 1999 and chose Friday Harbor as the place to raise their family. Cynthia's Of Course was launched in 2001 and has been going ever since. But if that was not enough to keep her busy, she launched XYZ Movement Arts in 2010, a dance/yoga/movement studio, and then Red Checkered Picnics in 2012. It is located out at Limekiln State Park, so now you can get stuff to eat when you're at the park. (well, it's closed for the winter, but she will re-open in 2013 from Memorial Day through Labor Day). If you or someone you know needs some catering or a personal chef for a special event, there's more information on her websites: cynthiasofcourse.com and xyzmovementarts.com

San Juan Pasta Company

These are the people who make the magic happen at the San Juan Pasta Company (well most of them anyway - I guess one of them was in California this week). On the left is Mary Willallen, sorting and packaging fresh pasta from an earlier production run; center is Mike Martin, packaging and assisting the current ravioli run; and on the right is Angel Michaels, operating the Ravioli press as it churns out today's batch of Butternut Squash Ravioli. Check out the the ravioli coming out of the press in the close-up shot. Mmmmmmmm!!! If you've never had fresh pasta you really must give it a try. You can find it at the Farmer's Market. And just think - It's all done right here in Friday Harbor!

San Juan Hot Shop

Eddie Williams, ladies and gentlemen, from the San Juan Hot Shop and Flavor Emporium. You want something good and tasty with a bit of zing to add to your favorite food? Well then you need to go see Ed and he'll get you fixed right up. The Hot Shop was originally established 10 years ago as part of Amigo's restaurant, and was subsequently moved to its present location next door to the drug store, when Amigo's closed several years ago. Ed and his wife Genie have been running the place since February of 2008 and they know their sauces! (note the official uniform Ed is sporting in the photo). With an almost overwhelming variety of choices, Ed and Genie will use their extensive knowledge to carefully guide you to your perfect sauce. Go check them out and sample some delicious flavors from all over the world.

Rocky Bay

One of the best places in town for Breakfast and Lunch is the Rocky Bay Cafe, next door to the movie theater on one side and Sandpebble on the other. During the busy summer months (and sometimes even in the off-season) it is not uncommon to see a line of people outside waiting for a table, it's that good. John Sable, pictured above, is the owner and when it gets that busy you may see him outside, offering coffee and menus to people, and reassuring them that their table will be ready soon. Very good customer service.