Snail of Approval recipients

Altura intricately weaves together the principles of Italian cuisine with the rich, seasonal tapestry of the Pacific Northwest. Under the skilled guidance of Chef Nathan, a thoughtfully curated tasting menu comes to life showcasing ingredients sourced from local farmers, foragers, their own garden, and the sea.

Their commitment to environmental stewardship extends beyond conventional practices, including diverting a significant portion of food waste back into their garden as nutrient-rich compost. This conscientious effort underscores their commitment to minimizing their carbon footprint.

Further magnifying their positive impact, Altura supports charitable organizations which address food insecurity.

Contact Information:
• Chef Nathan Lockwood
• 617 Broadway E, Seattle WA, 98102
• Phone: 206-402-6749
• Website: https://alturarestaurant.com

Sage Dilts and Nathan Hodges, proprietors of Barn Owl Bakery, cultivate, mill, and bake heritage and landrace grains on Lopez Island. All the organic sourdough breads and pastries are made by hand and baked in a wood-fired oven. Baked goods can be purchased at the farmstand, farmers markets, local grocery stores and restaurants.

They go to great lengths to source rare, heritage grain varieties that thrive in the unique island climate. Sustainable practices such as cover cropping, minimal tillage, and dryland farming underscores their dedication to prioritizing soil health.

Moreover, their efforts to foster a local grain economy by uniting the community, partner farmers, a local stone mill, and the bakery showcase a holistic approach to food production that focuses on community collaboration and soil regeneration.

Contact Information:
• Barn Owl Bakery
• 108 Grayling Ln . Lopez Island, WA 98261
• Phone: 360-468-2662
• Website: barnowlbakery.com

Cairnspring Mills produces fresh, stone-milled flours made from identity-preserved, regeneratively grown grains. Milling with hand-set stones retains the bran and germ, where all the nutrients, flavor, and color live.

Founder, Kevin Morse, believes the best thing we can do here and anywhere in the world is to rebuild sustainable regional food systems to make our communities more prosperous, healthy, and resilient. Cairnspring Mills plays an integral part by sourcing locally grown grains and paying farmers a premium so they can prosper outside of the industrial food system and conserve their farmland for future generations.

Contact Information:
• Cairnspring Mills
• 11829 Water Tank Rd . Burlington, WA 98233
• Phone: 360-812-2052
• Website: https://cairnspring.com/

Carrello’s outstanding Italian cuisine is a true celebration of culinary artistry. Each dish is crafted by hand with precision and changes often to highlight the seasons. Their commitment to sustainability is exemplary as the majority of ingredients are sourced from local and sustainable farmers, ranchers, and foragers. Some special ingredients, like heirloom varieties, are grown in the restaurant's own garden!

Dedicated to reducing their carbon footprint, Carrello's waste management program goes above and beyond recycling and eco-friendly takeout bags and boxes. Much of their food waste goes directly back into their restaurant's garden as compost.

Additionally, their generosity extends to charitable organizations that combat food insecurity, which makes a positive impact in our community.

Contact information:
• Chef Nathan Lockwood
• 622 Broadway East, Seattle, WA 98102
• Phone: 206-257-5622
• Website: carrellorestaurant.com

Diane's Market Kitchen offers cooking classes in the heart of downtown Seattle. Diane LaVonne procures nearly all of her ingredients from local and sustainable sources and connects her students with those vital producers. Beyond simply teaching her students how to cook, she incorporates Slow Food values by integrating food culture, traditional cooking methods, and heritage ingredients.

Diane’s goal is to host engaging conversations about where good food comes from, how our food choices affect us and the environment, and how to create lives with greater health and well-being. She aims to change the world, one kitchen at a time.

Contact Information:
• Diane LaVonne
• 1101 Post Avenue . Seattle, WA 98101
• Phone: 206-624-6114
• Website: dianesmarketkitchen.com

Finnriver has just been awarded the Snail of Approval! Finnriver is an organic farm and craft cidery nestled along a salmon stream in the Chimacum Valley on the North Olympic Peninsula of Washington. At the forefront of the Pacific Northwest hard cider revival, Finnriver crafts innovative ciders using a variety of contemporary and traditional methods using organic, seasonal, and wild-harvested ingredients.

