Although Curt and I have been to La Rambla countless times, I must admit that I have never had one of their Platos Principals or their renowned Paella. Without shame, I admit that we never get past the tapas.
Housed in an historic building on trendy 3rd Street in McMinnville, La Rambla artfully merges Northwest ingredients with Spanish cuisine. Owner Kathy Stoler took the run down building through its renovation in 2002 and has done an artful job in the results. And I mean that literally… from the hand blown lights that hang down over your table to the original artwork lining the walls to the peacock on the bar. She has also directed the menu since its opening.
We enjoy going to La Rambla with a group so that we can order more tapas. The idea of tapas-small plates- is from Spain; I heard once that it was so you could rest your plate on top of your wine glass so you could eat while milling around the bar. Don’t worry, La Rambla serves its tapas on a table, but as we order them family style, there is a conversationality about the food that is hard to get when you each have one entree to eat. We usually have each person order one hot and one cold tapa, which means we end up with some vegetables and some meat dishes. The bacon wrapped dates, the endive salad, the battered green beans (Curt eats this… a vegetable!) are some of my favorites. The tenderloin skewers and jumbo prawns are some of Curt’s favorites. I did order the Dungeness crab and goat cheese stuffed peppers once, but the goat cheese (which I do love) overpowered the crab (which I do love) and now I stick with the crab and shrimp cakes.
You can make your own meal out of La Rambla’s tapas (or go ahead and order a Platos Principal) any day of the week. They are open from 11:30-2 for lunch and start dinner service at 5, except Saturday and Sunday when they serve all day long. They are located at 238 NE Third Street in McMinnville and you can make your reservations by calling 503.435.2126.
When you are traveling, there’s always a list of the “to-dos”. My mom and dad took my brother and me to Florida when we were teens.
We got our dinner and wine from Underground Cafe's Burger Tent
We have pictures at the “southernmost point of the continental US” and we were woken up way too early to go snorkeling. When guests come to the Willamette Valley, they want to do that winery and this restaurant and that museum. I offer, though, that becoming a local for a few days gives you a better glimpse into another’s culture and gives your visit to that winery or this restaurant a deeper experience. And you can even do it with some wine and dinner when you become a local Newberger by hanging out at Tunes on Tuesdays during the summer months.
Far Cry brings their rock and roll to Newberg
On the streets adjacent to the Cultural Center, vendors ready to help meet their needs. There’s the burgers and wine need filled by Underground Cafe’s stand, and the cupcake need filled by Sweetest Thing Cupcakes. And the honey and flats of strawberries need (you know, for breakfast at the B&B Wednesday morning) by local farmers.
Curt and I enjoyed the rock and roll tunes of Far Cry with an intermission of modern dancers from the Chehalem Dance Academy. And we sang Happy Birthday to the Shave Ice lady… ’cause that’s what a community does. Now wrapping up its fourth year, Tunes on Tuesday is definitely the place to be.
Many of my guests are looking for that quaint, boutique winery that is fabulous, but that nobody knows about. I try to point out that if nobody knows about it there might be a reason. People find out about the good wineries, no matter how hard they are hidden. Anam Cara Cellars is like that… hard to find, but known. Even following directions and signs, you still might question the trek you are on. But at the end of the long winding gravel driveway, you know you’ve reached your destination. The acres of Pinot Noir that line the driveway give way to the house of Nick and Shelia Nicholas, which also happens to be the tasting room of of their wine, Anam Cara Cellars.
Anam Cara is Celtic for “friend of my soul” (and yes, Shelia does have a great Scottish accent). The Nicholas’ journey to make wine started many years ago as they worked in various capacities in the food industry. Since 2001, the have dug into the Chehalem Mountains, both literally and figuratively, planting 27 acres of grapes on their land. What was once dilapidated orchards is now brimming with fruit again.
Although they are generally open by appointment only, Nick and Shelia open their vineyard to visitors on the weekends of Memorial Day, Labor Day and Thanksgiving. Curt and I visited them on a showery September day last year to their open house. They had quickly moved the celebration inside to deal with the unusual summer weather. Shelia poured whites in the living room (and attempted to keep Digger the Dog away from the cheese) while Nick poured reds in the dining room. With 25 of the acres planted in Pinot Noir, most of our time was spent with Nick. He had us taste the Estate bottling, a Reserve and then single vineyard bottles of Mark and Heather Blocks (appropriately named after their children). Even in this one plot of land, the varying elevations, directional facings, different clones and winemaking processes make each taste unique. I, of course, gravitated to the Gewurztraminer, which was used for ice wine… dessert! Yum!
Getting a tour of Nicholas Vineyard and tastings of Anam Cara Cellars can be done by contacting Nick and Shelia at (503) 537-9150 or off their website. They are located just north of Newberg; they’ll give you great directions when you make your appointment.
