Shelley Taylor
There's more than veggies at Sunny Farms
Published on Wed, Jun 23, 2010 by Shelley TaylorRead More Taylor
Sunny Farms Country Store
261461 Highway 101, Sequim
683-8003
Monday-Sunday 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
www.sunnyfarms.com/
$-$$
It's a landmark! It's down home! It's local.
It's Sunny Farms Country Store!
It's also a great place to pick up some fresh, healthy grub for takeout.
Sunny Farms' rough-hewn wood exterior sports a generous peppering of colorful plants and beckons from the highway. Even the road markings practically force you to enter the parking lot. Next to Sunny Farms Country Store is the Sunny Farms Farm Store, which also deserves a look.
For those just passing through to a fantastic Olympic Peninsula vacation, Sunny Farms is a great along-the-way provisions stop to gather a fabulous picnic lunch for your adventure up to Hurricane Ridge or to tide you over on your way to the "land of 'Twilight.'"
I'm saddened to say you vacationers only get to enjoy this during your visit, while we locals get to enjoy it any time we want.
Sunny Farms is a staple for local fresh produce, fresh fish, beef, animal feed, vitamins and supplements, gifts and "just what you were looking for" garden specimens.
While you can't request a table, it's also a great place to save your tail if you haven't had time to plan dinner at home.
But I came for lunch.
And I lucked out because I finally hit the Butternut Squash Lasagna "in stock" in the refrigerated case to the right of the counter. Denise Foley, the deli manager, was most patient with all my questions and nuked it for a lunch break in my car. Loaded with cheese and squash, it reminded me of a layered-version of Fettuccine Alfredo. Positively sinful. And filling.
Perhaps most impressive is their array of by-the-pound salads on display at the deli counter. Sunny Farms offers a rotating menu of about 20 choices from a grand list of 140.
I sampled some of their most popular: Cashew Noodle (with Mandarin oranges, green onion and teriyaki marinade), Broccoli Feta (tossed in Italian dressing with red onion and tomatoes), Garden Green Macaroni (pasta, red and green peppers, green onion, olives, tomato and peas), Greek Orzo (orzo pasta, cherry tomato, Greek olives, with balsamic vinegar), Curried Chicken Orzo (orzo pasta, sour cream, green onion, almonds and raisins), "most popular" potato salad (with red potatoes, eggs and Dijon mustard), wonderfully tangy Beet and Pepper, and on the sweet side, rice pudding. If I were at a buffet, I'd build my plate with all of the above - and then some.
You also can take out a pre-made single salad. Besides the usual, they have Greek, Mandarin chicken with almonds, mozzarella, Southwestern (filled with a variety of beans, cheese and corn), BLT (with bleu cheese) or turkey cranberry (with spinach and walnuts).
If you want something more substantial, there's plenty to choose from.
Several varieties of homemade pizza, i.e. Alfredo chicken, Greek variety, veggie or Mexican. And they don't skimp on the toppings.
Other pasta dishes and casseroles available: enchiladas marina, chicken pot pie and eggplant parmesan, (Note to self: Next time pick up a serving for my friend Judie, who describes this as nirvana).
On this rainy day, a hot substantial soup sounded comforting. Soups go for $4.99 and this day they were serving vegetable beef barley, chicken noodle, minestrone and patrons' favorite: clam chowder. I sampled that one and it was thick and filled with clams and potatoes and seasoned just right.
Panini sandwiches are a favorite. Sunny Farms serves them on Italian panini, sourdough wheat, flatbread or Italian (under $6, it'll take 10-15 minutes to grill). Choices vary but some interesting ones are: Angus Bleu Cheese (Angus roast beef, red onion, spinach, roma tomato and Dijon), Shrimp (cream cheese, chives, horseradish), Alfredo, (shrimp, roasted red pepper and three-cheese blend), Spicy Jack (Genoa salami, pepper jack, jalapeños, green peppers, Italian dressing, tomatoes), Hawaiian (ham, Swiss, pineapple, spinach, green pepper, honey mustard) and tuna melt.
If you want to save a few calories, try their pre-made wraps, made fresh daily: fresh veggie, Greek, Southwestern, chicken parmesan or turkey.
If those don't strike your fancy, get creative with endless deli sandwich combinations (usually under $5). Just think up what bread, cheese, meat, veggie or condiments you'd put on your own Dagwood and voilÀ. Don't forget the "extras" such as cranberry sauce, sunflower seeds, jalapeños or hummus. They even offer PB&J!
Need a low-cal pick-me-up? Grab a bag of toasted (not fried) chips and their fresh salsa made daily and you've got a good snack to last until dinner.
And, if you feel the need, they offer fresh espresso.
To complete my lunch in the car, I cleverly ordered what amounts to a beverage and dessert all-in-one combo with my lasagna lunch - I had a Mango Mania smoothie. Sweet, thick and cold. Check what other flavors they may have when you visit. I also saw Strawberry Bomb, Banana Strawberry and the intriguing Acai and Blueberry with Pomegranate.
Oftentimes I see shoppers and kids strolling with a cone of soft serve yogurt or sorbet. But the deli has other tempting diet busters: zucchini and cranberry bread, scones, absolutely huge muffins, pies (i.e. apple, cherry, pumpkin) and moist saucer-sized cookies: The Royale (coconut, macadamia nut and chocolate chips), oatmeal raisin, chocolate chunk and coconut chew.
If my wonderful friends who regularly take pity on me and send me home with gourmet dinner don't come through, I'll probably see you at the deli counter!
