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Leaving with my treats!

One of the things that makes me love  Oregon so much is that there always seems to be something new to try. And, if it’s food or beverage related, you can bet I’ll be on of the first in line to try it. This is why I was especially thrilled to find a couple new treats at the recent Oregon Wine, Food & Brew Festival at the Oregon State Fairgrounds.

Treat One: Herbes de Provence Havarti from Willamette Valley Cheese Company. I would very much like to thank my coworker Linea for introducing me to this cheese. I’m an Herbes de Provence enthusiast and am often looking for ways to incorporate this into my cooking. Thankfully, I can now incorporate it into my snacking, preferably with a glass of wonderful Oregon Pinot Noir.

Treat Two: Gilgamesh Brewing Black Mamba AND Chocolate Mint Stout. You might say that all beer is brewed using hops, but you would be wrong. Black Mamba is brewed with earl grey tea leaves which makes the beer smell AMAZING. It tastes amazing, too. You might also say that mint has no place in beer, and you would also be wrong. I loved the Chocolate Mint Stout so much that I brought home a growler. It’s like liquid dessert.

Treat Three: 2005 Pinot Noir Reserve from Methven Family Vineyards. My description of this wine won’t do it justice. Methven’s website describes it as, “Young now, the sweet palate is high-toned with red and black fruits intertwined in a mouthwatering and juicy red raspberry and cherry silky texture, echoing the smoky and pungent aromas in the mouth with saddle leather and pipe tobacco.” I say it’s delectable. I’ll leave it at that.

Next year’s Oregon Wine, Food & Brew Festival is already on the books for January 7 & 8, I think it would be a good idea to put it on your calendar right now.

Find even more foodie events.

Get fit on the slopes while learning a new snow sport on one of Oregon’s picturesque mountains, try your hand at fishing for steelhead or recuperate from the holiday hustle with a day at the spa.

And just in time for the winter crab harvest, we’ve got a Crab Fritter recipe from one of Oregon’s iconic seafood restaurants.

See you in Oregon where we’re unveiling two new eNewsletters.

~ The Editors

The time has come to say goodbye to another year. 2009 brought us a plethora of Oregon adventures and we’re excited to embark on another year of exploring Oregon. Whether we’re  sipping the perfect Oregon pinot, skiing fresh powder, or casting a line to catch dinner; we’re thrilled to have our fantastic readers to share these experiences with.

Hidden Gems in Oregon’s Small Towns: So many of Oregon’s “hidden gems” can be found in its small towns. From birding in Klamath Falls to sandboarding at Sandmaster Park to enjoying local fare at Silverton’s Silver Grille Cafe, there is a smorgasboard of options to plan one last summer getaway. (full story)

Pick a Site and Pitch a Tent: Camping in Oregon – Camping in Oregon is a feast for the senses. There’s the smoky smell of campfire, the sweet taste of sticky marshmallow S’mores, the sound of chirping birds and babbling creeks, the sight of green trees and colorful wildflowers, and the feeling of your cozy sleeping bag at the end of a glorious day spent in the outdoors. (full story)

Recipe of the Month – Each month, we feature a recipe that uses local, fresh ingredients from a local restaurant. Some of your favorites (and ours, too!) were Morel Mushroom and Asparagus Soup, Basque Community Tomato Salad, Roasted Pork Tenderloin with White Bean Pancetta Ragu, and Arugula Salad with IPA-Honey Marinated Salmon and Citrus Vinaigrette. (find more recipes)

Road Trip! – This spring, take advantage of stable gas prices and hit the Oregon road. These three scenic drives offer displays of Oregon’s brilliant spring colors, from vibrant fields of tulips to soft pink and white cherry and pear blossoms. Hurry… (full story)

Wildlife Viewing: Whales & Birds – Spring in Oregon is a great time to spot wildlife, from migrating gray whales to hundreds of bird species resting and feeding along the Pacific Flyway. (full story)

Let’s Brunch – Oregon’s culinary scene is one of the nation’s most exciting places to eat thanks to all the fresh, available ingredients and creative talent. In Portland alone, you can spend an entire vacation eating your way through just one neighborhood. And it doesn’t have to blow your budget. Many of Portland’s stellar dinner spots offer just-as-delicious daylight hour menus—and the tab at the end won’t give you heartburn. Now let’s brunch! (full story)

Get Back to Nature: Urban Hikes – In Oregon, you can have an exciting city experience and get back to nature in the same trip – often in the same day. Most, if not all, major cities in Oregon offer nature trails and forested hiking areas close-by. Here are a few to get your wheels spinning. (full story)