You know how you can live in an area for a long time and never get out do your own town? I actually have done a lot of northwest Oregon, but there are some things still on the “to-see” list. This summer I finally got out to check off two more of Portland’s landmarks. Just four blocks away from each other, they are from different worlds… or at least different parts of our world.
A door in a corner of the garden reveals a hidden room.
The first stop was the Lan Su Chinese Garden, a masterpiece of Chinese Gardens all in one city block of Portland’s very small Chinatown. The garden was designed and built over a 10 month period in 1999 to resemble a scholar’s garden from Portland’s sister city, Suzhou. In true Portland fashion, the home of this relaxing and beautiful area was once a parking lot. Enclosed by walls, it’s impossible to imagine the intricate design and beauty you find once you step into the garden. Paths wind around the garden, giving the visitor views of small, intimate garden settings. 51 “leak” windows are carefully set to allow a unique scene of landscape rocks, plants, intricate rock paths and buildings to “leak” into your view. There is a tea room and numerous pavilions and halls in which to sit down and soak in the garden.
A bridge crosses Lake Zither.
From most parts of the garden, you have a view of 8,000 square-foot Lake Zither, but every time I looked at it, a new vignette captured my imagination. I was thoroughly enchanted by each piece of this exquisite garden which seems so small from the outside, yet so large inside.
For all the peacefulness of the Chinese Gardens, my next stop was like a scary, sugar-induced alarm clock. Walking south along 3rd street, I found Voodoo Doughnut (Where the Magic is in the Hole), with a small crowd gathered outside the tiny ordering counter. This beacon of gluten and sugar has garnered lots of the national attention of late. I like a good doughnut, and I was willing to sacrifice a little gluten intolerance for the sake of curiosity. Scribbled on the chalkboard is a list of local-inspired doughnut flavors. I was a little overwhelmed and so walked over to the spinning display case and pointed twice.
Tastiness from Vodoo Doughnuts, Memphis Mafia and Captain my Captain
I got the Bacon Maple Bar and the Banana Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Fritter (also known as the Memphis Mafia). Curt ordered the Captain my Captain and the Loop (references to the cereals topping them). And the verdict: nice doughnuts. Lots of sugar. Lots and lots of sugar.
The Lan Su Chinese Garden is located at 239 Northwest Everett Street in Portland and is open daily from 10 to 5. Voodoo Doughnut is at 22 Southwest 3rd Avenue and is open all day except from 3-6am.
I know it’s hard to imagine, but sometimes I get tired of cooking. So for us, Panaderia y Taqueria Gonzalez is good easy food. For our guests, it can serve as a break from the fancier, wine oriented restaurants in the area.
Gonzalez, located right on 99w and College is a wonderful Mexican restaurant and bakery. You pick up your Mexican pastries from the case on the left, you Mexican Coke (made with pure cane sugar) or Jarritos soft drink and order at the counter. The menu is posted on the wall, just pick your vehicle (enchiladas, taco, burrito…) and then pick your meat (grilled beef, chicken, spiced pork, beef tongue…). Take your chips and salsa to your table and hang out until the tastiness comes to your table.
You should know, there are many choices for Mexican restaurants in Newberg. There’s the one with bright colors on the walls and menu. There’s the one with the giant margaritas (Curt can go on and on about the giant margarita). There’s the one with the patio seating. There are others, but Gonzalez is simple and good (ok, they also have a patio out back). Here they use family recipes and it shows in all their dishes, especially in the beans and rice. Yes, I judge a Mexican restaurant by the beans and rice; at Gonzalez, the beans and rice rock with great flavor. I’m pretty sure someone’s grandma is back in the kitchen working hard so I don’t have to.
Gonzalez is open daily until 8pm each night 615 East 1st Street in Newberg; you can also order take out at (503) 538-0306.
In a world full of so much stress, it’s not surprising that lavender is so popular. There are lavender soaps, perfumes, dried wreaths and fresh bouquets. At a restuarant in Portland last month, I had a lavender lemon drop, and lavender lemonade is a tasty treat in the heat of summer. And of course, lavender has a starring roll in the French Herbes de Provence herb mixture.
Lavender greets our guests at the B&B
We are at the peak of lavender season in July and there seems to be a lavender field in full bloom at every turn. Gone are the days of having a limited selection of types: purple Spanish and purple English. Now there are hundreds of choices. There’s even a very precise color scale that resembles the diamond color spectrum.
The B&B driveway is lined with Melissa Lavender, a light pink variety that is relatively small.
Just up the road from us is Mountainside Lavender which is open this month for U-Pick from their fields or to purchase some of their many lavender products or plants.
Getting ready to taste Don's 2008 wines
On a bright Sunday afternoon, Kristin and I stopped by VIDON Vineyard. The name ‘VIDON’ (pronounced vee-dohn) comes from Vicki and Don, the founders of winery. Don is the winemaker and does most of the farming on their 20 acre vineyard. Don plans to add another 12 acres to the vineyard and will hire his first “staff member” in August to help out at the tasting room and to tend the vineyard.
