Sacred Ceramics

It would be a lie if we didn’t admit that we have A LOT to share with you at each dinner. In order to allow guests to inform how much or how little they want to know, we leave photos, words, art, and more as hints. So much of what fills the room has a story behind it and we LOVE when a guest finally asks, opening the doors to more.

One of our favorites are the plates that your Tailor Made course sits upon. Since opening, Amber had been searching for a FilAm ceramicist whose work somehow felt distinctly from our culture, and finally after almost a year, she found a PNW gem, Lexa Toledo Villanueva of @lexalunastudio . Back in early March of 2020 Amber, Aaron, and their newborn son, met with Lexa in a coffee shop to ask if they could share her beautiful work and story with our diners— a Filipina artist from Puyallup who, like the cannery workers, pensionados, and others, have helped shape this region.

Shortly after, we all went into lockdown. Regardless, the work with Alexa on custom, locally made, FilAm crafted plates began. Since Archipelago stuck strictly to contactless take-out until a vaccine was available to their team, the beautiful plates sat in a box for over a year 😩. 

Finally being able to serve guests on them was a highlight of reopening. The hand pinched and sculpted vessels add a beautiful organic feel to the experience. The weight of these “sacred ceramics” hold the creativity of our ancestors, but also the exploration of Alexa’s own expression and journey as the descendent of immigrants in the Pacific Northwest. “Each piece is a snapshot of this specific chapter of life, and a culmination of the many moons it took to be created, the trials & errors, the patience,” and happiness.

She and her family have a long history of being an active part of their FilAm community in Puyallup. Today she resides in Uruguay awaiting growth and life. We hope we get the opportunity to meet with her in a coffee shop again, but this time with her future ancestor 😁.

Next time you’re with us, feel free to ask us anything. We are always excited to share! These are not just our stories, but the stories of the entire Pacific Northwest and this country we all call home.