With a thriving microbrewery scene, a devoted collection of restaurateurs, and a short ferry ride away from one of the most critically acclaimed restaurants in the country, Bellingham manages to balance the latest national trends with its long-held quirky, corner-of-the-country feel in a way that makes it an exciting and intriguing—not to mention delicious—place to take a culinary vacation.
But the Southern tinge of the food belies its business model, which comes straight out of Bellingham’s historically liberal, hippie-esque leanings: the 46 in the name alludes to the percent paid to employees (or their base wage, whichever is higher), eliminating tips entirely and ensuring them an equitable wage.
Helmed by Noma alum Blaine Wetzel, the multi-course tasting menu dinners feature reef-net salmon caught from directly outside the door, vegetables chosen and grown for specific dishes on the farm next door, and flora, fauna, and fungi foraged from all over the island—which is a quick five minute ferry ride from Bellingham.
For those not up for the $225 tasting menu featuring more than 20 dishes, the secret to scoring a deal is coming for your mid-day meal (what they call “snacks”), which uses the same ingredients in more casual fashion—and keeps prices in the low double digits with dishes like roasted pumpkin soup with chestnut cream and chorizo for $12.