VIDON makes a nice Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, but we really came for the Pinot Noirs. Don produces three single clone wines – typically less than a 100 cases of each are produced yearly. I had a hard time picking a favorite between the Pommard clone and the 777. Buying a bottle of each makes life a lot simpler. With such small production amounts, don’t expect to find their wine outside of the handful of restaurants and wine shops in the Willamette Valley. As VIDON’s popularity grows, it is worth considering joining their Cellar Club. Level 1 members commit to a case of wine a year (you can mix and match varietals), receive a 15% discount, and have access to some of the single clones that aren’t sold elsewhere.
Just outside the tasting room is a nice spot to sip a glass of wine and enjoy the view
The tasting room is typically open Noon to 5 pm on the weekends. Don is seldom far from his cell phone and is happy to open the tasting room during the weekday. (And sometimes he forgets to hang out the ‘open sign’ during the weekend so give him a call – he’s probably there). Tasting fees are a reasonable $10. The tasting room/winery is a converted machine shed. Nice on the inside but you don’t pay extra for a fancy facility. VIDON is part the of Carbon Neutral initiative, both the vineyard and winery are a part of LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) program, and their wines are “Certified Sustainable” since 2008.
The North Falls cascades over a cavernous cutout of rock and the trail leads right behind it.
We headed back that way last month with the sun out and spring popping up all around. We parked at the rather full North Falls trailhead and plotted our route for the afternoon. Having gotten a late start, we decided to do a short loop of about three miles, taking us past four of the waterfalls along the nine mile Trail of Ten Falls.
- Not one of the “Ten Falls”, but a wonderful downhill stream the trail bridged over.
Alongside the trail we saw many early wildflowers like trillium, sweet woodruff and the unique Skunk Cabbage (really, worth a few steps off trail to experience!). With a temperate rain forest of Douglas fir and western hemlock trees, Silver Falls is also a great respite in the heat of summer (like this week!). Lots of wildlife, including numerous bird species, call the park home and welcome you to visit them.
Downhill from the Red Hills which bring us delectable Pinot Noir lies a bistro whose goal is to bring wonderful, seasonal dishes to match our wines. The Dundee Bistro, now celebrating over 10 years in the heart of Dundee, provides an excellent home for regional food and wine.
Curt and I often start our meals at The Dundee Bistro with a giant pile of Truffled Fries. They use Oregon White Truffle Oil to finish these crisp potatoes into finger-lickin’ yumminess. Pastas, wood-fired pizzas and hearty meats abound in the entrée list, each dish artfully designed to highlight the season’s offerings. Wednesdays are special for Whole Hog Wednesdays… serving Pork & Pinot till the whole pig, previously grilled over mesquite coals, is gone. For dessert, there is nice selection of sweet treats, however, if you are on the adventurous side, make a your dessert choice from the artisan cheeses or artisan bacons.
The wine list is a healthy size, full of Oregon Pinots and rounded out with international choices of numerous varietals. I’ve been very impressed with wine steward Chris Berry’s knowledge of his craft. When I took my world-traveler uncle into The Dundee Bistro, he proclaimed he’d never had a Pinot to his liking. Chris took the challenge, they discussed what my uncle likes in a wine, and Chris brought him a glass that has him reconsidering the wonders of Pinot. And then we ate Truffled Fries.
You can find The Dundee Bistro sharing a building with the Ponzi Tasting Room at 100 SW 7th St #A, Dundee. The phone number is (503) 554-1650. It is open daily for lunch 11:30 – 5pm and dinner 5pm – closing.
The first Friday night of every month, Main Street in Newberg transforms itself from quiet little thoroughfare into the place-to-be as the businesses open into the evening with art, music, wine and food to celebrate the vitality of the local culture. ARTwalk, which started in 2002, draws folks from near and far to hobnob with artists and vintners, neighbors and new friends.
Sure, you’d expect Newberg Gallery to participate with a showcase of a local artist and a silent auction for a local charity. But stroll into the Coldwell Banker next and find a fiber artist showing her wares and Dobbes Family Estate pouring. Or down the street, the Coffee Cat Coffeehouse is showing employee art and Greg Hottmann Insurance is hosting The Sweetest Thing Cupcake shop. It’s the small town factor of the downtown businesses that gets the entire community involved and reminds us how interconnected we are, even if you are from out of town.
ARTwalk is quite a lively party in the warm summer months, as visitors spill out into the sidewalks of the more than 20 participating shops and businesses. In the winter months, when Oregon skies might bless the event with a little rain, the atmosphere is a cozy get together of you and all your friends. Sometimes the whole night focuses on a special theme, like Cinqo de Mayo or Hawaii in April. This month, the newly opened Chehalem Cultural Center invites guests to make their own “pop” art with exploding colors on canvas. My imagination is running wild… I think I need this art, but also whatever contraption they have built.
ARTwalk happens on the First Friday of nearly every month from 5-9pm.