Finnriver is committed to sustainability as is evident in their impressive environmental initiatives. They operate with an enormous solar setup that supplies 75% of their energy needs through clean power.  They have experimented with several carbon recapture and food waste conversion technologies as they seek to further reduce their environmental footprint. They go the extra mile by repurposing and reusing everything possible, including plastic from incoming shipments. They operate on a 50 acre organic farm that has been protected in perpetuity by conservation easements and work with the local salmon conservation organizations to promote riparian habitat restoration. They create space for multiple other land partners on their farm to further organic advocacy, research and education. 

Contact Information:
• Finnriver Farm & Cidery
• 124 Center Road . Chimacum, WA 98325
• Phone: 360-339-8478
• Website: finnriver.com

Garden Treasures Local Farm is a beautiful example of sustainable, community-driven agriculture offering heirloom vegetables, including varieties from the Slow Food Ark of Taste. Patricia’s impressive collection of hand-shelled legumes includes Mexican heritage beans brought from Oaxaca 30 years ago. She also cultivates sweetgrass and other sacred plants for the Tulalip community, supporting their ceremonial traditions and diabetes program. The farmstand features a carefully curated selection of products from nearby farmers and producers, including fruit, cheese, eggs, jams, honey, and fermented foods. 

Garden Treasures prioritizes environmental stewardship, producing their own compost and carefully managing water use to prevent runoff into the Stillaguamish River. Mindful farming practices also include crop rotation, cover cropping, and grass waterways. Hedgerows between gardens provide habitat for wildlife and natural protection between neighboring plots, while trellised beans double as windbreaks. 

Another standout feature is Patricia's sustainable flower program, which not only attracts pollinators and aids in natural pest management, but also serves as an educational resource. She recently expanded the program to teach fellow farmers how to grow sustainable flowers and share resources. And – lucky for us – she also sells her gorgeous blooms to the public! 

Contact Information:
• Garden Treasures Local Farm & Nursery
• SR 530 NE, Arlington, WA 98223
• Phone: 360- 435-9272
• Website: gardentreasuresfarm.com

Maize & Barley is a truly unique spot: a craft beer taproom serving seasonal tacos rooted in Caribbean flavors. Venus Forteza and Chef Anthony Kjeldsen have curated a small, intentional menu that reflects their deep commitment to sourcing from local farmers, fishers, and producers who care about the land and how food is grown, raised, and caught. Ninety-nine percent of their food is made by hand, including cheeses and their lovely handmade corn tortillas. 

With more than a decade of experience in the beer industry as a certified beer judge (BJCP) and Cicerone Beer Server, Venus leads a well-crafted beer program that features a rotating selection of local and regional brews. Let her guide you through a beer and taco pairing experience that’s as thoughtful as it is delicious – one that brings out the best in both. 

Learn more about Maize & Barley …

Contact Information:
• Maize & Barley
• 525 Main Street . Edmonds, WA 98020
• Phone: 425-835-0868
• Website: maizebarley.com

Chef Seamus Platt crafts Norcino Salumi using time-honored Italian methods he learned in Emilia-Romagna and other parts of Italy where the climate is similar to the Pacific Northwest. He is one of a handful of artisans continuing the rich heritage of salumi. Using heritage breed American pigs and traditional techniques such as slow fermentation at lower temperatures, Seamus ensures superior quality.

Embracing sustainability as a guiding principle, Seamus sources pasture- and forest-raised pigs, reflecting his deep commitment to ethical practices. His dedication to transparency and ethical sourcing empowers consumers to make informed choices about the food they eat, fostering a more sustainable and inclusive food system within our community.

Contact Information:
• Chef Seamus Platt
• 200 Washington Ave, Suite 160 . Burlington, WA 98233
• Phone: 425-273-1880
• Website: norcinosalumiseattle.com

One World, located in the center of the Seattle Culinary Academy, offers delicious midday meals featuring seasonal, ethically-sourced ingredients from local farms. SCA was the nation’s first cooking school to implement a sustainable food systems course and thread social justice initiatives throughout the program. Dining at One World and other food shops at SCA directly impacts student learning and helps support their local purveyors.

Contact Information:
• Kären Jurgensen, Executive Chef Instructor
• 1701 Broadway Avenue, Suite 2120 . Seattle, WA 98122
• Phone: 206-934-5424
• Website: culinary.seattlecentral.edu/restaurants/one-world

Since 1996, Samish Bay has been crafting exceptional organic cheese, yogurt, and labneh from their pasture-raised cows in the Skagit Valley. Their small-batch, traditionally made cheeses showcase a depth of flavor unique to the region, some enhanced with locally sourced herbs, vegetables, and flowers.  These dairy products are available at their on-farm shop, farmers markets, and retailers throughout the Puget Sound.

