Christina Orchid helps Children’s House

Christina Orchid has a special place in her heart for Children’s House.

Last summer, the owner of Christina’s restaurant raised nearly $8,000 for the local preschool and daycare by sponsoring a series of cooking classes, and teaching some of them herself.

Wednesday, Sept. 22, Christina will donate the proceeds from two different parties commemorating the unveiling of her new book, “Christina’s Cook Book: Recipes and Stories from a Northwest Island Kitchen.” The first party will take place 4-7 p.m. downstairs, below her Eastsound restaurant, and will consist of wine, appetizers and a book signing. It will be followed by a second event, a dinner upstairs at 7 p.m. Christina is seeking a $20 donation for the party, and $100 for the dinner. The dinner price includes a signed copy of the book. The public is welcome to attend either or both events.

Actually, Christina’s commitment to Children’s House goes back many years, to the time when she was a working mother needing quality daycare. The commitment is just as strong today where, as an employer, Christina understands how important it is for a working mother to be able to depend on a place where she can comfortably leave her children.

The key, Christina says, is that “They have to pay a good wage to their employees. They need an endowment.” Christina’s husband and partner Bruce Orchid share that commitment. In fact, Bruce formerly taught at Children’s House, then served many years on the Board of Directors.

The book, which was written entirely by Christina, contains 120 recipes plus stories answering the three questions she is constantly asked: “1) How did I learn how to cook?; 2) How did I get the recipes; and 3) How did I start the restaurant?” she says.

Her stories take her to many parts of the world. For example, she says, one recipe came from “the people who fed me grilled lamb in Greece 30 years ago.”

Photographs for the book were taken by Orcas islander Michael Skott, while the typesetting and editing was handled by Carol Bee, also of Orcas. Actually, however, many people lent a helping hand.

The book will become available at Darvill’s Book Store in Eastsound the day of the party, Sept. 22.

It will also be just the beginning of what will be a national effort to promote the book. In October, Christina will kick off a tour of many major cities by serving dinner Oct. 7 at the James Beard House in New York City. The tour will take her to Boston, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and California. While she is away from the island, Christina says, “The restaurant will be in the capable hands of my chef, David Bramer.”

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