As a first-timer traveling on the Cascade Loop, I am excited to explore this famed region of Washington state. Driving east on Rte 20 (aka the North Cascades Highway) from Sedro-Woolley, pouring rain follows me from Concrete to Rockport. Precipitation eases a bit as I inched along the Skagit River, stopping ever so often to photograph bursting waterfalls and wispy clouds swirling about lakes and mountains. Climbing in altitude, at nearly 5500 feet, the Washington Pass Overlook offers stunning views of the majestic Liberty Bell Mountain, Early Winters Spires and Kangaroo Ridge. As I make my way towards Mazama and the the Methow Valley, blue skies peek through gray clouds.
Nestled in the foothills of the North Cascades, in North Central Washington state, lies the Methow Valley where the immense physical beauty is rivaled by its abundance of community spirit and talent. My first stop is the Sun Mountain Lodge, a popular year-round resort in Winthrop where one can spend the day hiking, biking, horseback riding and relax in a hot tub under the glistening stars at night. Here, before the dinner guests arrive and the waitstaff carefully arranges plate settings, I met Tyler Krost, a classically trained and Italian-influenced chef who joined the vibrant food scene in the Methow Valley a year ago.
Drawn to the organized chaos and frenetic energy of the kitchen, Krost creates PNW-inspired plates for The Dining Room, perched atop the resort with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. He believes the key to great tasting food is to “Get good ingredients, cook them properly and the dish will speak for itself.” Krost uses fresh seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients such as marvelous steaks from Snake River Farms and Double R Ranch, Dungeness crabs from Coos Bay to the Puget Sound area and organic carrots from Willowbrook Farm in Carlton, WA. For dinner, I had the RR Ranch Beef Tenderloin, the most popular dish. It did not disappoint.
The organic, untainted beauty of the area combined with the camaraderie of the town is very welcoming to Chef Tyler Krost. “It’s a gorgeous place,” he said, feeling very blessed to be part of the Methow.
Local Color on The Loop is an ongoing, multi-issue installment featuring the colorful personalities one might just encounter while traveling the Cascade Loop. This installment features the talents of the Skagit Valley's own local photo journalistic celebrity, Ting-Li Wang. Ting-Li's previous experience includes The Wisconsin State Legislature, The New York Times, The Virginian-Pilot and The Hays Daily News 2018. Check out more of her work and follow her adventures on Instagram at @tingliwangphoto.
