New eateries to choose from...

Blue Mountain Grill a fresh take on American food

A Lynden restaurant owner has remodeled and re-opened the former Ranch Tavern on Highway 9 in Acme.

Craig Seutz, a Lynden resident and restaurant owner, remodeled the nearly 80-year-old building last summer and had their grand opening last August.

Barbara Hastie, business partner and manager, said it took nearly six months to restore the original cedar ceiling and walls, which had become darkened over the years. The restored interior now boasts the cheery look of real wood, which can brighten even the rainiest day. In addition, Seutz made long-needed repairs to the building, remodeled the kitchen, replaced old equipment, expanded the restrooms and dining area to seat a larger capacity, and also added a game room and outdoor seating area with a stunning easterly view of the Twin Sisters mountain range.

“Craig felt it was just such a diamond in the rough,” Hastie said. “The place used to be a hard-core tavern so we had to work to change the reputation.”

The menu features burgers, steaks, and other classic road food but with a hand-made approach that has won over many locals here. Their chicken kaiser sandwich ($7), for example, came on a toasted kaiser bun baked earlier that day with leaf lettuce, tomato and red onion. The sandwich arrived hot, with coleslaw and left little to improve on.
Other best bets are the fish and chips, the Texicali burger, a black bean burger with cheddar and mild green chilis ($8.50), clam chowder ($3.50 cup / $5 bowl) and the Blue Mountain cobbler, available in peach or four-berry ($5), heated and topped with vanilla ice cream.

Blue Mountain Grill is open Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. but will be closed between February 25 and March 7 for their annual spring cleaning. They are located at 974 Highway 9 in Acme and can be reached by calling 595-2200.

?Couple to renovate former Carol’s Coffee Cup

A Bellingham couple has plans to turn the site of a popular Deming breakfast and lunch stop into a unique area destination.

Richard Balogh and his wife Candice recently purchased the former Carol’s Coffee Cup building at 5415 Mount Baker Highway, just east of Deming. The two said they plan to turn the space into Il Caffe Rifugio, a breakfast and lunch cafe that will serve Italian sandwiches, paninis and 49th Parallel coffee.

Balogh said the dream of owning his own cafe started in Cleveland, Ohio, where he would frequent coffee shops. So when his most recent job with an airline booking company transferred him to Bellingham four years ago, he looked at several leasing sites including Fantasia Coffee on Cornwall and Bean Blossom on Broadway but decided on the former Carol's Cup building because he wanted to own the building.

He also liked the idea it was located next to an eagle sanctuary and was surrounded by beautiful scenery.

“We’re going to be creating an experience, definitely a destination, where people are going to come out to be warm and see the eagle sanctuary and viewing park.”

Balogh said he hopes to have the cafe up and running by March. He also said he has acquired the recipe for the cinnamon rolls made by former owner Carol Vander Yacht and will be providing boxed lunches for people on their way up the mountain.

For more information, e-mail Richard at ilcafferifugio@mac.com