Around The Table Offers Unique Dining Experience
By Rayan Sreshta

Lacamas Life Online

When Karen Lasher and her family returned to the local area in 2004, she brought with her 25 years of experience in the culinary industry, and she’s put that experience to good use by creating Around The Table.

Around The Table, a new restaurant and culinary business in rejuvenated downtown Camas, reflects Karen’s passion for bringing food and the community together.

“Around The Table was founded on the belief that gathering around the table to share a meal with others is one of life’s simple pleasures and an experience filled with great power,” says Chef-Owner Karen. “Our mission is to gather people around the table once again, eating locally grown and produced foods that reflect the bounty of the season.”

Head Chef, Christiane Smith, brings formal education from the French Culinary Institute in New York along with her time spent with chefs such as Mario Batali, Jacques Pepin and Charlie Palmer. She attributes her deep appreciation for food and its ability to bring people together to her travels.

“We want to make good, healthy food accessible to everyone,” says Christiane. “High quality food can come in a comfortable, inviting space.”

What sets Around The Table apart from other places is its focus on more than just the dining experience.

Multi-course Dinner Gatherings are held most Friday and Saturday evenings and serve as a vehicle for showcasing creativity coupled with fresh local ingredients as reflected in the Chef –selected menu. Gatherings are $35 per guest unless otherwise noted.

Being a working mom and wife of a school teacher, Karen wanted to share her belief that busy families should gather around the dinner table more often. Family-friendly meals, called Take-Home Meals, come ready to serve, so there’s no need to reheat. They offer a tasty alternative for dinner at home. Daily specials are available for pick up in the evenings on weekdays. Take-home meals are sold by the portion, and prices vary depending on the meal.

A complete catering menu including sandwiches, soups and hot entrees is offered. Or, if you prefer, the chefs will also create menus that are customized to your particular event or situation.

Classes offered range from how to create the perfect retro cocktail party to how to turn pantry staples into healthy meals to sending the kids to cooking school and having them make dinner. Class sizes are small by design to encourage questions and discussion.

A Shared-Use Kitchen is available for culinary entrepreneurs on a rental basis. This is allows small businesses access to a well-equipped location as well as an opportunity to meet and network with others in the industry. Home cooks will find the hourly rates appealing when in need of a commercial space to prepare for a large event.

Having a wedding rehearsal dinner, special occasion, large-scale family gathering or other social event? Around the Table can accommodate up to 50 people. Please call to discuss your event.

The space, the food and desire to make Around the Table a community resource make it more than just a restaurant. It is a gathering place for those wishing to experience food in ways that have previously been unavailable in the local area.  From the discerning foodie to the aspiring chef, Around the Table has something for everyone and everything in between. For more information, please visit www.around-the-table.com. 

Around the Table, at a glance:

What: A new restaurant and culinary business in historic downtown Camas. 

Where: 316 N.E. Dallas St., Camas, WA 98607

Phone: (360)834-0171

Web: www.around-the-table.com

Open: 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays for coffee, pastries and Lunch Café. 4 to 7 p.m. weekdays for Take-Home Meal pick up. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and 7 p.m. Saturdays for Dinner Gatherings. Various weekday mornings and evenings for Cooking Classes.