Owner Chris McCoy with some Kombucha Town brew
Inside the Culture Café
The Culture Café at Kombucha Town is a place unlike any other in Bellingham, dreamt up by Chris McCoy, the Café has something for everyone. A brewpub with craft beer or kombucha, healthy bites or rich desserts, it’s the perfect place to meet friends for a board game or a date under dimmed Edison bulbs.
Originally there was just Kombucha Town, Whatcom Counties first kombucha microbrewery, but Chris saw an opportunity to create something bigger – a community hub that offered fare that truly nourished your body and mind. A late night spot where you could meet up, party like it was 1999 and wake up the next day feeling great.
Chris originally learned how to brew kombucha from his college roommate.He started his very first kombucha culture while at Western, actually the culture there, and that same one has grown and matured with him – its history a kind of proxy for the story of his life. Every culture is different and creates a unique brew, Kombucha Town’s being mellow and refreshing, their different flavors pairing well with many of the Culture Cafe’s dishes and signature cocktails.
Their delicious fish tacos
And what dishes they have! Chris and Culture Cafés first chef, Julian Wilcrest, created a menu that revolved around fresh, foraged, and fermented foods – lively dishes that were inspired by Hawaiian fare and traditional Northwest WA ingredients. Poké, ceviche, bright salads, and interesting one-offs like veggie corndogs always make meals at the Culture Café delicious and interesting.
The ingredients for a number of the dishes and cocktails are sourced locally: bread for the paninis coming from Avenue, the fish from Desire Fish Company, and their produce from Charlies. About 80% of the bar is from local breweries, cideries, or distilleries and Chris says they will continue to find ways to source even more from Whatcom and Skagit farmers in the years to come.
One of their fantastic salads!
Last year the Culture Café welcomed a new chef, Tiffany Freeling, and will be starting a brunch this spring that will feature dishes that change with the seasons! I can already image warm summer mornings, the front wall rolled open to let in cool breezes, and kombucha mimosas enjoyed with a healthy and hearty late breakfast. The menu will have gluten free and vegan options, like their main fare, with more details to be announced soon.
To stay up to date on all their latest news or to check out their menu online, click through the link below – until then, as they would say – Live healthy, Live happy!