Gone Yurting... – The price is right! From around $27 to $39 per night, Oregon State Parks have yurts and cabins available to rent at some of the most scenic areas in the state, from Beverly Beach State Park at the coast to Champoeg in the Willamette Valley. (full story)

Grant’s Getaways: Shore Acres Holiday Lights – The Oregon coast is a many splendored place boasting unique sights and sounds that will amaze you anytime of the year. In this week’s “Grant’s Getaways,” we go to Shore Acres State Park along the southern Oregon coast for a unique holiday light extravaganza. (full story)

Grant’s Getaways: Clamming & Crabbing – On this Grant’s Getaway, all you need is a rake, a bucket and a spirit of adventure to try raking bay clams along the Oregon coast. Summer mornings along the coast are often met by folks in hip boots with shovels or rakes – but they’re not there to work, rather they’ve come to play; especially on a minus low tide on Tillamook Bay at a place where clamming is king. (full story)

Happy New Year from the team at Travel Oregon! (and be sure to tell us what your favorite post from this year is!)

In November, chefs from Oregon’s Tribal Casinos gathered at Chinook Winds Casino Resort for the very first Rez Kitchen Tour. The Rez Kitchen Tour, made possible by a grant from the Spirit Mountain Community Fund, was designed to showcase traditional tribal cuisine in a two-day culinary competition. The event hosted chefs from 8 of Oregon’s 9 Tribal Casinos.

On the first day of the competition, nine teams each prepared two dishes – a salmon dish and a dish of the chef’s choice –  for a private panel of judges. I had a “back-stage pass” for this portion of the competition and was amazed by the fantastic looking plates that were served (photos in slideshow above). If smell-a-vision were such a thing, I’d also share with you the fantastic smells that were coming from each of the team’s stations.

During the second day of competition, the public was invited to come and sample food from each team and vote for their favorite. It was during this part of the event that I tasted a piece of venison so flavorful and tender that I wished I hadn’t spent the majority of my life claiming that I didn’t like venison.

Over 400 ballots were cast, naming the Chinook Winds Team the People’s Choice winner.  Other winners were:

• 1^st Place – Spirit Mountain Team #1 – Raymond Nelson and Carl Hoover
• 2^nd Place Tie – Seven Feathers Casino – Alan Freeman, Brandy Stumpe and Lucas Schrock –and – Wildhorse Casino Resort – Brian Von Eggers and Bruce Mecham
• 3^rd Place – Spirit Mountain Team #2 – Jake Johnson and Manuel Diaz

The Rez  Kitchen Tour is slated to be an annual event, stay tuned for next year’s location!

This month, we’ve got snowy hikes to lakes, holiday celebrations all over the state and a delectable recipe you’ll want to share with your friends and family this holiday season.

See you in Oregon, where we’re bundling up to play in the snow.

~ The Editors

The Oregon 150 Challenge is all over, but we wanted to thank the 517 freethinking adventurers and roamers of roads that completed the Oregon 150 Challenge and became Official Oregonians! We hope your Official Oregonian Certificate is hanging proudly somewhere!

We’re also very excited to announce the winners of our 7 Grand Oregon Tours! Congratulations to each of you, and we hope to see you exploring Oregon soon!

Grand Oregon Tour Winners

Central Oregon – Courtney R., Springfield, OR

Oregon Coast – Jean P., Forest Grove, OR

Willamette Valley – Judy F., Portland, OR

Eastern Oregon – Connie O., Neskowin, OR

Mt. Hood/Gorge – Sally N., Salem, OR

Southern Oregon – Janet M., Eugene, OR

Greater Portland – Sherrie K., Cedar Rapids, IA

This November, we’re also celebrating the very first Native American Heritage Month with several opportunities to experience our nine federally recognized tribes’ lifestyles and traditions.

We’ve also got a fabulous appetizer recipe that would be perfect for your Thanksgiving celebration as well as one last chance to enter to win an Oregon Bounty Getaway.

See you in Oregon, where we’re planning our Thanksgiving Weekend Winery Tour.

Tell us…what’s your favorite winter culinary find in Oregon?

More information about Ingredients

There’s still ample chance, however, to live your foodie dreams in Oregon. Check out our new culinary travel website for some can’t-miss foodie finds and enter to win a Bounty Getaway to the Mt. Hood/Gorge area.

See you in Oregon, where we’re cooking up the perfect fall meal.

~The Editors