Archipelago

08/15/2026

A quick but important update: we’re postponing Heritage Grains & The Open Flame at Chimacum Valley Grainery.

With burn bans in place across the region this wildfire season, we explored shifting to cook over coals — but even that felt both irresponsible and disrespectful given how serious this fire season has been and the terrible loss our region has felt. It was a difficult decision to make — we know many of you had planned weekend trips — but being good stewards of the land we work with, and of each other, is so important to us.

If you’d already signed up, Chimacum Valley Grainery reached out to you directly last week — thank you for your patience. For everyone else who was hoping to join, we’re looking at bringing this workshop back in October, just in time for Filipino American History Month, once conditions are safer. We’ll share details as soon as we have them.

Thank you for understanding. We’ll see you at the source soon.

08/10/2026

When we chose this stretch of Rainier Ave back in 2017, many didn’t understand why. Some of the early press we received focused in on this as if it were a puzzling choice. But it was never a question for us — it was very clear, our community was here.

To everyone in the South End who has shown up for us — when we opened our doors, through the pandemic and now through this transition — thank you. Getting to finally serve you at the neighborhood block party meant more than you know.

Big thank you to Oli for helping us moving this forward each year, your love and care is felt in all you do. Thank you so much to Daniel for organizing prepping this during the craziness of closing up shop. Thank you to Jon for DJing and to our team for jumping in to lend a hand.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to the Hillman City Neighborhood Association for all that you do for us. It was a beautiful day to reconnect with old friends. In the words of Hillman City “Because together, we’re what’s good.”

08/07/2026

Taking down the tinikling today.

This carved piece has been part of our home since my parents started their family in the ’70s — long before it ever hung in Archipelago.

When we opened in 2018, it was just the two of us — so I brought my childhood house with us. My parents’ wedding plates and other serving pieces that my mom sat decoratively in a cabinet in our dining room. Pieces my parents built a life around. It was easy to be careful with them when the team was small.

As we grew, we swapped most of it out. But starting that way, surrounded by things that were theirs — that were ours — gave us something we needed: a place to feel grounded in who we are. Unapologetically Filipino American.

We’ll see it again on the other side of this renovation.

08/03/2026

People often think that running a special-occasion restaurant means you can’t build community when you only see guests once a year. If there’s anything we’ve learned over 8 years of running one, it’s the complete opposite. Being part of people’s special moments — for some, major life events — is an absolute blessing that connects us for years. We’ve fed expecting parents who now send us photos of their growing children. We’ve met more and more of our guests’ extended families. We’ve witnessed promotions, career changes, whole life transitions.

Earlier this year, returning guests reached out to see if they could reserve a table for their wedding dinner. We said of course, it would be an honor — what we didn’t realize is that they’d let us into their celebration, ending the dinner by making it official right at their table. Our team, Isabelle and Paula, signed as witnesses. We can’t stress enough how lucky we are to share in these experiences, and to have the trust and friendship of our guests.

Nicole shared these photos on the day of our last service before we close for renovations. They serve as a reminder for why we do what we do, and motivation to get the doors back open soon.

Nicole and Justin — congratulations, and thank you, thank you for bringing your love and joy into Archipelago. Sending you both so much love.

07/30/2026

come join us for...

Heritage Grains & The Open Flame with Chef Aaron Verzosa
Sunday, August 16
12 - 3 pm

In this workshop, we will work with the local grain berries themselves, learning to manipulate their texture and earthiness through the primal control of charcoal-fired cooking.

Tracing the roots of Filipino-American resilience from the soil of the Northwest to the embers of the hearth, Chef Aaron Verzosa of Seattle’s Archipelago brings his unique lens of progressive cultural cooking to the Chimacum Valley Grainery.

Simultaneously, we will integrate the grains into a wood-fired sourdough, mastering the techniques required to craft a crust and crumb that honors both traditional fermentation and contemporary regional agriculture.

As the fires burn, we’ll ground our practice in the narratives of Filipino-American farmers in the Northwest and the immigrant journey of my own parents.

This class is an invitation to feed both the body and the spirit, exploring how the simple act of breaking bread can serve as a vessel for history, memory and the evolving story of our food system.

Space is limited, sign up today!

Sunday, August 16 12 - 3 pm In this workshop, we will work with the local grain berries themselves, learning to manipulate their texture and earthiness through the primal control of charcoal-fired cooking. Tracing the roots of Filipino-American resilience from the soil of the Northwest to

07/22/2026

Food has always been a medium for history, but it’s also a playground for the future.

That spirit of creative exploration is at the heart of everything we do at Archipelago, and of those whose stories we share each night—making it so special to bring that same energy to our summer workshops with the students at the Filipino Community of Seattle’s Summer Youth program.

Together, we used liquid nitrogen to explore how food can constantly evolve—racing the clock to flash-freeze raspberry and leche flan ice cream, then experimenting with everyday snacks to transform the familiar into something totally unexpected.

For us, food is an open canvas. Giving young minds the space to experiment, ask “what if?”, and push boundaries is how we honor our roots while building what comes next.

So much love to Youth Programs & the ILC @ FCS for bringing the best energy! As small business owners, their youth program has been an invaluable resource for our own family — we’ve seen firsthand how much care goes into creating an empowering, inspiring space for our kids. Be sure to give Youth Programs & the ILC @ FCS a follow and support the incredible work they do for our community’s next generation! 🇵🇭💙

06/25/2026

Tomorrow is the last day for voting

Vote once per day from June 8 through June 26.

06/23/2026

It’s that time of year again.
You can vote for us for “best in the PNW” using the link below

Eat & drink > Fine dining restaurant >> Archipelago

Vote once per day from June 8 through June 26.

06/04/2026

Our Summer Experience is here.

Some shots of last year’s lineup. Come taste the evolution.

06/01/2026

The world is coming to our corner of the Pacific Northwest this month. 🌊⚽️ We welcome it all with the start of our Summer Experience.

A sincere thank you to .life for capturing our experience and to for featuring us.