Offered by board member Stephanie Reents.

A taxi boat will whisk you away from Anacortes to Blakely Island (a ~30 minute ride) where your hosts will meet you at the docks and take you to their mid-century modern cabin with western views of Blakely Island Sound. 

You can choose the weekend’s activities, from hunting for agates on the island’s pristine beaches, playing tennis or pickleball on a court in the middle of the woods, or visiting Horseshoe lake for a relaxing swim surrounded by untouched wilderness. We can walk to the island’s preserved one room school house that closed in 1950, take you to a secret logger’s cabin which still features a carved wooden bathtub, or climb to the peak of the island for a glorious view of the San Juans. When we’re not having adventures, we’ll serve you cocktails on our deck and make you delicious northwestern-inspired meals. There will also be plenty of time to relax with a book, of course!

This is a perfect getaway for a couple, a single person, or two friends who don’t mind sharing a room. Please note that your hosts (board member Stephanie Reents and her husband Steve Bushell will be sharing the two-bedroom cabin with you.

• Date: Friday - Sunday on a weekend that works for everyone in June or July (excluding the Fourth of July holiday).

• Location: Blakely Island

• Capacity: 2

A formal Japanese dinner, catered to the guests’ tastes, by John Treat at his home in Madrona. 

John is a Folio Board member with fifteen years of experience living in Japan and the graduate of a two-year cooking course in Tokyo. 

The six courses will include appetizers, both cold and hot dishes, a soup or savory custard and an innovative dessert, all accompanied with wines and/or Japanese rice saké.  

Date: You will arrange a date with your host. January is not available.

Location: John Treat’s home in Madrona

Capacity: Two

A pasta making lesson and dinner offered by board member Manuela Noske.

Armed with just two humble ingredients, durum wheat semolina and water, we'll discover how Italy turns simplicity into culinary magic. Together we'll mix, knead, roll, and shape fresh pasta, first with a pasta machine and then with that timeless Italian kitchen tool: a good old-fashioned knife. 

Along the way, we'll explore the astonishing world of Italian pasta, from regionally beloved shapes to the sauces that were practically made for them. Why does one pasta cradle pesto while another was born for ragù? By the end of the evening, you'll know.

A glass of wine in hand will help fuel your creativity as you develop not only new pasta-making skills but also an instinct for that elusive "just right" dough consistency. Seasonal Italian appetizers will keep you happily fortified, and, of course, you'll get to enjoy the pasta you've crafted yourself.

For true lovers of Italian food and culture, the entire experience can even be conducted in Italian, giving you the chance to practice your language skills while perfecting your pasta technique.

Come ready to knead, sip, learn, and eat. Leave with flour on your sleeves, pasta in your belly, and perhaps a stronger urge to book a trip to Italy. Date: You will arrange a date in January or February with the pasta maker. 

Location: Manuela will come to your house.

Capacity: Six

A dinner hosted by board member Xingchun Zheng.

Join us for a relaxed evening of good food, drinks, and conversation by beautiful Lake Washington!

We'll bring together flavors from China, India, and beyond, with a menu featuring comforting butter chicken, authentic South Indian lemon rice fragrant with lemon and spices, and a Chinese main dish with a local twist. 

There will be a few other dishes along the way, too—some pleasant surprises, depending on the host's inspiration and what's fun to create that day!

Over dinner and drinks, we'll explore stories connecting China, India, and the wider world. From the ancient Silk Roads to the exchanges of religions, ideas, art, and traditions across civilizations, we'll wander through history—from Greece, Egypt, and the Roman Empire to India, China, and the lands in between. How did these worlds influence one another, and what traces of those encounters can we still see today? No need for a history lecture—just good conversation, shared curiosity, and perhaps a few unexpected discoveries. 

And if you're feeling adventurous, you can also sample a traditional Chinese liquor with a heritage dating back some 600 years! Come for the food, stay for the conversation, enjoy the lakeside views, and help support a good cause. No expertise in food or history required—just bring your appetite, curiosity, and sense of adventure!

Date & Time: You will arrange a date with your host during 2027.

Location: At the home of Xingchun Zheng

Capacity: Four