Renowned chef Mike Easton, a four-time James Beard Award nominee, is set to take the helm as Executive Chef at The Kitchen at Abeja, a restaurant nestled in the heart of Walla Walla wine country. Beginning July 1, Easton will infuse his signature Tuscan-inspired culinary style into The Kitchen at Abeja’s prix fixe menu, creating a dining experience that celebrates the marriage of food and wine.
Easton’s commitment to handcrafted pasta and premium ingredients has garnered him a devoted following at his Seattle restaurants, Il Corvo and Il Nido, and most recently at Bar Bacetto in Waitsburg, Washington. He is celebrated for his meticulous approach to cooking, drawing heavily on traditional techniques and emphasizing fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
“I am a chef who seeks inspiration from the ingredients around me,” Easton explains. “Over the coming weeks, I will be tasting Abeja’s wines, forming a relationship with them, and writing menus that complement their unique flavors.”
The Kitchen at Abeja, situated on a scenic 38-acre historic farmstead, is home to the acclaimed Abeja winery. The property also features The Inn at Abeja, managed by Columbia Hospitality, offering an immersive wine-country experience that combines exceptional cuisine, award-winning wines, and luxurious accommodations.
“I fell in love with this property and the wines of Abeja on my first visit here ten years ago,” Easton shares. “The chance to offer wine-centric, fine dining in a pastoral setting like this is an opportunity that comes along once in a lifetime.”
To seize this opportunity, Easton has placed Bar Bacetto on “an extended hiatus” to fully dedicate himself to collaborating with Abeja’s team and crafting exceptional dining experiences.
“Chef Mike’s approach to cooking mirrors Abeja’s philosophy that every meal should be a celebration of the senses and every visit a memory in the making,” says Amy Alvarez-Wampfler, who shares winemaking and general manager duties with her husband, Dan Wampfler. “We are thrilled to welcome him.”
Easton will replace Chef Jake Crenshaw, who has served as Executive Chef at The Kitchen at Abeja for the past two years. Crenshaw is moving on to a new position as the culinary director at Walla Walla Community College.
Dinner at The Kitchen at Abeja is available by reservation only, which can be made online via the Abeja website. The restaurant welcomes all guests, including overnight guests of The Inn at Abeja, visitors to the Walla Walla Valley, and local residents.
Located at 2014 Mill Creek Road in Walla Walla, Washington, The Kitchen at Abeja’s dining room is open Thursday through Sunday evenings, with seatings between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
