Our Team at the Willows Inn on Lummi Island

Chef Blaine Wetzel

Head Chef

The head chef of The Willows Inn on Lummi Island grew up in Washington.  Since arriving on Lummi Island Wetzel has brought international attention to the island. Chef Blaine was listed by Food & Wine magazine as the Best New Chef of 2012. In 2014 the James Beard Foundation named him Rising Star Chef of the Year and in 2015, he was awarded Best Chef Northwest.  The Willows Inn has been ranked as the #1 Restaurant in North America by Opinionated About Dining in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Chef Casey Palermino

Chef de Cuisine

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Casey recognized his love for the culinary industry at a young age. Having grown up in the kitchen, he followed his father and grandfather’s footsteps and enrolled into the Culinary Institute of America where he graduated with a degree in Culinary Science. Shortly after, he arrived at the Willows Inn where he has worked his way through every position in the kitchen and is currently the Chef de Cuisine.

Photography by Charity Burggraaf