Small Business Spotlight: The Skagit Table
Courtney Bourasaw offers Mount Vernon a fresh take on healthy, community-minded dining. After a personal loss, she channels her passion for local food into a thriving downtown eatery.
As you step through the front door of The Skagit Table, you’re greeted by the comforting aroma of roasted garlic, simmering sauces, and something savory being grilled in the back. Maybe it’s their signature chicken alfredo or the grilled chicken thighs to top off a Thai chicken salad? The gentle clatter of pans and friendly chatter echoes from the open kitchen where a whole team of cooks in aprons moves with practiced ease behind the counter.
To the right, a row of well-stocked fridges and freezers hum softly. Their glass doors reveal shelves lined with neatly labeled, ready-to-heat meals. Meals here range from a hearty beef stroganoff to vegetarian options like tempeh enchiladas, all made in-house with only locally sourced ingredients.
The decor has a cozy farmhouse feel, and soft lighting casts a warm glow across the restaurant. Large wooden tables anchor the center of the space, inviting newcomers and regulars alike to sit together. A few couches and cushioned chairs rest near the entrance, perfect for families with kids or customers grabbing a quick bite between errands.
It doesn’t feel like a restaurant so much as it does a gathering place. You get the sense that The Skagit Table is more than just a place to eat. It’s a space built on intention, where every element from the menu to the furniture tells a story of care, comfort, and connection.
At the center of it all is Courtney Bourasaw, a mother, wife, culinary entrepreneur, and passionate local food advocate whose personal story adds a deep flavor to every dish served at her table.
Bourasaw’s journey to Mount Vernon began in Los Angeles, but Skagit Valley College first sparked her love for local and seasonal cuisine. She also felt inspired by the behind-the-scenes field trips she went on in college.
“At Skagit Valley, I started learning about local sourcing. I didn’t know or understand anything [about food] until I was there, and that ignited this passion for using seasonal and local produce,” Bourasaw shared.
Her early business ventures focused on personal shopping and catering, but everything changed in 2020 when her oldest daughter was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Bourasaw pressed pause on her growing business to prioritize her family.
“During that time, we ate out a lot because we were overwhelmed, but we never felt good after,” she recalls. “There just wasn’t a place where you could grab a quick, healthy meal.”
After her daughter passed, Courtney’s vision for The Skagit Table came into focus.
“This is how I honor her,” Bourasaw said. “It’s also how I meet a need in our community by creating a place where people can find real, nourishing food made with care.”
Since opening, The Skagit Table has become a standout destination for visitors across the region. Customers have traveled as far as Canada and Tacoma to enjoy what Bourasaw and her team have created.
On any given day, her role shifts from cooking in the kitchen to meeting with farmers, coordinating with vendors, or juggling the many hats that come with running a small business.
“There’s nothing typical about being a business owner,” she laughs. “Sometimes I come in here and cook and sometimes I’m at home with my kids answering emails and having phone calls.”
Despite the challenges, her entrepreneurial spirit is strong.
“I’d love to see The Skagit Table grow,” she said. “Our goal is to eventually expand and replicate what we’re doing in other communities that need it.”
Bourasaw highlighted a fan-favorite Thai Chicken Salad when asked about her favorite dish. Her joy comes from getting creative with what’s fresh in the cooler.
“That’s my favorite thing,” she said. “Just creating something new with whatever’s in season.”
As for choosing downtown Mount Vernon as her home base, Bourasaw says that the decision felt divinely inspired.
“I just felt called to downtown,” she shared. “Everything kept bringing me back here. Even when plans fell through, somehow this spot kept circling back to me.”
Her love for the community extends beyond her restaurant. She frequents local favorites like Ristretto Coffee, bLoom, Chique Boutique, and the Skagit Valley Co-op.
“I love grabbing bouquets from bLoom or smoothies from the Co-op,” she said. “There’s something special about this downtown. It’s filled with people who truly care.”
Bourasaw’s story is one of strength, vision, and heart. Through The Skagit Table, she’s truly feeding her neighbors and cultivating a legacy of healing the community one meal at a time.
