Today, MIX Restaurants opens its first location at 215 West Holly Street in Bellingham. MIX adds a new fast casual dining option to the popular downtown Bellingham area. The restaurant features local ingredients in its freshly tossed salads, toasty flatbread wraps, and broths topped with fresh ingredients for hungry lunch and dinner crowds.

MIX is committed to sourcing from farmers and food producers in Western Washington. Featured local vendors include: Bellingham’s Cauldron Broths and Superior Soups, who co-created the broth bowl bases; Ferndale’s own Twin Sisters Creamery Whatcom Blue Cheese; Dreamland Seattle, providing salad dressings, flatbread and falafel; and creamy frozen custard from Lopez Island Creamery. Additionally, seasonally rotating menu items will feature the best of what’s fresh and local.

Founded by Helen Neville, a former grocery executive and Bellingham resident with a passion for great food and excellent service, MIX is a new concept to the area. “I wanted a place to grab a quick, delicious meal that was nutritious and satisfying,” said Neville.  “I was inspired to create a comfortable, casual restaurant with fantastic food that I would feel good about feeding to my own family.”

The flavors on the menu are globally inspired with local ingredients. Visitors will discover creations like the Marrakesh Salad, which features spiced chickpeas, tangerines and grapes, fresh vegetables and cashews on a bed of greens, topped with a vegan turmeric tahini dressing. The Nacho Libre Salad is a spicier choice with crispy jalapenos, limey black beans, pico de gallo and cotija cheese on fresh romaine and cabbage and topped with tortilla chips and chicharonnes. Any salad can be turned into a “M!Xwich,” a warm flatbread that envelops the ingredients. And hot, savory broth bowls are topped with fresh ingredients and grilled meats for a belly-warming meal on a cool day. A kids’ menu pleases diners of all ages, and unique desserts rounds out the menu.

“The Lopez Island Creamery custard is absolutely unique to MIX,” says Chef Ian Thompson. “It’s thick and silky, and it’s just incredible topped with the pistachio cardamom crumble or the five-spice candied cashews.”

Along with MIX’s dedication to supporting local food is a commitment to the community. The company procured reclaimed wood tables from the RE Store’s Revision Division, and collected donations for RE Sources at its recent pre-opening party.

The company has hired 18 local employees, and will be opening a second location on Newmarket Street in Barkley Village in the weeks ahead. MIX on Holly is open from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily, and menus and details are online at www.mixrestaurants.com.

ABOUT MIX

M!X is a friendly, fast-casual restaurant with a diverse menu of satisfying salads, savory broth bowls and hand-held M!Xwiches. Every M!X meal is jam-packed with top-notch, seasonal ingredients that come from right around here. With creamy frozen custard, unique desserts, an assortment of crisp sparkling botanical beverages, hyper-local coffee, beer and wine, and a crowd-pleasing kids’ menu, there’s truly something for everyone. At heart, M!X is simple, delicious and joyful. It’s made to order the way that you want it. It’s locally sourced ingredients creatively combined to make you feel good about every single bite. Learn more at mixrestaurants.com.