Committed to regenerative farming, Samish Bay nurtures the land by planting hedgerows, minimizing soil disturbances, and growing their own hay– benefitting their cows, their farm, and the environment. 

Beyond dairy products, they also offer organic beef, veal, pork, and lamb.  Visit their farm shop (open daily!) for a cheese tasting and firsthand look at their sustainable practices.

Contact Information:
• Roger and Suzanne Wechsler
• 15115 Bow Hill Road . Bow, WA 98232
• Phone: 360-766-6707
• Website: samishbay.com

During the pandemic, Chef Alex Dorros created Siembra, a pop-up restaurant serving delicious, inspired Peruvian and Colombian fare. His goal is to build a more connected community around Latin American cuisine and culture by cooking and sharing traditional dishes throughout Seattle neighborhoods. Alex highlights local, seasonal ingredients from organic farms and food hubs. To radically reduce Siembra’s food waste and impact, he incorporates practices like providing compostable packaging and repurposing food scraps. Every 2-3 weeks, he takes extra meals to the homeless shelters which feed 30-40 people.

Follow Siembra on Instagram for all the latest updates. And if you are lucky enough to patron this pop-up, say “hi” to Alex’s mom and aunt, who work every event with him.

Contact Information:
• Chef Alex Dorros
• For current information on pop-up location: https://www.instagram.com/siembraseattle
• Website: siembraseattle.com

This mobile pizzeria is a stellar example of how commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing can lead any food business, big or small. Founded in Bellingham by owner Tam Nguyen just over one year ago, Tam Tam Pizza started with a desire to connect the community to local ingredients through pizza.

Being committed to seasonality and local ingredients can mean some controversial choices regarding pizza—like only using fresh tomatoes when they are in season, and preserving the rest. It can mean experimenting with ingredients considered unorthodox for pizza like chicories and stone fruits. It means being very selective about who and what you work with. Tam uses locally milled flour from Cairnspring Mills, pepperoni from Norcino Salumi, vegetables from nearby regenerative farmers, and strives to keep any food scraps out of the waste stream. Tam is also passionate about spotlighting the migrant workers who make much of our agricultural products possible, and shines a light on their work whenever he can. 

Contact Information:
• Tam Tam Pizza
• Mobile Pizzeria in Bellingham - check website for hours and location
• Phone: 870-612-7271
• Website: tamtampizza.com

Established by Kiswahili-speaking immigrants David Bulindah and Dickson Njeri, who yearned for the taste of East African food celebrations, Wakulima USA merged as a farming program dedicated to providing immigrants and refugees with access to land and resources for cultivating and marketing traditional, culturally significant food. The practice of farming and spending time in natural spaces promote wellness and mental health across all age groups within the community.

Currently, the program comprises 35 farmers who distribute their produce throughout King and Pierce Counties via markets, food hubs, and directly to immigrant communities. Additionally, they offer farm tours and participate in farmers markets to educate consumers about East African food traditions.

Contact Information:
• Wakulima USA
• 23830 Pacific Hwy S, Suite 333 . Kent, WA 98032
• Phone: 425-908-9144
• Website: wakulimausa.org

Rachael Grace Sobczak makes all her bread the Slow way -- long fermentation, sourdough levain, and locally sourced ingredients (including the flour from next door at Cairnspring Mills). She also works directly with local farmers and incorporates their produce into her seasonal breads and pastries like her heirloom pumpkin thumbprints. We also love that she gives her staff a shoe stipend so they can buy comfortable shoes to help with baking all day.

Rachael grew up in central Wisconsin in an old farmhouse surrounded by forests. Learning to cook and bake was an outgrowth of her wide-ranging taste for adventure, food and gardening even as a child. These interests flourished when she found home in the Skagit Valley. Like many other people, her path was abruptly changed by the Covid19 pandemic and she went back to her roots and started Water Tank Bakery, a natural extension and expansion of her vision and talents.

Contact Information:
• Rachael Sobczak
• 11777 Water Tank Road, Unit C . Burlington, WA 98233
• Website: watertankbakery.com