Shelley Taylor and her husband relocated to the peninsula from California. By her own admission, Taylor likes to eat.
261461 Highway 101, Sequim
683-8003
Monday-Sunday 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
www.sunnyfarms.com/
$-$$
It's a landmark! It's down home! It's local.
It's Sunny Farms Country Store!
It's also a great place to pick up some fresh, healthy grub for takeout.
Sunny Farms' rough-hewn wood exterior sports a generous peppering of colorful plants and beckons from the highway. Even the road markings practically force you to enter the parking lot. Next to Sunny Farms Country Store is the Sunny Farms Farm Store, which also deserves a look.
For those just passing through to a fantastic Olympic Peninsula vacation, Sunny Farms is a great along-the-way provisions stop to gather a fabulous picnic lunch for your adventure up to Hurricane Ridge or to tide you over on your way to the "land of 'Twilight.'"
I'm saddened to say you vacationers only get to enjoy this during your visit, while we locals get to enjoy it any time we want.
Sunny Farms is a staple for local fresh produce, fresh fish, beef, animal feed, vitamins and supplements, gifts and "just what you were looking for" garden specimens.
While you can't request a table, it's also a great place to save your tail if you haven't had time to plan dinner at home.
But I came for lunch.
And I lucked out because I finally hit the Butternut Squash Lasagna "in stock" in the refrigerated case to the right of the counter. Denise Foley, the deli manager, was most patient with all my questions and nuked it for a lunch break in my car. Loaded with cheese and squash, it reminded me of a layered-version of Fettuccine Alfredo. Positively sinful. And filling.
Perhaps most impressive is their array of by-the-pound salads on display at the deli counter. Sunny Farms offers a rotating menu of about 20 choices from a grand list of 140.
I sampled some of their most popular: Cashew Noodle (with Mandarin oranges, green onion and teriyaki marinade), Broccoli Feta (tossed in Italian dressing with red onion and tomatoes), Garden Green Macaroni (pasta, red and green peppers, green onion, olives, tomato and peas), Greek Orzo (orzo pasta, cherry tomato, Greek olives, with balsamic vinegar), Curried Chicken Orzo (orzo pasta, sour cream, green onion, almonds and raisins), "most popular" potato salad (with red potatoes, eggs and Dijon mustard), wonderfully tangy Beet and Pepper, and on the sweet side, rice pudding. If I were at a buffet, I'd build my plate with all of the above - and then some.
You also can take out a pre-made single salad. Besides the usual, they have Greek, Mandarin chicken with almonds, mozzarella, Southwestern (filled with a variety of beans, cheese and corn), BLT (with bleu cheese) or turkey cranberry (with spinach and walnuts).
If you want something more substantial, there's plenty to choose from.
Several varieties of homemade pizza, i.e. Alfredo chicken, Greek variety, veggie or Mexican. And they don't skimp on the toppings.
Other pasta dishes and casseroles available: enchiladas marina, chicken pot pie and eggplant parmesan, (Note to self: Next time pick up a serving for my friend Judie, who describes this as nirvana).
On this rainy day, a hot substantial soup sounded comforting. Soups go for $4.99 and this day they were serving vegetable beef barley, chicken noodle, minestrone and patrons' favorite: clam chowder. I sampled that one and it was thick and filled with clams and potatoes and seasoned just right.
Panini sandwiches are a favorite. Sunny Farms serves them on Italian panini, sourdough wheat, flatbread or Italian (under $6, it'll take 10-15 minutes to grill). Choices vary but some interesting ones are: Angus Bleu Cheese (Angus roast beef, red onion, spinach, roma tomato and Dijon), Shrimp (cream cheese, chives, horseradish), Alfredo, (shrimp, roasted red pepper and three-cheese blend), Spicy Jack (Genoa salami, pepper jack, jalapeños, green peppers, Italian dressing, tomatoes), Hawaiian (ham, Swiss, pineapple, spinach, green pepper, honey mustard) and tuna melt.
If you want to save a few calories, try their pre-made wraps, made fresh daily: fresh veggie, Greek, Southwestern, chicken parmesan or turkey.
If those don't strike your fancy, get creative with endless deli sandwich combinations (usually under $5). Just think up what bread, cheese, meat, veggie or condiments you'd put on your own Dagwood and voilÀ. Don't forget the "extras" such as cranberry sauce, sunflower seeds, jalapeños or hummus. They even offer PB&J!
Need a low-cal pick-me-up? Grab a bag of toasted (not fried) chips and their fresh salsa made daily and you've got a good snack to last until dinner.
And, if you feel the need, they offer fresh espresso.
To complete my lunch in the car, I cleverly ordered what amounts to a beverage and dessert all-in-one combo with my lasagna lunch - I had a Mango Mania smoothie. Sweet, thick and cold. Check what other flavors they may have when you visit. I also saw Strawberry Bomb, Banana Strawberry and the intriguing Acai and Blueberry with Pomegranate.
Oftentimes I see shoppers and kids strolling with a cone of soft serve yogurt or sorbet. But the deli has other tempting diet busters: zucchini and cranberry bread, scones, absolutely huge muffins, pies (i.e. apple, cherry, pumpkin) and moist saucer-sized cookies: The Royale (coconut, macadamia nut and chocolate chips), oatmeal raisin, chocolate chunk and coconut chew.
If my wonderful friends who regularly take pity on me and send me home with gourmet dinner don't come through, I'll probably see you at the deli counter!
Shelley Taylor and her husband relocated to the peninsula from California. By her own admission, Taylor likes to eat.
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