For many Whatcom residents and visitors, the restaurants at Semiahmoo have been longtime favorites. Now the resort is building on that strong foundation with the addition of three new team members.

On a recent visit to Packer’s Kitchen & Bar, we sat down with Executive Chef Debbie Vance, General Manager Andrew Tenis, and Food and Beverage Director John Reagan. All three of them joined the property in the last nine months.

Photograph by Kristen Boehm

“It’s exciting that we’re all a new team and we all kind of have the same vision,” Vance says. “We all see the opportunity this property has to excel…we all want to make every part of this place [a destination].”

Tenis agrees, citing the winemaker dinner that Vance hosted the week before as an example of the elevation and exceptionalism the team envisions for the property: “We’re just tiptoeing into what I think is going to be a great future here at Semiahmoo.”

Photograph by Kristen Boehm

While winter is the low season at waterfront properties like Semiahmoo, the resort’s beautiful dining rooms and spectacular food make it worthy of celebrating special occasions year-round—and the new team is working on adding even more winemaker dinners and other special events to entice visitors.

9565 Semiahmoo Pkwy., Blaine, 360.318.2000, semiahmoo.com