For the Real Twin Peaks 2023 event, there was only one place I wanted to stay – the magnificent Salish Lodge & Spa in Snoqualmie, Washington. My wife Katie and I last stayed at the Lodge in October 2019 for our first wedding anniversary. We couldn’t wait to get back, and we were delighted to discover the culinary team had created Twin Peaks-themed brunch specials for The Dining Room on February 24.
REAL TWIN PEAKS 2023
A banner advertisement gave a first look at the specials which appeared to include cherry pie and so much more.
The Salish Lodge also advertised this themed menu on their website with three different rotating images
The Events section on their website had a landing page for the Twin Peaks Day menu and a link to make a reservation. The event description read:
“You’ll be channeling The Great Northern Hotel during brunch in The Dining Room on Twin Peaks Day! We’ll celebrate the iconic early 90s tv show that used Salish Lodge and Snoqualmie, WA as it’s [sic] backdrop with an expertly crafted menu of specials, each with a unique Twin Peaks twist! Order anything from the special menu and receive a complimentary Room 315 key tag.”
PUBLICITY PHOTOS FROM SALISH LODGE BREAKFAST
The fact that there were publicity photos created for this menu meant this was going to be an extra special treat.
Just look at that damn fine cup of coffee and tiny cherry pie!
BREAKFAST TIME
Brunch was held in The Dining Room, which is one of two restaurants at The Salish Lodge.
As I was still on Florida time, I made a dining reservation for 8:30 a.m. Shortly after being seated, I caught a glimpse of a rainbow above Snoqualmie Falls.
Our server Evan presented the Dining Room’s traditional menu and a paper “Twin Peaks Day” menu insert. We loved dining here during our previous trip but I’d have to save their traditional brunch menu for later that weekend. This day it was all about the town of Twin Peaks.
We learned that the menu was put together by a breakfast sous chef named Sergio who just happened to be a huge Twin Peaks fan. After reading the menu, I knew it was created by someone who not only loved the series but also had a keen eye for details. There were nods to dialogue and food seen in the pilot episode through episode 1003. Holy smokes!
HOT, BLACK COFFEE FROM SALISH LODGE
I started with a cup of their delicious coffee. The Salish team delivers coffee along with a small tray containing regular sugar, Sugar in the Raw, chocolate shavings and whipped cream. It is, excuse me, a damn, fine cup of coffee.
I then asked our server Evan to bring us one of everything from the menu. Just look at that spread!
I already gave it a thumbs up and hadn’t even tried the food. Yes, I’m sporting the amazing Great Northern Hotel sweater that Showtime offered via their online store a few years ago. A perfect sweater for breakfast above the falls.
A POLICEMAN’S DREAM AT SALISH LODGE
First up – a policeman’s dream. There were six house doughnuts with lemon curd surrounding apricot jam.
The item’s name comes directly from the pilot episode where Special Agent Dale Cooper calls Lucy Moran’s doughnut set up a “policeman’s dream.” While there may not have been as many doughnuts on our plate, they were incredibly delicious. Light, sugary and the jam paired perfectly with each bite.
JERRY’S BAGUETTE AT SALISH LODGE
In episode 1002, Jerry Horne interrupts a family dinner after returning from a trip to Paris. He quickly empties a suitcase to presents his brother Ben with a brie and butter baguette. He exclaims he had four of them every day he was in France.
The baguette served for our brunch was presented on wooden serving tray and contained a small container of fresh fruit.
The baguette used was from Macrina Bakery, a local Seattle bakery that produces a French baguette with a soft interior and crispy crust. Inside, it was smothered with brie, honey butter and caramelized onions. I too could eat four of these things every day.
COOP’S BREAKFAST AT SALISH LODGE
“Now I’d like two eggs, over hard. I know, don’t tell me – it’s hard on the arteries. But old habits die hard, just about as hard as I want those eggs. Bacon – super crispy, almost burned. Cremated. That’s great. And I’ll have the grapefruit juice, just as long as those grapefruits are freshly squeezed.” – Agent Cooper
Inspired by Special Agent Cooper’s dialogue while ordering breakfast in episode 1001, the Coop’s Breakfast was perfection.
Two eggs over hard, breakfast potatoes and super-crispy bacon that was cremated. I usually don’t prefer bacon prepared that way, but I couldn’t stop eating them. I realized while writing this that I didn’t get the fresh grapefruit juice during our meal. It’s okay as I’m assuming the grapefruits were probably not “freshly squeezed.”
GRIDDLE CAKES WITH HAM AT SALISH LODGE
“Short stack of griddle cakes, melted butter, maple syrup lightly heated, slice of ham. Nothing beats the taste sensation when maple syrup collides with ham.” – Agent Cooper
Pulling inspiration from Cooper’s breakfast order in episode 1003, the griddle cakes with ham was paired with Vermont maple syrup.
Just watch the what happens when maple syrup collides with ham.
Katie loved every bite and Agent Cooper was correct – the two flavors really do go hand-in-hand.
Agent Cooper’s griddle cakes didn’t look as appealing as The Salish Lodge’s version. He also didn’t get to eat thanks to a situation with Agent Rosenfield at the Twin Peaks County Morgue.
CHERRY PIE AND KEY TAG FROM SALISH LODGE
The final item Evan brought our table was a small cherry pie and a complimentary Great Northern Hotel key tag for room 315 (Agent Cooper’s Room of course).
The menu item’s name comes from Cooper’s dialogue to Agent Albert Rosenfield in Episode 1001. He tells Albert about a cherry pie at the Lamplighter Inn on Highway 2 near Louis Fork.
The key chain’s design is very reminiscent of the one Jade mails to The Great Northern Hotel in Part 3 of Twin Peaks Season 3 on Showtime.
All said, the breakfast exceeded our expectations. We talked about it all weekend and told everyone we could about how impressed we were. It was a nice start to Twin Peaks Day 2023. Thank you to our server Evan, sous chef Sergio and the entire staff at The Dining Room. I’m hopeful the special menu will return next year.
