by Sammy  Payne

Special to the Sounder

A Seattle based restaurant opened as a “pop up” inside Roses Bakery and Cafe in Eastsound for a three-day takeover last week. Islanders turned out to dine and enjoy the “family-style sharing” experience with up to 30 to 40 people turning up per sitting. Chef John Sundstrom said he has wanted to bring his style of food to Orcas for around two years after meeting Roses’ owners, John and Joni Trumbull.

“We started out as customers buying bread from the bakery and then started to know their business,” Sundstrom said.

Roses supplied the bread for the four-course menu, and pork and shellfish were sourced from Lopez Island. It was important for Sundstrom that his pop up restaurant did not steal local business.

“Orcas has a lot of business during the summer and Roses is only open for lunch,” he said. “We aren’t disrupting anyone else’s business.”